Arts in the News

Five-time Grammy-winning bassist, Victor Wooten, returns to Milton’s campus on Monday, December 5, from 7:30–9 p.m. to perform a fundraising concert in King Theatre to benefit the jazz program’s 2017 South Africa Tour.

Mr. Wooten first performed at the School in 2014 with his group, Bass Extremes. Music faculty member Bob Sinicrope is excited to welcome him back for this rare solo concert. “Victor Wooten has a new MIDI bass that allows him to produce sounds of different instruments,” says Bob. “This should add a special dimension to this performance.”

Money raised from the event will help support Milton’s eleventh trip to South Africa—creating scholarships for advanced jazz students wanting to join this year’s tour and adding to the $170,000 worth of instruments and materials already donated to school programs in South Africa in previous years.

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Watch a live webcast of the event.

Milton Academy Jazz 2015 South Africa Tour

Rounding out Milton’s fall performing arts schedule is this year’s 1212 play, Vanya and Sonya and Masha and Spike. Written by Christopher Durang, the comedy is a nod to Anton Chekhov and features three siblings coping with the challenges of getting older. The student cast members include Nick Gistis (III), Matthew Tyler (II), Abigail Foster (III), Clara Wolff (III), Charlotte Moremen (III) and Emma James (II). Evan Jenness (II) is the stage manager and performing arts faculty member Shane Fuller is directing.

“There are a lot of emotional layers to these characters,” says Abigail. “We all put a lot of thought into understanding our characters. They’re surprisingly complex.”

The tradition of Milton’s 1212 Plays began over 30 years ago in room 1212 of Warren Hall. The performances evolved from play readings to fully staged productions under the direction of late faculty member Nina Seidenman. When Warren Hall was renovated, and room 1212 became an English classroom, the productions relocated to Wigg Hall. The space may have changed, but the philosophy is the same: intimate productions with small casts, minimal technical demands, and challenging material for both actors and audience.

Vanya and Sonya and Masha and Spike begins in Wigg Hall on Thursday, December 1, and Friday, December 2 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, December 3 at 7 p.m.

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The Class IV play, Peter and the Starcatcher, features an ensemble cast, who unravel the back story of Peter Pan and Neverland. The play, directed by performing arts faculty member Eleza Moyer, is a “big production” filled with magic and humor. “It’s a really beautiful script. It’s funny, it’s poignant, full of nostalgia and wit,” Eleza says. “This cast has been doing a great job. We have a phenomenal group this year.”

The Class IV play is a long-standing performing arts tradition involving the entire class. Approximately 30 students will comprise the on-stage cast; students who are not on stage contribute to other parts of the production.

Peter and the Starcatcher begins in King Theatre on Thursday, November 17, and Friday, November 18, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, November 19 at 7 p.m.

Reserve your free tickets online.

Milton’s fall performing arts schedule features a scandalous trickster, the origin story for a beloved character, and a family comedy that mines the depths of dissatisfaction. First on the schedule is Molière’s Tartuffe, a 17^th-century comedy about a charlatan who fools gullible members of a family into trusting him with charm and false claims of piety. Director and performing arts department chair Peter Parisi chose an English translation that matches the original French play’s rhyming-couplet structure.

“We’ve been doing musicals for the last several years, so we’re mixing it up,” says Peter, who notes that even those who are unfamiliar with Tartuffe will recognize and understand some familiar themes. “There are a lot of elements that make this a very timely choice.” Most of the 16 students involved in the production, who will work in period dress on a period set, have performed before, either at Milton or elsewhere.

Next, the Class IV play, Peter and the Starcatcher, features an ensemble cast, who unravel the back story of Peter Pan and Neverland. The play, directed by performing arts faculty member Eleza Moyer, is a “big production” filled with magic and humor. “It’s a really beautiful script. It’s funny, it’s poignant, full of nostalgia and wit,” Eleza says. “This cast has been doing a great job. We have a phenomenal group this year.” The Class IV play is a long-standing performing arts tradition involving the entire class. Approximately 30 students will comprise the on-stage cast; students who are not on stage contribute to other parts of the production.

Rounding out the fall schedule is this year’s 1212 play, Vanya and Sonya and Masha and Spike. Written by Christopher Durang, the comedy is a nod to Anton Chekhov and features three siblings coping with the challenges of getting older. The six student cast members are Nick Gistis (III), Matthew Tyler (II), Abigail Foster (III), Clara Wolff (III), Charlotte Moremen (III) and Emma James (II). Evan Jenness (II) is the stage manager and performing arts faculty member Shane Fuller is directing. “There are a lot of emotional layers to these characters,” says Abigail. “We all put a lot of thought into understanding our characters. They’re surprisingly complex.” The 1212 play is a Milton tradition featuring intimate productions with small casts and challenging material.

Tartuffe begins Thursday, November 3, and Friday, November 4, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, November 5, at 7 p.m.

Peter and the Starcatcher begins Thursday, November 17, and Friday, November 18, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, November 19 at 7 p.m.

Vanya and Sonya and Masha and Spike begins Thursday, December 1, and Friday, December 2 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, December 3 at 7 p.m.

Reserve tickets online.

Almost four years to the day he earned a national title in speech and debate as a middle-schooler, Milton’s Marshall Sloane (II) repeated the feat, this time becoming High School National Champion in international extemporaneous speaking at the National Speech and Debate Association Tournament in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Marshall delivered 13 speeches over the course of the tournament, rising to the top of the 250 students from across the country who competed in his category. He earned awards for winning the finals as well as the entire category.

“This is a huge award. Marshall has worked very hard to get to this point,” says faculty member Susan Marianelli, Marshall’s coach and advisor. “History means everything to Marshall. Being aware of what’s going on in the world is important to him.” Marshall’s months of preparation involved a voracious study of current international events, along with skills that would help him best connect with his audience and the judges.

During international extemporaneous speaking, competitors are presented with a choice of three questions related to current world events and given 30 minutes to prepare a seven-minute speech that answers the selected question. During their preparation, they may use research materials they compiled prior to the event, but they may not conduct any additional online research, according to the tournament website. The speech is then delivered from memory.