Milton’s Fall Productions: Sketches, Songs and a Shakespeare Classic
Milton’s fall performing arts schedule features original comedy sketches, a new Class IV musical tradition and Shakespeare’s most famous star-crossed lovers.
Inspired by the Ziegfeld Follies and other revue shows, the Class IV play is a collection of songs, poetry, short scenes and music, specifically tailored for the Class IV actors. The material explores the journey from birth to death and the production is titled: The Class IV Follies: The Tree of Life. There are songs from modern musicals and the classics; scenes from plays, sketch comedies and films; and poetry ranging from Shakespeare to Maya Angelou. The Class IV play is a long-standing performing arts tradition involving the entire class.
Meet Adrian Anantawan, Milton’s New Music Department Chair
Adrian Anantawan has toured the world as a violin soloist and performed on some of the most prominent stages, but this year marks the beginning of a different kind of adventure: being a house parent to the boys of Forbes House.
“Sitting down at a dinner table and hearing young men talk about things that are really intellectual, and at the same time really having fun, is wonderful,” says Adrian, Milton’s new music department chair. “Getting to know them is a highlight.”
Adrian takes the baton from Don Dregalla, who retired after more than three decades of teaching music at Milton. Adrian is teaching the Middle School strings and winds, Upper School orchestra, Chamber Orchestra and general music in the Upper School.
Born in Canada, Adrian has been playing the violin since he was around 10, and he performed professionally for the first time at 15. He has performed at the White House, in the opening ceremonies of the Olympics in both Athens and Vancouver, and at the United Nations. Audience members have included Pope John Paul II and the Dalai Lama.
Festival Rolls Out Red Carpet for Milton Film Club
When George Luo (I) wrote his first screenplay at the end of his freshman year at Milton, he rounded up about 20 people who said they’d be interested in helping him make the film. Over that summer, interest fizzled, and George never made the movie, which is OK, he jokes, because, “It was probably the worst screenplay of all time.”
A few more attempts failed; it was hard to manage the process alone. So, during sophomore year, George and some friends founded the Hollywood Filmmaking Club, which has lent structure to film projects, he says.
Last year, the club, which is made up of actors and students interested in directing and writing, worked together to make George’s film, “Under the Wound,” which was accepted in several film festivals. Over that Columbus Day weekend, six members of the club went to New York City, where the 20-minute-long drama was an official selection of the All American High School Film Festival, an event that honors the best of high-school films from all over the country.
A Night of Latin-American Jazz
Three student jazz groups take to the stage in King Theatre on Thursday night to perform in Milton’s 27th annual fall jazz concert. Curtains open at 7:30 p.m. for this celebration of Latin-American jazz.
“We will play sambas, bossa novas, mambos, cha-cha-chas and boleros. Some of the tunes will make you want to dance and some will make want to cry (for good reasons we hope),” jokes music faculty member, Bob Sinicrope. “This promises to be a spirited and educational experience as we will share with our audience background information on the tunes.”
This is the only major on-campus performance of the year scheduled for these groups. All are welcome to join in the fun.
Poetry Reveals Truth Through Fiction, Bingham Writer Ron Smith Tells Students
In works that explore the intersection of ubiquitous moments in history and intimate, personal narrative, poet Ron Smith asks, “What is my place and what keeps me in it?”
On campus as the Bingham Visiting Writer, Mr. Smith read selections spanning his career as a poet, and later visited students for a smaller Q&A. In between his poems at the reading, Mr. Smith provided context and described his writing process.
Reaching New Heights, on a Bike
Clocking in at a minute over four hours, senior Chris Mehlman placed third out of 650 riders in the Vermont 50, a grueling 50-mile mountain bike race that involves an elevation climb of 9,000 feet. To put his amazing finish into context, the top two riders are well-known veteran winners on the mountain bike race circuit.
Chris says he started mountain biking in fifth grade, but didn’t start racing until his sophomore year. He started with races in the New England High School Cycling Association. This led him to Back Bay Cycling Club (B2C2), a competitive cycling team based in Boston, where he has a coach.
“What I enjoy about biking is that it’s a big challenge both mentally and physically,” says Chris. “The training is hard, but I love having goals and something to drive me on. I also love how scientific biking is; it’s a nerdy sport. There is a lot complex data in the training.”
Unite Against Hate, Boston Anti-Defamation League Executive Director Tells Students
Young people have the power to stem the tide of anti-Semitism and other hateful incidents, said Robert Trestan, executive director of the Anti-Defamation League’s Boston Office.
“The most powerful thing you have is your voice,” Mr. Trestan told students. “Speak out. If you do it collectively, you can make a huge difference.”
First Art Exhibit and Jazz Concert of the School Year Opens in Kellner
Beginning on Friday, September 15, the newly renovated Arts Commons in the Kellner Performing Arts Center features Ubuntu, an exhibit by photographer Frances Scanlon. Ms. Scanlon’s body of work includes images captured over the years during the Milton Academy jazz group’s biennial tour of South Africa.
“What started out for Frances Scanlon as documentation of the Jazz South Africa tours crossed the line into art,” says Nesto Gallery Director Larry Pollans. “Frances finds structural energies that define South African culture. She also captures the spirited link forged between our students and the South Africans. There is a palpable sense of adventure in the images.”
Convocation Speakers Encourage Milton Students to Know, Challenge and Hear One Another
“Know, and be known,” Head of School Todd Bland urged Milton students during Convocation on Friday morning, asking them to not run from difficult conversations, and instead seek to understand each other.
“I’m a believer in the truism that author Andrew Solomon is well known for saying: ‘It is nearly impossible to hate anyone whose story you know,’” Mr. Bland said. “I would carry that a step further: It is also far easier to maintain good faith in those whose stories you know. Let us do that for one another.”
Embrace Differences, Head of School Todd Bland Encourages New Students
Welcoming new students and their parents to Milton this week, Head of School Todd Bland asked everyone in attendance to acknowledge and honor the differences each student brings to the School.
New Class IV students, as well as those entering Milton in Classes III and II, join others from 24 U.S. states and more than 20 countries, each with their own stories and points of view. Some of them have been at Milton since Kindergarten, while others are brand-new. Mr. Bland promised parents that the School is ready and excited to guide each student as they grow more independent.
“We will do everything in our power to be supportive of your children,” he said. “We will care for them and we will look after them.” To students, Mr. Bland said: “You’re in for a great ride.”
