Preparing for the Winter Dance Concert
After a long winter, the Dance Concert explodes with energetic performances, colorful costumes and lively music. Student choreographers begin work in the fall: preparing dance pieces, submitting proposals to dance teacher Kelli Edwards, auditioning, and choosing dancers.
This year’s concert includes a mix of modern dance, hip-hop, Irish step and swing—a piece that Ms. Edwards worked on with her son, Spencer Evett (III). The choreography class’s dance is a psychological exploration that combines spoken word and atmospheric music. Other highlights include an electric Step Team performance, an Indian dance, and a dance that mimics a mixed tape. One piece choreographed by Destiny Polk (I) explores institutional racism to the music of Billie Holiday.
One of the most popular events of the school year, the Winter Dance Concert opens in King Theatre at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 5, and Friday, March 6, and curtains go up at 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 7.
Milton Students Earn Nods From Scholastic Art & Writing Board
By Kate Higgins (I) and Hannah Nigro (II)
Thirty-four Milton students received recognition—Gold Key, Silver Key, or Honorable Mention—in the Massachusetts Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards began in 1923 and are considered the most prestigious arts awards for teenagers in the country.
Will Hawkins (I) and Brian Kim (II) are both Gold Key recipients in art. In Advanced Drawing class with Mr. Torney, Will created “Help!” a drawing that depicts strokes of black ink splashed across the paper with a hand reaching out, emerging from one particular stroke. If you look closely, you can just make out a small boat in the distance. Will explains that the boat “gives a sense of uncertain hope, where the boat seems close, yet the person is almost completely submerged.” This piece is the result of experimentation with India ink and unorthodox tools such as a mop, cups, sponges and cloth. Mr. Torney described Will’s piece as “a wonderful example of simplicity and wit, seemingly spontaneous but actually quite deliberate, considered and sophisticated.” Will noted that this particular piece was one of many he created in which he was “exploring the emotions behind life’s struggles and trying to bring out the visceral nature of fear and being overwhelmed.” Brian’s piece, “Peek-A-Boo” is “a technical triumph” according to Mr. Torney. Brian used the photorealistic grid transfer process to combine a photo of his current head and the body of himself as a baby to create a surreal self-portrait.
Battling Robots at a Bruins Game?
Milton’s Robotics Team demonstrated their robots in action at the Providence Bruins hockey game on Presidents’ Day. The team was invited to attend the game and then used a dedicated space in the lobby between periods to show hockey fans what their robots can do.
The team uses and competes with the VEX Robotics system. They designed this demonstration as a competition between two of their robots, to determine which would score the most points on a designed course. Carson Prindle (IV) and Truman Marshall (IV) were the robot drivers and the robots’s goal was to stack cubes on a pole or get the cubes past a line to score points. To change it up a bit, the team allowed the robots to “steal” cubes to take away points.
John P. Reardon ’56 Receives the Milton Medal
On January 23, the Milton Academy Board of Trustees awarded the Milton Medal to Jack Reardon, Class of 1956—a longtime trustee and a wise and loyal supporter of his School.
Head of School Todd Bland recalled the dinner meeting in 2008 that he and his wife, Nancy, shared with Jack Reardon and Board President Brad Bloom—an evening which solidified Todd’s decision to serve as Milton’s head of school. He spoke about the supportive care and insight that Jack reliably and generously provided throughout Todd’s last six years. Similarly, Brad Bloom credited Jack with his own willingness to assume the presidency of Milton’s board. Brad noted, in particular, Jack’s ability and willingness to listen, and his effectiveness in helping institutions understand what challenges should be addressed, and what changes should occur. “Four heads of school—Ed Fredie, Robin Robertson, Rick Hardy and Todd Bland—and four board presidents—Harold Janeway, Marshall Schwarz, Fritz Hobbs and I—sought his counsel,” Brad said. “In every conversation, public or private, Jack is steady, calm, and focused on the point. He responds with candor, wisdom and sensitivity, regardless of the issue. He frames the importance of a decision in few but relevant words. We all try to understand the full measure of each of those words.”
I Hate Hamlet, But Only This Weekend
“When sorrows come, they come not single spies. But in battalions!” The winter storms may have temporarily stunted our good cheer, but Darlene Anastas and her cast of six offer a shield to fend off thy sorrows. I Hate Hamlet, a light-hearted comedy by Paul Rudnick, opens this weekend in Ruth King Theatre.
John Glasfeld (I) plays the role of John Barrymore, a ghost who returns to teach Andrew Rally, played by Chris Wilbur (III), how to perform Hamlet. Girlfriend Deirdre, played by Grace Stanfield (II), defends her honor while the psychic real estate agent Felicia Dantine, played by Joy Lee (III), gives advice on love and life. Lillian Troy—Dorsey Glew (IV)—is Andrew’s acting agent who is very much in favor of his playing Hamlet. On the other hand, Gary Lefkowitz—Nick Gistis (IV)—arrives to bring Andrew back to Los Angeles to star in a new TV series. Conflict abounds. Will Andrew play Hamlet? Will Barrymore ever stop drinking? Will anyone find romance? Come to King Theatre this weekend and find out.
Tickets can be purchased at the door or during lunch in Forbes Dining Hall. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 19 and Friday, February 20, and at 7 p.m. on Saturday, February 21.
Hope and Destruction in Milton’s Nesto Gallery
This Friday evening, the Nesto Gallery opens its doors to a new exhibition by Elaine Spatz-Rabinowitz.
In this recent collection of work, Locations Unknown II, Elaine Spatz-Rabinowitz paints worlds shattered by violence. Beauty and horror intertwine in these pieces, as do disparate places and times. Our collective visual memory of deadly events, as we witnessed them via photos in the news, are the root of her images. Somehow out of the billowing smoke, torn metal and scattered household items emerges a transcendent landscape incredibly infused with hope. The second juxtaposition is the sense of elegance and grace that is torn from scraped plastery surfaces with exposed wire mesh.
The show, which opened with a reception on January 16, runs through February 27. The exhibit is free and open to the public weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Nesto Gallery is located on the lower level of Milton’s Art and Media Center.
Maysoon Zayid Uses Humor for Powerful Advocacy
Maysoon Zayid—a comedian, actress and activist—warmed up her student audience this week with lots of funny stories, and she also conveyed an important message. Ms. Zayid was the 2015 Margaret A. Johnson speaker, a series that brings noted female leaders to campus each year.
Born with cerebral palsy, Ms. Zayid is a powerful advocate for the disabled. She told stories about growing up in the suburbs of New Jersey, where she was accepted for who she was. But as a theater major in college and a struggling actress pursuing a career, Ms. Zayid realized that disabled people were almost nonexistent in the entertainment industry.
“Hollywood has a bad habit of casting able-bodied people to play disabled people,” said Ms. Zayid. “Then these actors win big awards and everyone says how inspirational they are. And on television, people with disabilities are the largest minority in the world.”
Girls’ Hockey Wins New Year’s Tournament
The varsity girls’ hockey team ruled the rink at the Phillips Exeter New Year’s Tourney, winning all four games in the weekend tournament to clinch the championship. It was their first tournament win in the past five years.
After winning games against Stanstead College (2-1) and Brooks School (5-4), the team beat Rice Academy 3-2 in a three-player shootout where goalie Hannah Congdon (III) stopped all three shots and Captain Katherine Flaherty (I) scored the lone Milton goal. During the game, Maria DiMartinis (III) scored both Milton goals and Hannah made 24 saves.
Preserve What Makes Milton, Milton
As 2014 comes to an end to make way for a new year, review these "Photos of the Day" as a reminder of what makes Milton, Milton. From stage productions to athletic contests, from Harkness tables to off-campus programs, students are living by our motto, "Dare To Be...
Mustangs Take to the Ice in Premier Prep Tournaments
Every holiday season, the best talent in independent school hockey gathers on the rinks of Milton and Nobles for a chance to claim the coveted championship titles of the Flood-Marr Tournament and the Harrington Invitational Tournament. Celebrating its 50th year, the...
