An Evening of Middle School Stories and Songs

Middle school students recently staged a variety show featuring one act plays, monologues, and musical performances.

Musical performances included Boygenius' "Not Strong Enough," performed by Lydia Andrews '31, Emily Gao '31, and Avery Seward '31, and The Weeknd's "Die For You," performed for Callum Tang '31.

Monologues included "I Used to Love the Window Seat" and "Lunch With Papa," both performed by Jordan Lanton '30, "Casual Jack" and "Dad and Jerry," both performed by Mina Brandstetter '31, and "Yaya the Thief" and "Mom's Mom," both performed by Naomi Avidan '30.

One-act plays included "Step Twins," featuring Ellie Ching '31, Indali Sinha '31, and Marina Smallwood (Science); "Pizza My Heart," featuring Henry Arett '31, Will Pritzel '31, Arya Kulkarni '30, Owen Christensen '31, Marley Beuckman '30, and Jamie Beaugard '30; "Little Johnny Knows Things," featuring Charlie Smallwood '30 and Ellie Leuthardt '30; and "Thou Shalt Return," featuring Mark Smith (History) and Ben Schlichter '31.

The show was written and directed by John Pierson (Performing Arts), with help from assistant director Naomi Avidan '30 and musical director Peter Sykes (Performing Arts). Erin Knadler (Performing Arts) and Joseph Novak (Performing Arts) were the technical directors; Ms. Knadler also oversaw the scenic, lighting, and production design. Perla Eidson '26, Daniel Kim '28, Amelia Kostman '29, Madeylyn Sifton '30, Isabella Spann '29, Emily Thomas '30, and Sam Wilson '29 served as the scenery and electric crew.

Special thanks to costume designer Carla Landis Evans; audio engineer Jamieson Rich '29; assistant light designer and light board operator Rohan Shah '30; sound and projections operator Emily Thomas '30; and stagehands Emmett Choquette '31 and Madelyn Sifton '30. Emily Gao '31 designed the program cover art. 

Thanks also to The Producers, a Parents Council committee dedicated to supporting performing arts. 

"Thou Shalt Return," "Step Twins," "Little Johnny Knows Things," and all monologues were written by Mr. Pierson during his time at the Bogliasco Center.