Fall Play: 'Permanent Collection'

The Performing Arts Department opened its 2025-2026 season with a production of Thomas Gibbons' Permanent Collection — a thought-provoking drama that invites audiences to consider questions of race, art, legacy, and who gets to tell a story.

The cast featured Alex Brooks '26, Jansen Dents '26, Teddy Hollander-Bodie '26, Beverly Ratliff '28, Sadhbh Leonard '28, and George Farrell '26, as well as the voices of Jayla Pruitt '26, Julia Guerra '27, and Quincy Battles '28. 

The show was directed by John Pierson (Performing Arts), with help from production state manager Jayla Pruitt '26, assistant stage managers Olivia Loosemore '29 and Annalise Yorg '29, and technical supervisors Erin Knadler (Performing Arts) and Joe Novak (Performing Arts). Ms. Knadler also designed the lighting and set.

The lighting board was operated by Emily Bernstein '26, sound and projections were operated by Nura Sharp '27, and costumes were designed by Carla Landis Evans. Amelia Kostman '29 and Jamieson Rich '29 were the stagehands.

Other members of the crew included Cole Albrecht '26, Beau Brandstetter '28, Perla Eidson '26, George Farrell '26, Smokey Goffstein '28, Alex Greuloch '28, Molly Kreitman '26, Aditi Paduru '27, Shulynn Ragland '27, Deven Shah '26, Mitchell Smith '26, Paige Tsai '27, Chris Tao '26, Adi Veeramachaneni '27, and Morgan Wright '26.

Special thanks to museum professional Connie Gibbons (The Horseman Foundation) and JBS faculty member Anthony Johnson (History), who led a post-show discussion on Saturday evening to further explore the play's themes. Thank you also to Nick Bible, the St. Louis Actors' Studio, Donya Allison (Fine Arts), Plant Operations, and The Producers, a Parents Council committee dedicated to supporting performing arts.  

Click here for a full list of upcoming student productions.