Arts in the News
“Wicked Sketchy” Opens in King Theatre
“Wicked Sketchy,” Milton’s annual sketch-comedy performance, opens Thursday, May 15, in King Theatre. The show, a community favorite, features hilarious, student-written sketches and is hosted by the Upper School Performing Arts Department. Don’t miss this great opportunity to laugh with friends! Performances run Thursday, May 15 at 2:20 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, May 16 and 17, at 7 p.m. Check out the promotional video for the show.
“Silent Sky” Will Light Up Studio Theatre
The amazing true story of astronomer Henrietta Leavitt will come to life in the Performing Arts Department’s production of Silent Sky. The play, which tells the story of Leavitt’s groundbreaking discoveries at the turn of the last century, was written by Lauren Gunderson. Leavitt navigated the challenges of being a woman in the male-dominated science community while developing ways to accurately calculate distances in space—her discoveries ultimately shaped a better understanding of the scale and expansion of the universe.
Last week, the play’s cast and Performing Arts chair Eleza Kort went to Harvard with Science Department faculty member Jim Kernohan’s Cosmology class. There, the students visited “The Great Refractor” telescope and saw the photographic plates that Leavitt used to map the stars.
The show opens in Milton’s Studio Theatre on Wednesday, April 30 with a 2 p.m. matinee, followed by performances Thursday, May 1 and Friday, May 2 at 7:30 p.m.
Check out a promotional video from the cast and crew!
A Celebration of Milton Music Honoring Margaret Filoon Robertson ’56
On February 7, the Milton Academy Music Department hosted the Margaret (Peggy) Filoon Robertson ’56 Concert in the Straus Library. This year’s concert showcased student-led instrumental groups, soloists, and a chorus of Milton Academy students, faculty, and members of the Wellesley Choral Society. It was a lovely evening of inspiring performances.
Established in 1996, the Margaret Filoon Robertson ’56 Fund supports travel for Milton’s student music groups. The Music Department named the corresponding home concert to honor Peggy’s commitment to the music program. The student performers shared their passions and gifts with our community, just as Peggy did. Among the many talented performers were Andre Zhao ’25 on viola and Jayden Lee ’27 on piano, who captivated the audience with their rendition of “The Swan” by Camille Saint-Saëns. Jayden also accompanied Jason Yu ’25 on saxophone as he performed his arrangement of “White Field: A Bird Sings an Epilogue” by Tsutomu Narita.
The travel opportunities and concerts fueled by the Margaret Filoon Robertson ’56 Fund allow our students to perform in front of new and varied audiences. The cultural and musical experiences expand their perspectives, influence their creativity, transcend language and cultural differences, help them grow in their confidence as performers, and deepen their love of music.
Please click the play button below to enjoy a recording of the concert. Thank you to the Filoon and Robertson families for joining us and honoring Peggy’s commitment to the music program, and to all of our donors for enabling opportunities for students to pursue and share their passions.
Something Rotten Comes to King Theatre
Join the Performing Arts Department for its production of Something Rotten, which opens Thursday, November 14 in King Theatre. The hilarious musical, which made its Broadway debut in 2015, chronicles the misadventures of a pair of brothers vying for acclaim in the Shakespeare-dominated theater world of London in the late 16th Century.
Milton’s production of Something Rotten has three showings: Thursday, November 14, at 1:30 p.m.; Friday, November 15, at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, November 16, at 7 p.m.
Head Over Heels Sets a Classic Story to an 80s Soundtrack
The spring musical, Head Over Heels, reimagines a 16th-century royal love tale—told mostly in iambic pentameter—and features the music of the 1980s rock band The Go-Gos. Its mash-up of music, visuals, and script work, however, to tell a story as old as time.
“It’s a great mix of elements,” said director and Performing Arts Department faculty member Peter Parisi. “It feels like they’re in this Shakespearean world and the characters are in a modified Elizabethan wardrobe, using the music of The Go-Gos, but it makes sense. They’re talking about issues that are both timeless and contemporary.”
The musical adapts the plot of The Countess of Pembroke’s Arcadia by Philip Sidney, which was written in the late 1500s. It tells the story of the royal family in a kingdom, Arcadia, whose future depends on the family avoiding four predictions by an oracle. Set to some of The Go-Gos’ most recognizable hits as well as their lesser-known songs, the show is magical, dramatic, and fun.
“The theme is love,” Mr. Parisi said. “It’s about loving who you want to love, status, power, responsibility, duty to family, duty to your country, duty to yourself. In the end, the message is that love is love is love is love, and no matter who you are, you deserve love.”
The relatively small cast has allowed performers to form tight bonds across grade levels, said Naomi Yu ’24, who plays Philoclea, one of the princesses in the royal family.
“The whole process has been incredibly satisfying and exciting,” said Naomi. “The language of the musical is more Shakespearean, less modern-day English, so there was at first a little bit of a learning curve—because of that initial hurdle, though, it’s been much more gratifying. Personally, I’ve had so much fun getting into the world of the musical, and I can’t wait to see how it unfolds in front of a live audience.”
Blending an old story with modern themes has been exciting, because it includes LGBTQ+ characters and themes that span ages, like gender roles, relationships, and acceptance, “all with the backbone of upbeat rock,” said Naomi.
Head Over Heels is the first rock musical Milton has ever done. There is an ensemble on stage throughout most of the show, which gives lots of students the opportunity to perform and shine. Faculty members Ted Whelan, Alan Rodi, and Scott Caron are working with students on melding rock with musical theater; Shane Fuller designed the set, Evan DelGaudio is handling lighting, and Pam Walker designed the costumes. The choreography, from Kelli Edwards, is “absolutely amazing,” said Mr. Parisi.
Maggie Dudley ’25 is an ensemble cast member, which is exciting in this show because there are lots of opportunities for performers to interact onstage.
“People should plan to see the show because it has a lot of heart,” Maggie said. “The whole cast has put a lot of work into it, and each of the show’s elements are rooted in having fun and telling a story the best way we can. I think the audience will find both relatabillity and joy in our performance.”
Head Over Heels opens Thursday, May 18 at 7:30 p.m. at King Theatre in the Kellner Performing Arts Center. It will run Friday, May 19 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 20 at 7 p.m. Tickets are free; register for them online.
