Middle School Students Perform First Play in the Great Room

In February, students in Grades 7 and 8 performed "curiouser/CURIOUSER: An adaptation of Alice in Wonderland!" in the Great Room, a new space created during the Light the Future Campaign. Drama teacher Shayna Strype found inventive ways to adapt the Great Room as a theater and used every aspect of the space to help tell the story. “We had giant flowers hanging from the balcony, a dance party on the stairs, animated projections to create backdrops and Alice running through the inner courtyard—literally through the looking glass!” says Shayna.

The Great Room, designed as a concert and lecture hall, is primarily a dance and music classroom, during the school day. After school, it serves as rehearsal space, lecture hall and performance space. The Great Room does not replace venues like the Vineyard Theater where Upper School plays and musicals are performed. The Head of Performing Arts Steve Borowka explains, “It gives students a professional feel of rehearsing in front of empty seats where they learn to project their voices. The acoustics are wonderful and rehearsing with natural light is a joy.”