Fine & Performing Arts
Wayland also is known to have a performing arts program. The Drama Department typically "officially" produces three shows a year including (but not limited to) a musical, dramatic stage play/comedy and a competition prepared for a local dramatic theatre festival . In addition, "Winter Week" one act play festival are typically student written, acted and directed by students from members of the freshman, sophomore, junior and senior class. Held after mid-year exams and before the spring athletic season begins full-swing, Winter Week plays typically allow students whose athletic schedules during the year a chance to be on stage while working with their peers to create a performance piece that's judged as part of a healthy competition to reward excellence and achievement.
The three traditional choral music ensembles include the chorus, concert choir & madrigal choir mainly overseen by faculty with the exception of the madrigal choir which has historically always been student conducted with advisement from the chorus teacher/conductor. Additionally the school has a band, Jazz Ensemble, Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra along with other brass/symphonic groups as well.
Prior to the surgence of student a cappella groups, sophomore student Dan Blocker ('97), inspired the Creative Arts Parents Association the idea for the first College A Capella Night. 16 years later the event continues to be one of groups most anticipated and successful fundraiser. In 1996, Senior Gretchen Perry ('95) grew increasingly frustrated by the absence of any type of dance performance offerings at the school and as a result conceived, choreographed, directed and produced (with the help of the theatre department) "Windows: Dance Showcase" that spring which to this day continues bringing dance and movement to the school stage - still led and produced by students themselves.
During their senior year, Melissa Leifer ('97) and Kate Kenyon ('97) co-founded the voluntarily all-female (and at the time, first only single gender a Capella group at WHS) still known as "The Muses" which a couple short years later would pave the way for Wayland's all male a capella group "The Testosterones" both of which are entirely managed, arranged and run by students.
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Famous quotes containing the words performing arts, fine, performing and/or arts:
“More than in any other performing arts the lack of respect for acting seems to spring from the fact that every layman considers himself a valid critic.”
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“No more the white refulgent streets,
Never the dry hollows of the mind
Shall he in fine courtesy walk
Again, for death is not unkind.”
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“More than in any other performing arts the lack of respect for acting seems to spring from the fact that every layman considers himself a valid critic.”
—Uta Hagen (b. 1919)
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—One honest tear shed in private over the unfortunate, is worth them all.”
—Laurence Sterne (1713–1768)