The Arts

PHILOSOPHY & GOALS

The visual and performing arts program at Brunswick is an integral part of the curriculum, with the guiding objective of providing fundamental artistic literacy for every student. It is extremely important to involve the boys in different art forms, not only to develop their talents, but also to encourage appreciation of the aesthetic dimension of the world. Often, our boys display a penchant for music, theater, or the visual arts; others simply enjoy the experience and learning something new about themselves by taking creative risks and experimenting in new media. At the Upper School level, students have the option to specialize in the visual arts (including computer graphics), instrumental music, vocal music, and/or theater. In addition to pursuing these fields as academic disciplines, students can participate in numerous musical ensembles, theater groups, performances, and clubs. Those with talent, interest, and ambition are given numerous opportunities to achieve excellence.

▶ OVER 6,000 PEOPLE have attended performances in Baker Theater this year as the pandemic has made its way into the rearview mirror. And, for the first time ever, all Middle School concerts and shows throughout the year were moved up to the “big stage” at Maher Avenue.

The COVID-19 pandemic rendered the beautiful Baker Theater a bit of an empty desert for a time, but all that ended this year as crowds of parents, grandparents, family, and friends flocked to see boys perform in show after show.

“For a couple of years, it’s been a wilderness,” mused Andrew Hall, chair of Visual and Performing Arts, “with Zoom presentations and video releases.”

Baker Theater has provided a boost for Middle Schoolers, who staged their spring play as well as all their instrumental concerts and choral events there after suffering a paucity of performance opportunities due to the pandemic. For younger boys, COVID-19 ended all performances; for some, this year was the first time they had a chance to perform in front of people.

Some parents, in fact, had never set foot inside the Upper School space.

“They were fascinated to see what we were producing at the Upper School,” Hall said.

Opened in 2008, Baker Theater has 410 seats.

▶ EXTRA! EXTRA! Hot off the presses! Read all about it!

Singing, dancing — and even some stage combat — have fully returned to Baker Theater!

A cast and crew of more than 80 thespians from Brunswick and Greenwich Academy took over Baker continued on page 11