Back On Stage

Photo by @deniseleitnerphotography

Full circle: Denise Leitner

moves back behind the lens for Mayfield

Years ago, Denise Darnell (who helmed the Dance Conservatory from 1999-2015) hired a talented photographer to capture her students on stage in Pike Auditorium. The visiting artist—also named Denise, also a dance teacher, also a former professional performer—got more than she expected from her day at 500 Bellefontaine. “I just walked up the Pike stairs into the Green Room and something hit me,” says Denise Leitner. “I got this feeling like, ‘You’re going to work here one day.’ And that was five years before Denise Darnell decided to retire!”

And now, as she choreographs her own retirement plans, Ms. Leitner is grateful for the collaborative connection she has built with her students over the past six years. “Over time, I learned to really, really listen to my dancers,” she says. “I’ve learned from their energy, their adorableness, their spirit, their vibrance.” What else have they taught her? “I’ve learned a lot about Instagram from them for sure!”

This year’s Spring Dance Concert, “The Music Never Stops,” marked Ms. Leitner’s final Mayfield production as Dance Conservatory Director. Inspired by the Grateful Dead song of the same name, the title was a fitting farewell from a multi-hyphenate artist who is confident that the Conservatory for the Arts programs at Mayfield will continue to be a source of creativity and self-discovery for students. “Even when I leave the school, the music never stops, dance will go on, art will go on. The journey will continue,” she says.

What does the next step of that journey look like for Ms. Leitner? With an inhome art and photography studio and access to a nearby dance studio, a life of creative expression will be at its heart. And to bring things full circle, she already has plans to be back behind the lens for Mayfield. “I have some photography projects lined up on campus already, and hope that will be ongoing. Because I’m definitely not done with Mayfield!”

Students honor Dance Conservatory Director Denise Leitner at an intimate farewell celebration.

Award-winning artists

Congratulations to visual artists Nina Copado ’22 and Olivia Sandford ’22, whose exceptional work was honored at this year’s Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.

“Skins” by Olivia Sandford ’22 (Gold Key Award for photography)

“My Teeth" by Nina Copado ’22 (Honorable Mention for painting)

BACK oN STAGE

After two years of Zoom live-streams and prerecorded concerts, our Conservatory for the Arts students reveled in the all-hands-on-deck camaraderie of putting on a show—and the sheer thrill of performing for a live audience.

Wonderful ‘Wizardry.’ The tale of a windswept Kansas girl arriving in a magical land is a timeless one, but this year’s spring musical theater production was not your mother’s (or grandmother’s!) “Wizard of Oz.” For one thing, this updated version is built around an entirely different musical score (no MGM showtunes!), and uses a pared-down “black box” approach—minimal sets and costumes, but maximum potential for imagination. Lily Salazar ’23, one of the two actresses playing Dorothy, raved about the process. “Everyone had a lot of fun…telling a very unconventional version of ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ ” she says. “I've learned a lot more about how much conveying a story matters in theater.”

Raising the curtain on ‘a new way of looking at theater’

Although Theatre Director Maryanne Householder says that mounting live theater productions again has “definitely been a rollercoaster ride of emotions,” everyone— students, teachers and audience members alike— was excited to be back in Pike Auditorium, which she calls “our special place to create magic.” Ms. Householder admitted that the “mask factor” was a challenge, but says it pushed her students to focus on key elements of their craft. “It gives the actors a chance to really work on other facial expressions and developing character and storyline and body language,” she says. “So I think it was just a new way of looking at theater.”

Classic caper. After 19 months of darkness, the stage lit up in fall 2021 with the whodunit murder mysterycomedy “Clue,” based on the beloved board game. The familiar cast of colorful characters played out the kooky comedy on a maximalist mini-mansion set, built by Technical Theatre Conservatory students under the expert guidance of their new instructor, Paul Cales. “It’s just been an all-around great collaborative process,” Ms. Householder says.

Choir hits high note

The Mayfield Women’s Ensemble enjoyed a spectacular return to choral competition in April, sweeping all the honors at the WorldStrides Heritage Festival in Northern California. At the awards ceremony, held at California’s Great America Theme Park, the group won Outstanding Choral Group, Outstanding Women’s Ensemble (Gold First Place) and the Adjudicator Award. “This was a stunning performance on every level,” said adjudicator Travis Rogers. “One of the very best high school women’s choirs I’ve ever heard in almost 40 years of adjudicating.” Brava, ladies!