POLY ARTS
At Poly, we celebrate the importance of the arts. Through our program, students explore the creative process and develop confidence as they express themselves through visual and performing arts. Supported by a staff of professional artists, students are inspired to act with imagination, discover their creative voices, and engage deeply with the challenges and joys of the artistic process.
Performing Arts At Poly, we teach performing arts skills that reach beyond the stage and permeate all aspects of student life and development. Students cultivate movement skills, become formidable public speakers, and develop an ear for music and dramatic writing. In Lower School, children begin exploring posture, rhythm, movement, and sounds in studios filled with light and melody. Middle School students advance their creative movement, musical, and dramatic abilities as part of the curriculum and in opportunities beyond the classroom. In Upper School, students get to choose from a variety of performing arts electives, independent study, and extracurricular activities so that the pursuit of their personal passions is encouraged and supported.
Performing Arts
PERFORMING ARTS OFFERINGS • Choreography • Costume Design • Dance • Drama & Acting • Lighting & Tech Design • Musical Theater • Music: Vocals • Music: Instrumental • Set Design • Speech & Debate • Stage Management
M E ET TH E ARTI STS Olivia Whitmer ’18 Northwestern ’22
Salvatore Juliano ’18 Skidmore ’22
As the high-flying ringmaster in Pippin or the wily witch in Into the Woods, actress Olivia Whitmer captivated audiences with her song, dance, and the ability to utterly transform into any role. Olivia traveled to Cuba as part of Concert Choir, played Varsity Tennis, and competed in the Roger Rees Awards for Excellence in Musical Theater Performance for New York City high school students. At Poly’s Major Awards before graduation, she accepted the Creativity Prize to thunderous applause.
Salvatore Juliano always shined in Poly’s Upper School shows, enthralling audiences as a circus performer in Pippin and leaping to center stage in the Dance Concert. But in true Poly fashion, Sal went on to wow the community in another realm of the arts as well; his charcoal depiction of two wild horses, on hind legs fighting, was a show stopper at the annual Spring Art Show.
Nick DeVito ’18 Tufts ’22 Nick DeVito traveled the country with Poly’s Debate team, winning several championships, including the title of 2018 National Speech and Debate Association Champion in Congressional Debate. Despite his fame at the podium, when Nick was on the Poly stage, he could be found stunning onlookers in a totally different environment: the Winter and Spring Concerts, where Nick wailed on saxophone with the Jazz Band.
Visual Arts Every student at Poly has an access point to visual arts that matches their interests and skill. In our studios, art is both hands-on and intellectual; it is singular and community building. Students develop a strong base in traditional practice and materials, while still being encouraged to develop their own eye and methods. They can draw realistically, and create illusionist space, but our students also understand the variability of art. They experiment, take risks, and solve problems. They look closely, ask questions, see alternate perspectives, and make connections.
Visual Arts
Artwork: Jesse Moskowitz ’23
VISUAL ARTS OFFERINGS • AP Art History • AP Studio Art • Art and Gender • Art and Social Change • Ceramics • Creating & Curating with the Brooklyn Museum • Digital Photography • Drawing • Painting • Printmaking • Visiting Artists
MEET T HE A RTIS TS Lotoya Francis ’18 Cornell ’22
Olivia Knutsen ’18 Northwestern ’22
At the year-end ceremonies, Lotoya Francis walked away with two major prizes, the Concert Choir Award and Poly’s School Service Award. It was a surprise to no one. Lotoya has been active in every area of Poly life since Middle School. She excelled in academics, danced and sang with various student clubs, and was elected class president in Upper School four years in a row. Lotoya was also the founder of Project F.O.C.U.S., a club that mentored neighborhood students, and Lemonade, an affinity group to celebrate all black women— students, faculty, and alumni—at Poly. Lotoya is attending Cornell University, where she studies industrial and labor relations.
Olivia Knutsen delighted Poly audiences with her operatic voice and impressive acting talents from the Middle School production of Guys and Dolls to Cinderella in Into the Woods. Olivia, who directed the women’s a cappella group, the Harmonics, earned Poly’s Frank R. Hancock Award for Excellence in Music and made Poly proud when she performed as a soloist at the New York State School Music Association All-State Chorus.
James Decker ’18 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ’22 James Decker is a Renaissance man. Creating beautiful lighting design to showcase Upper School plays and musicals earned him Poly’s Winder Drama Service Award. But James was also renowned for building a robotic arm that took him to the Science Olympiad State Championships, being a finalist in the Pi Day Digits Competition, and coming to the rescue for any tech problem—the more challenging the better.
ARTS EVENTS 2019
2020
OCTOBER
JANUARY
MAY
Freshman/Sophomore Play: Our Town by Thornton Wilder Wednesday, October 30 | 3:15 p.m. invited dress rehearsal
Upper School Acting Class Scenes Thursday, January 16 | 5:00 p.m. richard perry theatre
Kindergarten May Day Friday, May 1 | Time TBD park slope
Afternoon of Student Choreography Sunday, January 26 | 3:00 p.m. richard perry theatre
Middle School Musical: Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical Book by Dennis Kelly, Music and Lyrics by Tim Minchin Friday, May 8 | 1:00 p.m. in-school performance
Friday, November 1 | 7:00 p.m. richard perry theatre
NOVEMBER Junior/Senior Play: The Laramie Project by Moisés Kaufman Wednesday, November 20 | 3:15 p.m. invited dress rehearsal
FEBRUARY Upper School Musical: Grease Book, Music and Lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey Wednesday, February 26 | 3:15 p.m. in-school performance
Friday & Saturday, November 22 & 23 | 7:00 p.m. richard perry theatre
Friday & Saturday, February 28 & 29 | 7:00 p.m. Sunday, March 1 | 3:00 p.m. richard perry theatre
DECEMBER
APRIL
Grades 3 & 4 Winter Music Concert Tuesday, December 10 | 6:30 p.m. park slope
Spring Dance Concert In-School Performance, TBD
Winter Arts Festival Exhibition and Concert Thursday, December 12 Visual Arts Exhibition Opening Reception | 6:00–7:00 p.m. student center Concert | 7:00 p.m. chapel Middle School Play: Clue: On Stage by Jonathan Lynn, Hunter Foster, Eric Price, Sandy Rustin Wednesday, December 18 | 2:00 p.m. in-school performance Thursday, December 19 | 7:00 p.m. richard perry theatre
Friday & Saturday, April 17 & 18 | 7:00 p.m. richard perry theatre Spring Vocal Music Concert and Visual Arts Exhibition Thursday, April 23 Visual Arts Exhibition Opening Reception | 6:00–7:00 p.m. student center Concert | 7:00 p.m. chapel Spring Instrumental Concert Thursday, April 30 | 7:00 p.m. chapel
Thursday & Friday, May 7 & 8 | 7:00 p.m. richard perry theatre Senior Theater Project Friday, May 15 | 7:00 p.m. richard perry theatre Acting Class Scenes and Upper School Theater Awards Dinner Tuesday, May 19 5:00 p.m. | richard perry theatre 6:00 p.m. | commons hall Ballet and After School Musical Theater Performance Thursday, May 21 | 6:00 p.m. richard perry theatre Grades 3 & 4 Music and Dance Concert Thursday, May 28 | 6:30 p.m. richard perry theatre
JUNE Open School Night Thursday, June 4 | 6:30 p.m. Park Slope
Lower School 50 Prospect Park West Brooklyn, NY 11215 718-768-1103
Middle & Upper Schools 9216 Seventh Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11228 718-836-9800
Front Cover Artwork: Oliver Roaman ’23