On the Arts

On the Arts DRAMA

The Show Goes On, Outdoors Pingry’s Drama Department originally faced a choice spaces,” says Mr. Napolitano, who has worked on outdoor this fall: live stream the Fall Play, which would mean the productions. Almost, Maine explores love and loss in a absence of a live audience, or move the show outdoors series of short scenes that require only two or three actors to give the actors an audience and the community a per scene, ideal for social distancing and other safety chance to attend. As it turns out, the show, John Cariani’s protocols. Rehearsals took place primarily outdoors with Almost, Maine, was streamed and moved al fresco! students wearing masks, while a tech crew of at least 16

“I was excited because this was a new experience, not students constructed the outdoor stage and set. just for [the teachers], but for the kids,” says Drama Depart- The production was staged at the Pop-Up Amphitheatre ment Chair Stephanie Romankow. She even checked with behind the Upper School building (in the Student Village, former Drama Department Chair Al Romano to see if created over the summer as extra outdoor space), with one Pingry had mounted outdoor theater in the past. As far as tent for a green room and two tents for the audience. they know, this was Pingry’s first venture. “At a time when live theatre in the U.S. is largely shut

For their vision of an outdoor theater, Mrs. Roman- down and most audiences are virtual, we presented a fully kow and Drama Production Designer Joseph Napolitano rendered piece, an approach that sets Pingry’s Drama were inspired by Central Park’s open-air Delacorte The- Department apart from other programs,” Mr. Napolitano ater and companies that have produced outdoor-only says. “After speaking with the cast and crew, I know that shows that made use of lakes and other natural resources our drama students were excited (and grateful!) to be able for Titanic, Into the Woods, and Carousel, to name a few. to perform again in front of a live audience. We have devel-

“The key to site-specific work is using the landscape— oped new ways to deliver our program that are consistently the location—to tell the story, and that works really well rigorous in all aspects, performance and technical, to what with Almost, Maine because the plot has a lot of outdoor we’ve offered in previous years.”

VISUAL ARTS

Lower School students and teachers worked on a community-based art/ Decisions project in September, making beaded straps for their masks. They personalized their colors and patterns and added their names and a mantra, such as “ready,” “staying focused,” and “positive.”

On the Arts MUSIC

Taking Note of Arrangements Two members of the Balladeers, Lauren Drzala ’21 and Sophia Lewis ’22, have been working on song arrangements—challenging, but enjoyable, endeavors that rely on Noteflight (music notation software).

Lauren outlines her basic process . . .

Look up the piano arrangement and convert each part into singing ranges.

Listen to the original song to see what the piano arrangement omitted.

Sophia outlines her basic process . . .

“I need to fit everything in there so it sounds as close to the original as possible, but at the same Add these missing elements. time, I try to make it my own.”

—LAUREN DRZALA ’21

Listen to the song multiple times to determine the number of voice parts.

Write the solo part, using an existing arrangement or trial and error to determine the rhythm.

Listen for the chords, write them out, and try to find patterns.

Determine the rhythm and notes for each voice part while making sure the parts sound good together. Add the lyrics for the voice parts.

FOURTH GRADE

Musical Glasses

During remote learning this spring, fourth-grade students had fun with “musical glasses.” Using water in glasses or glass jars, and tapping with a metal spoon, they created their own musical instruments and discovered that the level of the water affects the pitch. Students had fun exploring different sounds and playing familiar melodies.

True Blue Spotlight Q&A WITH MEMBERS OF PINGRY’S TRUE BLUE SOCIETY

“Pingry helps develop wellrounded students who are grounded by a sense of honesty and honor, and who put others first.”

Vanessa Chandis ’98

What inspires you about Pingry today?

What drew me to Pingry when I was deciding on a high school to attend is the same thing that inspires me about Pingry today. Pingry helps develop well-rounded students who are grounded by a sense of honesty and honor, and who put others first. Pingry fosters an environment where students are not pigeon-holed into one identity or excelling at only one activity. The straight-A student can also be a star athlete, perform in the school play, or sing in Glee Club. The School provides opportunities and platforms for students to grow and learn in many capacities, which enables them to have a variety of experiences and exposure to diverse people and viewpoints. And, through its Honor Code and community [and civic engagement] requirement, Pingry encourages students to take pride in their work, act with integrity, and think beyond oneself. The standards to which Pingry holds its students as members of the community help set the standard by which students conduct themselves outside of Pingry.

What is your fondest Pingry memory?

I have many fond memories from my four years at Pingry, but the parking lot hangouts before sports practices stand out the most. Despite having locker rooms, many of us would quickly change into our sports clothes in our cars and spend the rest of the time beforehand blasting music from our cars (maybe singing along!), talking and joking around, making plans for the weekend, and generally having a good time. I remember the feeling of camaraderie and school spirit, and I always smile when I think back on those afternoons.

What was your most difficult Pingry class?

Chemistry with Dr. Parv. I wanted to be a doctor until I took her class! For whatever reason, the subject just did not click in my brain. The best grade I got in that class was for something entirely unrelated to chemical formulas or atoms or bonds . . . it was the mole project. We were tasked with creatively explaining what a mole (unit of measurement) was, and I turned it into an arts and crafts project by making a papier-mâché mole (the animal)!

TRUE BLUE SOCIETY

Those who have given to The Pingry Fund for 10 or more consecutive years

The Pingry Fund supports and enhances every aspect of the Pingry experience, including the arts, athletics, faculty professional growth, technology and innovation, and financial aid.

Please make your gift online at pingry.org/give or with the reply envelope included in this magazine. For more information, please contact Jane Hoffman ’94, P ’26, ’27, ’28, Director of Annual Giving and Community Relations, at jhoffman@pingry.org or 908-647-5555, ext. 1222.

“We will deliver Pingry, anywhere. We will be together, everywhere.”

—MATT LEVINSON, HEAD OF SCHOOL