91̽��

Three student jazz groups take to the stage in King Theatre on Thursday night to perform in 91̽��’s 27th annual fall jazz concert. Curtains open at 7:30 p.m. for this celebration of Latin-American jazz.

“We will play sambas, bossa novas, mambos, cha-cha-chas and boleros. Some of the tunes will make you want to dance and some will make want to cry (for good reasons we hope),” jokes music faculty member, Bob Sinicrope. “This promises to be a spirited and educational experience as we will share with our audience background information on the tunes.”

This is the only major on-campus performance of the year scheduled for these groups. All are welcome to join in the fun.

The concert performance features:

Group A

Cori DeLano – flute

Sarah Palmer, Matt Ryan – alto saxophone

Louis Barber, Andrew Viola, Andrew Willwerth – trumpet

Isaac Goldings – cello

Alli Reilly, David Shaw – piano

Henry Taylor – guitar

Jonah Bussang – bass

Jack Sullivan – drums

Group B

Nate Jean-Baptiste – cello

Evan Jenness, Jen Zhao – piano

Jack DeLea – guitar

Clara Wolff – bass

Tanay, Srivastava, Nick Taborsky – drums, percussion

Group C

Danny Little – soprano sax

Coalter Palmer – alto sax

Alex Chen – tenor sax

Will Goldberg – cello

Cameron Shockley-Okeke, Jane Yang – piano

Jonah Garnick – guitar

Vijay Karle – bass

John Minicus – drums, percussion

More than 40 students are participating in Grease, the iconic musical set in a 1950s high school, which opens Thursday, May 18, in King Theatre. It’s a big production for 91̽��, says performing arts faculty member Eleza Moyer, who is directing the show.

“It’s a classic show,” Eleza says. “A lot of the students have seen the movie, and Grease Live! was on TV in the fall, which brought the show back. It’s a fun time period, with fun costumes. It appeals to a lot of people.”

Because Grease is set in a high school, the students are playing characters their own age, an opportunity not often available in musicals. Faculty member and choreographer Kelli Edwards and assistant choreographer Sophie Clivio (II) are teaching the company classic ‘50s dance routines that will be familiar to any fans of the classic film starring Olivia Newton John and John Travolta.

Eshani Chakrabarti (I) plays Sandy and Spencer Evett (I) plays Danny; the show also stars Nick Govindan (I) as Kenickie, Dorsey Glew (II) as Rizzo, and Cheyenne Porcher (I) as Frenchie. Nick Gistis (I) is the assistant director.

Eshani has been in 91̽�� productions, and has worked with Eleza, since she was in sixth grade. Having the musical in the spring allows freshman to participate—in the fall, the Class IV play takes their time—something Eshani loves.

“It’s a great way to meet people in every class. Some of the best times I’ve had at 91̽�� have been in ensemble roles as a younger student,” she says. “A lot of the Grease cast have been together in shows for years. For the seniors, it’s a great way to end our run at 91̽�� with such a fun show.”

Grease will run Thursday, May 18, at 7:30 p.m., Friday, May 19, at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, May 20, at 7 p.m.

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A cast of eight actors, many of whom play multiple characters, takes the stage in Wigg Hall for this spring’s 1212 Play, Yellow Face by David Henry Hwang.

The semi-autobiographical play tackles issues of race and assimilation and was written as a reaction to the real life casting of a white actor to play an Asian role in the hit musical Miss Saigon in 1990. In Yellow Face, Mr. Hwang’s character, played by Jonathan WuWong (II), accidentally casts a white actor, played by Ty Mohn (III) for an Asian role. He then proceeds to try to cover up his error in comedic fashion, although the humor explores complicated issues that are relevant today.

Performing arts department chair Peter Parisi, who is directing this spring’s 1212, says the play unfolds like a documentary with appearances by key cultural and political figures of the ‘90s. The play is also a part of the School’s Asian Pacific American Heritage Month celebration. There will be two “talk backs” with actors after Thursday’s and Friday’s show. Other events scheduled during the month include a Straus Dessert titled “Acting Asian American” on May 16 and an Asian Society workshop on tea culture led by Leo Jin (II) on May 22.

Yellow Face opens Thursday, May 4, at 7:30 p.m., and shows on Friday, May 5, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 6, at 7 p.m.

Thirty-eight 91̽�� students received recognition—Gold Key, Silver Key, or Honorable Mention—in the Massachusetts Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards began in 1923 and are considered the most prestigious arts awards for teenagers in the country. All Gold Key award work is submitted to the national scholastic competition, and those awards are announced in March.

Aditya Gandhi (II) won a Gold Key and Honorable Mention in poetry. “My interest in writing comes mostly from reading literature. I owe thanks to all my English teachers, but especially to Mr. Connolly. The two poems of mine that were recognized deal largely with identity and how it is shaped by culture and society.”

Tony Xu (I) won a Gold Key award for his painting titled “Fish Guts.” “My interest in painting, specifically this type of realism painting, was inspired by visits to the fresh food markets in China as a kid, and also by my own interest in exploring grotesque and detailed images using oils. Brian Kim’s (Class of 2016) works last year were also an inspiration. I created this painting from a photograph of a real model that I made after purchasing a fish from the market.”

Caroline Massey (II) won Silver and Gold Keys for photography and a Silver Key in art. “I’ve taken photography at 91̽�� since my sophomore year and fell in love with the medium. Working with photography gives me an appreciation for and fascination with people and light, and these two things ultimately became the main focus of my work. ‘Eleanor,’ my Gold Key photo, is a picture of my cousin Eleanor sitting in a pool with her head tilted upside down toward the camera. My cousin is my favorite subject to photograph—she’s always a very enthusiastic, cooperative and goofy model! When taking this photo, my main goal was to capture the light reflecting off the pool water as well as Eleanor’s compelling posture and beauty.”

Hannah Neri (II) won an Honorable Mention, Silver Key and Gold Key for her photography, as well. “My family likes to travel a lot, so photography is a great, portable way to document our trips and the different cultures, in a way that is unique to me. My photography is inspired by the people and places around me. All three recognized photographs were taken on trips—two of them when I was in Malawi visiting an orphan school and one of them in Bologna, Italy.”

Complete list of award winners
(GK: Gold Key; SK: Silver Key; HM: Honorable Mention)

John Albright (III): SK Poetry: Building Gaskets with My Father

John Albright (III): HM Poetry: How I Learned Politics

Keisha Baffour-Addo (I): SK Photography: Annabell’s Hand

Eloise Baker (II): SK Photography: Mannequin

Eloise Baker (II): SK Photography: Stormy Sunset

Mark Bodner (I): HM Digital Art: A Progression

Andrew Chan (II): HM Poetry: Caught in Amber

Andrew Chan (II): HM Poetry: Haikus for a Houston Suburb

Letitia Chan (I): GK Writing Portfolio

Claudia Chung (I): HM Drawing and Illustration: Unveiling

Claudia Chung (I): SK Drawing and Illustration: Flaws

Malia Chung (IV): GK Poetry: Waking

Emma Comrie (I): SK Photography: Sharon Springs 29

Emma Comrie (I): HM Photography: beach 6

Michelle Erdenesanaa (I): SK Poetry: Cattle Drive

Michelle Erdenesanaa (I): SK Poetry: Cold War Children

Serena Fernandopulle (III): HM Poetry: ICU

Aditya Gandhi (II): GK Poetry: A Hindu in Catholic School

Aditya Gandhi (II): HM Poetry: Migraine

Hannah Hachamovitch (II): GK Painting: Post-Thanksgiving

Kaja Hartwell (I): HM Photography: missing person: identity unknown

Katie Rose Hoffman (I): HM Poetry: Do you Wish to Save Your Work

Chloe Kim (I): GK Writing Portfolio

William Kim (III): SK Critical Essay: Technology Trap

Julia Lebovitz (I): SK Photography: Reflection

Max Li (II): SK Poetry: Gas Station

Caroline Magann (II): HM Digital Art: Sunrise Lake

Caroline Magann (II): SK Digital Art: Sunrise in an Open Room

Caroline Massey (I): SK Photography: Vogue

Caroline Massey (I): GK Photography: Eleanor

Edward Moreta Jr (II): GK Poetry: Surname X

Edward Moreta Jr (II): HM Poetry: Bridges

Edward Moreta Jr (II): GK Flash Fiction: Homes

Hannah Neri (II): GK Photography: Bologna

Hannah Neri (II): HM Photography: Her.

Hannah Neri (II): SK Photography: Jacaranda

Beatrice Ojuri (II): GK Poetry: NEVER MY HOME: A History of White America

Alexandra Paul (II): GK Poetry: On The Curb Outside of Al Punto

Benjamin Pratt (III): SK Poetry: Thoughts From Supermax

Benjamin Pratt (III): SK Poetry: That Blueblack Night

Lily Reposa (II): SK Photography: Unexpected Reflection

Joseph Schuster (I): HM Photography: The Board of Directors

Maxwell Seelig 7 GK Short Story: Faith For Tomorrow

Kailee Silver (II): HM Drawing and Illustration: Swim Meet

Caroline Strang (I): SK Poetry: Fourteenth Birthday

Caroline Strang (I): SK Poetry: Home

Caroline Strang (I): SK Poetry: Moon Scuffle

Nathan Strauss (I): SK Photography: Harbor Scene

Nathan Strauss (I): HM Photography: Rigging

Evita Thadhani (IV): HM Personal Essay/Memoir: Alive Again

Evita Thadhani (IV): HM Personal Essay/Memoir: A Voice for the Migrants

Alexandra Upton (II): GK Short Story: Loch Ness

Alexandra Upton (II): HM Short Story: Tickets

Abigail Walker (II): HM Poetry Elegy

Jessica Wang (II): SK Poetry: In the Kitchen with My Mother

Jessica Wang (II): GK Poetry: third street promenade in santa monica

Catherine Wise (I): HM Poetry: Other

Catherine Wise (I): SK Poetry: Bound

Catherine Wise (I): GK Poetry: Insides

Jonathan WuWong (II): HM Sculpture: Ghost

Jonathan WuWong (II): HM Photography: Sight Seeing

Haozhou Xu (I): GK Painting: Fish Guts