Fall 2012/Winter 2013 - Glenelg Country School

Visual ArtsBy Carole Lehan, Performing Arts, Upper SchoolCROSS-CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING * CHARACTER * COLLABORATION * CREATIVITYCOMMUNICATION * CRITICAL THINKINGFor the second year, Advanced Drama took to the naturalisticsetting of the Theater-in-the-Woods for the US fall production.Number the Stars is a story of bravery during the Resistance of theNazi occupation in World War II’s Denmark. The choice of play,along with production requirements, provided an opportunity tofurther our 21st-century skills while studying a 20th-century event.Performing Arts21 st Century Skills Take Shape in Productionthat they are about to be relocated. They decide to try to escapeto Denmark, and Annemarie’s family agrees to help them. Theyare convinced that the occupation is wrong and so they must thinkand act for themselves even though it is risky for all involved.Art GRantMiddle School art was awarded a grant through the Maryland StateArts Council, in conjunction with Young Audiences, to have a residentartist visit for a special installation project with the entire 7th grade.The visiting artist is Amanda Pellerin, who has worked as a residentartist and teacher at Baltimore Clayworks for nearly a decade. Thestudents are going to focus on making a permanent installation inthe Middle School based on their 7th grade curriculum. The artist willvisit in February and will be working off and on with the students forthe whole month.CHARACTER and CROSS-CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING – AsGCS studies about bullies on all levels Pre-K3 – 12 and aboutthe theme of man vs. man in various cultures, the productionchampioned the cause of the underpowered. Students both inthe play and in the audience became familiar with the dynamicof the military occupation as well as the limited freedoms thataccompany that state when “might” is given the “right.”COLLABORATION – We often hear about the crimes of the Naziregime, but Number the Stars presents a tale in which characterswork together to overcome wrongdoings. It was a compatible titleto the seniors’ All-Upper School reading initiative of Elie Wiesel’sautobiography, Night. The events of the plot were inspired bythe actual resistance movement in Denmark in which Danishpeople secretly rose up against the oppressors by ferrying Jewishcitizens of Denmark across the water to neutral Sweden. Beyondthe theme of collaboration in the subject, creating a productionis a grand act of collaboration that requires an ensemble spirit.Advanced Drama students worked with one another to developscenes, organize costumes, and run props.COMMUNICATION – Advanced Drama gave two outdoorperformances. One was on Thursday, October 18th, in theevening. The other performance was during the school day forthe 4th grade in the following week. Number the Stars, the play,is based on the award-winning novel, which is sometimes includedin the 4th grade reading curriculum. Following that performance,some actors were able to stay for AfterWords, a post-showdiscussion. The young audience showed remarkable attention andinterest during the performance and continued to remain engagedwhile asking discerning questions about the story.CREATIVITY – The cast of 13 Advanced Drama students sharedroles in the creative storytelling using a minimalistic set. The actorsdeveloped a presentation that invited the audience to participateby using their imaginations. The charming new gathering placeof the Theater-in-the-Woods offers the GCS community anothervenue to share and to have our 21st-century skills take shape.This fall, the Upper School Studio Art 2 classworked on drawings in terms of proportion,texture, and shape. Each student in their ownway illustrated a 2-inch tall stuffed bear into alife-size stuffed animal creation.CRITICAL THINKING – In the play, 14-year-old AnnemarieJohansen and Ellen Rosen are best friends growing up in NazioccupiedDenmark. Annemarie and her family are safe becausethey are Protestants, but Ellen’s family is Jewish, and soon hearCAST – Seniors: Abena Frempong, Tyler Hooper, Katie Modrow,Warren Powers, Nicole Rieu, Saraniya Tharmarajah, Melissa Wolf.Juniors: Sarah Narcise, Cooper Taylor (Assistant Director), JustineWollman. Sophomores: Julia Steffe, Andrew Hahm. Freshmen:Kaila Friedman. Guest player: Mr. Ed Conroy.18 Spiortad an Dràgoin Fall 2012/Winter 201319