Issue II Final Layout (1)

08 | FEATURES the hourglass
Mamma Mia,
Here We Go
Again
The Baldwin Theater Department returns with a new director,
a new musical, and a new level of energy
GEORGIA JANE WHAMOND ‘25
Staff Writer
Design by Gemma Young‘25 and Allison Meng ‘25
Graphics by Emily Zhang ‘23
Photography by Lyla Mason ‘26
If the chorus of “Dancing Queen”
has been stuck in your head on a
loop and you’re counting down the
days until you can get your hands on
tickets to the Baldwin theater department’s
upcoming performance of Mamma Mia!,
you’re not alone. The school is abuzz with
excitement about the approaching show,
a popular jukebox musical that many
students already know and love.
However, students may be less
familiar with the new theater teacher
behind this fun production: Ms. Marlowe.
After many years of experience at other
schools, Ms. Marlowe joined the Baldwin
theater department early in the 2022-2023
school year.
Already, Ms. Marlowe has big
plans for theater at Baldwin. Discussing
her goals for the department, she said,
“My hope for this year is to provide a
really positive experience through a fun
style of production, to bring audience
members back into the theater, to gather
into community, to witness really fun
storytelling and acting and dancing, but
also to provide a backstage and rehearsal
experience that is positive and fun.”
Ms. Marlowe said she’s a “a process
over product person,” saying “I want the
rehearsal process to reflect what we want
the production to be, so if the process isn’t
fun and doesn’t have the ability to dig
deep and stretch and grow, then I think the
production will really reflect that.”
Although students have faced
significant challenges in recent years,
COVID being the primary obstacle, Ms.
Marlowe is optimistic about the year
ahead. She said, “What I know so far is that
we have a group of incredibly enthusiastic
students who are ready to bust out of the
last two years of crazy pandemic and go
for the big show, and it seems like that
enthusiasm is backed up by a lot of work
ethic so far.”
Baldwin’s theater department is
unique in that it is a largely student-led
program. Maskers, the theater club at
Baldwin, facilitates a huge part of the
Theater teacher Ms. Marlowe looks to her vision board as inspiration for the upcoming year.
theater department’s operation and success.
Julie Brose ‘23, one of the Maskers
heads, highlighted how the club, and the
department as a whole, has changed over
time, saying, “I think there’s a lot more
resiliency within, because it used to be
that we’d just complain about the things
that weren’t right, and with all the turnover
we’ve realized it’s really up to us to sculpt
the theater department we want. The
biggest difference is just the people.”
Chloe Watson ‘24, another Maskers
head, said, “A student-led program can
sometimes be a struggle, but I think it gives
students the opportunity to step up in ways
they may not be able to at other schools.
Techies, actors, dancers, and many other
talented individuals are able to step into
roles of leadership and help produce a
performance of their own. So much goes
into running the theater club at Baldwin
and it’s taught me so much.”
Rachel Gopalani ‘23, the third
Maskers head, spoke about her goals for
the department this year and in the future.
She said, “This year, my main goal is that
we encourage a more widely known and
accepted view of the theater department. I
think the addition of Ms. Marlowe this year
will be great too– I’ve heard great things
about her and I’m excited to keep working
with her. I think when we have that kind
of strong leadership, that’s going to be a
lovely addition, because when students
see that in such an underrepresented
department they’re going to take it more
seriously.”
As rehearsals for Mamma Mia!
begin, Maskers heads say that the energy
for the show is already high. Reflection,
experience, and careful planning from
student leaders and Ms. Marlowe are
elevating the Baldwin theater department
to a new level this year. Excitement for
participating in theater is unmistakably
present, with much to look forward to this
year.