Theatre
It’s been an exciting and robust year in the performing arts as we look back on everything we accomplished through collaboration, creativity, and a desire to take our program to the next level.
The Dance Department kicked off the year by hosting the World Dance Festival. Dancers traveled from as far as Chile to learn a variety of dance styles from Shanghai professionals and to share their own choreography.
We were busy in November! The Theatre Department produced She Kills Monsters, showcasing the performance skills of many returning upperclassmen and featuring many new freshmen. Behind the scenes, students did a fantastic job designing and building the costumes and props that brought the show to life. At the same time, SAS hosted over 80 orchestra musicians from 6 schools for the APAC Orchestra, with guest conductor Maestro Wes Kenney. The month then wrapped up with an incredible concert, Winter’s Harmony, featuring the Band, Choir, Guitar Class, Jazz Band, Orchestra, and Symphony.
At the start of the spring semester, the International Thespians Honor Society held the first 48-Hour Play Festival, the culmination of a successful Fringe Fest week. Four teams of actors and production crew had 48 hours to cast, direct, design, and perform a short script drawn at random. It was a huge success, and next year they plan to invite schools from outside to participate.
Not to be outdone, the Orchestra department hosted area middle- and high-school orchestra programs at the Shanghai Community Music Festival, a celebration of strings.
In celebration of Lunar New Year, several high school dancers, under the leadership of Ms. Anneliese, helped choreograph the middle school dancers for the first-ever production of Plum Blossom Dream, a Shanghai retelling of the classic ballet The Nutcracker.
We had an excellent crop of students travel across Asia to a variety of AMIS music festivals. Over 30 SAS Puxi students collaborated with peers from across Asia, honing their skills in band, choir, and orchestra.
In the spring, the Dance Department wowed audiences for the final time for the year with the 19th annual Passion production, which showcased a variety of dance styles and was always a crowd favorite.
Shrek the Musical hit the stage in April, a cross-division celebration of theatre. Students participated on stage, backstage, and in the pit, bringing the story of Shrek, Fiona, Donkey, and all the Fairytale Freaks to life.
Finally, our Music Program wrapped up the year with a celebration of music in a concert titled Resonance. Students showcased their hard work and collaboration, proving that the SAS Puxi Music Program is a treasure that continues to shine.
It’s been a phenomenal year for the performing arts at SAS Puxi, and we can’t wait to see what’s in store for next year!
Mr. Kirk Holland, Director of Performing Arts and Drama Teacher
From the Director’s Stage
48 Hour One Act Play Festival Performance
This year, Thespians Honor Society, after months of dedicated planning and organization, hosted its first-ever 48-Hour Play Competition. Over thirty students from high school and middle school collaborated intensively over the course of three days to present a finalized play performance. Each of the four groups was given a one-act play script, which they then utilized to design sets, costumes, lighting, and sound for their respective shows. Working tirelessly and diligently, every individual thespian exemplified what it means to be a learner - to endlessly gain insight into the world of performing arts, while maintaining professionalism in communication. The cross-division event proved to bring the varying grade levels together in a heartwarming showcase.
Ultimately, each performance was vibrant, carefully coordinated, and immersive. Whether that be a comedic interpretation of dinner scenarios or a tragic narrative of hardships individuals face in school, one thing was clear: students gave it their all. Passion divulged from the hearts of the members into their presentations, molding a truly impressive ending to a brilliant three days. In the upcoming year, the Thespians Honor Society is looking forward to expanding the contest, bringing together not just Shanghai American School’s own students, but also interested performers and designers from Concordia and the Pudong Campus. While art may be the forefront mission, collaboration and growth are certainly the true meaning behind such an experience. Although students were zealously committed to the experience this year, there is no doubt that the contest will only become more remarkable as time continues.
Shrek: The Musical
Based on the 2001 animated film, Shrek the Musical marked Dreamworks Animation’s first path into stage entertainment, bringing the story of the unlikely ogre, the spirited Princess Fiona, and a cast of fairytale characters to life. The production presents a treasure trove of creative opportunities, including costumes, sets, puppets.
This year, Shanghai American School brought Shrek the musical to the stage as its first full school production in five years, uniting students from Elementary, Middle, and High School in an impressive collaboration. From the talented cast and band to the dedicated crew behind the scenes, the performance showcased the passion that made this long awaited return to the stage so special.
