Arts
Oedipus Rex
By Eve Simister
This weekend, eerie rhythms, drifting smoke and spiked platforms will transform Tang Theatre into a chilling ancient universe for the winter Theater 520 production “Oedipus Rex.” Directed by Instructor in Theatre and Dance Kevin Heelan, the production takes a dark twist on Sophocles’s quintessential Greek tragedy utilizing unnatural movements and terrifying tribal make-up and masks that will enrapture audiences.
The Story
Scotty Fleming ’10 stars as Oedipus, the king of the plagued and dying city of Thebes. Calista Small ’10 plays Jocasta, Oedipus’s wife.
“It’s a pretty tangled group,” said Charlie Walters ’10, who plays Creon, Jocasta’s brother and second-in-command in Thebes.
Facing desperate pleas from his subjects, the chorus, Oedipus orders Creon to consult the Oracle of Delphi to save the city. Creon reports that Apollo cursed the city because no one has caught the murderer of the former king, Laius. In his search for the murderer’s identity, Oedipus calls...
Abbot Cabaret 2010: Talent, Humor and Charity
By Miki Nagahara
Abbot Cabaret 2010 provided a lively splash of color on Andover/Exeter Weekend, amidst a whirlwind of activities and events. Eager students attended the show, which featured a variety of acts including the Yorkies, the Sprouts, Rockafella Acapella, Bass Pro Shop and many other talented artists and groups.
“It was so cool!” said Dan Krichmar ’12, jumping up and down in excitement, a common response from the audience.
Alasdair McClintic ’13 said, “It was great because of the diversity of the acts.” Eric Ouyang ’13, who had just returned from competing in the regional Science Bowl, said “I figured that attending Abbot Cabaret would be a nice way to ‘wind down.’”
The show started off with emcees Billy Fowkes ’10 and B.J. Garry ’10. The two started the show by arguing about who was emceeing, and ended the show by “making up” and hugging. The first act was a poem written...
Battle of the Jazz Bands
By Jinzi Zhang
There is no better way to end a restful weekend than listening to some quality blues performed by student jazz musicians.
The Academy Jazz Band opened their concert with a rendition of “Tin Roof Blues” by the New Orleans Rhythm Kings, performed by a student octet. The octet provided a firm, crispybeat that accompanied the melody, filling the chapel with a New Orleans feel. “Stolen Moments” by Maria Schneider featured a brave trumpet solo from Aaron Finder ’13 and a saxophone solo from Andrew Li ’10, who also stole the show with his solo in “Hanky Panky” by Bob Mintzer. Ian Sigal ’12 and Charles Pecora ’12 both performed solos in “Bird Count” by Maria Schneider that again brought a New Orleans feel into the chapel. The last piece, “Wind Machine” by Sammy Nestico, was performed by the Academy Jazz Band along with professional musicians from the Greg...
Academy Orchestras Carry Listeners “Across the Stars”
By Bryan Ha
The orchestra concert last Friday carried audience members to distant galaxies and times past. The Corelli Ensemble, directed by Instructor in Music Elizabeth Aureden, blasted off the concert with its well-harmonized tune of “Capriol Suite for String Orchestra” by Peter Warlock. Corelli played four of the six movements, each with a different theme and emotional state. The suite began with a bright “Basse-Danse,” which was followed by a grave “Pavane.” The “Tordion” skipped briskly across the chapel as the performers strummed their strings in pizzicato. The suite ended with “Bransle,” which conveyed boisterous joy to the listeners. However, this was only the beginning of a vivid concert with much more to offer.
The Amadeus Ensemble continued with Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Quartet C minor, Op.18, No.4.” The mind-clearing tune was in harmony with the tension created by the violins’ high-pitched sound. Next, Chamber Orchestra moved listeners with the sad,...
Andover Idol
By Evan Eads
It’s been another week and another cutthroat round of competition for the finalists of Andover Idol. After brutal auditions, five talented singers have survived to this week: Kristina Rex ’11, Camerin Stoldt ’12, Peter Yang ’10, Faiyad Ahmad ’10 and Casey McQuillen ’11. Competing for the chance to record a CD with WPAA and a 50 dollar gift card to My Brother’s Pizza, sponsor of Andover Idol, seven semifinalists sang live on WPAA in two separate rounds judged by Vivian Mallick, Associate Dean of Admissions, and Derek Jacoby, Instructor in Music. Listeners eagerly tuned in to both the live performances, and the recorded songs played throughout the week on WPAA. For the duration of the week, the candidates were on pins and needles as the votes poured in, anxiously awaiting the results because, as Heidi Klum would say, “One day you are in, the next day you...
Piano Virtuoso: David Lim ’12
By Compiled By Rachel Ryu
Phillips Academy students have all heard David Lim ’12 play an amazing rendition of Liszt at ASM. Coming in as a new Lower, he effortlessly became part of the music program at Phillips Academy, playing his music at every opportunity. Lim also practices whenever he can in the midst of his heavy academic workload. Though many would expect Lim to have started at an extremely early age, Lim started in the second grade, rather late considering his skill with the piano.
Q: When and how did you start playing?
A: I started playing when I was seven, and I gave up at eight, and I started again in the second grade. And fourth grade, that’s when I got serious. I didn’t like instruments; I didn’t know why my parents were making me do it. I used to play the violin when I was really young, but I just didn’t...
Black Arts Weekend: Showcasing Culture and Talent
By Fatima Liaqat
Students gathered in the Den to hear an eclectic mix of poetry and music at the Black Arts Showcase Friday night. Fey Feghali ’12 began the event by reciting a poem on the beauty of diversity. It was the perfect opening act for poems ahead. Eli Shapiro ’10 and Khalil Flemming ’12 followed. Flemming performed “Continued” at the Showcase and detailed the rejection he faced when trying to ask a girl to dance with him. This wasn’t the first time Flemming read his poetry in public. At the JusticeNow Coffee House few weeks ago, he had already earned a reputation, charming especially a group of Upper girls with an untitled poem about the girl who had won his admiration. Dominic Chang ’11 followed with 3 poems, one. And, as expected, Charlie Walters ’10 read a poem titled, “Charles Shoener Naked: An Introspective Look at Race Issues in...
Drop What You Know
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By Phillipian Staff Report
The theme of this year’s student-run Dance Open is “drop what you know.” Director Sayer Mansfield ’10 encouraged student choreographers to leave their comfort zones, try unfamiliar styles of dance and to experiment with new movements and formations.
The Dance Open opened Thursday night in Steinbach Theater and will run through this weekend. The four performances sold out as early as Tuesday.
“The Dance Open is probably the most popular dance show of the year,” said Jenny Zhou ’11. “It’s just a fun opportunity to get involved with dance on campus, even if you haven’t tried it before. People come to see their friends dance and to see the dances their friends have choreographed. The dances are so different—there’s something for everyone.”
The first dance of the show is “Drop Your Socks,” choreographed by Brenna Liponis ‘10. The lights go up on five dancers, dressed in deep purple and edgy...
Pianist Mana Tokuno Celebrates Chopin’s 200th Birthday
By Na Young Park
Faculty Pianist Mana Tokuno vibrated the atmosphere of the Cochran Chapel as she performed six amazing pieces by composers Frederic Chopin and Robert Schumann, in honor of their 200th birthday. Tokuno started off with Chopin’s “Ballade No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 23.” The first notes surprised the audience as Tokuno started the piece with strong, loud notes that quickly blended with a soft melody. Towards the end of the piece, Tokuno showed off her piano skills as she played a complicated but beautiful scale.
After a brief break, Tokuno continued with her performanc. She played “Nocturnes, Op. 37,” another Chopin piece. Unlike Tokuno’s first performance, this set of Nocturnes has a slower tempo. The mellow and soft sound of the piano filled the Chapel, almost like a lullaby. The fourth piece on the program was “Scherzo No. 3 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 39,” also by Chopin. This...
Academy Band Concert: Marches and Dulcet Tunes
By Bryan Ha
In spite of the cold, weary winter weather, vivacious harmonies stirred up the Cochran Chapel last Sunday at the Academy Band Concert. The low whispers of friendly conversations echoed through the Chapel as the parents, friends and teachers filtered into the Cochran Chapel. However, the room soon became quiet as the sound of musicians tuning resonated, hinting that the concert was about to begin. The concert, presented by the Music Department, included performances by L’Insieme Di Martedi Sera, the Academy Concert Band and one woodwind octet. The concert blasted off with the harmonious first movement, Allegro Maestoso, of “Serenade No.11” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Performed by 8 student members, each woodwind instrument contributed to crafting the beautiful melodies and intricate cords. Dulcet tunes of the oboe and the clarinet played by Jae Hyuk You ’10 and Steve Kim ’11 intensified the excellent performance.
The woodwind ensemble was followed...