performing arts year in review As has been evidenced by the tremendous success of the Broadway hit, Hamilton, the arts provide performers and audiences the opportunity to consider subject matter in unexpected ways. While one might not have initially thought that Secretary of Treasury Alexander Hamilton was the embodiment of hip-hop, clearly Lin-Manuel Miranda did, and his artistic masterpiece has educated and enlightened thousands. Miranda did exactly what Shakespeare encouraged – using art to give life shape – and the Archbishop Mitty Department of Performing Arts aspires to do the same. It offers a college preparatory program dedicated to the artistic development of its students through all performing arts by offering the most professional caliber performance experiences possible for the sake of the students’ enrichment and the audience’s enjoyment. Through the interpretation of music and dramatic literature, Archbishop Mitty musicians, performers, technicians, and designers are challenged to discover their own artistic talents. Seeking to develop and enrich qualities in the performing artists that will serve the participating individual and community, the Department of Performing Arts aims to give students tools to succeed not only on stage but also in real-life situations. The 2015-2016 theater season opened with Little Women in October, which featured a show-stopping performance by Samantha Gorjanc (‘16), who received a standing ovation every night for her rendition of “Astonishing.” In January, the Kinkade Center for the Arts was the landing spot for the comedy Boeing Boeing, which featured two separate casts of six actors who brought this hilarious French farce to life. The season closed in March with a sold-out production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, which included a cast, crew, and orchestra of 85 students. The California High School Music Honors recognized several Archbishop Mitty student actors for their performances this season, with nominations for Little Women for Best Overall Production; Samantha Gorjanc for Best Lead Actress as Jo March in Little Women; Ivan Bracy (‘17) for Best Lead Actor as Gaston in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast; Charlie Ibsen (‘17) for Best Supporting Actor as LeFou in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast; and Sophia Rodriguez (‘16) for Best Supporting Actress as Madame de la Grande Bouche/ Wardrobe in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. At the awards in May, Sophia received the Best Supporting Actress Award, and Samantha walked away with the Best Actress Award, which earned her a trip to New York City to perform on a Broadway stage and compete in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards. Additionally, the Audience Favorite Award went to our production of Little Women.
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Also appearing on the stage was Pardon My French, the Archbishop Mitty Sketch Comedy Team. They performed in several events on and off campus, including “French Fridays” in the Schott Family Music Center and at the Black & Gold Gala at the Fairmont Hotel. Their hilarious spring musical came from an audience suggestion, and the team created an original musical on the spot, which kept the audience in stitches.
2016
The 11th Annual National Youth Arts Awards saw Archbishop Mitty earning 20 awards and 18 additional nominations. Little Women received five awards including lead actress in a musical (Samantha Gorjanc), supporting actress in a musical (Emily Goes ‘17), costume design, musical direction, and direction. Boeing Boeing earned five awards including lead actors in a play (Kai Hynes ’16 and Lucas Kernan ’17), supporting actresses in a play (Haley Anderson ’16 and Amelia Whitney ’18), and ensemble. Disney’s Beauty and the Beast earned ten awards including outstanding production, lead actor and actress in a musical (Noah Fletcher ’16 and Emily Murray ‘16), supporting actor and actress in a musical (Ivan Bracy and Emma Dapkus ’16), ensemble, lighting design, musical direction, choreography, and direction.