ArtSpy Program - Artsci Musical 2023

PLAYBILL 2023 Arts & Science Musical

DEPARTMENT OF ARTS & SCIENCE

ARTISTS’ STATEMENT

The first year of Arts and Science is such a dizzying experience. You are thrown into this mysterious, cult-like program, introduced to dozens of other nervous students whose endless accomplishments overshadow yours and then presented with course syllabi and extracurriculars and readings and parties, all while having no idea what exactly it is you are studying. In the midst of all this chaos, it is no surprise that so many students start to question if they even really belong in this program.

However, if you are a first year reading this, do not feel pressured to overcome any such feelings, because, chances are, you never will.

Yup, strap in for around four (or even five) years of utter bafflement as to how you were ever allowed to enter this program. Did some fluky administrative error lead to you being wrongfully accepted? Probably.

And don’t worry, us writers are not just projecting our personal insecurities onto the faculty musical. We are projecting everybody’s

insecurities onto the faculty musical. From the moment we got together to create ArtSpy, we interviewed fellow students and reflected on our own journeys through this program as well as conversations we have had with our Arts and Science peers. ArtSpy wouldn’t have been possible without this support of our own wonderful Artsci community, so thank you so much to everyone who interviewed with us and helped us to develop the script.

Our research and reflections revealed that so many students, no matter their year, their background or their plans after graduation are convinced that they don’t deserve a spot in this program. Many people simply believe that they are not “Artsci” enough to be in this program, whatever that means….

This musical was also written over the summer of 2022, just as Dr. Wilson was handing over the position of program director to Dr. Marquis.

Considering the universality of these sentiments across the program combined with this change in directorship, we decided to focus on the story of Dr. Lu, a character whose seemingly impossible quest to fit in amongst Arts

and Science students is meant to reflect the journey of so many Artscis.

Along her journey, Dr. Lu meets a number of other people who are also trying to figure out how they fit in the Artsci community, from her Big Sib Sam to first years Ozzie, Lee and Angela. It was also important to us that this play also wasn’t just Dr. Lu’s story, but Artsci’s story, where everyone is doing everything in their power to fit in but still feeling helplessly out of place. We’ve put a lot of care and thought into each and every character and their stories, so hopefully there is someone on stage who you’re able to resonate with and you feel reflects your own journey, Artsci or not.

We are so, so excited to share ArtSpy with you all.

We hope it helps you see that the program, despite being such a tight-knit community with a major reliance on tradition, is constantly transforming. No matter how cult-like Arts and Science may be, no student year will perfectly mirror another, just as no two directors nor two students will be the same. We believe that this dynamism makes Arts and Science both beautiful yet confusing, appealing yet intimidating, inviting yet challenging, and we hope that ArtSpy captures Arts and Science’s remarkable complexity while exploring why so many of us just can’t seem to feel “Artsci” enough.

DEPARTMENT OF ARTS & SCIENCE

CAST

Dr. Lu/Jenny . . . . . . Amarah Hasham-Steele Dr. Park (Old Director) . . Helen Patriarche Hector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Soren McMillan Gino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joshua Watson

Lee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ian McMillan Ozzy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gabriella Pelosini Angela . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Emily Hampson Sam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Olivia Cara Tay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dani Wohl Dani . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Victoria D'Anna Aria, Willy Dog Vendor . . . . . . . Monica Yeom Ben, Ensemble . . . . . . . . . . . . Maya Eriksen Jakeob, Ensemble . . . . . . . . . . Luke Morrison Calc Professor, Ensemble . . Arthy Pansanathan Inquiry Professor, Ensemble . . . . . Ella Boich POK Professor, Ensemble . . . . . Sara Paterson Artsci Student . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Evan Tyler Artsci Student . . . . . . . . . . . Molly Griesbach Artsci Student . . . . . . . . . . Sadie MacDonald Artsci Student . . . . . . . . . . . . Shir-El Kline Ensemble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alice Qiu Ensemble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alyssa Abush Ensemble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anna Farley Ensemble . . . . . . . . . . Brianna Lucas-Murray Ensemble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lisa Noronha

PIT BAND

Conductor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kelly Du Percussion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oscar Hand Piano . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Leo Wang Trumpet . . . . . . . . . . . . Charlotte Johnston Trumpet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sam DePaul Euphonium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jessica Tang Tenor Saxophone . . . . . . . . Samantha Potts Flute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bronwyn MacLeod Oboe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Navin Garg Violin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Graeme Lavrence Violin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jennifer Zhu Violin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maia Poon Violin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sanjana Shah Cello . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kai Yang Guitar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alisa Faingersh

DEPARTMENT OF ARTS & SCIENCE

BACKSTAGE CREW

PROPS & SET

TECH

COSTUMES

Ekta Mishra Grace Pender Vivian Vuong Elyse Yuan Brayden Roberts Sim Jolly Maya Kim Annika Venkatesh Brian Junaid

DEPARTMENT OF ARTS & SCIENCE

EXECUTIVE TEAM

Co-Producer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ella Brown Co-Producer . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sanjana Shah Production Coordinator . . . . . . Charlotte Johnston Fundraising Coordinator . . . Navya Sheth Promotions Coordinator . . . . . . . . . Jadyn Westenberg Music Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kelly Du Assistant Music Director . . . . Oscar Hand Vocal Director . . . . . . . . . . . Serena Habib Vocal Director . . . . . . . . . . Sofia Ferraro Co-Director . . . . . . . . . . . Aliana Niezova Co-Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elle Klassen Choreographer . . . . . . . . . . . . Imaan Mitha Choreographer . . . . . . . . . . . . Isha Madaan Costuming Director . . . . . . . Flynn O'Dacre Props & Set Master . . . . . . Tess Macdonald Set Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . Olive Thomas Assistant Set Designer . . . . . Nate Steeves Tech Director . . . . . . . David Kanter Eivin Co-Scriptwriter . . . . . . . . . . David Mason Co-Scriptwriter . . . . . . . . . . . Nisha Gill Script Supervisor . . . . . Sadie MacDonald

DEPARTMENT OF ARTS & SCIENCE

SUMMARY

The newly chosen Arts & Science director, Dr. Lu, has just recieved her first task: to go undercover in the incoming first year class in order to gain a nuanced understanding of the students she’ll be supporting. ArtSpy follows Dr. Lu as she attends Welcome Week, classes, extracurricular events, parties—all the typical cult activities.

ArtSpy offers a peek into the early days of an Arts & Science student while also exploring the questions at the heart of the program and what it means to find your place in a community that is made up of fundamentally unique and different people.

DON'T FO

RGET: DE

TOX TOM

ORROW!

!

knowledge / temptation / de

language? naming?

sire?

ROTIC KNOWING = VERY IMPORTANT

f(x)dx

SONGS

Act I

Good Morning McMaster Company

Who Are Artscis

Dr. Lu, Lee, Tay, Sam, Company

Lee's Ballad Lee, Company

A Step Ahead Angela, Company

Stuck in the Dark Dr. Lu, Company

Act II

Spy Song

Dr. Park, Hector, Gino, Dr. Lu

Nuance

Inquiry Professor, Tay, Dr. Lu, Company

Let Me Be Me

Ozzy, Aria

We're Artsci

Company

DEPARTMENT OF ARTS & SCIENCE

LYRICS

Good Morning McMaster

Oh, oh, oh, woke up today Feeling the way we always do Oh we’re united by something That you can’t touch but we know this much That spirit of Mac is calling us back Just like when Starbucks butchers your name Oh, oh, oh pulling us out to the wings and the halls that we love Good morning McMaster Every day’s just a bit faster Every night is a tale to tell Every lunch Willie Dogs for sale Good morning McMaster This year we start our newest chapter So the world’s gonna wake up and see McMaster and me Oh, oh, oh look at the geese They sure want no peace with us today Oh, oh, oh, we’ve got our laptops and bubble tea Bring it on to me The bugs in Centro All wave hello

They seem to say students good luck to you So oh oh oh don’t hold us back Cause this year all our dreams will come true Good morning McMaster There’s the freshmen; hear their laughter Some from joy while some more from nerves Yet only success is what they deserve Good morning McMaster This year we start our newest chapter So the world’s gonna wake up and see McMaster and me Some of us love arts Some of us love STEM Some of us love both and feel overwhelmed We know that Welcome Week is starting so soon So let’s get it started; let it rain Maroon! (let it rain Maroon!)

So oh, oh, oh, lets have some fun!

Cause when the party’s begun, our wings start to spread Oh, oh, oh, something in Hamilton Makes us feel like we’re made of steel After years of Zoom we’re all ready to bloom We’ve all been held back for far too long So, oh, oh, oh don’t make us wait one more moment for the year to start

Good morning Good morning (Waiting for the year to start) I love you McMaster Every day’s just a bit faster Every night is a tale to tell Every lunch Willie Dogs for sale And we promise McMaster This year we start our newest chapter So the world’s gonna wake up and see Gonna wake up and see (Gonna wake up and see) McMaster and me (Yes, more or less we all agree) McMaster and me (Someday the world is gonna see) McMaster and me!

Who Are Artscis Frantic Cheerful Many Artscis My head’s full Students in a giddy whirl All the different kinds How do they all merge?

Some beam shyness In a crowd I clench my fist All Artscis seem so at ease Why’s it I who freeze?

Is it just me?

Summer heat softens, leaves turning red And the first years are coming in I wait with impatience for my new friends And the parties to start again At odds, unlike I love uni I miss home I’m lost Med school’s on my mind So many Artscis Who don’t align What makes them bind?

New year, new bloom I’ll never miss Zoom and gloom Leaving my room now somehow feels awry How will this year go?

I do not know Who are Artscis?

Lee's Ballad Holy Shit Holy Shit Holy Shit Holy Shit Holy Shit Holy Shit Holy Shit Holy Shit

Holy Shit!

Why Ever since high school I have always been that outcast The uncool?

Look, just wait a few years, everyone said But when years went on Nothing…

Changed Still the no name kid Everyone forgets A faded silhouette In class Try to stand my ground I’d try to speak but could not make a sound Now Think I have a chance In university I might advance And let Myself go free In a circle of friends Is where I hope to be Held back by my tendencies Why won’t they go ‘way They’re socially comfortable While I’m in disarray Well, wait The year’s just begun My shyness is still here and leaves me stunned

So still I’m that no name kid But I’ll join that gc And soon I’ll be free Holy Shit At the tea party Holy shit Maybe, just maybe Holy shit, watch them go I’ll thrive socially Holy shit They’re going Like for real Holy shit

A Step Ahead

Whenever I see something at which I must excel And let’s face it, when mustn’t I go above and beyond?

My inner glow tends to start to grow And when a task needs some perfection, you don’t even need to mention I know what t’do as if I were a pro And even in this course Though it’s the toughest course with no remorse Don’t worry, ‘cuz I know I’ll succeed Watch as I proceed And yes, indeed, I. Will. Be. A step ahead. I’ll be a step ahead.

I’ll be done memorising before you know a thing Every little rule and law, oooh I’ll be all done my first draft while you’re making gaffes Everything that really counts to be A step ahead I’ll always be a step ahead Always top of my cohort Yes I’m good at sports, really what else did you think?

I don’t intend on it but I make you think you stink Don’t be discouraged by my great analysis Hear me speak in class, I know you’ll feel paralysis

Now that calc is done and it’s time for POK Regardless of the matter, there’s nobody wiser.

I’ll never not be A step ahead I’ll always be A step ahead While you begin Genesis I’ve finished the list Of books to read t’ill end of term What, when?

There’s nothing that can stop me from winning it all agern, gain La la la la You’re gonna be a step ahead When she sees a worldly issue, which they must fix and commit to She’ll approach it intelligently, just like a great Celebrated head of state with especially great communication Does she miss a cello recital?

What do you think?

She was a step ahead Please, it’s all about getting ahead It’s all about aptitude and exactitude So excuse me while I am A couple hundred steps ahead like me

Well, this was certainly an interesting debut to our term. You seem like a…unique bunch. Let’s get started, shall we? Who knows a thing or two about Genesis?

Ok what is going on?

I don’t know but I feel behind already. Even on the first day of class everyone…knows something that I don’t.

It seems like they know everything that we don’t.

I do!

It’s about deities and humanity I know theologically It explores the heavy idea of good and sins done evilly La la la la You’ll be a step ahead Just not as quite as ahead as me!

Stuck in the Dark I’m stuck in the dark Despite all that I’m trying I just want to win Now I start to spin I think of Artscis And have nothing to say No bound’ries to draw I start to withdraw

The program’s besting me Not how I thought it’d be I always persevere Now I’m stuck right here I was never stumped Thinking I got it made I figured this was it Things will never shift (Ahhh) Getting comfortable (Ahhh) Thinking I’d be on top (Ahhh) That was all until (Ahhh) I came ‘pon this hill (Ahhh)

This mission does not yield I can’t define this field Just when I have a break I find a mistake The program’s besting me (Besting me) Not how I thought it’d be (Thought it’d be) I have no one to blame (No one to blame) Why should I complain?

(I can’t complain) All these diff’rent groups I see no end in sight Who is this cohort?

All its many sorts At 3038 They must know that I’ve failed What is my defense?

My fault is immense.

I can’t categorize All of the artscis Soon everyone at Mac Will hear of my slack Now my reputation (Reputation)

Sees degradation (Degradation) While my peers thrive in glee (They thrive in glee) This program’s besting me (Besting me) I’m stuck in the dark And this makes me feel lost I don’t understand How I’m s’posed to withstand I must seek the light To call for helping hands My humility Will be clear to see But you see This program won’t best me This program won’t best me I have no one to blame (No one to blame) So why do I complain?

(I can’t complain) If my peers thrive in glee (They thrive in glee) Then this program can’t best me (It can’t best me)

They thrive in glee It can’t best me They thrive in glee It can’t best me This program might best me

Spy Song

Please, Agent Lu, we are begging you It’s been so long, and we have not heard from you The detox is done For quite some time Please come in O Agent The detox is over Yet you’re not responding Their silence has been prolonged And we’re so worried That the worst is guaranteed And so we pray here That soon our voices she will hear And right now, our minds picture the worst ending

An agent is in the dark Cause it’s not like her to so badly miss her mark Is she swallowed by McKay? Is she still in line for office hours For an essay?

Hopefully, she will remember 3038 is waiting And the detox is now over So will she now hear the desperate radio calls?

Maybe she’s just curious So passionate and drawn to all of Artsci But unless she wants to compromise this task Then she will need to give us a clue Please, please come in Oh dear, you’ve gone missing so suddenly So why step out of line And if you’re gone, we must replace you You should stay out of trouble And remember to be extremely careful Come in Come in!

Copy that, copy that!

Did you hear that?

Let’s just wait for the knock!

What’s. The. Code?

Dr. Lu! Are you alright?

Boy am I glad to see you!

My silence has been prolonged I am so worried That my worst is guaranteed I cannot deny There’s no defining the Artscis And even if I put in heaps of effort I’m just wasting energy Now my task as I know it seems too heavy for me Why’s your tail between your legs?

You’ve been at this job for only two weeks You are not dead!

This task is sure not easy But your timeframe has not ended So skies ahead may not look breezy But wait t’ill you’re sure that all is done and said You must remain curious Everyday you must ask a thousand questions So unless you are a martyr listen up and we will teach you A thing or two

You, listen here My dear, you’ll be stunned so severely When you least expect it So if you stop all the sudden You should know all will be done So remember to be very attentive Please Please Please, please, take note of what we said and…

Don’t give up till the end Don’t give up till the end Please don’t stop you’re far too close Your success will soon be grandiose So don’t stop So don't stop!

So don’t stop!!

Go, go, go, go Go, go, go Go! Don’t give up t’ill the end!

Nuance

Listen up class What do we say when one looks For a simple, rigid answer?

When they think in black and white?

‘Cause we know it’s gotta change Your outlook, switch it up!

Yes, that’s right, change it up!

It’s time for new perspectives No time for binaries Say, hey world, you’re layered And so am I, head to my feets Head to my feets!

Bring some… ...nuance in …

Let some nuance show Never let it go Never let it go Let your thinking grow Bring some nuance in Let it show, show, show

Try to move past the clichés (all the one-liners) It’s not just left or right (Think again) Try to read between the lines (Ooh, yeah, yeah yeah) And there you’ll find the light Bring some nuance in Let some nuance show Never let it go Never let it go Let your thinking grow Bring some nuance in They might tell you to “wake up” (wake up now, wake up now) And stop this foolishness (foolish kid foolish kid) They’ll say look at the world With some stone cold truthfulness (with some truthfulness) Life’s not a chem exam (yeah yeah) It can’t be boiled down (ooh) To options A, B, or C (Ohhh) Our world is more profound, Miss thing, you work it out!

Let some nuance in Let some nuance show Never let it go Never let it go Let your thinking grow Yes! Does it make more sense now? (oooooh) Looking for new, creative answers to life’s arduous questions might seem like daydreaming, but those who refuse to break free from abstract restrictions are asleep. To be awake means to think newer, bigger, and better!

Never let it go!

Let your thinking grow!

Let it grow, don’t stop! Let it grow, don’t stop!

We’ve got magic In our nuance Who are they To shut us down? (ohhhhh) Everything that complicates life Are the things that make life count What’s complicated (What’s complicated)

What’s complicated Makes life count Let some nuance in Let some nuance show Never let it go Never let it go Let your thinking grow (Yeah!)

Let some nuance show Show Show Grow Go Life’s tricky, but inquiry Has me ready for it!

Go!

Let Me Be Me

I just did something unexpected Something bold, fearlessly It's not what family predicted But it's beautiful, and it's mine It lets me be me!

Mix it up, mix it up (That's me!) Mix it up, mix it up (It lets me be me) (That’s you!) Mix it up, mix it up (That’s us!) Mix it up, mix it up I was once a masquerader With a disguise, that I despised I was perfect, had a label So much hid behind my bright eyes I wasn’t me when I just did what I was told would make me stable (You don’t like where you're going! Whoa!)

What could I do when I learned being stable made me unstable?

In my stability! I just couldn’t breathe!

A hurricane of all my passions!

Reading Kant!

Writing code!

We grab our shovels, and we build our own road That’s my degree It lets me be me!

Can I be who I am and loathe what I pursue?

Careful, that’s precarious; for you, it just won't do I wanna feel the shiver of reading Hume!

I'm so sick of pretty, I want something true, don't you?

You just seem like your life's been a dream (Whoa) Since the moment you opened your eyes?

(There’s so much that I want to know!)

All I know is there’s much I don’t know (Whoa) But life’s too bleak without some surprise.

How far can we rise? Through the roof, to the skies, let's go!

A hurricane of all my passions!

Reading Kant!

Writing code!

We grab our shovels and we build our own road That’s my degree (It lets! It lets!)

I wanna be where I am deeply, madly, truly in the moment!

Seize the moment, keep goin' What can you do when you know who you wanna be isn't standard?

But I'll still be okay (Hey, everybody clear the way, whoo!)

Maybe I’ll lose my indecision (They’ll make a choice yeah!)

Possibly (Just maybe) Maybe not (Change minds) My way is brighter 'cause you're here, and you showed me what I can be Let yourself be free! (Show 'em what I can be) Make your own degree! (And live cheerfully) It lets me be me!

We're Artsci

I am not a stranger to the dark I’ve been blind and lost When this world’s a question mark I’d start to feel astray in my own skin In Artsci, I asked How can anyone fit in?

But you students shined the light for me There’s more than what the eye can see It’s full of complexity When the world says I know who you are I’m gonna dance until I shake ‘em off I am brave I am bruised We are us, now hear us cry We’re Artsci!

Look out, ‘cause here I come (Look out, look out, look out) And I’m marchin’ on to the beat I drum (I’m marchin’ to the beat I drum) And I love what I love There’s no need to justify

We’re Artsci Whoa-oh-oh-oh Whoa-oh-oh-oh Whoa-oh-oh-oh Whoa-oh-oh-oh oh-oh-oh Whoa-oh-oh Whoa-oh-oh Oh-oh Bombarded by dilemmas every day (Heh) But I’m not scared (Oh) I am paired (Oh) With a sib who shows the way (Heh heh) We are forming bonds for years to come And having tons of fun In our overalls!

Since 1981 (Since 1981) You students shined the light for me (Ahh) There’s more than what the eye can see (Ahh) Full of complexity When I felt like I could not belong (Heh, heh, heh) Other Artscis showed me I was wrong (Heh, heh)

Without flaws I’m not me We are us. Now hear us cry We’re Artsci!

Make way for Dr. Lu (Heh, heh, heh) ‘Cause she’s overdue for her grand debut (Heh, heh) And she knows all of us Are forever by her side We’re Artsci!

Whoa-oh-oh-oh Whoa-oh-oh-oh Whoa-oh-oh-oh Whoa-oh-oh-oh oh-oh-oh Whoa-oh-oh Whoa-oh-oh Oh-oh We’re Artsci!

Whoa-oh-oh-oh And I know that I belong with you (Whoa-oh-oh-oh) (Whoa-oh-oh-oh) There’s nothing that I can’t work through (Whoa-oh-oh-oh)

Whoa-oh-oh Whoa-oh-oh Whoa-oh-oh Oh-oh When the world says I know who you are I’m gonna dance until I shake ‘em off I don’t need No disguise We are us, now hear us cry We’re Artsci Make way for Dr. Lu Heh, heh, heh Make way for Dr. Lu! Cause she’s overdue for her grand debut Heh, Heh Watch out for me! Watch out for me! (marchin’ on to the beat I drum) And she knows all of us I'm not scared to be seen Are forever by her side I make no apologies We’re Artsci!

Whoa-oh-oh-oh (When the world says I know who you are)

Whoa-oh-oh-oh (I’m gonna dance until I shake ‘em off) Woah-oh-oh-oh I’m gonna dance until Woah-oh-oh-oh I’m gonna shake ‘em off Whoa-oh-oh Whoa-oh-oh Whoa-oh-oh Oh-oh We’re Artsci!

CREDITS

Special thanks to Dr. & Mrs. Samji and Dr. Papanastasiou for their generous donations!

Thank you to MacNeill Baptist Church for always being quick to offer us a rehearsal space!

Thank you to Samantha Potts for creating our beautiful show art and program cover!

Many thanks to our guest choreographers Tess Vosper, Evan Tyler, and Gabriella Pelosini!

The ArtSci Musical is a highly collaborative production and could not have been performed without our entire team! Thank you to Exec, Band, Cast, and Crew for always giving it your all!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR

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To contact the MSU: Email oclerk@msu.mcmaster.ca or Call 905-525-9140 Ex-22003

March 24–25, 2023

Thank you for watching!