Hopkins School 986 Forest Road New Haven, CT
Vol LXV, no. 1
www.therazoronline.com
September 7, 2018
Students Perform Much Ado About Nothing
“My favorite part of the play is the fact that I have a serious role, but at the same time, I get to work with it in a very laid-back setting,” said Theobald-Williams. Roy agreed, noting how the cast experimented to create a unique play: “Throughout the rehearsal Student Productions kicked off the 2019-2020 theater season with their adapta- process we have had a ton of fun playing with the scenes and making the show our own.” tion of the classic Shakespeare play, Much Ado About Nothing, on September 6 and 7. During both rehearsals and performance, the cast worked hard to make a The play, written in the sixteenth century by William Shakespeare, follows the militar- sixteenth-century show contemporary and energetic. The actors and director used a ily victorious Don Pedro (Leah Miller ’20) to Messina, Italy with two of his officers: combination of unique characters and abundant comedy to create a relatable producBenedick (Griffin Congdon ’20) and Claudio (Katie Broun ’19). The three men are greet- tion. Elliot Calderone ’22 (Conrad/Messenger) noted how “[the cast] really tried to ed by the governor, Leonato (Gracie Theobald Williams ’20), as well as his daughter, take advantage of all the comedy that Shakespeare had left and sort of go wild with Hero (Lexi Zyskowski ’20), and niece, Beait.” Joey Rebeschi ’21 said that “the cast trice (Elizabeth Roy ’20). In Messina, Don really brought the show to life through Pedro hatches a plan to make Benedick and the energy and sheer fun that they had.” Beatrice fall in love, and, along with ClauDue to renovations in Lovell over dio and Leonato, find themselves entangled the summer, Turner had to consider other in a plot that mixes elements of love, dralocations to perform Much Ado About ma, and comedy as two love stories unfold. Nothing. She ultimately decided that the This year, the summer play is put Thompson amphitheater was the ideal loon by Student Productions (StuPro), a club in cation for the production: “Much Ado takes association with the Hopkins Drama Associplace in the Sicilian Countryside and the ation (HDA). Graley Turner ’20 first decided amphitheater really echoes that, with the to direct a summer play during sophomore stone seats and the grass and Thompson on year: “I originally got the idea for this show all sides. It really feels like you're in the last school year. I've always been interested world of Much Ado; rather than just seein Student Productions and possibly directing a show, you're actually living it. Also, ing, stage managing, or acting in something it's perfect for Shakespeare in the Park!” Lexi Zyskowski '20 student-run. Since Lovell was being renoHowever, most rehearsals took vated this summer, leaving almost no perforplace in Turner’s backyard throughout Student Productions' Much Ado About Nothing is being performed in the Thompson mance space for the show, it looked as if we the summer. Each rehearsal was craftAmphitheater on September 6 and 7. weren't going to have a StuPro show. That's ed around over a dozen different stuwhen Roy and I decided that we wanted to dent schedules so the cast had to take do something with StuPro as rising juniors.” advantage of every time they were toWith director Turner, stage manager Erin Elbogen ’19, costume designer Carly gether. “Rehearsals were really efficient. Because most days we only worked with Slager ’21, and twelve student actors, Much Ado About Nothing is entirely student- a group of five or so, we got through scenes quickly. It was the most fun when the run. The cast articulated that although there have been some difficulties while re- whole cast is there; we have a good time,” said Margaret Toft ’21 (Margaret/Sexton). hearsing, the energy and passion from the group of students makes up for it. “It’s In the two weeks leading up to school and the performance, the cast great because you see that everyone has a lot to learn, and still everyone knows and crew got together to run the whole show. Sam Jenkins ’20 (Don John) dethat the collective passion is going to manifest into something great,” said Miller. scribed the experience of a student-led production as “incredible because of The smaller cast combined with the summer rehearsals have allowed for a lot of the sense of pride we have when we perform it. You think to yourself, ‘Wow. student participation in a more relaxed setting than productions during the school year. We really pulled this all together ourselves,’ and that is a great feeling.” Katherine Takoudes '20 Arts Editor
Dominate the Day: Jordan Sebastian’s Legacy
players and coaches, to current Division 1 college players.” ic drills: “We broke the kids up by position and helped Incoming Athletic Department Associate and them work on fundamentals key to success at the posicousin of Jordan Sebastian Dante Brito commented, tions they play. I helped coach the Wide Receivers and Dominate the Day is a nonprofit foundation es- “This was a beautiful camp on a perfect day. This was Defensive Backs, the same positions I played in high tablished in honor of Hopkins alumnus and faculty mem- the best thing that I have been a part of and can not wait school when Jordan Sebastian was my positional coach.” Six awards were presented: Offensive MVP, Deber Jordan Sebastian ’11, who passed away last October. until we make it bigger and better in years to come.” Brito had discussed such a program fensive MVP, Overall MVP, Relentless, Coach’s Choice, Sebastian’s family with Sebastian: “We wanted to have a fi- and Dominator, which was given to the athlete who discreated the founnancially friendly camp with wonderful played many of the positive qualities Sebastian had. dation in order to coaching to better develop young men/ Current football captain Owen Sherman ’19 said, remember Sebaswoman who wanted to get better at the “I think the camp was a great way for Coach Sebastian’s tian’s legacy and sport that provided so many opportunities legacy to live on and a great way to honor his memory. to instill his valfor us; so to see that come to fruition was We all know how much he loved football and how pasues in local youth. simply marvelous. I know he would have sionate he was about coaching, but he was also passionThis summer, the been so proud.” ate in helping us players foundation ran a The camp was learning what it means football camp at free for all sevto be a man. I think this Hopkins on July camp is a great way for Dominate the Day Foundation enty of the mid21. Varsity Football dle school aged players to both improve Coach Tim Phipps A DTD athlete at practice. Visit students who attheir game physically but explained, “The dominatethedayfoundation.com for more photos. tended. Many of also improve themselves, camp was a one-day just as Coach always football camp designed to teach kids skills and to offer the campers were from New Hapushed us to do so.” them a look into what a football combine looks like.” ven and the surrounding area, but DeMaio believes that Multiple people helped the camp come to frui- came from areas as far as Hartford, the camp successfully tion. Head of School Kai Bynum and Chief Financial Of- Windsor, and Massachusetts. The athletes learned honored Jordan Sebasficer David Baxter were heavily involved in getting the tian: “The day was an camp going. Brito, Phipps, and Director of Athletics Roc- new techniques, practiced multiDominate the Day Foundation amazing tribute in honor co DeMaio all were involved in running the camp, with ple drills, and competed in scrimAthletes take a knee on Parr Field. of Jordan. The amount aid from the athletic trainers. Many coaches from multiple mage matches. Phipps stated, of support, love and schools across the state volunteered as well as Hopkins “Each kid had a chance to be tested alumni Spencer Lockhart ’18, Doug Wardlaw ’17, and in the 40 yard dash, 3 cone wheel and the broad jump. At the community was amazing. This idea was his vision and I Will Bagnall ’12 provided additional guidance. According end of the camp, the players were split up into teams and was so pleased that we are able to make his wish come true to Lockhart ’18, “There was a great array of coaches from competed in a linemen challenge and 7 on 7 competition.” and honor his memory in this way. I look forward to this Lockhart ’18 helped with the position-specif- event becoming an annual celebration of Jordan’s legacy.” all different levels of the game, from former high-school Anushree Vashist ’21 Assistant Sports Editor
New Faculty Profiles Inside See Features Pages 2 and 3