ALUMNI/AE
ALUMNI PERFORMERS
Theodore Chapin ’68 Two things become quite clear when talking with Ted Chapin about the trajectory of his life. One is that attending Millbrook was almost an inevitability, and the other is that he was destined for a life in the arts. Furthermore, each facet of his life strengthened the other, elevating the experience he had in high school and creating a foundation for what would become major contributions to the theater in New York City and beyond. As a member of the class of 1940, Ted’s father, Schuyler, was
The King and I, White Christmas, and South Pacific. He also
hoping at least one of his children would follow in his footsteps
brought live productions like The Sound of Music and Cinderella
and attend Millbrook School. Having the idea that it was already
to network television. He has also contributed to a number
a magical place, Ted fell in love with the setting when he came
of books and wrote Everything Was Possible: The Birth of the
for a visit on a chilly fall day. Upon enrolling, he quickly knew
Musical Follies published by Knopf in 2005, which was awarded a
he had to find his place. He shares, “Boarding school is a forced
Special Jury Prize for Distinguished Achievement by the Theater
community, and you have to figure out how to fit in there. Early
Library Association and an ASCAP/Dees Taylor Award.
on I was tapped to play the organ during chapel services, and
Chapin fondly remembers time spent in his advanced biology
it was a big deal. I helped out; I applied my skills in whatever
class with his favorite teacher, Frank Trevor. Many of the values
was there to be done. I began to realize that being helpful in any
he holds today stem from the responsibility he was given in that
group is about making connections.”
class. He remembers his classmates wondering why he was so into
Realizing the potential of connections is how Ted started to make
working with Trevor and spending time at the zoo, even though
his mark after high school. Leveraging the fact that his father
art was his passion. He would say, “You never know when you
was the head of the classical division of Columbia records, he
are going to have a teacher like this again, so take advantage of
became a production assistant on Broadway shows, spending
it.” Ted’s daughter, Zoe, Millbrook Class of 2003, had a similar
his time getting everyone coffee and just being around. He
experience. He recalls a conversation when she was well into her
just wanted to be in the room where things were happening.
college years and said, “This is the first college class that’s been as
Eventually one thing led to another. He worked with Gordon
good as the best class at Millbrook.”
Davidson on Leonard Bernstein’s Mass: A Theater Piece for
Ted has an attitude of gratitude for the role Millbrook played in
Singers, Players, and Dancers and then with Alan Arkin, who was
framing his mindset, leading him to an award-winning career in
directing the Neil Simon play The Sunshine Boys. After being in
the arts. “You know, the times when a teacher will surprise the
the room for years, Ted took a call from Mary Rodgers who said,
students by giving them responsibility...that is basically saying,
“I think they could use you at the Rodgers and Hammerstein
‘You figure this out because that’s what this period of your life is
office.” That was 30 plus years ago. As president of Rodgers and
about.’ That’s, in a way, the best lesson that I think I learned from
Hammerstein, Chapin led many Broadway productions including
Millbrook.”
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