Upper School Winter Musical
It was Curtains for this cast of Upper School students—a musical comedy “whodunit” by John Kander (music) and Fred Ebb (lyrics), creators of Cabaret and Chicago. The show is a celebration of backstage murder mystery plots, set in Boston in 1959. (After a supremely untalented star is murdered during her opening night curtain call, the musical follows the fallout.) Pingry’s performances in the Hostetter Arts Center’s Macrae Theater showcased over 50 students in the cast, ensemble, and pit, under the direction of drama teacher Stephanie Romankow. Other faculty included Dr. Andrew Moore (musical direction), Jay Winston (vocal direction), Trish Wheeler (choreography), Jane Asch P ’04 (set, costume, and make-up design), Al Romano (lighting designer), Sean McAnally (sound designer), and Shelley Hartz (props).
Cum Laude Society: Spring Induction Ceremony Pingry inducted 14 members of the Class of 2017 into The Cum Laude Society in late April. Established in 1906 as the secondary school equivalent of Phi Beta Kappa, the country’s oldest collegiate honor society, The Cum Laude Society honors academic excellence and superior scholarship among its 382 member schools. Membership in this prestigious academic organization is limited to 20 percent of a Senior class. The Cum Laude Society also recognizes individuals who—in all areas of their lives—love to learn, share their knowledge with others, and demonstrate scholarship, honor, integrity, and good character. The Society hopes that all of its members will continue their cooperative and selfless pursuit of knowledge while serving as lifelong examples of The Cum Laude Society motto: Aréte (Excellence), Diké (Justice), Timé (Honor).
Spring inductees (pictured with members of the Class of 2017 who were inducted last fall): Joshua Baum, Henry Biedron, Siyu Cao, Julia Dannenbaum, William DiGrande, Zachary Keller, Ellen Li, Caroline Marone, Jake Mayer, Sarah Moseson, Claire O’Mara, Parth Patel, Matthew Peacock, and Sean Wang.
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THE PINGRY REVIEW
Celebrating Earth Day Understanding sustainability not as an abstract concept, but as a personal experience was the focus of this year’s Earth Day Assembly on the Basking Ridge Campus. Several students reflected on their recent environmental field study trips (organized by Pingry’s Global Programs and Green Group) and the impact of their newfound awareness. These included a winter adventure in the Adirondacks and a backpacking excursion over Spring Break in southwestern Utah (read more about these two trips on page 52). Also, Green Group Advisor and then-visual arts teacher Peter Delman P ’97, ’98 spoke about architect Scott Loikits ’90, who has been working with Mr. Delman on efforts to use Pingry’s existing farmland and woodland resources to teach sustainability (read more on page 98). Concluding the assembly, Isabel DeVito ’19 introduced—in the “flesh”!—her pet albino corn snake, “Corny,” and “Lena Horn,” a northern pine snake from the Pine Barrens of southern New Jersey. Isabel raised awareness that these species are being threatened by habitat fragmentation due to poaching and overdevelopment in the area. Students had the opportunity to handle a snake, courtesy of Isabel DeVito ’19.