Perhaps Dorothy possesses the character What did you learn on your journey down attributes most resembling a York student. She’s adventurous, open minded, the Yellow Brick Road? Gabe puts on his lion costume for his role in perseveres in difficult circumstances and networks with respect and grace. Her sense the school play, the Wizard of Oz. He of hope helps others in troubled times. Most practices a cowardly lion pose. Then he intriguing, she has power, albeit unknown to switches persona and gives a courageous roar. At the same time, Gigi in her scarecrow her until the tale’s end. costume, does the floppy-sack-of-straw walk Whether they were centre stage, in the she learned from the acting coach. Both ensemble, doing hair and makeup, painting have become their characters. the set or making costumes, the professional staff’s dedication and the students’ “I really like the weight of this mane,” observes Gabe. “We started our rehearsals commitment – not to mention the big publicity, and big crowd – provided the in our regular clothes, but now that put on fantastic opportunity to participate in this these ornate costumes, with professional once-in-a-lifetime experience. support, the whole team really stepped up Fostering creative collaboration to realize a common goal.
to meet the show’s heightened production quality.”
Gigi and Gabe are unsure where the metaphorical Yellow Brick Road will take “The younger students played a number of them on their careers, but they know theatre characters,” Gigi adds. “The Lollipop Guild, will be a constant in their lives. From this the flying monkeys, they really got into their experience, they obtained the character roles! When it all came together on opening traits necessary for excellence, confident to night, the lights, the pit band, the full house, step onto the stage and shine. that’s when we realized we were part of By providing theatre-quality costumes, a something big.” dynamic set (with a flying house!), stage and lighting, and band accompaniment, The Once every five years, the Middle and York School Fund helped professionalize the Senior School join together to stage a production for the actors and a well-orchesmusical. This year’s iconic Wizard of Oz trated and enjoyable musical for the school gave each student a chance to be part of community. a larger-than-life spectacular production. In the familiar foursome’s journey to the Emerald City, there are character traits necessary for excellence—the need to improve, fine-tune and pivot along the journey. Like Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion, the Scarecrow and the Tin Man, we are taught that you need courage, passion and brains to succeed.
The Fund also contributed to a new drama room with moveable staging for future students to act, sing and play.
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The York School
SPRING 2019 / DONOR IMPACT REPORT
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