NEWSNEWSE Greatest Show at SSA by Rob Belles Musical Director
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HADY SID Volume 101, No. 3 Wednesday, February 18, 2009 Pittsburgh, PA SNEWSNEWSE Greatest show at SSA By Rob Belles musical director. “I mean, he was from “Barnum’s the name. P.T. Barnum. a sleepy town - Bridgeport, Connecti- And I want to tell you that tonight you cut; Smalltown, U.S.A.- and he wanted are going to see - bar none - every sight, to make a splash. He also got people wonder and miracle that name stands pumped and excited and fired up to see for!” what he had to show - even if he had to Almost every person you can ask stretch the truth a little. He had ‘Tom knows Phineas Taylor Barnum from Thumb, the shortest person in the world,’ Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey and ‘Joyce Heth, the oldest woman in Circus, also known as the Greatest Show the world,’ and he thought ‘How do I get on Earth, but just how much do you people to come see this? Well, what if know about the real P.T. Barnum? That’s we say she was George Washington’s exactly why Shady Side Academy is wet-nurse,’ and people would say, ‘Sure! pleased to announce that this year, the I’ll come and see that!’ But once he got spring musical will be Barnum, a musical them in there, he couldn’t get them out! chronicling the life of P.T. Barnum in – So he would tell them, ‘Tell them to go and out of - the circus. and see the Egress (which actually means In fact, the musical is such a big deal exit), tell ‘em to go and see the Egress,’ Everybody dance now! The Indian Dance Group wows the students at Global Fest! Photo by Suzanne L. Belles that director Mary Beth Gray decided to and once they got back outside, they hire Shaun Rolly, resident fight director would pay admission again just to see for the American Ballet Theatre and one Barnum’s museum. But the musical of our physical education teachers, to isn’t all about his circus/business life; Shady Side gets its global on! help with the show’s choreography and it’s about the personal life of Barnum as By Olivia Seecof that they have visited. It was interesting day, the event was moved. Students to take the show from boring to out- well - such as running for the Senate and Shady Side Academy celebrated di- to see how well traveled our school is. performed dances and gave presenta- standing and entertaining. other offices.” versity for a whole week during GlobalFest There were pushpins all over Europe, tions on many different places in the “I have worked with Shady Side And what progress is the musical 2009. With one year of GlobalFest under even in countries like Latvia and Estonia, world, such as India, Africa, Europe, and Academy before,” says Mr. Rolly. “In making now? Dr. Brill adds, “I think this her belt, Lisa Perry, Academy Director of along with many in Africa. America. fact, I staged the fights for The Taming is one of the most challenging shows for Community and Global Education, orga- Junior Adele Pultan commented, “I Junior Veronica Lee said, “I thought of the Shrew, or rather the musical ver- a high-school to do because it’s not only nized the week to showcase different have been to every continent, so I loved that this year they did a great job of not sion Kiss Me Kate, and I also staged the singing and dancing and acting like other countries and cultures. putting seven markers in places that only showcasing different countries, but fights for the Miracle Worker. I also shows are, but the actors and actresses Activities were offered for students only a few people have been. In a way, also different forms of expression from choreographed The Little Shop of Hor- have to learn to pantomime, juggle, do to experience elements of other cultures. I felt like I was visiting those places all those countries.” rors and Oliver. So yeah, this is about acrobatics, stilt walk, and lots of other Some of these activities were over again.” The three MC’s of GlobalFusion 2009 my fourth or fifth time teaching with special skills that most actors at this age GlobalFeast, GlobalFootsteps, There was also a professional henna were seniors Raediah Lyles, Matt Shady Side Academy.” don’t have. But the progress we’re GlobalForum, and GlobalFusion. tattoo artist in the student center painting Goldstein, and Logan Handelsman. They And this guy is no amateur when it making is phenomenal. GlobalFeast 2009 was the best brack henna tattoos on anyone who wanted one. embraced their role and truly took the comes to theater. “I’ve been in the “The musical is going extremely well (snack/break) I have ever been to. There Senior School language teacher and audience on an adventure around the world. entertainment industry for over twenty so far, especially in the aspect of big were so many different kinds of food world traveler Dan Kriebel said, “I loved A performance that everyone looks years professionally, and I’ve been in group numbers ... the people are learning from many countries. A few of the seeing, embracing and celebrating the forward to is the Indian Dance perfor- the theater industry for 15 of those 20 the numbers; they’re doing it, and they’re favorites were the German Chocolate diversity of our school.” mance. After a great video at assembly years. I have over two hundred shows to getting a lot done at rehearsals,” says Dr. cupcakes, the green sticky rice from GlobalForum took place in Memo- everyone was excited to experience the my credit, and I’m mainly a fight chore- Brill. China, and the Indian samosas. rial Hall. Students talked about relations Bhangra. They lived up to their legend ographer. But I love my job. It’s a Says junior Nick Rossi, “It’s pretty Junior Larisa Bodnarchuk, who made between the Chinese and United States. as this year their dance number con- passion for me, and I wouldn’t trade my much the greatest show on Earth. We Slovak and Bulgarian cuisine, said, “It is Because of the busy schedules of Shady sisted of a few different songs and styles. job for any other job in the world.” have stilt walkers, acrobats, clowns, always fun to make food for GlobalFeast Side students, not many people could Senior Indian Dance leader Shevy But just where did the idea come Mitch doing every number, and heck, I because people enjoy trying new things. attend, but the ones who did held a well Gosai comments, “I had a great time from for SSA to stage Barnum? “A long get to crack a whip.” It is fun to see what people think about developed discussion. watching GlobalFusion. Everyone did time ago in the ‘80s, when I was a teacher Senior Logan Handelsman added, “I the ethnic food from your heritage.” The culminating event, really well, but of course Indian Dance and director at Seton-La Salle High think the idea of Circus really exempli- The dining hall was packed with GlobalFusion, was the most popular was the best!” School, we did Barnum,” says Miss fies our generation. It gives us a title we students and faculty, all of whom were event of the week and took place Friday It is amazing to see so many different Gray. “Since I love Shady Side Acad- can all stand behind, how our many enjoying the foods of the world. in the Rauh Theater in front of the entire cultures combined into one event such as emy, and I loved the musical Barnum, I different interests and talents come to- GlobalFootsteps took place in the Senior School community. GlobalFusion. decided to put the two together to get gether under one tent.” student center and was a little different GlobalFusion was originally planned The GlobalFest committee has some something that would be really fun for With Mitch Mason performing the from past years. This year two maps to be held at night, but because so many hard work ahead of them to make everyone to perform in.” leading role of P.T. Barnum, Paige Kiliany were put up on the windows and stu- students were upset that they would not GlobalFest 2010 even better than the Okay, but what is Barnum? “The as his wife Charity, and many other dents could put a pushpin on a country get to see the performance during the success that was Globalfest 2009! musical is about the life of Phineas T. talented students from all of the forms in Barnum, who lived during a pretty bor- supporting roles, this year’s musical is Two million flock to inauguration ing time period,” says Dan Brill, the sure to be a success! By Haley DeJulio soon to be President. As Barack Obama The Nationals Ball Park, which is Tuesday, January 20, 2009, Barack made his way out of the door onto the nearly a forty five minute walk from Obama was inaugurated as the 44th Presi- balcony, a simultaneous “O-BA-MA, where we were stationed for the swear- dent of the United States. I happened to O-BA-MA” chant could be heard for ing in ceremony, was the next spot on the be in Washington D.C. for this occasion, miles. PYIC agenda. People had taken over all along with over 2,000,000 others. After Aretha Franklin sang “My of the streets, and there was no need to Streets were blocked off in every Country ‘Tis of Thee,” Joe Biden took walk on the sidewalks because there was direction, keeping the crowds of eager his vice-presidential oath, and Yo-Yo scarcely a car in sight.