The Masters School Department of Performing Arts

Faculty member Jason Reiff

This Spring, as Masters went remote due to COVID-19, performing arts classes kept on keeping on! Advanced Acting created devised theater pieces through video storytelling; Theatre Tech students received care packages of materials for building models; Dance Tech students choreographed pieces on their family members; Music Ensemble members collaboratively arranged pieces and recorded. For a small taste, visit our Bandcamp site: https://mastersdopa.bandcamp.com/ Check out Jazz Band's recording of Joni Mitchell's Blue (almost all of it) or Dobbs 16's remote recordings of repertoire!

Congratulations Class of 2020!!!!! and thank you to all who contributed to their surprise remotely: https://mastersdopa.bandcamp.com/tr/old-irish-blessing-2020

Senior Spotlight: ARIANA COPLAND!!! (Dobbs 16, Winter Musical) 1. What is your favorite space on campus to work/ rehearse?... Probably Estherwood because the experience I had there was so unique. It has so much life in it that it was so beautiful. I don’t think I will ever perform in Estherwood again. Every performance space is special to me. 2. What do you know now about creativity/ singing/ playing/ acting/ dancing that you didn’t when you were a freshman? I really got to know myself as a performer. I’ve found my artist’s intuition and become more sure of who I am . Every year it gets stronger and it gets me excited to go on and do more. 3. If you could borrow another senior’s performance/ creative skills for only one week, whose would you have? I thought so hard about this one. I wouldn’t. Because one of the biggest things I have found at Masters is to stop comparing myself to other artists. I am surrounded by amazingly talented seniors and could talk for hours about their artistic qualities. But we are all individual and have different strengths and skills. I’m happy with who I am. We learn from each other and continue to grow which is what is so beautiful about music or theatre. But we are all different. 4. What recommendations do you have for music/ movies/ online performances that we should check out? Movies: Knives Out - I saw in quarantine and it was so good, I loved everything about it. Performances: Star Kid (they did the Very Harry Potter musical) The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals and Twisted. 5. What advice do you have for a freshman to make the most of their performing experience at Masters? Have fun. Do the shows. Make friends. Take acting classes. Take voice lessons. Students here have the unique opportunities to both participate in productions and to further their training. There are so many opportunities the school gives its students, take advantage of them all. Hard work gets you further than talent any day. Be kind - it gets you further than anything else. Bonus Question: An event I would do one more time if I could It is so hard to decide. Probably Side Show because that is a show that there is a large chance I will never do again. No one does it because it is so hard. But it is such an awesome show. That show helped me find the types of parts I want to play. It pushed me too so it was a real growth experience.

Senior Spotlight: BUSTER SCHEUER!!! (49 Clinton, Jazz Band, Dobbs 16) 1. What is your favorite space on campus to work/ rehearse?...Continue reading

Senior Spotlight: OLIVIA KNOWLES!!! (Dohters, Dobbs 16, Musical) 1. What is your favorite space on campus to work/ rehearse?... The ET. There are a lot of times where it is open and no one is in there. I like to go in the space and turn on the lights. It’s a cool space to get in the zone and act in. 2. What do you know now about creativity/ singing/ playing/ acting/ dancing that you didn’t when you were a freshman? As a Freshman, I was under the impression that if my performance was good then the whole show was gonna be good. Now I know it is more of a collective effort and how you work together with your cast and make sure that everyone is equal in their effort and performance. 3. If you could have another senior’s performance/ creative skills for a week, whose would you have? It is hard to think of a specific person but we have so many people who are visual artists who can draw and paint. I wish I could do that. We have so many talented people who can paint and draw and that would be really cool to be able to do. I would bust out some art pieces. 4. What recommendations do you have for music/ movies/ online performances that we should check out? Right now - I’m a big concertgoer - so I’ve been rewatching music festivals. They pan to the audience and you can see how it feels and it reminds me how it feels. Getting the vibe wants me to be back there. Also comedy specials - I’ve gotten into those - they are pretty fun. 5. What advice do you have for a freshman to make the most of their performing experience at Masters? This might sound cliched but: try everything you can. I think I waited to try different mediums of performance. I tried Dobbs 16 only in my Senior year; I missed Spring Shorts my Freshman year. It is such an inviting and inclusive environment and people are so welcoming. Just try it. If you don’t like it, you don’t like it; but you probably will. Bonus Question: An event I would do one more time if I could My first time doing Spring Shorts in Sophomore year. My cast and my show was just a lot of fun. I think I came into my own during that performance. It was so fun.

Senior Spotlight: SAM LEVIN!!! (49 Clinton, Salty Dogs, Jazz Band, Dobbs 16) 1. What is your favorite space on campus to work/ rehearse?... Usually in Strayer Room 7. Even outside of Jazz Band, I’ve spent a lot of time in there. Also because that’s where 49 Clinton rehearses. But I will go in there on a break - sometimes with Buster - and just jam out. 2. What do you know now about creativity/ singing/ playing that you didn’t when you were a freshman? I feel like I was always under the impression that if you have writer’s block that you just can’t do anything. I would wait if I wasn’t feeling it. I know now that that isn’t really true. You can do things to reactivate it. Part of that has to do with all of the music in my schedule. Even if I’m not feeling it in the beginning, it draws me back in. 3. If you could have another senior’s performance/ creative skills for a week, whose would you have? Buster. We work the same amount but on slightly different genres. He also plays the drums really well. I feel like he knows the other half of what I should know. 4. What recommendations do you have for music/ movies/ online performances that we should check out? Bonny Light Horseman - a folk super group. It’s nice and relaxing to listen to especially right now. At the same time, I’ve been listening to Voodoo by D’Angelo. My band is working on an album (though that won’t be relevant for a long time.) 5. What advice do you have for a freshman to make the most of their performing experience at Masters? I used to be afraid to go places and use them. I wasn’t 100% sure I could use a room to rehearse. Part of it is figuring out when it works for you and for the building. Once I figured out where those aligned, it was helpful and I would be there whenever I could. The time during the school day was more helpful for rehearsal than at home because it felt like I was there for a reason. Bonus Question: An event I would do one more time if I could I guess Great Gig is my answer. But I don’t know if I would say this year’s Great Gig [Pearl Jam’s Ten] or last year’s Great Gig [Led Zeppelin’s Houses of the Holy]. I was in the midst of developing my guitar work when [Houses of the Holy] was announced so this really dense work dropped into my lap. The extra work I did on that did so much to further my technique.Not to mention we played so loud that the power went out. It was a super cool experience.

Senior Spotlight: CHARLIE LOIGMAN!!! (Studio Production) 1. What is your favorite space on campus to work/ rehearse?... Definitely the FC Studio. I’ve spent a lot of time there. It is a comfortable space for me. I like using the speakers and everything - they sound great. 2. What do you know now about creativity/ singing/ playing/ acting/ dancing that you didn’t when you were a freshman? When I was a Freshman, I was just kind of getting into production. One thing I’ve been trying to do and what Masters has done for me is being surrounded by so many creative people. It pushes you out of your comfort zone. I’ve been doing more stuff with vocals. Keep trying to evolve and enhance what you are doing - step out of your comfort zone. 3. If you could have another senior’s performance/ creative skills for a week, whose would you have? Probably Buster’s ability to play guitar and drums really well. I’m trying to get into all of that now though I have been more on the production end. Trying to get more into music theory and picking up guitar now. 4. What recommendations do you have for music/ movies/ online performances that we should check out? Kind of a weird one but I remember Sophomore year, in the tiny desk concerts on NPR, T-Pain’s performance. He pioneered the use of autotune in R&B which has this myth around it that it’s for people who can’t sing. In the concert, you hear he has one of the most natural, beautiful voices. He had clearly made a stylistic choice to use autotune and didn’t need it. 5. What advice do you have for a freshman to make the most of their performing experience at Masters? Take every opportunity you can. Collaborate as much as you can. Collaborating is very important - especially when you are making music. Don’t be shy with whatever you are working on. Share it and ask for feedback. I send demos to lots of people for feedback on what I’m working on. It can give you so many ideas that you might not have thought of. Bonus Question: An event I would do one more time if I could I would definitely want to do Great Gig because I kind of missed out on it. I don’t really play instruments but I think I could have done work on the audio side of things.

Senior Spotlight: ANNIE RUBINSON!!! (Dobbs 16, Winter Musical) 1. What is your favorite space on campus to work/ rehearse?... The FC stairwell (near the Sharon Room/ ET) because the acoustics are so amazing. Singing in there, the entire stairwell fills with sound. It makes practicing that much more enjoyable. I like to think I discovered the magic of the FC stairwell. 2. What do you know now about creativity/ singing/ playing/ acting/ dancing that you didn’t when you were a freshman? You are only as good as you allow yourself to be. The very first step of developing any sort of creative talent is stepping outside of your comfort zone. Singing a note out of range, acting in a role that is very different, arranging a song for the first time. Take the risk - it’s a leap of faith. Also - as much as performing and creativity is about you experimenting with what you can do, the teachers, peers, performers around you are so valuable. I would not be where I am without the feedback from people who have directed me, taught me, and even been on stage alongside me. 3. If you could have another senior’s performance/ creative skills for a week, whose would you have? I would want TIm Borowiec’s writing skills. The way that he writes, it seems like it comes so naturally to him. I know it doesn’t and he works hard. He has such a natural understanding of film and plays. Understanding your craft so well that you are able to replicate it and create pieces for others to perform is something I really admire and wish it was something I was able to do. 4. What recommendations do you have for music/ movies/ online performances that we should check out? For music, any cover by Yebba Smith because she always puts an interesting spin on everything she sings. If you are looking for a movie with a powerful cast, you should watch Knives Out because it is fantastic. I also really enjoy the latest album release from the a cappella group Pitchslapped. As an a cappella arranger, I really appreciate the originality they put into every one of their songs. 5. What advice do you have for a freshman to make the most of their performing experience at Masters? Two things: Maximize every opportunity in any performance. If you do that the size of the role doesn’t matter because what you will really remember is the feedback you get, the songs that get stuck in your head, and the connections you get to forge with amazing people. Also, take every single piece of feedback you get. We are lucky to have such a talented staff of music and theatre professionals and their feedback is very valuable and helpful. Bonus Question: An event I would do one more time if I could Either my sophomore spring shorts just because I loved the play that I was in and I loved the cast. I’m never considered a funny person but the play was so funny that I loved making people laugh. Or last years Great Gig - one of my favorite vocal performances. I had so much fun doing that.

Senior Spotlight: TIM BOROWIEC!!! (Salty Dogs, 49 Clinton, Dobbs 16, Playwright) 1. What is your favorite space on campus to work/ rehearse?... The ET. I really like how small it is. I feel like you are really communicating with the audience there more than in a huge theater. 2. What do you know now about creativity/ singing/ playing/ acting/ dancing that you didn’t when you were a freshman? I guess I didn’t totally realize how collaborative of a process theater was. After directing - the ideas were a lot from the cast as well. As an actor, I never really grasped how much of an influence I had. 3. If you could have another senior’s performance/ creative skills for a week, whose would you have? I guess Matteo’s ability to be very thoughtful about what he makes. When we worked together, I would have an idea and get really excited. He would say wait - does this make sense? And it wouldn’t. I don’t have the ability to criticize my own ideas but he is very good about that - making sure everything stays grounded. 4. What recommendations do you have for music/ movies/ online performances that we should check out? For movies - Magnolia and Scenes from a Marriage. Both of those are very long. If you are someone who thinks movies should be 90 minutes which is understandable then Punch Drunk Love is really good as well. 5. What advice do you have for a freshman to make the most of their performing experience at Masters? Try everything. Try writing and directing. It’s a high-risk, high-reward scenario. You are putting yourself out there and everyone knows that if it’s bad it is on you. But the feeling of putting a joke out there and having it land is indescribable. Bonus Question: An event I would do one more time if I could Definitely Spring Shorts. We came so close.

Senior Spotlight: HALEY SCHICKMAN!!! (Dohters, Jazz Band, Dobbs 16) 1. What is your favorite space on campus to work/ rehearse?... Room 4 in Strayer Hall - the Dohters Room. I’ve spent so much time in there since I was a Freshman. I rehearse in there with Dohters but I also practice in there and even use it as a quiet place to do regular school work because I feel so comfortable there. 2. What do you know now about creativity/ singing/ playing/ acting/ dancing that you didn’t when you were a freshman? I know now that succeeding at whatever you’re doing doesn’t mean beating anyone else. Doesn’t mean you have to sound or perform like someone who came before you. As a Freshman, I think I was focused on being like the people I looked up to. Which was the wrong attitude, I think. It’s good to have role models but you don’t have to become what your role models are. 3. If you could have another senior’s performance/ creative skills for a week, whose would you have? I would probably pick Buster because he’s just such a dynamic creator. He writes, he performs, he plays a bunch of instruments. And I think I just really admire his dedication to his craft. He’s always driven and committed to his work which is something that I really admire about him. 4. What recommendations do you have for music/ movies/ online performances that we should check out? I have been watching a bunch of the Tiny Desk Concerts (from home) Lian La one. There are two others I’ve been watching repeatedly: Laura Marley and Alan Stone. 5. What advice do you have for a freshman to make the most of their performing experience at Masters? This advice comes from something I have had to learn and that I am still learning. I think the idea of performing is very centered around doing it around others or showcasing what you’ve done to other people. As soon as I stepped out of that mindset and started performing for myself, I was able to let go of a lot of what I was holding back. Do your best to shift your mindset from I’m performing for the audience to I’m performing for me. Bonus Question: An event I would do one more time if I could Great Gig last year. Led Zeppelin Houses of the Holy. That was probably the only time of my high school career - any performance I’ve ever had - where I was completely IN the performance. I don’t think I was even aware of the audience at one point. I felt so proud of myself after that performance.