As this school year begins to wind down, the spotlight turns to our talented students with two exciting performances: mark your calendars! Come and support our classmates as they bring drama and music to life.
While Academy has always been a history based school, the spring concert has become a beloved tradition, offering students a chance to step outside their academic roles and shine on stage. This year’s concert will be held on May 21, 2025 in the school cafeteria, where diverse performers will showcase their acts, many of which have already been rehearsed for months. This production includes a lineup of soulful solos and tightly coordinated group numbers led by music teachers Ms. Stallone and Ms. Kunnatee.
Rehearsals have been underway since January, with students dedicating significant amounts of their time to the production. According to Amanda Stallone, music and chorus teacher at Academy, “We usually start with in-class rehearsals from about January to mid-March, and towards April we start auditioning for small groups and solos.” Under Ms. Stallone and Ms. Kunnatee’s guidance, this concert will be showcasing the amazing talent that Academy students have. Beyond the performances, the Spring concert serves as a testament to student ambition. With many of the performers having no prior experience, this production represents a feat of confidence for many who participate. When asked how she would advise prospective performers, Stallone stated, “I would say, don’t be shy. Put yourself out there, no matter what, we’re accepting of all types of performers.”
Just a week later, the Drama Club is presenting a performance on May 30, 2025, the first musical Academy has done since 2008. The musical they will be performing is titled, The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals, which is a musical known for its unique blend of horror, comedy and music. Stavroula Tsounis, a junior who will be performing three roles, said about the choice, “Most schools will do something from Disney, but I think that the Starkid Production really brings out everyone’s own character.” With regard to the lack of a traditional auditorium or stage, the cafeteria is once again becoming a creative hub for the arts. Anna Mantgas, the acting teacher and Drama Club advisor, said, “You can make theater work anywhere, outside, in a classroom, in outer space but when you have to share a space and work with scheduling that’s the only thing that’s hard…cafeterias are lunch spaces and they have to be cleaned…it’s really just a conflict of time.” Even with this setback, the Drama Club is finding ways to rehearse and perfect their talent for May 30th.
When asked what the main takeaway should be, Piyarat Kunatee said, “The progress. Three years ago this program had nothing…I want the audience to hear the difference from where they started…to where they are now.”
Both events are open to all students, staff and families, so whether you’re a music lover, a theater fan, or looking for a way to support a friend, don’t miss your chance to cheer on your fellow classmates and celebrate the arts!