Highlander Excerpt: At St. Margaret’s, Innovation Illuminates the Stage

 

In the heart of the performing arts department, innovation unfolds as a symphony of creativity and education intertwines, crafting an experience that transcends beyond instruction to ignite the joy of learning.

 

Here, amid the harmonious blend of tradition and cutting-edge techniques, a new story takes place—one where students and faculty are empowered to explore, experiment, and embrace the transformative power of the arts. From pioneering productions to cross-divisional collaborations, each endeavor enriches the stage and cultivates a profound passion for knowledge—fostering a community where curiosity and joy thrive, and the pursuit of excellence knows no bounds.

 

In the dimmed ambiance of Hurlbut Theater, the stage springs to life with a harmony of light and sound, transporting the audience into a world where creativity extends into collaboration between disciplines. The realm of performing arts has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years, driven by an infusion of innovative and imaginative elements that redefine experiences.

 

At the recent Spring Orchestra Concert, the audience was left awe-struck as students performed a medley from the movie La La Land. With Orchestra Director Linling Hsu at the helm, the student performers treated attendees to a spectacle in which traditional boundaries between film and a live performance dissolved seamlessly. Clips from the critically acclaimed film interwoven with musical elements created a mesmerizing fusion of mediums that captivated the senses, engaging the audience in a fully immersive experience.

 

Dan Pacheco, St. Margaret’s director of performing arts, praised the collaboration that produced such a successful, innovative concert. “Linling Hsu is extraordinary and has been creating innovative approaches to music education in both formal and informal settings. She came up with the idea to have students in the orchestra play coordinated clips of the film La La Land with a spectacular result!”

 

The collaboration stemmed from an orchestra unit exploring music in films. The lesson aimed to elevate students' musical experience and broaden their understanding of the symbiotic relationship between music and visual media. Drawing inspiration from educational field trips like the Disney Soundtrack Sessions and learning about classical music concerts all over the world that incorporate multimedia in their performances, the students were provided an opportunity to infuse the curriculum with a similar sense of excitement and innovation.

 

Ms. Hsu expressed the joyful experience and the rewards of the collaboration. “As a teacher, it was immensely gratifying to witness their dedication and growth throughout the process, culminating in a memorable performance that captivated both performers and audience alike,” she said.

 

In essence, the connection with film and music not only enriched students' musical education but also fostered a deeper appreciation for the power of collaboration and creativity. It's a testament to the transformative potential of music education, inspiring faculty and students to continue pushing boundaries and exploring new avenues of artistic expression with a renewed sense of purpose, motivation and wonderment.

 

The cinematic arts department, led by film teacher Karen Bennett, were tasked with synchronizing music and visuals and mapping out musical cues through streamers and punches, essentially a visual click track for the conductor to follow. Through rigorous rehearsals and fine-tuning, orchestra students embraced the challenge of bringing the music of La La Land to life, striving for precision with each rendition.

 

A former Hollywood music editor, Ms. Bennett showcased her experience in creating a tempo map with punches and streamers for Ms. Hsu to use while conducting the orchestra. According to Ms. Bennett the planning of this remarkable innovation required intentionality. “I needed to find clips that would tell the complete story in a much shorter amount of time while also following with the music that was already in

place,” she said. “In this case, we started with the ‘La La Land Medley’ and then I mapped out the tempo to determine how many bars and beats we needed and where the important moments would happen in the story. I re-cut the film to tell the story while matching the music. At the end we included a drummer who had the audio track in headphones so they could play along with the orchestra.”

 

The integration of cinematic techniques into theatrical performances has been a hallmark of the department's evolution. Students in theater and cinematic arts classes curate spine-chilling tales for the annual FrightFest, leveraging custom-designed projections that envelop the stage in eerie atmospheres. This process involves the creation of digital scenes that are then projected onto the stage, effectively transforming the space into a cinematic canvas. Scrims adorned with dynamic projections transport audiences through enchanted flower fields in Shrek and swirling tornadoes in Wizard of Oz while digitally enlarged characters from Oz interacted with student performers, pushing the boundaries of visual storytelling.

 

Beyond visual effects, stagecraft itself has been redefined with daring innovations. The grade 4-5 musical Peter Pan saw performers taking flight on intricate rope swings, while the Middle School musical Matilda displayed performers with suspended swings that nearly reached the audience, encapsulating childhood dreams in a fun spectacle. Harnesses allowed students to soar and defy gravity, executing acrobatic feats that enrich the narrative of each production as seen in the Upper School musical Mary Poppins in which students flew on stage, flipped in the air, and climbed set pieces sideways.

 

Technological advancements extend to lighting design, where St. Margaret's is transitioning to LED technology revolutionizing the department's capabilities. Once limited by manual adjustments, lighting cues now unfold with digital precision, transforming stage ambiance at the touch of a button.

 

The upgrade enables dynamic shifts in color and intensity, enhancing emotional resonance and thematic depth in performances like never before. This shift to LED technology not only improved the efficiency and flexibility of lighting design but also opened up new creative possibilities, allowing for more intricate and immersive lighting experiences.

 

In a recent piece at the spring band concert, Band Director Chris Carbajal conducted with a lightsaber as the band played the Star Wars theme while lights produced images of stars twinkling synchronously

in the background, creating a celestial backdrop that mirrored the movie’s ethereal melodies. In another production during The Tartan Revue, a theatrical haze enveloped the stage, evoking the raw energy of a rock concert while amplifying the impact of intricate lighting choreography.

 

As these innovations continue to shape the landscape of performing arts education, the department remains committed to pushing boundaries and nurturing creative excellence. Students are given the opportunity to experiment and explore new ideas, fostering a culture of creativity and innovation. Each production becomes a testament to the transformative power of technology in storytelling, inspiring students to dream bigger and explore new frontiers in the realm of imagination.

 

In the evolving tapestry of the performing arts, innovation is not merely a tool but a joyful catalyst for redefining what is possible. Performing arts is innovative at St. Margaret’s, which enhances production and student learning – one captivating performance at a time.