Upper School Artists Showcase Their Spooky Creativity at ‘FrightFEST’ Event

By Michele Silverman
The event featured musical performances, theatrical monologues, dance numbers and a display of Halloween-themed student photography and films. 
In honor of the Halloween season, St. Margaret’s visual arts and performing arts presented an Upper School FrightFEST: Arts Showcase. This event was the brainchild of film teacher Karen Bennett, who wanted to provide a fun event based around the film students’ scary creations.
 
In addition to the screening of films, the event featured musical performances, theatrical monologues, dance numbers and a display of Halloween-themed student photography—a complete showcase of St. Margaret’s arts program.
 
“FrightFEST was an incredible tribute to Halloween from our performing and visual arts students at St. Margaret’s,” Ms. Bennett said.
 
Upper School jazz band performers kicked off the after-school festivities with Halloween-themed music in front of the Performing Arts Center. Senior Katie James provided vocals on songs such as “Dark Horse” and “Thriller”. She was surrounded by costume-wearing bandmates. After the band concluded, guests entered the PAC Foyer to find spooky dancers (members of the Tartan Dance Company) striking menacing poses in the upper mezzanine and along the stair rails.  
 
As guests moved through the foyer, they viewed spooky photos provided by students in Amanda Albanese’s photography class. Viewers were able to cast a vote for their Audience Choice Award winner in photography. Screams arose from around the foyer as dancers crept up on unsuspecting guests.  
 
Live performances then began on stage in the Hurlbut Theater, featuring the Tartan Dance Company and monologues from Upper School theater students Olivia Ostlund and Cole Robinson, who prepared monologues from Macbeth and Edgar Allan Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart, respectively.
 
“They worked on having an active conversation through poetry as well as developing characters that were much darker than they normally portray,” theater teacher Dan Pacheco said. “This was an excellent opportunity to challenge them to stretch themselves beyond their comfort zones.”
 
The live performances were followed by a screening of suspense films by the cinematic arts students. Ms. Bennett said, “Our film students produced four original spine-chilling suspense films, collaborating with actors and thrilling the audience at the event. This was a unique experience featuring works across the arts disciplines.”
 
All four of the films can be viewed at this link.
 
Congratulations to Emma Evanson who won the Audience Choice Award for Best Film for “Who’s There?” and to Liesel Blau and Charlotte Otterbein for winning the Audience Choice Award for Best Photography for their photograph “Hungry Jack.”  
 
 
 
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An Independent Preschool Through Grade 12 College-Preparatory Day School in Orange County California

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