An Assembly of Music and Laughter

Middle and Upper School boys gathered for a May 30 Assembly in the Lower Gym where they were entertained by several musical groups, musicians and the Improv Club. Head of Upper School Jim Reynolds served as MC and, at the conclusion of the event, asked all the performers to take to the stage for a final bow and round of applause.

Music Department Head David Pretigiacomo noted that the Ovation Orchestra performed Bastille’s “Pompeii,” “Hungarian Dance” and ”Pictures at an Exhibition,” while two of the boys played rock on guitar and drums with Mark Dane of the Jazz Ensemble Club. Another boy played “C Jam Blues” on the piano, and the Upper School Chorus sang “Find the Cost of Freedom.”

Upper and Middle School math teacher Matt Bratnick, an improv performer, explained that the Improv Club presented theater games and scene work to help individuals “come out of their shells” and acted spontaneously (improvising without scripts) to make their audience laugh. Special focus in scene work focused on the “game” of the scene, the single funny idea that is played and heightened throughout.