Category: Arts & Entertainment

By Abby Ryu ‘26

Another year, another spectacular spring play performance by the Wyoming Seminary Players. This year’s production of Dial M for Murder was staged twice in the Buckingham Performing Arts Center (BPAC), at 7:30 p.m Friday and Saturday, May 1 and 2. The performance was a new adaptation by Jeffrey Hatcher based on Frederick Knott’s 1952 thriller classic and Alfred Hitchcock’s big screen translation, both of the same name. The cast included young talent George Malloy ‘28 as the main lead, along with Wyoming Seminary theatre staples Kate Barth ‘26, Xavier Tereska ‘27, Catherine Eidam ‘27, and Laura Olsen ‘27 in supporting roles. This small but mighty cast brought to life a bone-chilling story of greed, jealousy, and of course, murder.

However awesome the cast was, this article would be remiss if I did not also emphasize the vital guidance of director Ellen Sherry as well as the support of the tech crew – consisting of Madi Szafran ‘29, Chloe Kutney ‘27, and Chloe Caputo ‘26, who many may recognize from her roles on the stage. When asked about the switch to a more stage management oriented role, Caputo shared “I love doing tech for the plays [because] I get way more of an understanding of how [the theatre process] works behind the scenes and it makes me a better actor even though I’m not working specifically on acting.” 

The work poured into the production by both cast and crew was very clearly felt by the audience. The entire audience – day and boarding students, family and friends, teachers and other faculty members – were kept sweaty-palmed, on the edges of their seats throughout the entire production. Afterwards, when asked about her review of the play, Wyoming Seminary arts devotee Remy Turrell ‘27 gushed “I really enjoyed this year’s production. It was a really great way for me to spend time with friends, support my classmates, and take a fun break from all my AP studying!”. All in all, the performance truly brought the entire community to support the incredible student performers and experience a night of high-stakes drama!

By Nancy Dahal ‘28

With finals approaching from around the corner, the Wyoming Seminary Dance Company brought a special surprise with their annual dance performance. Presented on Friday, May 8th and Sunday, May 10th in the KCCA, the Forty-Fifth Jubilee provided the Wyoming Seminary community with a transformative artistic experience. Pieces varied heavily – from the poignant Dance of Knights to the upbeat Broadway Works, as well as the fan favorite disco piece featuring some of  SEM’s favorite faculty members; audience members truly time-travelled. The hard work of everybody involved was evident in the end result. 

With a small cast of twenty dancers, the production created a space for artistry to thrive through many different genres and compositions. This year, along with many upper school students, three new lower school students were also able to bring their passion to the stage. The production additionally featured many alumni including Robert Zaloga ‘20, Samantha Barcia ‘22,  and Brennan Twardowski ‘10. With their contributions, the production was a massive success. 

All of this was made possible especially by the work and commitment of Mrs. Bernadine Votjko. Madi Szafran ‘29, a new member to the SEM Dance Company, gushed about her experience: “I love it! Even after doing theater for 9 years, [performing in the dance show] has helped me grow so much in only a few months!”. 

Many students had a hand in bringing the performance to life, and not just by performing. The Choreographer’s Workshop contributed incredible pieces to an already astounding performance. The six dancers involved in the Choreographer’s Workshop this year were: Aniella “Nelly” Gabello-Timinski ‘26, Hannah Salesky ‘26, Melina Ospina-Wiese ‘27, Emma Murphy ‘27, Aubrey Fisher ‘27, and Mary Jane Michaels ‘26. In regards to her creative process, senior choreographer Hannah Salesky ‘26 stated, “Choreographing a piece for the show has been a great experience. It taught me a lot about movement and composition, teaching, and all of the technical aspects of the show as well!”

The forty-fifth annual dance show was a testament to the time and hard work of the students, choreographers, and teachers involved and reflected the bigger commitment Mrs. Votjko and her dancers have been putting into the company for decades. Hopefully, the Wyoming Seminary Dance Company continues to provide such wonderful performances for years to come!

By Nancy Dahal ‘28

Each year, the Wyoming Seminary Drama Department produces three different theatrical shows. This year started with a boom as the autumn musical combined music, dance, and acting into a fantastic, all-around act! The end of the year holds the spring play which captivates audiences with its intense acting and riveting characters. Between these two spectacles is where the Winter Workshops lie. The Winter Workshops contained two slates this year which were hosted in BPAC from Wednesday February 11 to Sunday February 15.

The Winter Workshops consist of comedic scenes ranging typically from ten to fifteen minutes with a small cast of actors each. Unlike the musical and the play which both require around five days per week, the workshops operate with only one hour per scene a week. Due to the lighter time commitment, they attract many students who did not have previous interest, experience, or time to be involved in Sem Drama. In the words of Doron Glynn ‘26, “I got involved in acting at SEM through the winter workshops in my freshman year. I’ve been doing it ever since and it’s allowed me to make some of my closest friends. You can participate in some hilarious scenes and show your talent without the intense time commitment of the musical.” 

This low time commitment allows a greater range of people to join in on the experience. The workshops welcome varying experience levels as well ranging from aspiring professionals to hobbyists to people who just wanted to try new things and put themselves out there. These students also tend to vary a lot in age and origin with students of all years and from all places collaborating. The tighter knit fashion of the scenes and rehearsals continues this trend as the students involved in scenes together can form long lasting friendships. 

The Winter Workshops act as a casual way for students to express their passions towards theatre. Kurt Soreth ‘26 described it well by saying, “Winter Workshop for the past four years has always been a huge learning experience for me whether I am playing a DMV worker or even Satan. I love acting and the art of performance, and I knew it was going to be another great show!”

With all the joy and laughter that they brought to campus, the Winter Workshops were an astounding success this year. The Sem Community thanks all the students involved in the incredible production both on and backstage. As well, many incredible faculty members made the Workshops possible like directors Mr. Sherry and Mrs. Sherry and Mr. Bussie, the hands behind the operation. Hopefully, the Sem Drama Department will continue to be able to bring such incredible productions to the spotlight for many years to come!