Even amid a global pandemic, Miss Hall’s students make great art. The Expressive Arts Showcase on February 27, 2021, spotlighted two-dozen performances and almost 100 pieces of visual art(!) created this year by MHS students. The well-attended Zoom production offered an opportunity to gather and celebrate the arts at Miss Hall’s.

The MHS Jazz Band opened the program with its rendition of Duke Ellington’s C Jam Blues, followed by a slideshow of visual art with pieces from many media.

Drama next took center stage with Isa ’22 offering two monologues, Savage in Limbo, by John Patrick Shanley, and Lifeboat, by Kevin Murphy and Lawrence O’Keefe. The monologues were prepared for the “Thespys,” an opportunity for performers to receive constructive feedback on prepared theatrical material and technical designs.

Filmmaking students then shared three productions: a music video adaptation by Neda ’22 of Ocean Eyes, by Billie Eilish; Lily ’24’s Day in the Life of Quarantine, and Ivy ’22’s To See Myself. Anna ’22 followed with the event’s first vocal performance, singing Mozart’s Das Veilchen.

A second slideshow featured more visual art!

Olivia ’23 followed with two monologues, The Dreamer Examines His Pillow, by John Patrick Shanley, and Ferret Envy, by Tara Meddaugh.

Filmmaking students then shared three more productions: a music video adaptation by Cherish ’23 of Adore You, by Harry Styles; Aurora ’23’s Six Word Memoir; and Linh ’21’s Coup d’Etat in the Making.

Following a Theater Ensemble performance of “Interlogue,” from the play, Almost, Maine, by John Cariani, and a Uke Band rendition of Landslide, by Stevie Nicks, the MHS Chamber Ensemble performed Danses des petits cygnes, from Swan Lake.

The evening’s final slideshow of amazing student work was followed by a monologue from Keely ’23, performing St. Joan, by George Bernard Shaw.

The event’s final films were Imani ’21’s documentary, The Artist Hannah, and a music video adaptation by Lucy ’23 of Feelin’ Good, made popular by Nina Simone. Jiho ’21 followed, singing Le Festin, from the movie Ratatouille.

Three musical selections rounded out the showcase. The Grace Notes offered their renditions of Take Me Home, by Pentatonix, and Simon & Garfunkel’s The Sound of Silence, and the Vocal Ensemble and Uke Band, followed with The Beatles’ Hey Jude.

It was an amazing night of MHS Expressive Arts. Elizabeth Gatchell Klein would be proud!