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January 22, 2019 | The Valley Catholic
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
Archbishop Mitty Takes the Stage in 2018-19 School Year
By Emily Ordoñez ’19
Archbishop Mitty High School
showcases one of the most renowned
Performing Arts departments in the
Bay Area. Part of what makes the pro-
gram special is the versatile curricu-
lum and the supportive community
behind each production that graces
the stage. Every year, the school puts
on a fall musical, a winter play, and
a spring musical.
In the 2018-19 run, we’ve already
seen Bright Star directed by Doug San-
tana. It’s the charming tale of Billy, an
aspiring writer from North Carolina,
and his publisher, Alice Murphy, set
to a bluegrass soundtrack. The Arch-
bishop Mitty production allowed
for special musical opportunities,
including a violin solo to begin the
show and a giant, moveable house on
wheels that carried four musicians.
“Playing while on stage was a
very different ex erience, said se-
nior Sean Lao, the lead violinist who
performed inside the moving house.
“It allowed us to interact with the
Archbishop Mitty High School students
perform Bright Star.
actors and actually become part of
the show.”
This winter, students also per-
formed Noises Off, the iconically hi-
larious play-within-a-play featuring
ample slapstick comedy and chaotic
fun. Director of Performing Arts Mr.
Doug Santana ran the production for
the third time in his career. The cast
featured a plethora of members from
Archbishop Mitty’s sketch comedy
team, Pardon My French, and undoubt-
edly highlighted the breadth of talent
that students can develop as part of
their Archbishop Mitty education.
With multiple outlets for artistic
expression and a faculty that truly
cares about the success of its students,
as iring erformers naturally ourish
in the Performing Arts Department.
inally, finishing off the year will e
Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella,
which runs from March 22-30. This
musical tells a classic tale infused
with comedy and exhilarating musical
numbers. Although the production of
Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella
won’t debut until spring, the cast has
already begun preparing by going
to watch the Broadway national tour
of the same show featuring alumna
Mandy McDonell ’13 at the San Jose
Center of Performing Arts. Even
unprompted, the Archbishop Mitty
community spirit comes through in
the best places.
“This department has been so
special to me for the last four years,”
said senior Michaela Lewis, the lead-
ing lady of the show. “Giving this
performance is like giving back to the
people who are in it.”
For more information regarding
the performing arts program visit,
mitty.com/performing-arts.
Second Graders at
Resurrection School
Create Nativity Scenes
The second grade students at
Resurrection School in Sunnyvale,
each created their own nativity
scene in a manger and practiced
retelling the Christmas story to
each other using their handmade
characters. They threw their heart
into this project each nativity scene
was unique and beautiful. They
were so excited to take them home
to share the Christmas story with
their families.
Holy Spirit Delivers the Bare Necessities
The sounds of the jungle could be
heard coming from the gym at Holy
Spirit School.
The Kindergarten through third
grade students worked hard, with the
help of their Starting Arts directors, to
present a fantastically fun production
of The Jungle Book Kids. Bagheera and
Baloo introduced us to the forest and
Mowgli’s adventures took off from
there. The cast of students-turned-
frogs, monkeys, snakes, bees, and
more sang, danced, and protected their
jungle boy through a series of amusing
musical numbers.
Some of the 43 cast members have
appeared in previous productions, but
a few made their Holy Spirit School
stage debut. They are looking forward
to watching the “big kids” in May
Students at Holy Spirit School perform, The
Jungle Book Kids.
when the fourth through eighth grade
students present a production of Mulan
Jr. Come see the students shine onstage
and off at
en ouse on anuary 2
between 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
For more information on showtimes
and tickets, call (408) 268-0794.
The Valley Catholic Young Journalists Group
The Valley Catholic Young Journalists Group is a team of high school
journalists who are passionate about retelling such stories through
priests, ordinary people and religious events. If you enjoy writing, tell-
ing stories, and are active in your parish, come join this group! For
more information or to share a story, please contact Justin Chung at
[email protected].