Ranney School Proudly Celebrates 50 Years Of The Arts

It was a two-day event that was designed to celebrate 50 years of the performing and visual arts at Ranney School. But Ranney Voices, Past and Present did so much more than that on March 19 and 20, 2010.

Not only did both evenings proudly acknowledge Ranney’s treasured past and showcase its talented students, it was also an affectionate and lively look back at the birth and successful growth and development of the arts program at Ranney.

Ranney’s RSPA Panther Hall and the Gallery were abuzz with excitement on Friday and Saturday night as hundreds of students, parents, faculty, alumni and friends gathered to celebrate Ranney’s 50th Anniversary and enjoy a golden retrospective of the arts ‘then and now.’

The program included an entertaining multimedia history of Ranney’s performing arts program over the past 50 years, featuring rare video clips and archival photos, as well as special musical performances from Ranney’s theater students, choral performers and musicians representing all three divisions. From the poignant rendition of Try to Remember from The Fantasticks to the evening’s concluding number, a rousing edition of Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In, the evening was a lively splash of entertainment and nostalgia that captivated the hearts of everyone gathered in front of the Roberts Stage.

Outside of Panther Hall, the excitement continued as the Ranney community enjoyed an exhibition of works by award-winning art students from all three divisions that included stories, quotes and photographs of alumni who studied art at Ranney, as well as works of current art students. The exhibition also featured The Anniversary Mural, a brilliant 18’ mural celebrating Ranney’s 50 years of growth and educational opportunity for its students. Proudly unveiled by Head of School Dr. Lawrence S. Sykoff and several students on Friday evening, the mural was sponsored and conceived by the Upper School National Art Honor Society as a special gift to the school.

Also on hand to share in the 50th arts celebration was special guest performer and alumni, Jeffrey Blumenkrantz ’82. A graduate of Northwestern University, Blumenkrantz was a popular member of Ranney’s Thespian Society and forensics teams in the late 70’s and 80’s. Now a Tony-nominated composer and actor, his songs have been recorded by such well-known artists as Audra McDonald, Sutton Foster, and Megan Mullally. On Saturday evening, he captivated the audience with a wide variety of original and interactive compositions and shared fond memories of his days as a member of the school’s performing arts program.

Throughout Ranney’s rich history, the performing and visual arts have consistently played a significant role in shaping its success as a premier educational institution. There is no doubt that in the next 50 years, Ranney’s arts programs will continue to prosper, transform and mesmerize future generations with its unique expression and creativity.

For additional information on all Ranney School news, please contact the Communications Department at communications@ranneyschool.org.