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MS Students Wow Audience Members at Musical and Art Show

Prior to viewing the Middle School's first-ever stage performance, - the musical Beauty and the Beast, Jr. - parents, family and friends also attended a "Middle School Expressions Visual Art Exhibition" that showcased many award-winning displays done by students throughout the division.  
Ranney’s first-ever Middle School musical, Beauty and the Beast, Jr. opened to a sold-out RSPA Panther Hall on Friday, February 10, 2012.

As lights dimmed and curtains parted, the audience found itself immediately transported to the strange new world of a French girl named Belle (Evan Schultz ’17) searching for more than what is offered in her small provincial town.

From start to finish, the play’s cheerful music, inventive costumes, and fun-filled choreography captivated audience members of all ages as they applauded the cast’s fine performance with a standing ovation at the conclusion of the show. “Assembling the best possible cast and crew is the first step to a successful production and for this show I couldn’t have asked for a better group of students to work with,” said Director Lillianne P. Torrente.

Performing for a packed house on two enchanted evenings, the cast’s members included several aspiring thespians involved both inside and outside of Ranney’s Performing Arts program. While she recently assumed the role of Madame de la Grande Bouche this past Friday and Saturday night, Sophia Jackman ’16 has also appeared in numerous other Ranney School theater productions including Willy Wonka, Jr. and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. In addition, she frequently performs at the Two River Theatre in Red Bank. Acting as Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast, Jr., Carmine Mastrokostas ’18 not only attends various theater camps and workshops across the tri-state area, but has even appeared in productions at the world-famous Carnegie Hall. An “All-Star” with iTheatrics in New York City, Carmine has worked with Broadway veterans Robert Kennedy, Tim McDonald and Marty Johnson, and was featured in a choreography DVD for new Broadway Jr. resource materials as well. Similar to Carmine, but accurately portraying the character Mrs. Potts on both nights this weekend, Tessa Payer ’16 comes to the Robert’s Stage with an array of experience in approximately five Ranney School productions. Also an “All-Star” with iTheatrics, Tessa recently auditioned and received an ensemble role in the Music Man, which will debut at the Algonquin Arts Theatre in Manasquan on the weekends of April 20 and April 27.

Overall, the show’s elite cast with its unforgettable stage presence certainly set the bar high for future Middle School performances. “I can’t wait to see what we will do next year in an attempt to top these two great nights,” said Head of the Middle School David Fischer.

Prior to the Middle School’s inaugural performance atop the Robert’s Stage, guests were invited to a “Middle School Expressions Visual Art Exhibition” in Panther Hall Gallery. Among those graphic design projects, architecture models, pop art sculptures, ceramic pieces, and self-portrait paintings displayed throughout the gallery were several award-winning pieces from Middle School students.

While the Fine Arts Department has had several of its Lower School students named “Artist of the Week” by the online art museum known as Artsonia, last month saw Middle School student Carla Papetti ’16 surpass thousands of competitors falling within the site’s seventh to ninth grade age bracket. Up against 12 other student-finalists, Carla’s graphic piece entitled “Believe” received the most online votes between January 19th and 21st. As a result, Carla’s project was featured on the site’s main page. In addition, she and Middle School teacher — Ms. Rebecca Sullivan — were awarded Blick Art Materials gift certificates.

In another online art contest, 16 seventh through 12th grade Ranney students were selected by CelebratingArt.com to be published in a book as well as compete for a ‘Top 10 Artist’ Award. They were: Kate Crilly ’16, Elizabeth Paasche ’16, Lily Thacher ’16, Zachary Sullens ’16, Kevin Xia ’17, James Wolfe ’17, Alexa Biswal ’17, Gregory Marx ’17, Corrina Mazza ’17, Christopher Nivera ’17, Veronica Risucci ’17, Jacqueline Erler ’18, Anisha Gupta ’18, Jacob Guss ’18, Zachary Karlin ’18 and Varun Sikand ’18.

Meanwhile, four Ranney students received recognition through The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Although this school year marks Ranney’s first time participating in the program, The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards has an impressive legacy dating back to 1923 and a noteworthy roster of past winners including Andy Warhol, Sylvia Plath, Truman Capote, Robert Redford and Joyce Carol Oates. Each year, the alliance partners with more than 100 visual and literacy-arts focused organizations across the country to bring The Awards to local communities throughout the United States. Of the more than 2,800 visual artworks submitted by seventh through 12th grade students in their region, Ranney Panthers Anjali Mann ’17, Pooja Nayyar ’17, Kevin Xia ’17 and Max Chalnick ’17 all placed. While Anjali and Pooja received Golden Key Awards and will exhibit their works as well as compete for national placement at a regional art show in the Education Gallery at Montclair Art Museum from February 11 until March 9, Kevin, along with Anjali, won a Silver Key Award, and Max received Honorable Mention. Anjali and Pooja will also attend an opening reception and awards ceremony on Wednesday, February 15, 2012.

When not perusing the artworks on display during Ranney's Visual Art Exhibition, children could be found making their very own pieces at two interactive exhibit tables stationed in the corridor. Not only did students have the option of visiting a “Make Your Own Tunnel Book” station that explained the steps to making a tunnel book, contained examples of student works and offered the supplies needed, but they also had the opportunity to stop by a “Make a Still Life Drawing” station. Both activities were manned by Hope Schoenhut ’17, Jessica Schoenhut ’18 and Julius Ferenc ’17, who offered assistance when needed.

As Ranney continues to promote the arts through monthly exhibitions in the Panther Hall Gallery, it will also continue to enter students' pieces into art contests. For instance, the Arts Department’s next contest will include the Art Educators of New Jersey’s YAM (Young Art Month) annual exhibition, which several students will enter later this week. Those aspiring artists chosen from the Middle School include: Kevin Xia, Erin Kennedy ’16, Sophia Calve ’16 and Kate Crilly.
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Ranney School

235 Hope Road
Tinton Falls, NJ 07724
Tel. 732.542.4777
Our mission is to know and value every child, nurturing intellectual curiosity and confidence, and inspiring students to lead honorably, think creatively, and contribute meaningfully to society. 

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