Artists Take Their Final Bow of the Year

Inspired by the moody cautionary tale of the 1964 folk rock song “House of the Rising Sun” by the Animals, Baker directed her dancers to translate her vision through powerful movement and emotion.

“I came up with the story after last year’s concert and was excited to execute it,” the senior explained. “I've always loved the song, and it gave me the feeling of something very old-timey. I was feeling a southern 1950s vibe which is what influenced the costumes.”

In addition to Baker’s dance, there were six other student-choreographed pieces that featured 18 students performing contemporary, hip-hop/modern fusion and ballet/modern fusion moves in a concert titled “[Dis] Connected.” 

“The choreographers and I were brainstorming words that seemed fitting to our community,” explained Melissa Edwards, MDC director and upper school dance teacher. “‘Connected’ was repeated a few times, as the dance community here is quite tight and supportive. The world as a whole, however, feels chaotic and disconnected. We added the brackets to show both aspects simultaneously.”

Baker, who feels very connected to her MDC family, plans to major in dance next year. In her final Masters concert, she loved performing fellow senior Juan Torres’s piece, “The Playground,” saying, “There was a distinct moment halfway through when I got to scream. It was so incredibly fun and unlike anything I’ve done before.”

Edwards summed up the shows as “artistry, hard work, inventive and sophisticated choreography and an evening of thought and collaboration.”

Before and during the performances, the dancers worked with MISH and student ceramicist Ben Kremnev ’25 to raise money for My Sisters’ Place, a community-based nonprofit that strives to end domestic violence.

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Over at Graduation Terrace last week, audiences were invited to experience Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” as a new Bravo reality TV show.

Included among the cast of 25 upper school students — double cast for the leads — was Emerson Riter ’25, who played Beatrice, a role she relished.

“She was definitely a challenge, but in the best way,” Riter shared. “She's headstrong and leads with her emotions more than her head, which is a hard thing to capture on stage when you've spent so much time getting your lines and blocking just right. She's also so witty and intelligent, and that's reflected in her text, which is very intricate — Shakespeare included many words with double or even triple meanings, allusions and insults that really have to be dissected to communicate all properly with the audience.”

Adapted and directed by upper school theater teacher Beth Manspeizer, season 1 of “Much Ado About Nothing” takes place at Messina Mansion.

“I did a reality spin on reality TV,” she said. “Making each act an episode. We had five episodes full of love, laughter and theater.”

Riter, who enjoyed the unique twist, shared some bittersweet words about her final Shakespeare performance at Masters. 

“Mainstage is so incredible in that we provide space for truly everybody and anybody, regardless of their experience in theater or with the particular type of theater we happen to be doing this year,” she said. “My counterpart in the other cast, Ayalah (Spratt ’26), had never worked with this kind of theater before, and it was such a privilege to be able to pass on everything I've learned doing the spring season to her. I'm going to miss Mainstage more than words.”

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In other arts news, the Upper School Festival of New Works debuts tomorrow at 7:00 p.m., in the Experimental Theater in the Fonseca Center, and features nine original plays from the Playwriting class, performed by the Advanced Acting, Acting Studio and Playwriting students.

While you’re on the 3rd floor of the Fonseca Center, stop by the Senior Art Exhibit at the Wenberg Gallery. The beautiful work of the seniors from AP Art & Design, Wheel Intensive, Ceramics II, Photo III and Photo Major will be on display until May 27.