2024-25 Season
Upper School Fall Play: A Trip to the Moon
by Tracy Wells
Friday, Nov. 15, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 16, 2 p.m.
Set in the transformative summer of 1969, A Trip to the Moon tells the story of people reaching for their dreams—dreams of love, dreams of equality, dreams of the stars. Told around the time of the moon landing, this vignette-style play is comprised of 16 scenes, each named after an iconic song from 1969. From a girl trying to convince her parent to let her go to Woodstock in “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” to a woman trying to get a job at NASA in “Bad Moon Rising,” to a soldier giving the new guy a reality check in “Fortunate Son,” to a group of protestors showing a girl how to fight for what’s right in “Come Together,” these scenes and more use humor and heart to teach us about who we once were and reflect on who we could be and remind us that to achieve the impossible we must reach for the stars.
Winter Concerts
Upper School: Wednesday, Dec. 11, 7 p.m.
Middle School: Monday, Dec. 16, 7 p.m.
Lower School: Friday, Dec. 20:
Grades 3, 4, and 5, 8:30-9:15 a.m.
Grades K to 2, 9:45-10:30 a.m.
Upper School Musical: Grease
Friday, March 7, 2025, 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 8, 2025, 2 p.m.
Grease is a high-energy musical set in the 1950s at Rydell High School, following the lives of the rebellious T-Birds and the sweet Pink Ladies. At the heart of the story are Danny Zuko, the cool and charismatic leader of the T-Birds, and Sandy Dumbrowski, a new girl in school. After a whirlwind summer romance, Sandy and Danny unexpectedly find themselves attending the same school, but Danny struggles to maintain his tough-guy image in front of his friends, while Sandy tries to fit in with the Pink Ladies. As they navigate the complexities of high school social dynamics and peer pressure, they must confront their differences and decide whether their love is strong enough to overcome them.
With its catchy songs, dynamic dance numbers, and memorable characters, "Grease" explores themes of teenage romance, friendship and self-discovery against the backdrop of the 1950s. As Danny and Sandy grapple with their identities and relationships, they ultimately learn valuable lessons about authenticity, acceptance and the power of love.
Small Ensemble Concert
Tuesday, March 18, 2025, 7 p.m.
This concert showcases Middle School and Upper School ensembles, including the Brass Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, String Ensemble, Girls a Capella, Boys a Capella, Quakers Dozen and The Naturals.
Spring Concerts
Upper School Band and Chorus Concert, Thursday, April 23, 2025, 7 p.m.
Middle School Band and Chorus Concert, Wednesday, April 30, 2025, 7 p.m.
Lower School Spring Concerts, Thursday, May 22, 2025:
- Grades 3, 4 and 5: 8:30 - 9:15 a.m.
- Grades pre-K, K, 1 and 2: 9:45 - 10:30 a.m.
Middle School Musical: Newsies, Jr.
Friday, May 16, 2025, 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 17, 2025, 2 p.m.
It's time to carry the banner on your stage with Disney's Newsies! Set in turn-of-the century New York City, Newsies is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of teenaged "newsies." When titans of publishing raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack rallies newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions and fight for what's right!
Based on the 1992 motion picture and inspired by a true story, Newsies features a Tony Award-winning score by Alan Menken (Little Shop of Horrors, Sister Act) and Jack Feldman and a book by Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein (Kinky Boots). Featuring the now-classic songs “Carrying the Banner,” “Seize the Day” and “Santa Fe,” Newsies is packed with non-stop thrills and a timeless message, perfect for the whole family and every audience.
Students interested in stage crew, stage management, lighting or sound, should please see Michael Roche and Ari Baker.
All performances will take place in the Ball Theater, David L. Kurtz Center for the Performing Arts at Penn Charter.