Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, giants of American musical theater, created legendary Broadway musicals in the 1940s and 50s and initiated what is widely considered the “golden age” of musical theater. The composers were geniuses at weaving challenging thematic issues into romantic love stories shared through dance and song. Consider The King and I, Oklahoma, South Pacific, and Carousel, all musical theater chestnuts that carry a powerful social commentary punch.

With their original production of Café Carousel, the Ashley Hall Theater Department, under the direction of Director Maida Libkin, created an evening to celebrate and examine the work Rodgers and Hammerstein through the lens of social justice. The team crafted the show’s poignant narrative through meticulous research of the musicals and by working closely with Upper School humanities faculty who teach classes such as Human Rights and International Law, American Studies, and Race Class, and Gender for historical and social context. Café Carousel proved enormously successful giving audiences of all ages much to think about.

Taking their efforts one step further, the Café Carousel cast and crew generously donated a portion of ticket sales, $2,000, to the local Charleston non-profit, My Sister’s House, which provides services and resources to empower victims of domestic violence and their children to live free of abuse. Brava to all!

An Ashley Hall
Production of Disney Mulan Jr.

Music and lyrics by
Matthew Wilder and David Zippel,
Stephen Schwartz,
Jeanine Tesori and Alexa Junge

Music Adapted and Arranged
and Additional Music and Lyrics
by Bryan Lousiselle

Book Adapted and Additional Lyrics
by Patricia Cotter

Based on the 1998 Disney film
“Mulan” and the story “Fa Mulan”
by Robert D. San Souci

Performance Dates:
February 10, 2017 & February 11 | 7:00pm
Davies Auditorium

This live performance of the popular Disney film, Mulan Jr. features a cast from Ashley Hall’s Intermediate Program. Mulan Jr. turns the traditional fairy tale on its head. The story is the cross-cultural retelling of a popular Chinese folk tale where a peasant girl disguises herself as a man and takes her ailing father’s place in the emperor’s army. Filled with beautiful melodies and PQV attitude, Mulan Jr. is perfect for the entire family, especially Ashley Hall girls!

Tickets: $10 for adults | $8 for students
Tickets will be available online through February 8 and then can be purchased at the door the evening of the performance. Tickets are non transferable between performances.

Online ticket sales  for Disney’s Mulan Jr. are now closed, please purchase your ticket at the door. 

The Intermediate Program strings classes participated in their first masterclass with violinist, Ms. Tessa Lark. All 5th through 11th grade string players were invited to attend as part of the audience. Four students were chosen to play solos and receive feedback. Two Intermediate Program students, Chloe Ross and Leddy Scheurer, were honored for their hard work this year. They each performed a solo and worked with our guest in front of the audience of string players. Leddy is shown in the picture with Ms. Lark during her turn in the masterclass. Ms. Lark was on campus for the Performing Artists in Residence series and she provided wonderful playing tips and tricks for the girls to utilize in their own string playing.

The Performing Arts Department presents
Trouble in the Imagi*Nation
featuring dancers from the 3rd and 4th grade and after-school dance program

April 21 | 8:15am and 7:00pm
April 23 | 7:00pm
Davies Auditorium
Tickets: $5.00 

Trouble in the Imagi*Nation is a charming and powerful allegorical fairy tale that celebrates the strength of the human spirit’s ability not only to endure hardship and abuse, but also to move beyond toward forgiveness and peace. Presented by dancers from the 3rd and 4th grade classes and after-school dance members, the show features a variety of music and dance forms that perfectly convey the wide range of responses—from sorrow and despair all the way to laughter and joy—that the story evokes.

Don’t miss the Performing Arts Department’s Candlelight Cabaret on January 31. This exciting variety show features performances by the Red and Swing Choirs, poetry readings, the Strings Ensemble, and dance in a program of familiar tunes. Tickets are $25 and include a lovely dinner of almond crusted chicken with lemon buerre blanc, pesto mashed potatoes, haricot verts, chocolate mousse cups and mini cream puffs for dessert! Dinner begins at 6:00pm.

Ticket sales for this event are now closed.

The Fine Arts Department presents the Intermediate Program Winter Arts Showcase on Thursday, December 10 at 7:00pm in Davies Auditorium. The program will feature a variety of string, vocal, and dance performances by 5th and 6th grade students.