Rachael Zhang ’28
Oct 3, 2025
Last Saturday, as a part of Family and Homecoming Weekend, Mercersburg Academy’s Fall Arts Showcase brought together a vibrant celebration of the school’s student creativity, setting the tone for the 2025 arts season. Actors, dancers, and musicians showcased their talents thus far in the year, giving an audience of families, friends, and alumni plenty to look forward to for performances to come.
Directed by Jim Brinson, Chorale opened the night with Stevie Wonder’s Isn’t She Lovely, a compelling performance, filling the Simon Theatre with angelic voices and harmony. Chorale member Brooke Shiber ’28, reflected afterward, “I really liked singing this piece. I loved how all the different vocal parts complemented each other perfectly. It was a really enjoyable experience."
The energy shifted as the Jazz Combo, under the direction of Shami Beni, launched into the head-bobbing rhythms of Tenor Madness by Sonny Rollins. “Great!” Mr. Beni simply said of the rehearsal process. “Everything went according to plan.” Praising the contributions of new jazz band members, he said, “Shoutout to all the freshmen and new students who jumped right into the early-year performances!” Skye Neme-O'Connell ’29 commented, "The best part was seeing how the audience and performers connected with each other… At one point, everyone was clapping their hands and showing great encouragement during the solos, it was really impressive."
The wonderful music set a vibrant mood in the theatre, as the house quieted and the stage lights illuminated the actors of Stony Batter; the audience was treated to a sneak peek of the fall play, Arsenic and Old Lace, directed by Matt Maurer. Instead of beginning at page one, this year Maurer chose a later scene to maximize audience curiosity and engagement. “We've had some theater at every showcase, usually a cutting from the beginning of a play. This year was a little different,” he noted. “Tonight's scene was a bit longer, about 15 minutes, and it started about ten pages in because I thought that section would be more immediately accessible and engaging for the audience.”
After the intensity of 12 Angry Jurors last spring, Maurer was ready for a classic dark comedy. He explained, “It's a classic, and the sheer chaos and the surprises still hold up. We just want to put on something that people can enjoy.” Looking forward to the full performance in October, he concluded, "Once everybody gets their lines down, it's just going to be all fun, all the time. It's called a 'play' for a reason."
For the cast, the challenge has been worth it. Keagan Killinger ’28, who plays Mortimer Brewster, said, “We wanted to showcase our best scene, the one with the most acting skills and context.” Janie Miller ’26, acting as Martha Brewster, added, “We rehearsed for about three weeks. Today we even improvised moving the set to make things work. That’s just part of live theater.” Judging by the audience’s laughter, the impromptu shift paid off: one parent said, “The comedy had us all laughing. I can’t wait to see the full play!”
Dance brought the showcase to a moving close, beginning with Paris Zhang ’27’s solo Haze, originally choreographed last year. “What inspired me was the song,” Zhang said. “The echo-y style exemplifies loneliness and being lost, and my choreography was built on that narrative.” Revisiting the piece this fall meant refining her growth as a dancer, “If I were to choreograph it now, I’d make it more complicated and more on beat. I’ve definitely improved since last year.” Director of Dance Kelsy Rupp explained that reviving Haze was a way to highlight Zhang’s artistry: “Everyone loved her piece last year, and Paris deserved to perform it again.”
T he showcase also featured the Advanced Studies: Dance class, represented by Caroline Hobbs ’26, Manika Dalai ’26, and Leah De Leon ’27, who performed If You’re Not Growing, You’re Dying, a conceptual work-in-progress set to music by Ludovico Einaudi. “It’s about continuous growth in life versus taking time to rest,” Rupp said. “The students brainstormed personas, developed movement, and taught each other. It’s completely student-driven.”
On the astonishing impact of the dances, a parent reflected, “The dances were just so emotional and thoughtful. You could see how much heart and effort the students put into them.”
Behind the scenes, the tech crew, led by Jessica Doubell and Chas Macklin, kept the event running seamlessly, which meant ensuring smooth transitions. “It’s almost like choreographing a dance backstage,” Doubell explained. “We spent Thursday night practicing cues, teaching the students how to use the new soundboard and lightboard, and making sure everyone knew exactly when to move.”
This year, the tech department introduced a new addition: a video montage at the start of the showcase. “I asked Videographer and Sports Marketing Manager Rick Janssen to capture footage of our classes,” Doubell said. “The showcase is meant to highlight all the arts, not just performances onstage, so it was important to show what’s happening in our theater, dance, [visual and fine] art, and music classrooms.”
By the end of the evening, it was clear the showcase had done more than entertain. Family and friends were able to celebrate the full spectrum of Mercersburg’s artistic talents and preview the performances and projects yet to come.