Mixed Chorus will be singing a medley of songs from the hit Broadway musical & Juliet on Tuesday, Dec. 17 for the Winter Gala Festival of the Arts. In preparation for the big event, students went to see the smashing musical on Wednesday, Dec. 11.
Mixed chorus and concert choir teacher Barry Wyner, shared, “Once we saw that a choral medley was published of a currently running hit Broadway show, we saw the opportunity for a trip like this one. The feeling for students of performing music from a musical they saw the week before was too special to pass up. The obstacles we encountered were mainly cost related: Broadway tickets and school busing into Manhattan both being exorbitant. Luckily, & Juliet offers discounted tickets to student groups, which helps defray the cost. In the end, a terrific group of over 40 students signed up, and we had a really fun day.” Mixed chorus, music theory, and treble choir teacher Timothy Waldvogel added, “Mr. Wyner and I spoke about the different things that we would need done. Reserving bussing, buying tickets, reserving a place to eat, making an informational sheet, etc. We split the duties and both took care of different parts of it. It’s nice being able to collaborate with someone for a trip like this, which takes a lot of effort and planning.”
The field trip began fourth period as students got ready to get on the bright yellow school bus that would take them to Manhattan. After the 90-minute bus ride into the city, students dined at Hard Rock Cafe. Sophomore Chloe Johnson said, “My favorite part [of the trip] was [going to] the Hard Rock Cafe, I really enjoyed this because I got to sit and talk with some friends I don’t have classes with this year.” At the cafe, students enjoyed foods like mac n’ cheese, cheeseburgers, and chicken tenders with fries. Students were also given a delicious chocolate chip cookie for dessert. The cafe also showcased eye-catching memorabilia, including Long Island’s very own Billy Joel’s Moto Guzzi motorcycle.
Once lunch was over, the rainy weather did not hold students back from taking the journey to the Stephen Sondheim Theatre on West 43rd Street in Midtown, Manhattan. Students arrived at the theater about thirty minutes before the show began. Once the doors opened, students were welcomed into the theater and given their Playbills. Many were very excited to learn that TikTok sensation Charli D’Amelio was in the show. D’Amelio has 155.7 million followers on TikTok and 43 million followers on Instagram. At roughly two o’clock in the afternoon, the show began. The musical takes viewers through an alternate ending of Shakespehere’s classic love story, Romeo and Juliet, with a more feminist lens and explores the question: ‘What if Juliet was given a second chance of life?’ The Broadway hit uses some of today’s most beloved pop songs like “Roar” by Katy Perry, “Since You’ve Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson, and many more bops, all produced by one of music’s biggest names, Max Martin.
During the 15-minute intermission, students were able to go explore the Stephen Sondheim theater and see all the things students could purchase. Some chose to visit the gift shop and others stopped by the snack shop in the orchestra level to purchase some food. The show ended around 4:30 PM, and students hopped on the bus and returned to LHS.
This trip was an experience that students will not forget. Wyner shared, “I wouldn’t ever force [choosing a musical medley to go on a field trip], but when it seems natural, it is definitely something I would pursue again in the future. It is important to me to provide opportunities for students to see Broadway shows, especially with their peers. I know what a fun and life-changing experience that can be. Plus, I want to help build the future audience for musical theater, my favorite artform.” Waldvogel expressed, “We wouldn’t pick a medley just to go to a show, but it certainly is a nice perk. We pick music just based on the needs of our program and abilities/interests of our students. But it is very nice when we can combine a trip to Broadway with a song that the mixed chorus is singing.”
