Oliver!
Upper and Middle School Spring Musical 2018:
May 4th-6th at 8 PM on the Upper School Quad
May 11th-12th at 8 PM on the Upper School Quad
Oliver Twist is a young boy who lives in a workhouse with other orphaned boys. In this award-winning musical based on the Charles Dickens novel, 9-year-old orphan Oliver Twist falls in with a group of street-urchin pickpockets led by the Artful Dodger and masterminded by the criminal Fagin. When Oliver’s intended mark, Mr. Brownlow takes pity on the lad and offers him a home, Fagin’s henchman Bill Sikes plots to kidnap the boy to keep him from talking.
Please visit IN THE WINGS for more show and audition-related information
Upper School Winter Play 2018:
Show Pictures
A brilliant comedy of gender confusion and mistaken identities is the tale of twins separated at sea resulting in a romp in which a girl disguises herself as a man to be near the count she adores, only to be pursued by the woman he loves! “Better a witty fool, than a foolish wit.”
Upper School Fall Musical 2017:
Heathers, The Musical - High School Edition
Show Pictures
Based on the 1988 screenplay “Heathers,” HEATHERS THE MUSICAL (High School Edition), was just released in 2016 after a nationwide demand that the 2014 cult classic that recently played at the New World Stages in Manhattan, be available to all high schools. This rowdy guilty-pleasure musical tells the story of an Ohio senior class in-crowd that gets turned upside down as it bursts from the seams. HEATHERS THE MUSICAL is to the 1980’s what “Grease” was to the 1970’s. Today most audiences might liken it to an episode of “Glee” with high gloss and a bit of grit. Although this dark comedy deals with significant coming-of-age issues, it does so with a fun and engaging score set to bubbly music. There is satisfying closure in the show as it illuminates the fact that indeed there is hope after high school. It’s called the entire rest of life! And, hey, what’s a musical without a reprise of the major feel-good number
Last Season Highlights…
The cast and crew of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying extend a sincere thank you to all those who continue to support the arts at Menlo!
Menlo Drama Gives Back
The Menlo Drama Community believes in giving back. We are so fortunate to do what we love, and it is our mission to ‘Give-Back’ both on and off stage.
To date, Menlo Drama Give-Back has raised and distributed over $30,000 to various foundations, networks, and committees globally including SafeSpace, Karam Foundation, Delancy Street Foundation, Polaris Project, Perkins School, Larkin Street, Mercado Global, International Rescue Committee, and One Drop Foundation.
Drama Courses
About Menlo Drama
Menlo’s Upper School drama program includes courses in beginning and advanced drama in addition to producing full-length plays each fall, winter, and spring. Past productions have included Fiddler on the Roof, Avenue Q, The Miracle Worker, The Diary of Anne Frank, Little Shop of Horrors, and Urinetown.
Steven Minning
Steven Minning is the Upper School Drama Director. He has worked as a director and choreographer in New York and at theaters across the U.S. for productions such as Billy Elliot, The Lion King, Show Boat, The Will Rogers Follies, and Cirque du Soleil’s Dralion. He was the director/choreographer for major events such as the Coca-Cola Olympic reception in Atlanta and the 1994 World Cup opening ceremonies. He teaches Beginning and Advanced Acting and directs our three main stage productions.