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Westport, Singapore Teachers Learn From Each Other
It’s become a familiar headline: In survey after survey of student achievement, Singapore ranks at or near the top. The US is far down the list, nestled between an emerging nation no one’s ever heard...
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Staples Players CAN Take It With Them
In 1958, a Staples student named Christopher Lloyd urged English teacher Craig Matheson to start a theater program. The 1st play — produced in the brand-new auditorium, in the school’s 1st year on...
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Now Hear This!
The arts are alive and well at Staples High School. This morning’s post highlights the upcoming Players production of You Can’t Take It With You. Earlier this week, first-year choral director Luke...
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“One” More Honor For Staples Players
On the final night of Staples Players’ production of “A Chorus Line” in March, Marvin Hamlisch’s widow came onstage. Terre Blair Hamlisch thanked the high school troupe for their magnificent staging of...
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Staples Players’ Singular Hamlisch Sensation
It was an invitation Staples Players could not turn down. Awed by the high school troupe’s March performance of “A Chorus Line,” Terre Blair — the widow of Marvin Hamlisch — invited them to perform at...
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A Star Is Born
Adam Kaplan stepped up up from understudy to lead in last Saturday’s matinee and evening performances of “Newsies.” The 2008 Staples grad played Jack Kelly at the Nederlander Theatre. A...
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“Spelling Bee” Boosts Best Buddies
At Staples High School, 2012 graduates Gregg Bonti and Sami Schwaeber had 2 passions: Players and Best Buddies. Both are now rising sophomores at the University of Vermont. Both are studying early...
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“Bye Bye Birdie” Sweeps Onto Staples Stage
“Bye Bye Birdie” is a staple on high school and middle school stages. But until this coming weekend, it has never been performed in the Staples auditorium. Staples Players (and summer production)...
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“Bye Bye Birdie”: A Sneak Peek
“Bye Bye Birdie” — Staples Players’ summer production — opens tonight in the high school auditorium. It’s a classic show, with broad appeal. Little kids, folks who loved the original (slimmed-down)...
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Remembering Craig Matheson
Craig Matheson — founder of the legendary Staples Players’ drama organization; a former teacher and administrator at Staples High School, and a beloved educator, director, and wonderful, ever-smiling...
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Staples Players Tap Into “Thoroughly Modern Millie”
Last year, Staples Players wowed audiences with fantastic choreography in “A Chorus Line.” The year before, the Jets and Sharks danced their way through Players’ “West Side Story.” This fall’s...
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“Millie” Remembers Matheson, Gilbert
Audiences are raving about Staples Players’ fall production, “Thoroughly Modern Millie.” Co-directors David Roth and Kerry Long have created a wonderful show, filled with talented, tap-dancing...
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Gina Rattan Makes “Music” History
Gina Rattan is too young to remember the last live musical on national TV. It was “Cinderella” — back in 1959. Gina graduated from Staples in 2004. Heck, her parents are probably too young to remember...
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Middle School Theater Makes Its Mark
Recently, Nick Ribolla acted, sang and danced his way to audiences’ hearts as Jimmy Smith, in Staples Player’s superb production of “Thoroughly Modern Millie” earlier this month. Nick is only a...
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You Can’t “Rent” In Trumbull
This week, Trumbull took a star turn in the spotlight usually reserved for small towns filled with small-minded people, many many miles from Broadway. But the principal of Trumbull High School really...
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Puppetry Of The Players
Most high schools “put on” shows. Staples Players stage them. For “A Chorus Line” last spring, directors David Roth and Kerry Long brought in choreographer (and Staples grad) Bradley Jones, plus...
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“Avenue Q”: Players Prep For Puppet Premiere
When Staples Players produced “A Chorus Line” last year, they knew the choreography would be challenging. Puppets for “Avenue Q,” by contrast, seemed like child’s play. But preparations for the spring...
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Mia Gentile Plays “Forbidden Broadway”
Mia Gentile‘s resume includes impressive credits: Off-Broadway and regional shows; 4 years at the prestigious Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music; many awards and honors. But things get really...
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Players Carry “Infinite Black Suitcase” To Stage
So many plays are comedies, or at least light. Who wants to leave the theater depressed? And high school theater is especially known for light fare. Who wants teenagers to think about death? David Roth...
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Come To The Cabaret — Again!
Life is a cabaret, old chum. And every decade or so, “Cabaret” comes to Westport. Staples Players — the legendary high school acting troupe — first performed the darkly decadent show in 1984. Directed...
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