Bobcat Stories

In 1976, long before our current Bosque School thespians, musicians and singers were born, the great singer-songwriter Neil Diamond released a hit song that includes the lines, “It's a beautiful noise / It's a sound that I love / Made of joy and of strife / Like a symphony played / By the passing parade / It's the music of life.” Those lyrics capture the beautiful energy of this fall’s performances.

On September 26, the actors took the stage in the Black Box Theater for the student-directed one-act festival. An overflowing crowd enjoyed four plays. The first was “The Sea Wraith,” written and directed by Hannah O. (‘27), with a large cast enacting the passionate quest of a sea captain for a mysterious, interdimensional monster — shades of “Moby Dick,” with wonderfully expressive stage management by Tac (‘27). Kyra (‘27) directed a classic Turkish play, “Hürmüz with Seven Husbands,” a comic, twisty story about a woman who keeps marrying men for convenience…until she actually falls in love. Stage Manager, Linna (‘27), kept the stage full of movement and complex sequences as the plot thickened into absurdity. Abby  (‘27) upped the antic factor by directing “Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind,” a series of improvisational sketches, determined by the audience's votes. Her stage manager was Sebastian J. (‘27), who, like everyone in the cast, had to be nimble as they leaped from one sketch to the next. The final play, “A Stitch Here or There,” was directed by Julius (‘26) and stage-managed by Lauren L. (‘26). Pairs of sock puppets did all the talking in this surreal tragedy; you’ll never look at your sock drawer the same way again.  

The fall strings concert followed on October 1, directed by Nicolle Maniaci, featuring Aaron Morales and students Violet (‘27) on percussion and Daniel (‘29) on piano. The beginning string ensemble, the advanced string ensemble (including 7th, 8th, and advanced 6th-grade players), and the intermezzo group all performed with great energy. The serenata group performed Handel’s “Allegro” without a conductor, guided instead by concertmaster and violinist Olivia  ('27). The combination of intermezzo, serenata, and advanced middle school singers closed the show with a thrilling, of course, rendition of Michael Jackson’s hit “Thriller.”

On October 22, the fall choir concert was held, directed by Joanna Hart and Julia Manganaro, with Michael Boring as collaborative pianist. The concert featured the middle school combined choirs, the 6th-grade, 7th-grade, and 8th-grade choirs, and the upper school cantate, who performed four very challenging choral pieces.

On October 23, the bands took the stage for their fall concert under the direction of Aaron Morales. Performers included the 6th-grade band, 7th and 8th-grade bands playing together, the middle school jazz band, the upper school jazz combos one and two, and the evening closed with the wind ensemble.

We could not be prouder of the Bosque School thespians, along with the instrumental and choral musicians who performed so well this fall. Bravo to them and their dedicated teachers and directors.