VPA February Newsletter

The Morris School District is proud to provide ample opportunities in the Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) from Kindergarten through 12th grade. Our teachers are extremely dedicated and skilled in promoting and developing creativity, aptitude, and enthusiasm within their respective fields. Our students excel in the art studio, on stage, and in the graphic arts.

If you would like to highlight an accomplishment of a district student or teacher, please e-mail Elaine Broe, Communications & Community Relations Coordinator, at elaine.broe@msdk12.net.

• March 3rd - NJAJE Jazz Festival
• March 6th & 7th - FMS: The Spongebob Musical
• March 12th - 15th - MHS: Fiddler on the Roof
• March 14th - St. Patrick's Day Parade
• March 18th - NJSMA Concert Band Festival
• March 24th - District Orchestra Festival
• March 25th - 10th Annual Bands of Morris
• March 27th - The Apollo at MHS

The Morris Educational Foundation delivered another spectacular production with this year’s Morristown OnStage on February 23. The Morris School District extends its heartfelt gratitude to the MEF for their unwavering support. The immense time and dedication poured into this event are deeply appreciated. The MEF raised over $21,000 to support educational opportunities in our schools.

Congratulations to all the talented contestants who participated. The hard work was evident in every performance. The night also featured a sneak peek of the upcoming MHS spring musical, Fiddler on the Roof. Tickets for both the FMS and MHS spring musicals are on sale now.

Performance Details:

• Dates: Friday, March 6th & Saturday, March 7th

• Time: Doors open at 6:30 PM | Show starts at 7:00 PM

• Location: FMS Auditorium

Performance Details:

• Dates: March 12, 13, 14, 15
• Location: MHS Auditorium

Morristown High School Theatre’s Tradition of Excellence Continues This Spring with Fiddler on the Roof

The student-run production of the classic musical runs March 12–15

Morristown, NJ—The award-winning Morristown High School Theatre Department is proud to announce this year’s spring musical production of Fiddler on the Roof, with four performances from March 12 to 15.

MHS Theatre has chosen another all-time great musical to follow up last year’s smash-hit production of Les Misérables (winner of the 2025 BergenPAC High School Musical award for Outstanding Overall Musical). Once the longest-running musical in Broadway history, Fiddler on the Roof is a beloved classic packed with comedy, pathos, great characters, and classic songs, including “Tradition,” “Matchmaker, Matchmaker,” “If I Were a Rich Man,” “To Life,” “Miracle of Miracles,” “Sunrise, Sunset,” and many more.

Based on Sholem Aleichem’s Tevye stories, Fiddler on the Roof tells the story of a Jewish family in the Pale of Settlement in Western Russia around the turn of the twentieth century, but its themes are universal and somehow seem to become more relevant with each passing year. The show is about the tensions between tradition and progress, isolation and assimilation, acceptance and persecution, and, most overtly, between parents’ love for their children and their need to let them go, to allow them to grow up and live their own lives and make their own decisions.

As faculty director Stephanie Rubin says, “At its core, Fiddler showcases the delicate balance between the stability of tradition and inevitable change that comes as time passes, offering a deeply human look at how we hold onto our identity in a shifting world.”

Even if you’ve seen Fiddler on the Roof before, it will be worth checking out Morristown High School’s production. In addition to the BergenPAC award for Outstanding Overall Musical, last year’s production of Les Mis netted awards for MHS’s pit orchestra (the Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award for Outstanding Orchestra), faculty music director David Gallagher (the BergenPAC High School Musical award for Best Musical Direction), and the student cast as a whole (BergenPAC’s Best Ensemble award). Leading this year’s Fiddler cast as Tevye, in his final MHS production, is senior Jackson Miller, who won BergenPAC’s award for Best Actor in a Male-Identified Supporting Role for playing Javert in Les Mis last year.

As Rubin points out, MHS’s production of Fiddler on the Roof, “is rooted in a profound shared history with the show, from my own family heritage and history, to our team's collective years of professional and personal ties to the story. We aren’t merely staging a classic; we are presenting a sincere tribute to the resilience of the human spirit that makes the village of Anatevka feel like home for us all.”

The student cast of MHS’s Fiddler on the Roof includes:

Tevye • Jackson Miller

Golde • Abby Higgins

Tzeitel • Sanjna Vel

Hodel • Sonia Meli

Chava • Brooks Seibold

Motel • Elliot Eck

Perchik • Ryan Snyder

Fyedka • Gianni Guida

Lazar Wolf • Joshua Crean

Yente • Olivia Montague

Shprintze • Jade Romano

Bielke • Layna Arvanites

Avram • Chase Cotnoir

Grandma Tzeitel • Tessa Niznik

Fruma-Sarah • Davnette McNamara

Constable • Carlo Pedalino

Mordcha the Innkeeper • Chris Miners

Rabbi • Andres Bautista

Nachum • Amelia Corcoran

Mendel • Liam Houston

Yussel • Riley McKinlay

Additional Ensemble: Charlotte Alexander, Ollie Baldassari, Cole Bartlett, Maria Bonczek, Ethan Danysh, Mira Dickman, Helene Gringeri, Caroline Higgins, Caleb Huster, Katherine Matras, Eve Nazarian, Heather Sambrowski, Elenora Skripak, Naja Spence, Julia Vuotto.

Morristown High School’s student-run spring musical also features our student pit orchestra and the work of our student Production Management Team (including student producers and directors), student crew, set builders, costumers, hair and makeup artists, and lighting and sound technicians, as well as a front-of-house team that helps to immerse theatergoers in the story they are about to experience.

Third-grade students at Sussex Avenue School recently stepped into the spotlight for a unique Readers Theater experience. Led by Ms. Beth Painter from the Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC), this program offered a creative and engaging way for students to sharpen their literacy and performance skills.

What is Readers Theater?

Unlike a traditional play, Readers Theater focuses on the power of the voice. With minimal props, costumes, or scenery, students rely on their delivery to bring stories to life. Each class was divided into two groups:

• The Classics: One group performed a traditional fairytale.

• The Twist: The second group performed a "fractured" version of the same story with a modern or comedic surprise.

More Than Just a Show

Beyond the entertainment, this program serves as a powerful learning tool. By practicing their assigned roles with scripts in hand, students worked on:

• Reading Fluency: Improving accuracy, speed, and expression.

• Confidence: Gaining comfort with public speaking and performing for an audience.

• Life Skills: Working in small groups fostered essential collaboration, communication, and teamwork.

After weeks of hard work and rehearsal, the students were thrilled to welcome friends and family to witness their final performances. It was a wonderful showcase of their growth and creativity. This amazing program was made possible by the generous funding of the Sussex HSA.

The Morristown High School Drill Team has had a very successful season stepping at the girls’ and boys’ varsity home basketball games.

Look for them post-basketball season at Morristown High School’s “Showtime at the Apollo” presentation at the end of March and in collaboration with the MHS Choirs at the District Choral Festival on April 15th.

The High School Winter Guard is off to an incredible start, delivering standout performances across the region. Our talented performers have already secured a string of impressive victories:

• 1st Place at the Madison Competition.

• 2nd Place at the Lakeland Regional Competition.

• 1st Place at the South Brunswick Competition—topping an extremely competitive field of 10 guards.

Congratulations to the team on their hard work and early-season success. We can’t wait to see what they achieve next.

Morristown High School is proud to announce that four student musicians have earned a spot in this spring’s Rutgers University Honor Band. Selection for this ensemble is a significant honor, placing our students among the finest young performers in the region.

Jade Romano - Oboe

Steven Quad - French Horn

Amelia Corcoran - French Horn

Robert McLoughlin - Trombone

Congratulations to the following students who performed with the Morris Area Honor Choir at Morris Knolls High School on Saturday, January 17th.

Michael Bozza - 9th Grade

Allison Crean - 12th Grade

Ethan Danysh - 9th Grade

David Gelfand - 12th Grade

Logan Leyton - 10th Grade

Katie Matras - 9th Grade

Tessa Niznik - 12th Grade

Julia Vuotto - 9th Grade

Persephone Wetcher - 12th Grade

Congratulations to Katie Matras, who performed with the North Jersey Region I Choir at Morris Knolls High School on Saturday, February 14th.

Congratulations to Persephone Wetcher, who performed with the NJ All-State Treble Choir at the New Jersey Music Educator’s Conference in Atlantic City on Saturday, February 21st!

Congratulations to the following students who were selected as Outstanding Vocalists: Music Student of the Month by the Mayo Performing Arts Center and will be performing with the Ndlovu Youth Choir on Saturday, February 28th!

Allison Crean

Jackson Bruce Miller

Nina Helene Gringeri

Brooks Seibold

Tessa Niznik

Ryan Gregory Snyder

Cole Bartlett

Kara Matlins

Congratulations to the seven FMS students accepted into the North Jersey Region Choir. This group represents the largest cohort ever selected from our school. Our singers will be working hard throughout March to prepare for the regional concert, held at Clifton High School on Sunday, March 22nd. We are so proud of their dedication and talent.

Nadia Lane - 6th Grade

Mischa Wolper - 7th Grade

Celia Davis - 8th Grade

Brianna Gummper - 8th Grade

Miles Schmidt - 8th Grade

Dina Varghese - 8th Grade

Omar White - 8th Grade

Seven of our talented 8th graders recently represented FMS at the New Jersey Consortium for Gifted and Talented Programs’ "Workshop on the Arts." This immersive two-day event allowed students to dive deep into the professional world of dance, drama, vocal and instrumental music, creative writing, and art.

After learning directly from industry professionals in specialized workshops, our students put their skills to the test in collaborative production groups. They took full creative control—writing original scripts, designing sets, and composing music for their own unique performances. It was an incredible opportunity for our young artists to see what it takes to bring a production to life from the ground up.

Five talented musicians from Morristown High School were chosen to perform alongside the New Jersey Wind Symphony in a special side-by-side concert.

Jade Romano - Oboe

Gianni Guida - Saxophone

Brooks Hohorst - Saxophone

Eoin McNamara - Tuba

Theo Colligan - Tuba

Earlier this year, the Morristown High School atrium served as a beautiful backdrop for a musical tribute to the late Jane Wintz, who served as MHS Theatre Director from 1972 to 1988. A group of our talented Orchestra students performed for an audience of alumni and guests, providing a moving soundtrack to the memorial reception. Their performance was a wonderful way to honor Ms. Wintz’s lasting legacy within our performing arts department.

Upperclassmen Kayla Ewing and Ian Morgan lead the bass sectionals during their lunch period. This commitment to peer mentoring is a cornerstone of the music program, fostering both technical growth and a supportive community among musicians.

This month, the MHS Broadcasting crew was part of the MEF’s Morristown OnStage event at the MPAC. Students recorded their “BackStage at OnStage Interview" show. Hosted by Senior Mason Mitchell, the crew interviewed finalists, presenters, VIPs, and members of the MEF. Students also filmed the show for highlights that will be posted to the Colonial Corner YouTube Channel soon.

Congratulations to Camille Finley, Noah Graham, and Liam Houston, who were runners-up in the inaugural Rock Report Video Production Contest. This contest challenged students to create a sports‑magazine‑style video segment highlighting their local teams, coaches, and standout athletes. The MHS team focused on the Girls Volleyball team and produced a great segment that you can watch using the link below.

Throughout the program, students worked under the mentorship of Record High’s professional instructor, Joe Scacciaferro, to create their video entry.

“We’re incredibly excited to launch this new initiative and give students a true inside look at professional sports production,” said Mark Conklin, VP, Artist Relations & Programming, Prudential Center. “The creativity and dedication these young storytellers brought to the project were inspiring. Congratulations to all the participants—especially our winning teams—for setting such a high bar in our very first year.”

Although they didn’t win, the students got a lot out of the experience and were excited to receive tickets to a NJ Devils game as their 2nd place prize.

Advisors: Brian Kievning, Jen Furphey & George LaVigne

Senior Editor: Elizabeth Powers
Assistant Editors: Elizabeth Sebiri & Mason Mitchell

Director of Art Photography: Prittha Palkar
Writing Selection: Kate Armenti, Callie Danysh, Morgan Langsdorf, Alexis Moran, Catherine Sebiri, Sophia Temnycky, David Waldorf, and Lily Wintermute
Layout Staff: Erin Bruhn, Odessa Dawson, David Gelfand, Diana Inga, Caden Janosy, and Melana Johnson

The Tricorn: Literary & Art Magazine has been selected to receive the rank of First Class in the 2025 NCTE Recognizing Excellence in Art and Literary Magazines (REALM) program.

The mission of NCTE’s REALM program is to publicly recognize excellent literary magazines produced by students with the support of their teachers. REALM is designed to encourage all schools to develop literary magazines that celebrate the art and craft of writing.

8th-grade ceramic students embrace the snow. Students used slab-building techniques to create these stunning gingerbread houses, featuring a mix of traditional and contemporary patterns finished in a high-shine gloss glaze.

The Morris Museum creates opportunities for lifelong learning, discovery, and creativity, driven by the contemporary interpretation of its Guinness Collection of Mechanical Musical Instruments and Automata as well as its general collections.

To learn more about the Morris Museum and what it offers, visit their website by clicking here.