Skip To Main Content
LWHS Celebrates a Season of Performing Arts Excellence

November and December are marked at LWHS by many community events, academic buzz, and project deadlines, but one thing keeps us all inspired and in high spirits during these months: our delightfully entertaining performing arts season.

Every year, the season starts with the Fall Play, a culmination of the hard work our students in the Theatre program and Stagecraft classes put into the fall semester. This year’s play, The Broken Window, written by Diane Wagner, was directed by Cliff Mayotte, our Interim Theatre Teacher and Director of the After School Theatre Program. In just a few weeks, Mr. Mayotte absorbed our students’ essence and skillset and helped them bring their characters to life. 

The Broken Window, which premiered on the West Coast in our very own Ehrer Theater, depicts a group of former friends who meet in an abandoned house in the middle of the night to face the open wounds of their friendship and work together to unravel the mysteries of the past and present. One of the highlights of opening night was having the author, Diane Wagner, in the audience. She later described our production as “moving” on an Instagram post. 

Another remarkable feature of the play was the beautifully designed stage set and lighting. Led by Stagecraft teacher, Kate Boyd, and executed by the students in her classes, the stage was the perfect way to tie the story together and captivate the audience. 

Following the Fall Play, it was time for our musicians to shine. The Chorus and Orchestra Concert brought much joy to our community, with students in our Instrumental and Vocal Music classes performing classics by Stevie Wonder, Brahms, Randall Thompson, and composers Hindemith, Chopin, and Elgar, among others. The performance showcased the diverse talents of our students and the commendable expertise of our music and voice teachers, Tony Asaro and Jason Gillenwater

Further down the musical path, students from our three Jazz and Contemporary Music classes taught by Mr. Gillenwater gifted the community with an electrifying Jazz Concert featuring music by Wayne Shorter, and George Gershwin, and even a sing-along of Miley Cyrus’s popular hit “Party in the U.S.A”. The concert was a testament to the wide range of instrumental proficiency among our students and included over 13 instruments, spanning from the classic notes of the piano and the violin to the deep, rich beat of the Cajon. In the realm of vocal performances, seniors Dat Ly and Mayen Thorsen had everyone in their feels with their original song, “Close My Eyes.” Don’t be surprised if you come across the song on streaming platforms soon—it is just that good. 

Lastly, to close out the fall season, we had our beloved Dance Concert, once again selling out. Led by our outstanding dance teacher and department chair, Tabatha Robinson, the show was energetic and contagious, causing the audience to cheer and dance from their seats. As soon as the lights went down and the music dropped, all students in the dance program flooded every corner of the theater and kicked off the evening with a nostalgic and exciting Motown mashup, including hits by The Temptations, Four Tops, The Supremes, Jackson 5, and more. 

Dancers from the Dance 1 class showcased their moves to a variety of songs, including the pop classic “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” by the late Whitney Houston. Meanwhile, dancers in Dance Ensemble 1 and 2 performed an original choreography to the song “Potion” by Ludacris, created by guest choreographer Ruthie Fantaye, who spent a week working with them earlier in the fall. 

Throughout the year, we celebrate the hard work of our performing artists with shows taking place in both the fall and spring. Every show is free to the public; in lieu of a ticket price, we collect hundreds of baby diapers, onesies, and monetary donations for our partner organization, The Homeless Prenatal Program, exemplifying our commitment to public purpose work. 

Director of Public Purpose Program, Ravi Lau, takes donations to the Homeless Prenatal Program

We are especially grateful to everyone who helps to keep the performing arts alive and thriving here at LWHS: all students who engage so passionately, the dedicated faculty who teach, mentor, and inspire students, and the families who support and nourish our artists during the long rehearsal days, and our art-loving community who shows up to celebrate the craft of our actors, singers, musicians, dancers, stage designers, and crew members. 

Here are a few dates to save in your calendars for the spring 2025 season:

  • April 3–5, 2025—Spring Musical
  • May 2, 2025—Spring Jazz Concert 
  • May 8, 2025—Chorus & Orchestra Concert 
  • May 16 & 17, 2025—Tapestry: Spring Dance Concert 
LWHS Celebrates a Season of Performing Arts Excellence

Explore More News