Advanced Performance Studies students traveled to New York, New York from Oct. 9-13 for a field trip led by Performing Arts Teacher and Director Sabrina Washburn. During the trip, the group attended shows and workshops while exploring the city.

Washburn said although their trip was delayed by one day due to a malfunction with the plane, the group was still able to enjoy plenty of productions around Broadway.

“We missed out on about a day of programming, but made it in time to see our first show, ‘The Outsiders,’ Washburn said. “On the second night, we saw a play called ‘Good Bones’ at the public theater, and on Saturday, we saw three shows: ‘Hadestown’, ‘Oh, Mary!’ and ‘Suffs.’”

Performing Arts Student Jack Smith ’26 said going to New York City allowed the students to surround themselves with a theater environment and understand everything that goes into putting on larger productions, in anticipation of the school’s Winter Musical “Hadestown”.

“The purpose of the trip was to experience some of the best theater around right now, as well as to learn from professionals,” Smith said. “We saw five shows and did a workshop with two members of the cast of ‘Hadestown.’”

Performing Arts Student Calla Fox ’25 said she appreciated the opportunity to learn music, audition skills and original choreography firsthand from current Broadway actors.

“The most memorable part was the ‘Hadestown’ workshop we did,” Fox said. “The cast members taught us two dances and gave us individual coaching on some songs from the show, which was amazing.”

Washburn said part of the trip centered around observing the connection between various types of art and how to develop upon old ideas to create new works.

“We did a private tour of some pieces at the Museum of Modern Art that was really focused on storytelling, and looked at the link between different art forms and the way that they can inform, influence and inspire each other,” Washburn said. “We’re hoping to take some of those artworks and use them as inspiration to create some theatrical pieces later on in the year.”