SPRING 2025

Creative Arts Showcase

This spring, Menlo students brought fresh ideas to life through art, music, dance, and drama, exploring, creating, and connecting with their audiences. Their work reflected curiosity, collaboration, self-expression, and a willingness to take creative risks. Here’s a look back at the many ways creativity took center stage.

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Menlo’s 2025 Dance Concert: Icons

MOVEMENT IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Menlo’s All-School Dance Concert Illuminates the Impact of Icons

This year’s all-school dance concert, Icons, paid tribute to the people, styles, and moments that have shaped our culture and inspired generations. From pop stars and historical figures to trailblazing movements, students in grades 6–12 lit up the stage in a spirited, genre-spanning celebration that showcased not only their talent but also their creativity and connection to the icons who continue to influence the world.

MENLO DRAMA

Upper School Drama & Black Student Union Presents The Wiz

With its electrifying blend of soul, gospel, rock, and 70s funk, Menlo brought the seven-time Tony Award-winning musical The Wiz to life with themes of courage, self-discovery, and community. Directed by Steven Minning, with senior Noelle Lenden as assistant director, and in partnership with the Black Student Union, the production honored the cultural legacy of The Wiz while showcasing the incredible talent and dedication of Menlo students. Read more here.

MENLO DRAMA

Upper School Drama Presents Curtains: A Murder Mystery Musical Comedy

Who killed the leading lady? Set in 1959, this hilarious musical “whodunit” featured a toe-tapping Kander & Ebb score, razor-sharp wit, and plenty of suspense. Drama Director Steven Minning called his last Menlo production “a love letter to the magic of theater—packed with humor, heart, and plenty of surprises.”

LEAVING A LEGACY

A Tough Act to Follow: Drama Director Steven Minning Takes a Final Bow

With Curtains as his final masterpiece, longtime Drama Director Steven Minning is retiring from teaching after 12 remarkable years at Menlo. His productions brought heart, brilliance, and connection to our stage—always thoughtful, always artfully staged, and always full of meaning. Thank you, Steven, for the magic, the joy, and the lasting mark you’ve left on this community.

SOUNDS OF THE SPIEKER STAGE

Upper School Instrumental and Vocal Concerts

This spring, Upper School vocalists took the stage in Resonance of Reflection, blending classics from the Beatles to Billie Eilish with jazz, Broadway, and Disney favorites—featuring the Knight Singers, Vocal Showcase, Voice, and a new faculty ensemble. The Jazz Band and Chamber Orchestra shared Harmonies of Joy and Hope, performing all-new arrangements and original compositions that spanned a wide emotional range and left audiences uplifted.

VISUAL ARTS

Creative Arts Week Shines a Spotlight on Student Visual Art

Middle and Upper School visual artists showcased their talent and imagination in a vibrant gallery exhibit during Creative Arts Week. From bold explorations of color to intricate studies in form, the show offered a powerful glimpse into the creativity and craftsmanship of our student artists.

Christopher Dodd ’29

Ella Skinner ’26

Austin Rodde ’29

Katie Kossow ’26

Max Abrams ’26

Victoria Mager ’28

Baelyn Batory ’28

Claire Dickman ’26

Audrey Karr ’29

Tania Troper ’26

Ayan Kumar ’30

Kristian Piñon ’29

Emma Wang ’25

Matthew Bowden ’27

Aaron Lowe ’25

Sio Tau ’29

SPRING PLAY

Middle School Drama Presents The Giver

In their spring production of The Giver, Middle School Drama brought Lois Lowry’s classic novel to life with depth and imagination. Eric Coble’s stage adaptation follows Jonas, a boy chosen to inherit the memories of a forgotten past. As he learns from the Giver—the keeper of his community’s hidden truths—Jonas uncovers the complexities of emotion, freedom, and what it truly means to grow up. Both casts delivered compelling and thought-provoking performances.

CINEMA SOUNDTRACK

Middle School Spring Concert: Movie Knight!

From magical adventures to heroic themes, this year’s Middle School spring concert brought the silver screen to life through performances by our talented singers, dancers, and instrumentalists. Featuring music from favorite films, it was a night of movie magic!