Senior Drama Students Shine at CIS Drama Festival
By Gisa Bevacqua-Tirone
The Grade 11 and 12 Drama classes recently embarked on a three-day residency in Stratford for the Conference of Independent Schools (CIS) Drama Festival. Students immersed themselves in the craft, attending workshops led by Stratford professionals in disciplines ranging from stage combat and clowning to Shakespearean performance.
In a full-circle moment, those in the choreography workshop later watched their instructors perform on the Festival Theatre stage in a vibrant production of Guys and Dolls. The experience was made even more special by a personal connection: the students had the pleasure of meeting Garrett Hack, Ms. Passafuime's fiancé, who performs in the show’s professional pit band. The group also attended a stunning performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Tom Patterson Theatre. Both shows concluded with exclusive talk-backs, where students engaged in insightful Q&A sessions with the lead actors.
The festival also fostered community. On the final day, students teamed up with peers from other CIS schools for a collaborative lunch and city-wide scavenger hunt.
Finally, this trip served as the stage for their culminating senior project: an original 20-minute production titled What Did You Expect? Written, directed, and produced entirely by the students, the play integrated a year’s worth of technical skill with research into pressing social issues. The ensemble received public adjudication from industry professionals Arielle Zamora, Austin Eckert, and Julie Lumsden, followed by an intensive private workshop with Ms. Lumsden. Performing at the Studio Theatre alongside a professional technical crew was a definitive highlight of the year. Now back in the classroom, the students are busy refining their work based on this expert feedback.
We congratulate the Senior Drama class for the bravery, professionalism, and creativity they displayed throughout this immersive celebration of the arts.
Land Acknowledgment
The Country Day School wishes to recognize and acknowledge the land on which the school operates. Our nearest Indigenous Nations are now the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Chippewas of Georgina Island. The Dish with One Spoon Wampum covenant is often cited as an example of the shared responsibility for caring for these lands among the Huron-Wendat, Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples who would call these their traditional territories. CDS respects the relationship with these lands and recognizes that our connection to this land can be strengthened by our continued relationship with all First Nations, by acknowledging our shared responsibility to respect and care for the land and waters for future generations.
School Information
Junior, Middle and Senior Schools
13415 Dufferin Street, King, Ontario L7B 1K5
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
13415 Dufferin Street, King, Ontario L7B 1K5
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
