When Stephen Sondheim was in high school he wrote a comic musical based on his experience at a private prep school.  The show was a big hit on campus so he took the script to the father of a good friend, who just happened to be Oscar Hammerstein II.  Stephen asked for his honest opinion of the script. Hammerstein said it was the worst thing he had ever seen. “But if you want to know why it’s terrible,” Hammerstein consoled the youngster, “I’ll tell you.” The rest of the day was spent going over the musical, and Sondheim would later say that “in that afternoon I learned more about songwriting and the musical theater than most people learn in a lifetime.”

Not every young playwright grows up to be Stephen Sondheim, but just like Sondheim, many serious high school writers are looking for that sort of intense, critical review from a professional who just might someday become a mentor and partner.  Alex Coddington, a CWA junior and an aspiring playwright, is on just such a quest. Read the rest of this entry »

Invites are in the mail for PassTempo, the very first show in the Donn Laughlin Theater!  The all-ages cabaret show will be produced by Andrew Evans ’05 and star a cast of CWA alumni on Saturday, September 12, at 6pm and 8:30pm.

This show will be the grand opening of the new Language and Performing Arts Center, the home of CWA’s Middle & Upper School choral music, instrumental music and drama programs, as well as the Upper School’s English, Spanish, French and Japanese programs.

All seats are $20.  The school expects a sell-out for both shows.  Look for your invitation by mail or call (253) 620-8306 to buy tickets.

New faculty orientation at CWA will be a pretty small gathering tomorrow.  The school is welcoming just one new teacher this year.  Nick Zosel-Johnson will teach fourth grade while veteran teacher Kate Riede  steps up to fifth grade to offer a third section this year for the Class of 2017. Read the rest of this entry »

All CWA’s Upper School fall sports teams – football, volleyball, girls soccer, boys tennis and cross-country – are now back on campus.  WIAA rules allowed the football team to turn out last week and all other teams to begin practicing today.  Athletes are required by WIAA rules to complete a set number of practices before they can compete.

Classes starts at CWA in less than two weeks and the school’s athletic program is already up and running for the 2009-2010 school year.  Last week coaches and captains from nine area schools gathered at Charles Wright to prep for the season during a clinic led by Bruce Brown.  The Wembley Soccer Academy is holding a soccer camp at CWA this week and many CWA students are participating.  Upper School football practice began yesterday.  Girls soccer, boys tennis, volleyball and cross-country all begin next Monday, the first date allowed by WIAA rules.  Read the rest of this entry »

Go Green is taking on new meaning this summer at Charles Wright.  Under the leadership of Upper School Spanish Teacher Emily Stokes, faculty, staff and students are building a vegetable and herb garden near the Upper School. Read the rest of this entry »