Briarcliff Students Compose Music for School Performance of 'The Tempest'

Three Briarcliff High School students—seniors Ezra Gans and Daniel Mendelson and junior Lee Rosen—have composed and will play music to accompany the school’s fall production of The Tempest.

The play has had many creative interpretations, including Julie Taymor’s 2010 movie.

Now it has a musical score and a featured song, which will be performed by students as well.

Here’s the full press release from the school district:

Students from Briarcliff High School are preparing for a lively performance of The Tempest, William Shakespeare’s magical play of romance and a foiled murder plot set on an island after a stormy shipwreck.

The plot’s adventures, with many unexpected twists and turns, along with the elaborate costumes and exceptional student talent, will keep audience members of all ages mesmerized. As an extra special treat, the play features a unique musical score written and performed by Briarcliff High School students.

“Since the very first production of The Tempest in Shakespeare’s day, there’s a tradition of the producers commissioning contemporary versions of certain of the play’s songs,” explains The Tempest Director and Producer Ian Driver. “Our students have the kind of musical talent that enables Briarcliff High School to participate in this custom with an original score throughout the play and tunes that give expression to lyrics written by Shakespeare.”

BHS seniors Ezra Gans and Daniel Mendelson and junior Lee Rosen composed the musical score that accompanies the mood of the play’s scenes and will play onstage alongside the actors. Gans and Rosen also composed the featured song, which will be performed by students Sabine Poux, Kelly Hooper, Jillian Agona and Jasmine Bar.

“Prospero, the main character, has a spirit called Ariel who is the source of all his magical powers, and she has come to represent artistic creativity across the centuries of the play’s performance,” added Driver. “For our version of The Tempest, I’ve encouraged the students to think of their own creativity as the essence of Ariel, setting up a theme that connects the magic of the island in the story to the spirit of innovation in our students as they perform on stage and work hard behind the scenes.”

The Tempest will be performed in a black box theater setting, where the audience is actually seated on the stage, closely surrounding the actors on three sides.

The performances will take place in the Frances G. Wills Auditorium at Briarcliff High School on Nov. 21, 22 and 23 (times below).

• • Friday, Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, Nov. 22 at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
  • Sunday, Nov. 23 at 2:30 p.m.

All tickets are $15 online at www.showtix4u.com. For questions about tickets, contact briarcliffticketsales@gmail.com.