Juniors Turn Back Time and Take the Title with SING! Victory

Senior SING!’s “Phantoms” centered on grief and the healing process. *Photo: Miranda Liu*

By NING ZHENG, NOUSHIN ISLAM, and ZARA AHMED

Roaring cheers filled the auditorium as the Juniors claimed victory at the 79th annual SING! production on December 5 and 6. The long-standing, student-run competition pitted the grades against each other as they put months of preparation into music, acting, dance, and technical theater.

Each grade presented a production with a distinct storyline and theme. The Juniors’ production, “In the Pages,” explored nostalgia and self-reflection through the story of four friends who are transported back to their freshman year while working on their senior yearbook. The performance combined elements of adventure and coming-of-age themes.

SoFresh (a freshman and sophomore conjunction) performed “In the Rear View,” a drama-thriller centered on loss, healing, and the struggle to move forward after tragedy. The story reflected the challenges many freshmen face as they transition into high school.

SoFresh Commissioner Danna Saltachin ‘28 said the show focused on “never losing hope in the future, and being able to let go of the past, even if it takes a while to get there.”

Senior SING! presented “Phantoms,” a production centered on grief and recovery. The story followed a main character struggling with survivor’s guilt and emotional trauma, illustrating how healing takes time and occurs in stages.

In addition to their overall win, the juniors also claimed best script, best banner, best props, best dancing, and best alma mater. The Seniors secured the win for best band, along with several individual awards: Luke Cooper for best actor, Carol Zhong for best singer, and Deborah Adekunle for best dancer.

“I feel good,” said Cooper, who won the acting award for the third time. The honor was an encouraging affirmation, he explained, especially since “every single time the talent rises and everybody always gets better.”

“I didn’t think I was going to get [best dancer],” said Adekunle, who also performs for her church and in a variety of styles. “I really thought it was going to go to someone on the Juniors – their dances were really good!”

SoFresh’s Ashanty Malieva ‘28, who danced in the show last year, also won best actor. “I feel really grateful,” she said. “I felt a little nervous to get on stage, especially because I was in every scene and had never really acted before in front of a crowd.”

Overseeing the production alongside school administrators was SING! coordinator Mr. Lawrence Kolotkin. He emphasized that the “raw energy, dedicated effort, and sheer enthusiasm” seen on stage were the result of “countless hours spent rehearsing, designing, building, and collaborating.”

Past SING!s have taken place in early February, but due to Ramadan, this year’s event was pushed to an earlier date.

“Challenges are normal for theatre productions,” said Principal Robert Quinlan. “They allow students to express themselves creatively and show their talent on and off the stage.”

The scope of the cast and crew for the event is massive, with lots of moving pieces.

“At first, the chorus wasn’t able to get their pitches exactly right, but our advisor Ms. Grace Gutierrez helped tremendously,” said Junior Commissioner Ella Ye.

Senior Backstage Director Sophia Jiang highlighted the pressure of fast-paced transitions. “The most challenging part of managing the team this year was making sure that the crew and myself were able to move the props on and backstage within approximately 30 seconds,” she said.

Technical crews across all grades played a crucial role in ensuring smooth performances. Sound crew member Sam Cheung ‘27 said, “The most challenging sound task I was responsible for was trying to make sure every mic was fully charged and ready to go.” He added, “I worked with other team members by communicating and giving each member a role, making it organized so the audio was smooth.”

Music also played a major role in elevating the performances. “The most difficult piece for the pit to master was ‘Like Him’ by Tyler, the Creator,” said band member Darith Sin ‘27. “It involved the whole band, and we had to work closely with chorus and dance.”

As amazing as the show’s impact is, for many performers, the most meaningful moments happened offstage.

“This is the best time in my teenage years,” said Madiha Asghar, one of the junior stage directors. “Even when we work for five hours, it goes by so quick because we’ll just be singing and dancing to songs like ‘Hot to Go!’ [by Chappel Roan] or ‘Baby’ [by Justin Bieber].”

Behind the scenes, visual elements were brought to life by the art crew. “We had to work with the supplies we have, so we had to mix colors to get what we needed,” said Ellie Du ‘28. “We also had a tight schedule to finish the banner, but we got it done in time.”

Audience reactions reflected the emotional range of the productions. “The plots were really good,” said Hannah Luo ‘27. She added that “the energy was high during the fighting, band, and dance scenes,” which drew some of the loudest reactions from the crowd.

Overall Commissioner Ash Johnson ‘26 said, “Personally, I’m proud of how [leadership] all came together to put on the show, collaborate, and flourish in their roles.”

“Every time I’m in that auditorium, watching my peers fall in love with the performance and loving their work, it makes me feel so blissful,” Saltachin said. “The smiles and laughs that go on throughout rehearsals fill me up with such joy, I can’t express it. And the tears we shed knowing our show is over are unforgettable.”

After months of rehearsals, coordination, and late afternoons spent in the auditorium, SING! once again proved to be one of Midwood’s most meaningful traditions. With memories made and lessons learned, the event left both performers and audiences reflecting on their growth and already looking ahead to what next year’s productions will bring.