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A group of 25 students from Dwight New York, Franklin School, and Dwight Global Online School arrived at Shanghai Pudong International Airport after more than 24 hours of travel via Taiwan. A local guide met the group right outside, ready to kick-off an epic five-day adventure that started in the city of Shanghai. The group jumped right in, meeting with students from Seoul and Hanoi for lunch. Bonded by this shared experience, they went on together to sample the unique sights and sounds of the city, heading up the Oriental Pearl Tower. After dinner, students experienced an Acrobatic show — though some from our group were too tired and opted for an early bed time.

They didn’t have much time to rest, as the next day, our group from New York met with students from Shanghai, Seoul, Dubai, Hanoi, and London for a first day at Qibao Dwight filled with meet and greets, rehearsals, and a cultural presentation from the Qibao students. The second day of rehearsals were capped off with a dinner organized by the Dwight Qibao parent body. Food stations represented each campus (including the newest campus, Cairo!). Students sampled a variety of food, including fish and chips and shepherd’s pie from the UK, kebabs, hummus, and baklava from the UAE and Egypt, hot dogs and hamburgers from the US, Korean fried chicken, scallion pancakes, and Vietnamese noodles. 

More importantly, they shared each other’s cultures and stories. Dwight Global Online student Elaine (Yilin) Xia ’29 said her favorite moments across this experience came during these shared meals. She said, “We reflected on how connected we felt despite coming from different parts of the world. It was very inspiring to meet so many talented musicians and learn about everyone’s musical perspectives… It’s truly a once‑in‑a‑lifetime experience.” 

During the three days of rehearsals, students had the opportunity to see Qibao’s Ancient Town, walking cobblestone alleys, viewing Ming and Qing architecture, sampling traditional snacks such as tangtuan, and visiting the Qibao Shadow Art Museum. What started with music and culture led to a deep bond between students, with many still in touch, maintaining the connections formed. Dwight New York student Svetlana Stephanopoulos ’27 noted the ease at which she made new friends. She added, “I had such a good time! I met some amazing people all over the world and now we talk every day.” 

Another lasting connection: carrying what they learned from one another during the week they were together. Benjamin Bijaoui ’27 said, “It was very fun to collaborate with students from other cultures and musical backgrounds because they had been taught different ways, and I learned a lot from them.”

This year’s Global Concert was hosted by Qibao Dwight for the second time after a seven year hiatus. The concert’s theme was deeply emblematic of the students’ experiences making connections and friendships: “Symbiosis.” The Chinese term for the theme, “共生” (Gòngshēng), carries two meanings. “共” (gòng) means togetherness, shared purpose, collective spirit and “生” (shēng) means life, growth, and unity. As the program boldly stated, “Symbiosis lies at the very heart of Dwight’s global identity and cultural spirit.”

The night of the big show at Shanghai City Theater, students performed 18 unforgettable numbers, singing and playing a wide range of instruments, from orchestral, to rock, to traditional instruments from around Asia. With experimental music groups from Qibao, traditional fare from Hanoi, and original compositions from Seoul, the stage was filled with captivating sounds. The audience, which included every Head of School and parents from all campuses, greatly enjoyed the diverse range of genres covered. 

Dwight New York parent Iveta Stephanopoulos said, “The energy, the performances and excitement in the room were outstanding. It was beautiful to see everyone’s teamwork on the stage and behind the scenes.”

Our students had one more remarkable day in Shanghai after their successful performance. From a tea sampling that highlighted the importance of tea in Chinese culture, to the Yu Gardens and Yuyan Market, to a spectacular lunch and performance (music and dance) at Gu Yang Restaurant, to the Shanghai Museum and, of course, more food in Tianzifang Market, the day was packed with new and exciting memories.

Dwight New York student Willem Kraaijeveld ’27 reflected on the week-long tour, saying, “I felt extremely privileged and lucky to be able to go on this trip and see all these things and meet all these people… I loved every second of the trip.” Franklin Student Anayah Parkinson ’29 had a similar experience, saying, “It was truly amazing to see people from all over the world.”

We are deeply grateful to our Shanghai Qibao Dwight community for hosting, planning, and creating a beautiful musical space for the various Dwight campuses, culminating in a spectacular live event. 

Shortly after Spring Break, concert videos will be released. In the meantime, read more about the concert in this program and in this Global Network news item, which also features additional photos.

Adapting the Novel

Dwight School’s production of The Adventures of Pinocchio was a gigantic feat – with every cast member contributing equally, starting with the script itself. Instead of following the Disney version, Co-Director and MYP/DP Theater Teacher Kim Guzowski, Co-Director and Timothy House Drama Teacher Dawn Lee Kangas, Co-Director and Broadway veteran Colleen Durham, and 36 middle school ensemble members (the largest ever assembled!) rewrote and adapted Italian author Carlo Collodi’s original novel. 

Ms. Guzowski explained that, in their rewrite, they emphasized the decisions made between good and evil. She said, “This is a story not just of a puppet becoming human, but a story of what all people must do to become fully human rather than live as shadows of our better selves.”

In the original novel, Collodi personifies goodness in the Blue Fairy and the Cricket. Ms. Guzowski and the cast members noticed that Collodi did not write a fully unified representation of temptation and evil, so they decided to create Diavoletto and his chorus of minions as a true counter to the Blue Fairy. 

This change not only solidified the original theme, but also gave the opportunity for a larger number of students to participate — and in multiple roles. There were even seven Pinocchios! Annika Mehta ’30, one of the students who played Pinocchio, said that initially she was drawn to this production because she loved the scene where all seven appear simultaneously. She said, “It was my favorite scene before I even knew I was in it… I thought it was really cool because we're all going through different interactions with different characters in a really fast paced [way].”

Telling the Story Through Movement

Notably, all the students wore black (with makeup by Annabelle Lynn '29, Tania Bhavnani '29, Kira Mahoney '30, and Maria Basilio ’27 and masks by Pluto Kristol ’29) so they could not rely on costumes to convey who they were in the show. Because of this, students gained independence and learned to be more expressive. It truly came down to the ways in which each student was emulating their individual character. Ms. Durham explained that the students had to “tell the story and be the story.” 

Part of telling the story was in the movement, as the costumes were intentionally minimalist, and this was one of the only ways the students could portray characteristics. The Movement Captains, Lauren Bailey ’31 and Kira Mahoney ’30, took initiative to create and maintain the ways in which each character developed their personas through dance and led some rehearsals entirely on their own. For instance, the captains helped all seven Pinocchios find ways to act really stiff as marionettes. Conversely, the schoolboy ensemble who led Pinocchio astray had a tremendous amount of energy and physicality. Stage combat was incorporated in order to help tell that part of the story. 

Kira said, “[As Movement Captain], you need to be able to do many things at one time. I love to see everyone's ideas put into play… The movements should relate to the words. It's really all about compromising with other people.” 

Music Sets the Tone

Similarly, the music was mostly student-written. Many of the ensemble members had the additional responsibilities of being composers (Gail Donovan ’30, Nana Kumih ’30, Chris Bailey ’31, Cameron Keitt ’31, Frank Kerenyi ’31, and Marlow Ray ’31) with the help of sound designer Maria Basilio ’27 and guided by conservatory teacher Diego Retana, curating sound in order to liven up the story. The composers expanded their musical minds and thought about which type of music fit for each scene and character. 

For Cameron Keitt ’31, who has acted on Broadway in the production Skin of Our Teeth, this was his first time composing for a show. From this experience, he said, “I learned that composing music is both an art and a skill, and when it’s done right, it sounds really beautiful. I also found out that you have to stick with it and keep working until it turns out the way you want it.”

Three Directors Bridging Divisions Together

For Ms. Kangas, many of the student-actors were students she taught in Lower School, which made the process especially meaningful. “Watching them grow, both onstage and off, has been a gift. It is incredible to reconnect with them a few years later and discover who they have become — their confidence, their humor, and their individuality.” Ms. Durham similarly noted that it was wonderful to have the experience with the members of this cast, as she had worked with many of the eighth graders in last year's Upper School production of The Addams' Family, and will work with many of them again this year in the Upper School Mainstage Production.

With the inclusion of Lower School and Upper School directors, and the help of some of the Upper School students, this production served as a perfect example of the theater continuum at Dwight. 

But this was ultimately a Middle School moment, and the ease at which the Middle School students solved problems and fostered collaboration during The Adventures of Pinocchio inspired our community. By taking charge of various parts of the show and helping in any way they could, the Middle School cast transformed a classic tale into something entirely their own.