‘23
On November 7th, Mrs. Frissora’s AP English Language and Composition (AP Lang) classes traveled to Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey to watch The Great Gatsby musical. The trip was a spectacular experience for students taking AP Lang, because they were able to read the book in class and then see the musical in person. With shocks and surprises, The Great Gatsby trip gave a new perspective to the book.
On the trip, students were able to watch world-renowned Broadway actors perform. One actor was Jeremy Jordan (Jay Gatsby), who has been featured in Newsies on Broadway and the Supergirl movie. Another famous actress was Eva Noblezada (Daisy Buchanan), who has been featured as Kim in Miss Saigon on Broadway, and Eurydice in Hadestown on Broadway. Junior Charlotte Manning truly appreciated the performers, stating, “I knew a lot of the actors in the production from other Broadway projects, which was really cool.” Junior Emma Graffanino similarly felt that “The play was very well directed and had amazing choreography!” Papermill Playhouse and the talented actors truly helped bring the book to life through the spectacular songs, sets, choreography, and dance moves.
Students were also very impressed by the dazzling stage design and overall sets of the play, making the musical a truly enjoyable experience for everyone. Junior Kate Giletta stated, “I really enjoyed the musical. It was my first time watching a play at the Paper Mill Playhouse and I was extremely impressed.” Many students similarly enjoyed the atmosphere of the play, because the matinee performance was made up of all high school students from around the state, bringing a fun audience energy to the performance. The plot of the play aligned closely with that of the book, featuring: real cars, extravagant costumes, accurate character lines, and realistic scenes of accident and murder. Kate Giletta said, “The acting, the sets, the music, and the overall plot line was extremely impressive and gave me a greater perspective on the novel.” Charlotte Manning added, “the sets and costumes were gorgeous.” These aspects of the musical made the trip worthwhile because students were able to experience the musical while making meaningful connections to the book, allowing for excited class conversations on the experience.
Through and through, students appreciated the hard work put in by Mrs. Frissora to make this trip possible. Experiences such as this one create an avenue for students to enjoy their activities and classes, by making them interactive and engaging.
