By Taeeon Moon ’25

Autumn leaves blanket the ground, forming a red carpet that guides us toward the upcoming art performances in the months ahead. In October and November, the Burgin Center for the Arts’ Simon Theatre will host three shows featuring theatre, dance, and music programs. All shows are free and open to the public.

The school’s arts programs kick off their upcoming performance series with Puffs, Or, Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic by Matt Cox. The play will be performed October 25 and 26 at 7:30 p.m. Directed by Matt Maurer, this fast-paced, comedic parody reimagines a strangely familiar school for young wizards with a fresh, humorous twist. The largely 9th-grade cast will showcase their versatility by taking on multiple roles and navigating rapid scene changes.

Led by the technical director of the Burgin Center, Chaz Macklin, the tech crew has created a detailed, magical set, including hidden Easter eggs and special effects like magic doors. The production promises a fun experience for the audience, filled with nostalgic pop culture references from the 1990s. For an early glimpse, the dress rehearsal on October 24 will be open to the public. It also begins at 7:30 p.m. Don’t miss this chance to see these young performers bring the magic of Puffs to life on stage!

The school’s fall Dance Concert is set to take the stage on November 9 at 7:30 p.m., featuring 12 to 14 pieces of choreography and spanning 80 to 90 minutes, including an intermission. Conducted by Director of Dance Kelsy Rupp, the show highlights an eclectic mix of styles, including ballet, hip-hop, contemporary, jazz, tap, and jazz-funk.

A new addition to the faculty, Regina Lachemann, will bring her expertise in tap and hip-hop to the production. The concert will also feature student-choreographed pieces, selected through adjudication in the coming weeks.

While time has been the biggest challenge during rehearsals, Rupp emphasized balancing technique training with rehearsals. For those unable to attend on November 9, there will be a soft-opening dress rehearsal on November 8 at 7:30 p.m. 

Following the dance production, the school’s music department is gearing up for its fall concert on November 15 under a newly introduced format: this year, the traditional Fall and Spring Pops Concerts have been replaced with a Fall Music Concert, featuring performances by Chorale, Concert Band, Jazz Band, and the school’s a cappella groups.

Music director Shami Beni said that the new format lightens the workload for both students and staff by providing more balance and less pressure. The concert will feature highlights such as the piece “Blue Bossa,” which nearly earned a superior rating at the Hershey Park Adjudication Festival, and the addition of oboe player Jerry Sun ’27 to the Concert Band. Alfred Ma ’25 will also be auditioning for the National Concert Band Festival in Indianapolis.

Beni hopes that this new concert format will ease the rehearsal process and offer students a new perspective and sense of normalcy throughout the year.

Mark your calendars for the following art performances at the Simon Theatre:

• October 24, 7:30 p.m.: Puffs dress rehearsal, open to the public.

• October 25, 26, 7:30 p.m.: Puffs performances

• November 8, 7:30 p.m.: Dress rehearsal for the Fall Dance Concert, open to the public

• November 9, 7:30 p.m.: Fall Dance Concert

• November 15, 7:30 p.m.: Fall Music Concert

Pictured: Mercersburg students perform during a dance concert last year.