The first months of the school year are always an exciting time for the Arts Department at The Williams School, as the community comes together to enjoy two major theatrical productions. Each fall, the Middle School presents its annual musical , followed by the Upper School fall play —offering students at every level a chance to shine on stage and behind the scenes.
What truly sets Williams apart is its Middle School enrichment program. Throughout the year, students rotate through a wide range of enrichment courses, including art, dance, music, photography, and life skills. However, for the first month of school, the entire Middle School shares one combined elective: producing the Middle School musical. This year’s production, Beauty and the Beast, Jr., brought the classic story of Belle and the Beast to life, as Belle’s journey to save her father leads her to discover love, compassion, and the power to break a curse. Every Middle School student participated in the production in some capacity—whether acting on stage or contributing through costume design, set design and construction, lighting, or sound—making it a truly collaborative and immersive arts experience. For many students, this production serves as their first introduction to theater and often sparks a lasting interest in the performing arts.
The Upper School continued the momentum with its fall play, Middletown. This thoughtful and mature production explores the interconnected lives of a small-town community through the friendship between newcomer Mary Swanson and longtime resident John Dodge. Through moments of birth, love, and loss, Middletown reflects on the beauty found in everyday life. The play challenged Upper School thespians and production crew members to engage deeply with nuanced storytelling, showcasing the high level of craft and dedication that defines The Williams School productions.
Together, these two productions highlight the strength of the arts program at The Williams School—one that values collaboration, creativity, and meaningful storytelling at every stage of a student’s journey.
