Theater
Drama and its appreciation are important parts of the enrichment program at Gill. Participation in drama encourages cooperation and teamwork and helps to develop confidence and poise. The Upper School fall play and spring musical, the Middle School play, and the Lower School Nutcracker performance provide stages for student actors, enlist the assistance of student technicians and stagehands, and encourage the participation of parent volunteers.
GSB outstanding musical and theatrical productions are nominated and recognized for state-wide awards.
The GSB Players' production of The Mystery Of Edwin Drood in the spring of 2012 received the Outstanding Overall Production Award at the Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Competition. The school received 11 total nominations and took home four additional awards for Outstanding Achievement by a Supporting Actress, Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design, Outstanding Achievement in Musical Direction, and Outstanding Achievement in Direction.
New Photo Gallery: She Loves Me
The GSB Players captivated audiences in three transformative performances of the beloved Broadway classic, She Loves Me, as part of their 2024 Spring Musical.
PERFORMING ARTS CHAIR
Todd Ross ’94 joined GSB in 2016. Prior to Gill, Ross worked at Columbia University Graduate School, New York University Graduate School, Stella Adler Conservatory, The New School, Biz Kids, Inc., NYC, and the Shakespeare Sedona Institute. At Gill, he hopes to give students the experiences that helped shape his life when he was a student here. In his spare time, he enjoys cooking and playing soccer. Mr. Ross teaches drama in the Middle School, serves as assistant director/producer, and is Chair of the Performing Arts Department.
GSB Theater Awards
2019 - Meet Me in St. Louis
Nomination
Outstanding Performance in a Featured Role
Allyson Stevens '20 as "Katie"
Nomination
Outstanding Scenic Achievement
Paul H. Canada
Nomination
Outstanding Costuming Achievement
Paul H. Canada
Nomination
Outstanding Hair and Make-Up Achievement
Alicia Amoroso '19, Lee Amoroso P '11, '13, '19, Valerie Collins, Venus Nedd P '06, '09, Allyson Stevens '20
Honorable Mention
Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical
Honorable Mention
Outstanding Achievement by a
Teacher or Outside Director
Paul H. Canada and Todd Ross
2017 - Cinderella
Nomination
Outstanding Costuming Achievement
Paul H. Canada
2016 - The Boy Friend
Nomination
Outstanding Costuming Achievement
Paul Canada, H. Beth Holland P '12
2015 - Once Upon a Mattress
Nomination
Outstanding Musical Direction
David & Amy Southerland
Nomination
Outstanding Scenic Achievement
Paul H. Canada, Shannon Ludlum '03
Winner
Outstanding Costume Achievement
Paul H. Canada, Beth Holland P '12
Nomination
Outstanding Hair and Make-up Achievement
Venus Nedd P '06, '09 &
Lee Amoroso P '11, '13, '19
2014 - Godspell
Nomination
Outstanding Scenic Achievement
Paul H. Canada, Kevin Kotch, Laura Ludlum P '01, '03, '05 & Shannon Ludlum '03
Winner
Outstanding Costuming Achievement
Paul H. Canada & Beth Holland P '12
Winner
Outstanding Hair & Make-up Achievement
Lee Amoroso P '11, '13, '19 &
Venus Romero-Nedd P '06, '09
Honorable Mention
Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical
Honorable Mention
Outstanding Performance by a Chorus
Honorable Mention
Outstanding Achievement in Direction
Paul H. Canada
2013 - Little Women
Nomination
Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical
Winner
Outstanding Performance by an Actress
in a Leading Role
Jana Bernard '13 as Margaret "Marmee" March
Nomination
Outstanding Achievement in Direction
Paul H. Canada
Nomination
Outstanding Achievement in Musical Direction
Amy & David Southerland
Nomination
Outstanding Scenic Achievement
Paul H. Canada
Winner
Outstanding Costuming Achievement
Paul H. Canada
Nomination
Outstanding Hair & Make-up Achievement
Lee Amoroso P '11, '13, '19 &
Venus Romero-Nedd P '06, '09
Honorable Mention
Outstanding Achievement by an Actress
in a Leading Role
Jessica Kundla '13 as Jo March
Honorable Mention
Outstanding Achievement by an Actor
in a Featured Role
Nicholas Bilynsky '13 as Professor Fritz Bhaer
Honorable Mention
Outstanding Lighting Achievement
Joseph Skowronski
2012 - The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Winner
Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical
Nomination
Outstanding Performance by an Actress
in a Leading Role
Savannah Schechter '12 as Alice Nutting/Edwin Drood
Nomination
Outstanding Performance by an Actress
in a Leading Role
Jessica Kundla '13 as Deirdre Peregrine/Rosa Bud
Winner
Outstanding Performance by an Actress
in a Supporting Role
Jana Bernard '13 as Angela Prysock/Princess Puffer
Winner
Outstanding Achievement in Direction
Paul H. Canada
Winner
Outstanding Achievement in Musical Direction
Amy & David Southerland
Nomination
Outstanding Achievement in Choreography
Margery Schiesswohl P '17
Nomination
Outstanding Lighting Achievement
Joseph Skowronski
Nomination
Outstanding Scenic Achievement
Paul H. Canada
Winner
Outstanding Costuming Achievement
Paul H. Canada & Beth Holland P '12
Nomination
Outstanding Hair & Make-up Achievement
Lee Amoroso P '11, '13, '19 &
Venus Romero-Nedd P '06, '09
2011 - A Little Night Music
Nomination
Outstanding Performance by an Actor
in a Leading Role
Christian Bormann Paris '11 as Fredrik Egerman
Winner
Outstanding Costuming Achievement
Paul H. Canada & Beth Holland P '12
Nomination
Outstanding Achievement in Graphic Design
Sharon Bittman P '17, '23, Vision Creative Group
Nomination
Outstanding Performance by an Actress
in a Featured Role
Jana Bernard '13 as Petra
Nomination
Outstanding Achievement in Musical Direction Amy & David Southerland
2010 - Kiss Me, Kate
Nomination
Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical
Winner
Outstanding Performance by an Actor
in a Leading Role
Christian Bormann Paris '11 as Fred Graham/Petruchio
Nomination
Outstanding Performance by a Chorus
Nomination
Outstanding Achievement in Direction
Paul H. Canada
Nomination
Outstanding Achievement in Musical Direction
Amy & David Southerland
Winner
Outstanding Costuming Achievement
Paul H. Canada
Nomination
Outstanding Hair & Make-up Achievement
Venus Romero-Nedd P '06, '09 &
Darlene Shellhouse
Honorable Mention
Outstanding Achievement in Choreography
Margery Schiesswohl P '17
Honorable Mention
Outstanding Scenic Achievement
Paul H. Canada
Honorable Mention
Outstanding Lighting Achievement
Joseph Skowronski
2009 - Into the Woods
Nomination
Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical
Nomination
Outstanding Performance by an Actor
in a Supporting Role
Christian Bormann Paris '11 as
Cinderella's Prince/The Wolf
Nomination
Outstanding Performance by an Actor
in a Supporting Role
William Ullrich '11 as Jack
Nomination
Outstanding Achievement in Direction
Paul H. Canada
Nomination
Outstanding Achievement in Musical Direction Amy & David Southerland
Nomination
Outstanding Scenic Achievement
Paul H. Canada & Laura Ludlum P '01, '03, '05
Nomination
Outstanding Costuming Achievement
Paul H. Canada
Nomination
Outstanding Hair & Make-up Achievement
Venus Romero-Nedd P '06, '09
Nomination
Outstanding Achievement in Graphic Design
Margie & Rich Palatini P '06
Nomination
Student Achievement Award
Conor Sjogren '09, Stage Manager
Honorable Mention
Outstanding Achievement by an Actress
in a Leading Role
Savannah Schechter '12 as The Witch
Honorable Mention
Outstanding Lighting Achievement
Donald P. Schlachter P '91, '97
2008 - The Secret Garden
Winner
Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical
Nomination
Outstanding Performance by an Actress
in a Leading Role
Lauren Ullrich '08 as Lily Craven
Nomination
Outstanding Performance by an Actor
in a Leading Role
Steven Helferich '08 as Archibald Craven
Nomination
Outstanding Achievement in Direction
Paul H. Canada
Winner
Outstanding Achievement in Musical Direction
Amy & David Southerland
Winner
Outstanding Scenic Achievement
Paul H. Canada
Winner
Outstanding Costuming Achievement
Paul H. Canada & Lynn Helferich P '06, '08
Nomination
Outstanding Achievement in Graphic Design
Margie and Rich Palatini P '06
2007 - She Loves Me
Nomination
Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical
Winner
Outstanding Achievement by an Actress
in a Leading Role
Lauren Ullrich '08 as Amalia Balash
Nomination
Outstanding Performance by an Actor
in a Leading Role
Steven Helferich '08 as George Nowack
Nomination
Outstanding Achievement in Direction
Paul H. Canada
Nomination
Outstanding Achievement in Musical Direction Amy & David Southerland
Nomination
Outstanding Scenic Achievement
Paul H. Canada
Winner
Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design
Paul H. Canada
Nomination
Outstanding Hair & Make-up Achievement
Venus Romero-Nedd P '06, '09 &
Darlene Shellhouse
Honorable Mention
Outstanding Achievement by an Actress
in a Supporting Role
Alexis Nedd '09 as Ilona Ritter