Performing Arts Trip To The Big Apple

On the five-day trip, pupils visited some of New York’s most iconic landmarks, took in a Broadway show and were lucky enough to take part in a performing arts masterclass.

Leaving early on Saturday 18 October the group travelled to Heathrow to board the plane for JFK, New York. After a long flight, the party headed straight to their accommodation in the basic but centrally located YMCA, overlooking Central Park and an easy walk away from the Theatre District and Times Square.

Just one of the very many highlights of the trip was the chance to see Death Becomes Her, which was slick, hilarious and (in parts) gruesome. The performance didn’t disappoint and neither did the chance to participate in a masterclass where pupils enjoyed learning a song and dance routine from Hadestown, from a musician and dancer who have both worked on the show on Broadway.  

The trip also included a tour of the famous Lincoln Center, one of the world’s leading performing arts hubs and home to the New York Ballet, Metropolitan Opera, the New York Philharmonic and of course The Julliard School, which was both fascinating and inspirational.

Then there was a meal at the famous Ellen's Stardust Diner, workplace of aspiring Broadway stars and home to the ‘singing waiters’, who take to the table-tops to whisk you off to musical theatre heaven as you sit back and enjoy your favourite quintessential American diner food.

The action packed trip also included a trip to the 'Top of The Rock' at Rockefeller Plaza, taking in the chaos of Times Square, a visit to the arresting and humbling Ground Zero Memorial, a picnic in Central Park as well as riding the Subway and the Staten Island Ferry,

Director of Music, Gil Cowlishaw, said, “You can’t have a bad trip to New York, there is simply so much to do. We made so many memories during our our unforgettable, fun-filled five days and despite walking what felt like a thousand miles, the laughter and smiles never stopped.”

Our thanks go to the staff who accompanied the trip: Gil Cowlishaw and Jess Newborough.