Theater & Music Theater

Princeton Playhouse Ensembles

Princeton Playhouse Choir

The Princeton Playhouse Choir is an ensemble housed jointly with the Lewis Center’s Program in Theater & Music Theater and the Music Department, focusing on repertoire beginning in a broad range of theatrical traditions and expanding into a realm of experimental and innovative music-making. The core of the group’s repertoire is music connected to theater and reimagined for creative ensemble configurations through new arrangements and interdisciplinary collaborations. Playhouse incorporates large and small ensemble singing, a cappella and accompanied singing, vocal solos, dance, spoken word, new music commissions, and collaborative projects with artists across departments to facilitate a vibrant and inclusive rehearsal environment. The Playhouse Choir is directed by Solon Snider Sway. Find out more information about choirs at Princeton.

The Playhouse Choir meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:30-6:30 p.m. in McAlpin Hall at the basement level of the Woolworth Music Building.

Princeton Playhouse Orchestra

The Princeton Playhouse Orchestra is an instrumental chamber ensemble specializing in the performance of new music commissions, music theater repertoire, popular song, and film music. The group rehearses a handful of times each semester leading up to performances, sometimes with the Playhouse Choir, and sometimes on its own. To receive more information on participation in the Playhouse Orchestra, email Solon Snider Sway at solon.snider@princeton.edu.

The Playhouse Orchestra meets on select evenings, pending member availability.

How to Participate

The Princeton Playhouse Ensembles serve students with a broad range of musical backgrounds and interests and offer the opportunity for a wide range of student leadership experiences. Members of the Playhouse Choir rehearse twice a week and are eligible for subsidized voice lessons through the Music Department. Members of the Playhouse Orchestra rehearse periodically over the semester, pending member schedules and availability. If you’re interested in joining either ensemble or just want to learn more, please email Solon Snider Sway at solon.snider@princeton.edu.

2023-24 Auditions

Auditions were held Sept. 4-8, 2023. Just discovering the group? Email Solon Snider Sway at solon.snider@princeton.edu.

Playhouse Ensembles Featured Performances

Watch the world premiere of “In the Wind,” commissioned for the 2022-23 Playhouse Choir with lyrics by members of the group and music/additional lyrics by Kenyon Duncan. Featuring Playhouse Chamber Orchestra and spoken word by Destine Harrison-Williams ’26.

Playhouse Ensembles Special Events, Workshops, Trips and Collaborations

  • March 2023 — The Playhouse Choir hosted Broadway legend Michael McElroy for a solo performance masterclass and workshop rehearsal
  • March 2023 — The Playhouse Choir traveled to NYC to see Parade on Broadway!
  • February 2023 —The Playhouse Choir hosted composer Kenyon Duncan for a collaborative composition workshop
  • November 2022 —The Playhouse Choir hosted conductor and composer Jim Papoulis for a collaborative composition and rhythm workshop

Playhouse Ensembles Sample Repertoire

  • “A Playhouse Farewell” (1930s Musical Medley) — Sammy Fain/Irving Kahal, George/Ira Gershwin, and Herman Hupfeld, arr. Solon Snider Sway
  • “Beautiful City” from Godspell — Stephen Schwartz, arr. Farrah Rothman
  • “Caution to the Wind” from Striking 12 — Val Vigoda ‘87, arr. Halle Mitchell ‘23
  • “Fine and Dandy” from Fine and Dandy — Kay Swift and Paul James, arr. Solon Snider Sway
  • “Hadestown Medley” from Hadestown — Anaïs Mitchell, arr. Farrah Rothman
  • “In the Wind” — Commissioned for the 2022-2023 Playhouse Choir with lyrics by members of the group and music/additional lyrics by Kenyon Duncan
  • “Kaze” (A Studio Ghibli Medley) — Joe Hisaishi, arr. Gia Gan, orch. Griffin Strout
  • “Love Will Find a Way” from Shuffle Along — Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle, arr. Kenyon Duncan
  • “My Story” — Commissioned for the 2022-2023 Playhouse Choir with lyrics by members of the group and music by Jim Papoulis
  • “No One is Alone” from Into the Woods — Stephen Sondheim, arr. Daniel Rudin
  • “Opening Up” from Waitress — Sara Bareilles
  • “Our Time” from Merrily We Roll Along — Stephen Sondheim, arr. Mac Huff
  • “Princess and the Frog Medley” from Princess and the Frog — Randy Newman, arr. Jerome Walker
  • “Soon As I Get Home” from The Wiz — Charlie Smalls, arr. Kenyon Duncan
  • “Sunday” from Sunday in the Park with George — Stephen Sondheim
  • “Sweeney Todd Medley” from Sweeney Todd — Stephen Sondheim, orch. Farrah Rothman
  • “The Circling Universe” — Selections from a 2021 oratorio composed by Georgia Stitt in collaboration with the Princeton Atelier
  • “The Song of Purple Summer” from Spring Awakening — Duncan Sheik
  • “They Say It’s Wonderful” from Annie Get Your Gun — Irving Berlin, arr. Halle Mitchell ’23
  • “You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught/Last Midnight” from South Pacific and Into the Woods — Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II, and Stephen Sondehim, arr. Keiji Ishiguri

Student Leaders

Aaron Ventresca smiles, straddling a chair and resting his arms on the chair back.Aaron Ventresca ’24

President

Aaron is a senior concentrating in Economics with certificates in Finance, Spanish, Theater & Music Theater. On campus, he is involved with the Playhouse Choir in addition to Princeton University Players (PUP), Triangle Club, the Lewis Center for the Arts, and the Aquinas Institute. He is a composer, librettist, lyricist, orchestrator, actor, and choreographer. His second original musical, Gaucho, was performed in December 2023 as part of the Program in Theater’s season.

Matt Cline '27 stands in a dark suit and white shirt.Matt Cline ’27

Student Conductor

Matt is a freshman composer, conductor and trumpeter originally from Shanghai, China. Well-versed in a wide array of musical styles and genres, Matt often writes pieces for orchestras, big bands, Latin ensembles, as well as traditional Chinese ensembles, many of which have been performed by top-level groups like the Orlando Phil and the New Shanghai Orchestra. In addition to composing for concert, Matt has written the score and worked as a sound designer for several student films and independent film productions. In 2021, Matthew wrote the complete original music and lyrics to a full-scale musical, titled Shanghaied, featuring over 40 musical numbers. Matt is beyond excited to be a member and officer of Princeton Playhouse and looks forward to making more music throughout his undergraduate studies at Princeton.

Carrington Johnson stands by a green bush with her eyes closed. She wears a pink striped top and has long curly hair.Carrington Johnson ’24

Student Choreographer

Carrington Symone is a Senior in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. She has also earned certificates in African American Studies, Latin American Studies and Music Theater during her time at Princeton. Playhouse Choir has been a home to Carrington since her sophomore year. Outside of Playhouse, you might find her cheering with the Princeton University Cheerleading Team, dancing with Black Arts Company: Dance or performing with the Princeton University Players. Carrington is deeply passionate about activist-driven artistry and is currently writing a musical which explores the intersections of technology and social justice.

Madeleine smiles, leaning against a stone wall and wearing a purple lace blouse.Madeleine LeBeau ’24

Performance Director & Student Conductor

Madeleine is a Senior in the History Department with certificates in Theater & Music Theater, Vocal Performance, and Judaic Studies. On campus, Madeleine is active in theater and performing arts, serving as the Chair of the Theater Program Student Advisory Committee, the immediate past Vice President of the Princeton Triangle Club, a writer for the Triangle club, an executive board member of the Princeton University Players, and the prior President and Music Director of Koleinu, her a capella group. She currently serves as a student conductor/choreographer for the Princeton Playhouse Choir. Madeleine has been featured in Mostly, Sort of Happily Ever After, First Daughters’ Suite, and Ship Happens – A Cruisical and is looking forward to performing this spring in She Loves Me, Something Rotten, and A Chorus Line. Outside of theater, she is active in the Kesher Reform Jewish community, leading weekly services and having served the community as President/Co-President for four years. She is also an Undergraduate Research Fellow for the Center for Culture, Society, and Religion. Madeleine has been accepted to the Hebrew Union College cantorial ordination program to continue her studies after Princeton.

Christie Davis smiles looking over her left shoulder. She has long brown hair and wears a black shirt.Christie Davis ’27

Social Media, Publicity, and Community Coordinator

Christie is from Jacksonville, Florida, and is thrilled to be spending her first year at Princeton in the Playhouse Choir. She plans to study Economics and Journalism and can also be found singing in Early Music Princeton and writing for The Daily Princetonian. Christie is passionate about the performing arts and their ability to create community, and she is grateful for the opportunity to give back to Princeton’s art community.

Karolina Rokka smiles with long straight dark hair. She wears a bright red long sleeve blouse.Karolina Rokka ’27

Manager

Karolina’s hometown is Athens, Greece. She has been singing ever since she can remember—as head singer at her middle and high school, in numerous musicals, and through auditioned vocal programs at Juilliard and Berklee. She also plays piano and used to play violin. Other than singing, she does dance, sports, and debate. She is probably going to be a SPIA major, currently considering certificates in finance, music, and dance. She is excited and grateful to be in the amazing community of talented musicians that is Playhouse Choir!

Sydney Hwang stands on a rooftop with a view behind her of a European city.Sydney Hwang ’24

Social Co-Chair

Sydney is a senior majoring in English with certificates in creative writing and theater & music theater. In addition to Playhouse Choir, Sydney has a passion for acting and theater. She studied classical acting at LAMDA in 2023 and is currently a Trenton Arts at Princeton (TAP) theater fellow where she teaches theater to high school students. Sydney enjoys creative writing and is currently writing a novel for her senior thesis. Her original musical, Christmastown, had a staged reading at the Lewis Center for the Arts in December.

Sydney Mullin smiles wearing a black tank and sunglasses, standing by a yellow stone wall covered in vines.Sydney Mullin ’24

Social Co-Chair

Sydney is a senior in the Molecular Biology department pursuing a certificate in Engineering Biology. In addition to Playhouse Choir, Sydney has been involved with eXpressions Dance Company, Princeton University Sinfonia, Princeton University Players, the Lewis Center for the Arts, and she serves as an ambassador for the International Internship Program and the Molecular Biology Department. Sydney is thrilled to have joined the Playhouse Choir community this year and looks forward to playing a role in fostering this community as Social Chair!

 

 

From Wind to Wonder! Berlind Theatre Concert Premiere

Princeton Playhouse Ensembles 2021-23

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