Presented by the Lewis Center for the Arts’ Program in Theater & Music Theater in collaboration with the Department of Music:
Foibles and Fables: Songs of Magic and Memory!
A concert by the Princeton Playhouse Ensembles
Run Time
90 minutes; no intermission
Special Notes
No flash photography or audio/video recording permitted. Please silence all electronic devices including cellular phones and watches, and refrain from text messaging for the duration of the performance.
Accessibility
The Berlind Theatre is an accessible venue with wheelchair and companion seating available. An assistive listening system is available and headphones can be requested from ushers. The concert will be live/open-captioned. Visit our Venues and Studios section for accessibility information at our various locations, including Berlind Theatre.
Song List
“Overture”
- Original Composition by Matt Cline ’27
- Conductor: Matt Cline ’27
“Magic to Do”
- From Pippin (Stephen Schwartz, arr. Matt Cline ’27)
- Conductor: Matt Cline ’27
- Choreography: Ava Kronman ’26 and Kate Stewart ’25
- Soloists: Angela Kwon ’26, Drew Comstock ’26, Shauna Contreras ’26, Inci Anali (GS), Yinshan Shang (GS), Nick Pham (GS), and Cass Kim (GS)
“I Remember”
- From Stephen Sondheim’s Evening Primrose, arr. Matt Cline ’27
- Conductor: Solon Snider Sway
“In the Wind”
- Original Composition by Kenyon Duncan and the 2022-23 Playhouse Choir
- Conductor: Kenyon Duncan
- Choreography: Ava Kronman ’26
- Dance Soloist: Kate Stewart ’25
- Spoken word written and performed by Destine Harrison-Williams ’26
“Hadestown Medley”
- from Hadestown by Anaïs Mitchell, arr. Farrah Rothman
- Conductor: Matt Cline ’27
- Choreography: Ava Kronman ’26
- Soloists: Eva Nester ’28, Allison Lesser ’27, Ava Kronman ’26, Angela Kwon ’26, and Cass Kim (GS)
“The Smallest World”
- Original Composition by Kyle Brenn and the 2023-24 Playhouse Choir
- Conductor: Solon Snider Sway
- Choreography: Ava Kronman ’26
- Viola Soloist: Nathan Schram
“Now Feels Bigger than the Past”
- By Becca Stevens, featuring Becca Stevens and Nathan Schram
“Rainbow Connection”
- By Paul Williams and Kenneth Ascher, arr. Becca Stevens
- Featuring Becca Stevens and Nathan Schram
“Regina”
- By Becca Stevens
“Love Will Find a Way”
- From Shuffle Along (Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle, arr. Kenyon Duncan)
- Guest Conductor: Kenyon Duncan
- Choreography: Destine Harrison-Williams ’26
“Someone in the Crowd”
- From La La Land (Justin Hurwitz, arr. Marvel Jem ’28)
- Conductor: Marvel Jem ’28
- Choreography: Kate Stewart ’25
- Dancers: Jenna Mullin ’27, Drew Comstock ’26, Ava Kronman ’26, Kate Stewart ’25, Victor Odouard (GS) and Cass Kim (GS)
- Featured Playhouse Alumni: Aaron Ventresca ’24, Carrington Symone ’24, Halle Mitchell ’23, and Sydney Mullin ’24
“O Pity, Oh the Shame”
- Original Composition by Becca Stevens and Nathan Schram
- Conductor: Solon Snider Sway
- Choreographer: Ava Kronman ’26
“As”
- By Stevie Wonder, arranged and orchestrated by Becca Stevens and Nathan Schram
- Conductor: Solon Snider Sway
- Soloists: Becca Stevens and Kenyon Duncan
- Choreography: Kate Stewart ’25
Playhouse Choir
Laura Reyes ’25
Kate Stewart ’25*
Charlie Roth ’25*
Rachel Edelstein ’26*
Michelle Tang ’26
Angela Kwon ’26*
Liam Wang ’26
Destine Harrison-Williiams ’26*
Drew Comstock ’26
Ava Kronman ’26*
Shauna Contreras ’26
Allison Lesser ’27
Jenna Mullin ’27*
Matt Cline ’27
Harish Krishnakumar ’27
Evan Cantwell ’27
Eva Nester ’28
Jemima Smith ’28
Luke Coulter ’28
Andy Eskenazi ’28
Kelly Billman ’28
Marvel Jem ’28
Avery Pan (GS)
Inci Anali (GS)
Ruyu Yan (GS)
Stephanie Shi (GS)
Yinshan Shang (GS)
Cass Kim (GS)
Nick Pham (GS)
Victor Odouard (GS)
Jon Marty (GS)
Nicholas Bohlsen (GS)
Officer Team
President: Drew Comstock ’26
Vice President & Student Conductor: Matt Cline ’27
Student Choreographers: Kate Stewart ’25*, Ava Kronman ’26*, and Destine Harrison-Williams ’26*
Social Media Manager: Angela Kwon ’26*
Social Co-Chairs: Kimberlynn Bjurstrom ’26* and Shauna Contreras ’26
Community Engagement Officer: Xander Constantine ’27*
Playhouse Chamber Orchestra
Flute: Suzie Francis
Oboe: Quinn Haverstick ’25 and Max Chien ’27
Clarinet: Jacob Neis (GS)
Horn: Helen Brush ’24
Trumpet: Matt Bergman
Trombone: Nicholas Pham (GS)
Violin 1: Tristan Aniceto
Violin 2: Allison Jiang ’26
Viola: Nathan Schram
Cello: Mark Serkin
Piano/Keyboards: Rosalinda Zhao ’26, Otto Trueman ’27, Marvel Jem ’28, Solon Snider Sway, Kenyon Duncan, and Halle Mitchell ’23
Bass: Jon Toscano
Guitar: Jack Broza
Percussion: Jerry Zhu ’27
Production Team
Stage Director: Aaron Landsman
Music Director: Solon Snider Sway
Choreographers: Ava Kronman ’26*, Kate Stewart ’25*, Destine Harrison-Williams ’26*
Lighting Designer: Tess James
Sound Designer: Kay Richardson
Stage Manager: Milan Eldridge
Sound Engineer: Emma Nicoletti
Berlind Electrician: Michelle Poulaille
Berlind Run Crew: Dylan Harris, Liandra Marcano
Student Run Crew: Matthew Cooperberg ’26*
A2: Ryan Gonzales ’26
*denotes a certificate student/minor in the Program in Theater & Music Theater
Faculty Advisors
Solon Snider Sway, Faculty Project Mentor
Aaron Landsman, Co-Producer
About the Guest Artists
Guest Soloist: Becca Stevens
Twice Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Becca Stevens has forged a unique career blending pop, jazz, indie-rock, folk, and world music with her classical and Appalachian roots. Known for her versatile vocals and mastery of multiple string instruments, Stevens’ work transcends genres through intricate rhythms and harmonies.
Since founding the Becca Stevens Band in 2006, she has toured internationally and become a sought-after collaborator, working with David Crosby, Jacob Collier, Michael League of Snarky Puppy, and Taylor Eigsti. She’s also partnered with the Secret Trio and Attacca Quartet, earning a 2023 Grammy nomination with violist Nathan Schram. Her collaborations extend further, with artists like Brad Mehldau, Chris Thile, Laura Mvula, Michael McDonald, Antonio Sánchez, Gretchen Parlato, and Ambrose Akinmusire.
Her latest release, Maple to Paper (GroundUP, 2024), is a deeply personal work reflecting themes of grief and transcendence. Stripped to the essentials, the album showcases her guitar and vocal performance recorded live without overdubs, with mixing by longtime collaborator Nic Hard. The emotional force of Maple to Paper highlights her ability to connect deeply with listeners.
In Summer 2024, Stevens made her Broadway debut in Illinoise, a musical based on Sufjan Stevens’ Illinois. Currently, she is on tour, performing Maple to Paper across Asia, Europe, and the US, continuing her journey as a boundary-pushing artist and storyteller.
Guest Violist: Nathan Schram
Nathan is a two-time Grammy Award-winning composer and violist of the Attacca Quartet. Nathan has collaborated, in the studio and on stage, with many of the great artists of today including Björk, James Blake, Billie Eilish, Finneas, David Crosby, Becca Stevens, Just Blaze and others. Nathan is a PhD Candidate in composition at Princeton University and an Honorary Ambassador to the city of Chuncheon, South Korea.
Nathan has released three solo records of his own compositions, Let Me Out, Nearsided and Oak and the Ghost, on Better Company Records and New Amsterdam Records. As a member of Attacca, Schram has released records on Sony Classical, GroundUP Music, Nonesuch, and New Amsterdam Records. Attacca’s records, Orange and Evergreen, won Grammy Awards for Best Chamber Music Performance in 2020 and 2023. His arrangement of Radiohead’s 2 + 2 = 5 written for Becca Stevens and Attacca Quartet was also nominated at the 2023 Grammy Awards.
Apart from performing, Nathan is the Founder and Artistic Director of Musicambia. Founded in 2013, Musicambia develops music education programs and performances inside prisons and jails throughout the United States. As a deep believer in prison abolition and the irrepressible power of music, Musicambia strives to humanize the criminal legal system of the United States.
Guest Conductor, Arranger/Composer, and Vocalist: Kenyon Duncan
Kenyon Duncan is a Brooklyn-based composer-performer, teaching artist, and producer from Northern California. Grounded in the sonic traditions of the Black diaspora, Kenyon’s creative practice engages questions of embodiment and placemaking. Kenyon’s experience as a conductor and ensemble leader has led to the production of 3 award-winning albums, bringing him around the world to lead workshops on vocal performance and ensemble technique. A sought after collaborator, Kenyon’s contributions as a vocalist, pianist, and arranger are featured on multiple studio albums. Kenyon is currently the composer-in-residence for the Brooklyn Youth Chorus.
Featured Alumni Guests
Aaron Ventresca ’24
Aaron Ventresca graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University with an A.B. in Economics, earning certificates in Finance, Spanish Language and Culture, Theater, and Music Theater. On campus, Aaron served as the President of the Playhouse Choir (2023-24) in addition to performing with the Triangle Club, Princeton University Players, and the Lewis Center for the Arts. He received multiple academic prizes at Princeton, including the Griswold Center for Economic Policy Studies Thesis Award, the Junior Prize in Economics, and the Martin A. Dale ’53 Award. Currently, he is pursuing an MBA at the Yale School of Management. Aaron is the COO and Co-Founder of Aaron&Emma Productions LLC, a startup production company specializing in producing new musical theater that uplifts under-known stories. He has written four original musicals that have been produced regionally in addition to working professionally as an actor. In his free time, he enjoys competing in Spartan obstacle course races, training in CrossFit, and experimenting in the kitchen.
Halle Mitchell ’23
Halle Mitchell is a music director, arranger, orchestrator, composer, and lyricist based in New York City. She is a current M.F.A. candidate in Musical Theater Writing at New York University and a graduate of Princeton University, Class of 2023. She has been working as a musician in the NYC area with experiences in music directing, orchestrating, and arranging. Recent credits include A Nightmare on Broadway (music director, Skyline Theatre Company), The Scarlet Letter (music director/orchestrator, Green Room 42), 54 Sings Chappell Roan (music director/arranger, 54 Below), Escape to Margaritaville (music director, Millbrook Playhouse), and The Birthmark (music director, Sound Bites Festival). Halle is also a vocalist, pianist, and guitarist, and continues to play and perform individually.
Sydney Mullin ’24
Sydney Mullin is a 2024 graduate of Princeton University, where she studied Molecular Biology and Bioengineering. Outside of the classroom, Sydney’s experience was enhanced by her involvement in the performing arts—dancing with eXpressions Dance Company, playing the flute with Sinfonia, acting in productions with the Lewis Center for the Arts and Princeton University Players, and, in particular, performing as a member of the Playhouse Choir. Sydney currently resides in Boston, Massachusetts, where she conducts research on lung regeneration following injury at Harvard University/Boston Children’s Hospital. Her love for the arts followed her to Boston, where she has embraced it through workshops, volunteer work, and attending performances throughout the city. Sydney feels grateful for the beautiful community being fostered by Solon and the Playhouse Officers, Orchestra, and Choir and for the program’s impact in encouraging both appreciation for and engagement with the arts in the greater Princeton community.
Carrington Symone ’24
Carrington Symone was an original member of the Playhouse Choir. During her time at Princeton, she concentrated in Spanish and Politics and received certificates in African American Studies, Latin American Studies and Music Theater. Now, she is pursuing a Master of Music in Vocal Performance with a concentration in Music Theater at NYU. Additionally, she works as a Bilingual Elementary Music Teaching Artist in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Carrington is very excited to be singing with Playhouse once again.
Special Thanks
Nancy Agosto, Jacqueline Appleby, Elena Araoz, Katie Baltrush, Carmelita Becnel, Dan Benevento, Chloe Brown, Ronald Cappon, Lou Chen, Collin Costa, Jane Cox, Gabriel Crouch, Vince di Mura, Carlos Dias, Torrey Drum, Milan Eldridge, Martha Elliott, Rochelle Ellis, Joe Fonseca, Will Han, Brian Herrera, Jacqueline Horner-Kwiatek, Tess James, David Kellett, Deborah Koenigsberg, Mike Langley, Eric Lense, Mike McCormick, Mary O’Connor, Matthew Parrish, Tracy Patterson, Matt Poirier, Matt Pilsner, Barbara Rearick, Kay Richardson, Steve Runk, Beth Schupsky, Greg Smith, Mary Kate Smyser, Chesney Snow, Justin Stanley, Jaclyn Sweet, Olivier Tarpaga, Dan Trueman, Darryl Waskow, Kim Wassall, Camille Watson, Tamara Whelan, Stacy Wolf, Codi Yhap, Inkyung Yi, Marion Friedman Young
About the Princeton Playhouse Ensembles
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 Princeton Playhouse Orchestra is an instrumental chamber ensemble specializing in the performance of new music commissions, music theater repertoire, popular song, and film music.
Established in 2021, the Playhouse Ensembles were formed in an effort to celebrate music theater repertoire, build community, foster new arrangements and compositions, facilitate student leadership opportunities, and connect the Music Department and Lewis Center for the Art’s Program in Theater & Music Theater through collaborative, co-curricular ensembles.
Learn more about the Lewis Center for the Arts
Learn more about the Department of Music
Land Acknowledgement
An estimated 10 million Native Americans lived in North America before the arrival of European colonizers. Many thousands lived in Lenapehoking, the vast homeland of the Lenni-Lenape, who were the first inhabitants of what is now called eastern Pennsylvania and parts of New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware.
Princeton stands on part of the ancient homeland and traditional territory of the Lenape people. In 1756, the College of New Jersey erected Nassau Hall with no recorded consultation with the Lenni-Lenape peoples.
Treaties and forced relocation dispersed Lenape-Delaware to Ohio, Kansas, and Oklahoma. We acknowledge the violence of settler colonialism and pay respect to Lenape peoples past, present, and future and their continuing presence in the homeland and throughout the Lenape diaspora.
For more information, see the websites of the Native American and Indigenous Studies Initiative at Princeton (NAISIP), Natives at Princeton and Princeton Indigenous Advocacy Coalition.
Lewis Center for the Arts
Chair: Judith Hamera
Executive Director: Marion Friedman Young
Director of Program in Theater and Music Theater: Jane Cox
View a list of Program in Theater & Music Theater faculty & guest artists
For a look at all the people working behind the scenes to bring you this event, view a list of LCA staff members.
The programs of the Peter B. Lewis Center for the Arts are made possible through the generous support of many alumni and other donors. View a list of LCA Supporters
Music Department
Professor of Music and Chair, Department of Music: Daniel Trueman
Director of Administration and Operations: Jacqueline Appleby
Director, Princeton University Concerts/Department of Music Concert Office: Marna Seltzer
Associate Professor of Music and Director of Undergraduate Studies: Gavin Steingo
Professor of Music; Director of Graduate Studies (Musicology): Elizabeth Hellmuth Margulis
William Shubael Conant Professor of Music and Director of Graduate Studies (Composition): Steven Mackey
Conductor, Princeton University Orchestra and Director, Program in Music: Michael Pratt
Anthony H.P. Lee ’79 Director of Jazz: Rudresh Mahanthappa
Director of Choral Activities: Gabriel Crouch
View a directory of Department of Music staff & faculty
