When the Show Truly Went On

Sometimes the most meaningful moments in school life are the ones no one could have planned.

On Friday, January 16, the Upper School production of Our Town was underway, with a full audience and more than 40 students who had poured weeks of work into the show. The performance was unfolding just as hoped.

Then, about 30 minutes in, the unexpected happened.

Every light in the theater went out.

A regional SDG&E brownout had affected the area around campus. For safety, the audience was calmly evacuated while faculty and staff quickly assessed next steps. As with any live performance, there were several options: cancel the show, delay it, reschedule, or wait it out.

Instead, something far more memorable emerged.

With a true “show must go on” spirit, students and adults collaborated to relocate the performance outdoors. This is San Diego, after all. Student stage crew members quickly moved set pieces and props. The security and operations teams arrived within minutes with golf carts to provide lighting. Faculty coordinated logistics and kept things moving.

What followed was the result of the trust that forms as relationships develop. Students, faculty, and staff had adapted together, turning an unexpected disruption into a shared moment of leadership and creative problem-solving.

Audience members faithfully followed along with the changes and filled in the outside steps as their new seats. Spotlight operators tracked actors using the flashlights on their phones. Performers projected louder than ever, rising to the moment with confidence and professionalism.

“It was one of the most magical things I’ve ever witnessed on this campus,” said Director of the Arts Robert Wagner. “It was pure theatrical and community magic. Our security and operations teams became part of the performance. They understood what it meant to support students in the middle of a challenging moment, and our cast and crew felt just how many people were there for them.”

Behind the scenes, Technical Theater Educator Mike Peveich quickly outlined options, balancing clear logistics with care for both student safety and the audience experience. Performing Arts Educator Jim Short, Ph.D., led with his characteristic calm and clarity, guiding a nimble, creative team when it mattered most.

Then came a moment that will be remembered for years.

As Delilah Shulman ’26, playing Emily, delivered the line, “My, isn’t the moonlight terrible?” the power returned right on cue. The lights came back on, brightening the scene and drawing laughter, gasps, and applause from the audience.

The night didn’t go according to plan. It went better. It became a powerful reminder of what happens when students are trusted to lead and a community comes together to support them. It was a night that showcased not only the talent onstage, but the care and commitment that define the school beyond the theater.