Peninsula School students perform Centennial Play at Spring Fair

“The 100 Year Curse: The Centennial Play” was a student-led production created to celebrate Peninsula School’s 100th anniversary. The idea came from alum Laurie Friedman (’62), who remembered performing in plays during her time at Peninsula.

The Centennial Committee loved the concept, and Alexandra, a current staff member, stepped up to lead the project. She partnered with Laurie and wove the idea into our Middle School electives, creating a collaborative experience across three elective cycles:

Part 1: Research & Story Creation – Students became young historians, diving into the school archives, reviewing our curated timeline, and interviewing alumni to collect stories from the past 100 years. They used that research to write an original script filled with humor, drama, and even a fictional curse involving the ghost of Mrs. Colemen.

Part 2: Stagecraft – Set & Prop Design – With the script ready, students focused on the visual side of storytelling. They built sets, designed props, and worked through creative challenges like time travel transitions and historical backdrops — all through hands-on, collaborative work.

Part 3: Performance & Production – In the final stage, students auditioned, rehearsed, and handled all aspects of the production — from acting and blocking to managing lights, costumes, sound, and stage crew. They even gave up extra time during lunches and after school to prepare for the big show.

The play was performed at the Spring Fair for the entire school and  visiting alumni.