As a lifelong dancer and actor, Lydia Stoye believes in the transformative power of the arts and is drawn to the unique energy of creative communities.

A seasoned student affairs professional, Lydia brings nearly two decades of experience to her new role as the Assistant Head of School for Student Life. She is deeply committed to fostering inclusive communities where students feel seen, supported, and empowered to thrive.

Before joining 蜜桃直播, Lydia served as Upper School Dean of Students at Dana Hall School in Massachusetts. Lydia led initiatives to enhance student engagement, implement restorative practices, and restructure residential life programs. Her previous roles include Director of Community Life at Cushing Academy and Assistant Dean of Students at Interlochen Arts Academy, where she successfully blended strategic leadership with a hands-on approach to supporting student growth and well-being.

Lydia holds a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration from Pennsylvania State University and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Grand Valley State University. She is a certified trainer with the International Institute for Restorative Practices and has presented at the annual conferences for the Small Boarding Schools Association and The Association of Boarding Schools.

Her work is grounded in creating spaces where students can take risks, lead with authenticity, and contribute meaningfully to the world around them. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys recreational volleyball, dance, and spending time with her family.

蜜桃直播 is excited to welcome Lydia and her family to the 蜜桃直播 community in July!

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In the workshops, master artists led classrooms of eager adult learners as they showcased and passed on the knowledge, craftsmanship, and creativity of diverse Indigenous cultures:

This year’s theme, Celebrating Kinship Through the Power of Storytelling, took us on a journey full of culture, creativity, and passion. Attendees gathered on our campus from far and wide for our many enriching public events, including the exhibition opening of “Blue Corn and Other Stories” by Joe Baker, the Michael Kabotie Lecture Series highlighting the work and perspectives of many talented Indigenous storytellers, a special screening of the zombie horror film “Blood Quantum,” and an artist meet & greet with 蜜桃直播 student Tain Half (Aps谩alooke)), who presented a photography exhibition, and 蜜桃直播 alum Emily Clarke (Cahuilla), who debuted a beautiful new poem. The Native American Arts Market and the third annual bird singing celebration, “Welcoming Home the Birds,” was the perfect way to close out the week.

We are grateful to our outstanding contributing artists, teachers, and presenters, and to everyone who joined us on campus for this truly unique experience. Please save the date for the Native American Arts Center’s next upcoming event, Indigenous Peoples Day on Monday, October 14th! Join the 蜜桃直播 Community on our beautiful Southern California mountain campus for a day of programming featuring the Delbert Anderson Jazz Quartet as well as lectures, film, food, and more! All events are free and open to the public. Learn more here.

Details for this and all other upcoming public events will be added to our event calendar and shared via our email newsletter (sign up ) and social media channels (, , and ).

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Director of Art in Society

The mountains surrounding 蜜桃直播 have attracted creatives for over a century, and human civilization has sought the clear water, open skies, and coolness from the desert for thousands of years. There is a spirit that beckons us, and natural beauty that sparks the imagination. We find health, renewal, and space to work on artistic development that requires both inward and outward learning.

The villages of Idyllwild, Fern Valley, Mountain Center and Pine Cove share a commitment to the safety and welfare of all of their inhabitants, including support of the 蜜桃直播 campus. This coexistence and mutual appreciation for the arts, artists,
intellectuals, and entrepreneurs, surrounds the school with a support system uniquely adapted to its environs.

While students have the opportunity to explore the world outside within the safety of the mountain communities, they also have access to the protected forests on and off campus, that serve as a retreat and source of renewal for mind, body and spirit. 蜜桃直播 embodies the coming together of these essential resources that grow the creative artist inside and out.

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Director of Health Services

I knew that 蜜桃直播 was special from the first moment I arrived here in August of 2019. At the time, I was just a mom bringing one of my own aspiring artist children to campus to begin his journey as an 蜜桃直播 dancer. After parent meetings and unpacking a carload of belongings into his dorm room, I stopped at the Health Center out of mere curiosity. With 20 years of nursing experience, many of them with teens and in community and school health, I was curious about what the campus health center offered for students. I was welcomed and offered a brief tour, and I loved the warmth it offered students. Then I went back home to Texas, leaving my 15-year-old here to grow as a dancer and as a person without me by his side.

I could not get the school out of my mind. I wanted my son to have every opportunity as a boarding student here on his own, but I couldn鈥檛 stop thinking about what it would be like to work at 蜜桃直播. By November, I had applied for a position. My daughter would also be attending the following year, and my husband and I wanted me to be closer to our kids in California. COVID hit and delayed my initial start date by several months, but by Arrival Day in the fall of 2020, I was here with both my children.

From that first Arrival Day, and every arrival day since, it stood out to me that students were so happy to return to this place after being away. It amazed and impressed me that any teenager was that excited to return to school after a vacation or break, but it was true. Students could not wait to get back to the mountain. The joy and energy with which they greeted each other (and the staff) was palpable and remains a testament to the uniqueness of this place for me.

This is now my fourth school year working in the Health Center at 蜜桃直播 and my daughter is getting ready to graduate, two years after her brother. As a parent, I can attest to the ongoing benefits for my children in attending the healthiest, most nurturing, and well-balanced dance program I have ever seen, combined with academics that challenged them to think differently and creatively. They flourished and grew while living in dorms, learning how to share space with roommates, do their laundry, advocate for themselves, manage their time, and develop diverse friendships with students from around the globe. They developed identities and friendships of their own choices and began learning who they are and what they stand for, an 蜜桃直播 motto.

I plan to continue my work here as Health Center Director after my daughter graduates in May. I love what I do, even on the hard days. The Health Center team is incredible, and I truly love my job. My colleagues, at every level, and in every department, are inspirational and the work we do here is important. 蜜桃直播 has the best students in the world. I am proud to be a part of their lives for even a short time during their journey. I hope they grow up to remember the Health Center here not only as a place to go when they are ill or injured but also as a place where they were radically loved and accepted.

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Humanities Chair

When I ask myself, Why Idyllwild? two phrases come to mind. First, 鈥淩emember who you are and what you stand for,鈥� the words we chant as a community at the close of each week; and second, this invocation in our school song, written by Meredith Wilson: 鈥渕ake us worthy of this land thou hast chosen to bless.鈥� To me, Idyllwild, and the worthiness to live and work here, are synonymous with service to creative spirit and service to the community鈥攐ur tiny community and that of the world. Artists hold a crucial role in the making and remaking of human culture, in expressing the value and purpose of the human mind in uncertain times and in an uncertain universe. In Idyllwild, the mountain keeps us grounded, reminds us to approach art and life with wisdom, compassion, and intention.

Who am I? I鈥檝e known I wanted to be a teacher since the third grade, and I knew I wanted to teach at 蜜桃直播 probably about an hour into my first class here as a high school junior. An Idyllwild native, I was fortunate to grow up on the mountain because my artist parents decided the city was no place to raise kids, and this campus quickly became a second home. From my first 鈥渁ll-school meeting鈥� during ISOMATA鈥檚 summer camp to the hours I spent watching my dad plant trees along Apela drive and install the first computers on campus, I could feel the magic of this place and knew that important things happened here. When I joined the Creative Writing Department, after two years of public high school, I felt for the first time that I had found my people鈥攁 community that would support me in becoming fully myself鈥攁nd I knew I wanted to continue co-creating this space for other young artists.

What do I stand for, then? First and foremost, my students. Though I may occasionally call myself a writer or a bookmaker, the young people with whom I exchange daily knowledge and laughter, in my attempts to impart some useful skills for their futures, are my greatest works of art and the greatest acts of service I can give to the world. I am most fully myself when I see them thrive, and the eternal drive we share to make ourselves worthy inhabitants of the land, as we aim to become worthy stewards of humanity, is the most hope I have that a more just and beautiful world is possible.

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Mathematics and Science Chair

I have taught students science at eleven different institutions over thirty-three years, with the last twenty-two at private high schools, the last sixteen at boarding schools, and the last six at 蜜桃直播. IAA is a place like no other.

What distinguishes the students of Idyllwild is their passion for creation. They are not the bored or jaded students I have had elsewhere, young people who would struggle to identify anything in their lives that they care about deeply. Idyllwild students recognize the amazing opportunities they have, and want to be here, despite the equally amazing work loads. Many of them found the school themselves and then had to sell their parents on the idea. Few of the eighty-some students I have each year are considering a career in science, and fewer still will become biologists, but all of them know that they need to pass my class to remain here – and being at the school, with the chance to make their art surrounded by supportive peers and inspirational mentors, is sufficient motivation for them to pass my class. On their worst day, they recognize the necessity of completing Biology to remain in the place they love. At their best, they are incredibly eager and enthusiastic for what they are learning in my class. They are simply easier to teach, and more grateful for what they learn, than any other high school students I have taught. Nowhere else have I had so many students spontaneously thank me at the end of each class.

For me personally, living in a forest on a mountaintop is idyllic. It does my soul good to see the rabbits and quail every day, the deer and bobcat and coyotes on occasion. Having trained as a field biologist in the world鈥檚 largest wetlands, I thought that I would have to give up living in such close contact with nature when I left research for teaching. My first high school job entailed a 90-minute commute, each way, through a crowded and smoggy city. In Idyllwild I walk to my class in seven minutes, and along the way I breathe the pine-scented air and know that the abundant lichen is proof of its lack of pollution. I hear the rush of Strawberry Creek on my way to my classroom in the morning and the calls of the frogs and owls on my way home at night. I sample the occasional manzanita berry along the trail when I need a tart pick-me-up. Walking in the fog, I hear the collected dew pattering off the leaves overhead. The crunch of the snow in winter and the bearableness of the summer heat when the desert floor below is baking. The amber or rose afternoon glow on the white San Jacinto peaks above the school. Now, there are certainly plenty of students who find this place to be an unbearable wilderness in the middle of nowhere, but at the very least those who have never experienced nature before will come to know this about themselves and others will discover only after they leave how much they miss it.

I鈥檝e been at schools where the students had to stand up when a teacher entered the room, schools with uniforms, schools where part of my job was telling young people to tuck in their shirts or take off their hats indoors, schools where students were required to address me as 鈥淒r. Wackford鈥�. Here they call me 鈥淜irt鈥� and they are told to explore their dreams and to remember who they are. My days are marked by kindness, and by the concerns of a community of artists. When illness strikes, dorm parents offer to cover one another鈥檚 shifts and students bring back food from the dining hall for their friends. Prefects keep track of their podlings, and let dorm parents know when something seems off. Students can cry alone in their rooms, but if they cry outside they are soon joined by others, sitting silently in sympathy or murmuring soothing words. Students collaborate – filming each other鈥檚 dance performances, directing each other鈥檚 plays, attending each other’s recitals, and, when necessary, sitting in the awesome responsibility of deciding each other’s judicials. This isn鈥檛 paradise; there is no panacea for the indiscretions of youth, the pain of adolescence, or the scourge of social media. But if we can鈥檛 make a community of caring here, in an enclave of artists, where can we? And if we are making a community of compassion here, among such a diverse population and across all the bounds of nationality, religion, and gender expression, where can鈥檛 we? This, for me, is why Idyllwild.

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Last week we learned of the passing of our dear friend and Lifetime Trustee, Lillian Pierson Lovelace. Lillian and her husband Jon (previously deceased) fell in love with the magic of Idyllwild 鈥� its place, its people, and its purpose 鈥� and remained stalwarts of 蜜桃直播 throughout their lives.

The Lovelace family entrusted聽three generations聽to 蜜桃直播 (formerly known as聽Idyllwild School of Music and the Arts听辞谤听ISOMATA), and Jon and Lillian鈥檚 children and grandchildren speak fondly of summers spent in Hummingbird Hollow, Elves Shelf, Fitzgerald Junior Players Theatre (JPT), and other magical places in the Children鈥檚 Center on IA鈥檚 campus. Lillian herself also took classes in the 蜜桃直播 Program including painting, drawing, charcoal, and enamel-making, to name just a few.

Lillian remained an active member of the Board of Trustees until 2020, when she was honored as a Lifetime Trustee, a designation bestowed to her alone in the school’s history. IAF Board Chair Jeff Dvorak remembers: 鈥淒uring our many years together as members of the Board, I was fortunate to witness Lillian鈥檚 savvy and strategic business leadership in action. She possessed keen observation skills and was able to synthesize information, draw enlightening conclusions, and quickly identify and focus on the most efficient path to achieve meaningful solutions, inspiring her peers along the way. She was truly an extraordinary person.鈥�

Lillian and Jon gave generously of themselves to the school, philanthropically supporting William M. Lowman Concert Hall (named in honor of 蜜桃直播 Foundation鈥檚 founding Head of School), Nelson Dining Hall, Krone Library & Museum, and Pierson Dormitory (named in honor of Lillian).

Jon and Lillian鈥檚 influence throughout Southern California represents excellence in the arts, and in 2014, 蜜桃直播 began awarding the聽Jon and Lillian Lovelace Outstanding Artist Award聽to an exemplary young artist in each year鈥檚 graduating class. Lillian once said: 鈥淭here鈥檚 something so rewarding about helping to contribute to learning of any kind, but it鈥檚 especially fun if it鈥檚 something you鈥檙e interested in and see someone learn and grow as they become adults. All the arts are so important for bringing our country and people together in a very healthy and fun way.鈥�

Founding Head of School William (Bill) Lowman recalled how 鈥渄evoted and generous鈥� Lillian Lovelace was. 鈥淗er deep and abiding belief in the value of the arts in American society and the key role that 蜜桃直播 would play sustained the mission of 蜜桃直播. I鈥檓 personally grateful, professionally grateful, and so thankful that they were in the orbit of ISOMATA supporters and stepped up to help 蜜桃直播 achieve its potential in the world of arts education.鈥�

The magnitude of Lillian Lovelace鈥檚 participation, contributions, and leadership will forever leave an indelible mark on 蜜桃直播 Foundation.听We will remember Lillian Pierson Lovelace during our annual Founders Day celebration in Idyllwild, California on June 22, 2024. Her life and love of 蜜桃直播 was and always will be important to the very fabric of our existence.

With loving fondness,

Pamela Jordan

President, 蜜桃直播 Foundation

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One of the highlights of this summer took place at the very beginning, in June: IA鈥檚 fifth annual trip to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Spearheaded by the NAAC鈥檚 Executive Director, Shaliyah Ben (Din茅), this trip brought arts education to the students of Red Cloud Indian School. The partnership between IA and Red Cloud Indian School was originally fostered by Marianne Kent-Stoll, IA鈥檚 prior Head of School.

This year, Shaliyah Ben, alongside IA faculty Abbie Bosworth (Chair of the InterArts Department) and Rachel Welch (Visual Arts Faculty), conducted a week-long, interdisciplinary arts workshop in which the students of Red Cloud Indian School saw their culture represented in art and had the chance to use art to celebrate it themselves.

A Play By and For the Oceti Sakowin

Ben, Bosworth, and Welch kicked off the week by bringing the students to see the Cornerstone Theatre Company鈥檚 production of Wicoun [wee-CHO], a play written by Larissa FastHorse (the first Native American woman playwright to have her work shown on Broadway鈥�).

FastHorse鈥檚 play, Wicoun (which translates to 鈥渨ay of life鈥�) is described as 鈥渁 new play with and about the Oceti Sakowin.鈥� The Oceti Sakowin Oyate [oh-CHEH-tee shaw-KOH-we oh-YAH-tay], or the People of Seven Council Fires, refers collectively to the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota people. From late May to early June, throughout the South Dakota communities and reservations that inspired it (). The play itself鈥�a comedy about superpowered Lakota teens鈥攁ddresses several contemporary issues facing these Indigenous communities while emphasizing the strength that can be found in heritage.

The play also celebrates the legacy of genderqueer identities in Indigenous culture through the journey of its protagonist, the female-presenting teenager 脕ya. As 脕ya seeks the strength to protect their family, they learn to embrace and express their innate gender identity. When 脕ya transitions, they become the super-powered Ah铆, a (someone with both a masculine and feminine spirit鈥攈ence, two spirits). It鈥檚 no coincidence that they become a superhero when they become their true self. In choosing to center a two-spirit character, FastHorse pays homage to the long-standing cultural significance of two-spirit people (or 鈥渢wo-spirits鈥�) in various Indigenous communities (read more , , and ).

For the students of Red Cloud Indian School, Larissa FastHorse鈥檚 writing and the Cornerstone Theatre Company鈥檚 work demonstrated how one can honor their culture and give back to their community through art. Meanwhile, the play itself鈥攚ith its emphasis on celebrating identity鈥攅xpressed a theme of combining the traditional with the contemporary while empowering the voices that have not had the chance to speak for themselves.

All of this made watching Wicoun the perfect start to IA鈥檚 arts education workshop with the Red Cloud students. As the week-long workshop progressed, Bosworth and Welch led the students in learning about different aspects of theatre and art, mixing tradition with the contemporary as they shared their unique voices.

Exploring Art and Honoring Culture

After watching Wicoun, the students of Red Cloud Indian School set out to create a production of their own. Throughout the week, Bosworth and Welch led the students in activities and exercises spanning several disciplines: theatre, creative writing, visual arts, and more; they did so with help from a teaching assistant and IA alumna Emilee Swalley (Oglala Lakota), an InterArts student of the Class of 2022.听

With guidance from Bosworth and Welch, the students ultimately brought their interdisciplinary work to life in an original play鈥�W贸wau艐艣ila: The Flower of the Amazon. 鈥淲贸wau艐艣ila鈥� [wo-WAHN-shee-luh] refers to the Lakota virtue of Compassion and Kindness.

The students took inspiration from FastHorse鈥檚 Wicoun as they structured their play and鈥攍ike FastHorse鈥攊ncorporated the Lakota language throughout the script and dialogue. As the students developed the plot and the conflict, they reflected on their personal experiences and the challenges their community has faced. 鈥淭hey were ready to connect their lives with art,鈥� said Bosworth.

Various theatre games helped students build the ensemble, creating an environment of trust, collaboration, and interconnectedness. Through exercises in role-play and improvisation, the students developed the story of their play and the characters within it; visual arts activities aided the process as they helped the students plan, visualize, and personally connect to the material. 

One exercise had the students pick an animal protector they would take with them if they went on a journey like the one in Wicoun. The students then made 3D models of their chosen animal protectors out of simple materials (as Welch says, 鈥淏utcher paper and tape can do anything鈥�) and could be seen carrying their protectors around; at the end of the week, every animal was eagerly taken home.

Putting it All Into Play (and Putting on a Play)

The students were eventually divided into two groups: actors and technicians. The actors joined Bosworth in various exercises to workshop and rehearse scenes for the play. Meanwhile, the technicians worked with Welch to finish backdrops, props, costumes, and the set: a floor-to-ceiling construction paper rainforest depicting the Amazon.听

Bosworth and Welch remember the moment when the two groups reunited: the technicians had just finished the set and the actors were seeing it for the first time. The excitement in the air was tangible as the students really saw their production coming together and appreciated everything they had accomplished so far.

The week culminated in a performance of W贸wau艐艣ila: The Flower of the Amazon for an audience of proud parents and family members. The production really showcased how much the students had learned during the week as the show exhibited the many different artistic disciplines that were involved in its making. Most importantly, the students walked away having had an incredible experience in using art to share their voices, tell their stories, and make an impact.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Ben, Bosworth, and Welch for extending IA鈥檚 impact by bringing such a valuable inter-arts experience to the students of Pine Ridge. We would also like to thank Red Cloud Indian School and everyone who made this collaborative workshop possible. 

Welch described it as a 鈥渢ransformative鈥� experience for both the students and the teachers: 鈥淭he whole time I was like, 鈥業 can鈥檛 believe I鈥檓 doing this, this is so amazing,鈥欌�� she said. Bosworth echoed her sentiments, saying, 鈥淚鈥檇 like to keep up the partnership鈥擨鈥檓 so grateful that I was able to be involved.鈥� Providing arts access to young creatives鈥攅specially those in historically disenfranchised communities鈥攃ontinually proves to be a meaningful experience for all.

Celebrate Native Arts with Us on Campus at 蜜桃直播

There are several upcoming opportunities to engage with Native Arts at IA in person. To learn more about IA鈥檚 Native American Arts Center (NAAC), please join us in person on Sunday, October 8th at 2 p.m. for a specially-catered engagement at Lowman Concert Hall, followed by a concert with NAMMY-winning Navajo pianist and composer Connor Chee. To learn more about the NAAC, click here.听

This all leads up to Indigenous People鈥檚 Day at IA. On October 9th, IA will host its annual Indigenous People鈥檚 Day celebration, complete with a full day of in-person arts and educational programming, all free and open to the public. The day鈥檚 events will feature performances, lectures, outdoor concerts, and Native foods, as well as several special guests, including (but not limited to) musician Keith Secola; hoop dancers Sky and Talon Duncan; artist Steven Paul Judd; filmmaker Ivey Camille Manybeads Tso; singer Tia Wood; and designer Bethany Yellowtail. 

Coming Soon: Michael Kabotie Lectures Premiere Online

With this November also comes the chance to experience (or revisit) this summer鈥檚 celebrated Lecture Series online. This lecture series partners with Indigenous creators to promote Native Art and highlight Native perspectives.

Each Wednesday in November at 7 pm PDT, a recording of one of this summer鈥檚 Michael Kabotie Lectures will debut online via . Check out the line-up below: 

• Nov. 8 – Still We Smile: Humor as Correction and Joy with artist and curator Meranda Roberts (Numu/Xicana). 
• Nov. 15 – An All Around Comedy and Cat Guy, A Conversation with Joey Clift (Cowlitz): comedian, TV writer, and cat guy. 
• Nov. 22 – Art that Makes You Laugh, Makes You Think, and Makes You Feel Pride with filmmaker, director, screenwriter, fiction writer, and visualist Steven Paul Judd (Kiowa/Choctaw). 
• Nov. 29 – Good Medicine Comedy with stand-up comedian, writer, actor, and producer Jackie Keliiaa (Yerington Paiute/Washoe/Native Hawaiian) and showrunner, screenwriter, filmmaker, and weaver Sierra Teller Ornelas (Navajo). 

These lectures all focus on the power of comedy, humor, and joy in Indigenous communities; all of the lecturers are working artists and creators who continuously promote these themes through their work while playfully rewriting some of the false preconceptions about Native American people. Save the dates, and To stay updated on upcoming events鈥攁nd see more of Native Arts at IA鈥攆ollow us on . You can also find us on TikTok, , and LinkedIn.

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, or The National High School Musical Theatre Awards (NHSMTA), were established in 2009 and have come to be known as the high school version of the Tony Awards, or 鈥渢he Tonys for teenagers.鈥� Their mission is 鈥渢o elevate the importance of theatre arts education in schools and reward excellence in student performance.鈥�

Andre鈥檚 Journey to the Jimmys

Andre鈥檚 journey began at the Lucie Arnaz Awards in Palm Springs, CA, a regional competition celebrating outstanding achievement in high school musical theatre throughout California鈥檚 Inland Empire (including the San Bernardino and Riverside counties).

This was one of 48 regional awards programs that took place this year, each sponsored by a professional theatre. Every year, these competitions involve over 140,000 high school students from across the country.

At the Lucie Arnaz Awards, IAA won Best Musical for its production of BAT BOY: The Musical, a rock musical and dark comedy that follows a half-bat, half-human boy trying to find acceptance in a town fraught with suspicion, secrets, and schemes. For his performance as the titular Bat Boy, Andre won the 2023 Lucie Arnaz Award for Best Actor. This made him a Jimmy Award nominee and won him fully-funded, round-trip travel to NYC.

Next stop: New York City, for Andre鈥檚 Broadway debut. When Andre arrived in NYC, he came face-to-face with his own headshot on a Jimmy Awards billboard in Times Square, and it only got better from there!聽

After an action-packed week of rehearsals, workshops, and masterclasses鈥攏ot to mention the fun of being a tourist鈥擜ndre performed in the Jimmy Awards ceremony alongside 95 other nominees from 31 different states. The fully sold-out, one-night-only program was held at the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway and consisted of ensemble numbers, showcase medleys, finalist solos, and (of course) the awards, hosted by Broadway star Corbin Bleu (whom you may recognize as Chad from the iconic High School Musical movies).

Awards and Applause

Among all the exceptionally talented young artists, Andre was selected by a panel of judges as one of only eight finalists, a distinction that earned him the incredible opportunity to perform a solo number to the full house. His outstanding performance of 鈥淚鈥檓 Alive鈥� from the musical, Next to Normal, can be viewed .

Of course, you can鈥檛 have an awards ceremony without the awards. On top of winning a $3,000 scholarship for being one of the eight finalists, Andre won the 鈥淪pirit of the Jimmys鈥� award and an additional $2,000 scholarship. is given to one nominee for 鈥渆mbodying the spirit of this musical theatre celebration,鈥� as voted by their peers in the competition. This year, the award was presented by the Disney Theatrical Group (which encompasses Disney on Broadway) and their president, Thomas Schumacher, a well-known theatrical producer. 

鈥淎ndre is one of those young artists that is very deserving of this honor because he is dedicated, talented, and just an amazing human being,鈥� said Denis McCourt Stryjewski, Chair of IAA鈥檚 Dramatic Arts Department. McCourt Stryjewski worked closely with Andre during the last school year, having directed Bat Boy: The Musical. 鈥淚鈥檓 not surprised his castmates in NYC selected him for the Spirit Award.鈥�

Why do the Jimmys matter?

The Jimmy Awards provide students with the opportunity to learn from theatre professionals, earn scholarships, and celebrate their achievements on a Broadway stage鈥攁n unforgettable experience. Moreover, many Jimmy Awards participants go on to have rewarding careers in the performing arts.

include Rene茅 Rapp, Ryan McCartan, Andrew Barth Feldman, Casey Likes, and two-time Tony Award-nominee Eva Noblezada. Sixteen Jimmy Awards alumni (including Likes and Noblezada) are currently performing on Broadway, with eight more currently performing on Broadway National Tour鈥攖here鈥檚 a reason

Andre has already determined to follow the same path, Broadway-bound. 鈥淕etting to meet talented artists made me remember why I do musical theatre,鈥� he said, reflecting on his experience at the Jimmy Awards. 鈥淚 had a glance at what it is like to be on Broadway, and I loved it. I will keep preparing so that when an opportunity comes, I will be ready.鈥�

Back to Broadway

It looks like that opportunity has already arrived鈥攊mpressed by his performance in the Jimmys, Broadway came calling and invited Andre back. On September 14th, Andre returned to NYC to take part in the development of a new musical, Waiting for Snow in Havana. 

The project is inspired by Carlos Eire鈥檚 memoir, Waiting for Snow in Havana: Confessions of a Cuban Boy, in which Eire recounts how his 鈥測outh鈥攚ith its lizards and turquoise seas and sun-drenched siestas鈥攂ecomes an island of condemnation once a cigar-smoking guerrilla named Fidel Castro ousts President Batista on January 1, 1959.鈥� Eire was 鈥渙ne of 14,000 children airlifted out of Havana鈥攅xiled from his family, his country, and his own childhood by Fidel Castro鈥檚 revolution鈥� (read the full synopsis of the memoir ). 

It looks like Andre鈥檚 career in the performing arts is off to a promising start鈥攚e can鈥檛 wait to see what he does next!

Standing Ovation

Everyone at 蜜桃直播 is incredibly proud of Andre for what he accomplished on the Minskoff stage and for all the hard work he has put in at IAA鈥攖he hard work that led him to Broadway.

Andre鈥檚 impressive journey to Broadway is a real-life example of the life-changing opportunities that students at 蜜桃直播 often experience. Learn more about the Theatre/Dramatic Arts program at 蜜桃直播 here. Stay connected! Follow us on , where you can see more highlights from Andre鈥檚 performance. You can also find us on TikTok, and LinkedIn.

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While the creativity was spilling out of the classrooms, laughter echoed through the San Jacinto Mountains (Cahuilla Land) as we invited community members from near and far for the Native American Arts Festival week, which centered around 鈥渃omedy and humor in Indigenous expression.鈥� This was a welcome theme after the past few difficult years, and demonstrated how humor is an important tool to help heal within while also coping with and accepting new realities. The engaging programming inspired internal reflection and laughter while also igniting important conversations about topics that shape Indigenous communities. Scientific, intuitive, and trickster voices came together for a balanced and provocative learning experience:

We are grateful to our outstanding contributing artists, teachers, and presenters, and to everyone who joined us on campus for this truly unique experience. Please save the dates for our next upcoming Native American Arts Center programs:

• A series of online premieres each Wednesday of September, featuring the video recordings from this year鈥檚 Michael Kabotie Lecture Series, for those who missed it
• Indigenous Peoples Day on October 9th, which will offer a full day of arts and educational programming, free and open to the public

Details will be added to our聽event calendar聽and shared via our email newsletter (sign up聽) and social media channels (,听, and聽).

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Paul studied East Asian languages at Columbia University, then went on to study Fine Art in Rome before moving to Wilmington, North Carolina for a writing MFA program. In his second year, he was encouraged to apply to the prestigious Iowa Writers鈥� Workshop. He was accepted, and the opportunity to develop his craft alongside some of the best writers in the world left him feeling accomplished and ready to start his writing career when he graduated in 2016.

A summer retreat in Wyoming and a fellowship in Santa Fe helped him begin his debut novel, 鈥淏indi,鈥� which was published by Little, Brown and Company in 2018. Paul鈥檚 passion for teaching high school-aged students began later that year, when he started working with disadvantaged and depressed youth using yoga-based mindfulness practices. He went on to work with a research program at UCSF, which uses MRI technology to measure the changes in the brain before and after these 12-week mindfulness courses.

When he was chosen for a Writer-in-Residence position at 蜜桃直播 last year, Paul鈥檚 many interests converged. He was already familiar with the institution through family connections; his stepmother attended the 蜜桃直播 Program for Theatre 55 years ago. In his new role, Paul is eager to bring more mindfulness to 蜜桃直播, claiming that 鈥渨riting is a cousin to meditation.鈥� His teaching philosophy centers around helping students make sense of a challenging and chaotic world by developing healthy relationships鈥揵oth with others, and with their own inner thoughts.

From a practical point of view, Paul aims to make our young writers into better readers. 鈥淲e practice close reading. We sit together and read stories. An important course I teach is Literature and the Writer, in which students learn to apply their own experiences and to expand their horizons by writing about more than themselves. I give them tools and space.鈥� He thinks that creating plot and character comes back to being meditative. 鈥淢y characters lead me. If I try to project myself onto them, I know I will have problems.鈥�

With 鈥淭he Writer鈥檚 Life鈥� series, launched this semester, Paul aims to bring another tangible benefit to 蜜桃直播鈥檚 writing students. This ongoing series of masterclasses and readings from guest artists will give students the opportunity to learn from renowned professional writers in the industry. Guest writers so far have included , , , and , and next week will feature (with a public reading on Friday, April 7th at 7:00pm, also available by livestream ).

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In his previous position of Vice Provost for Academic and Artistic Education at Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan, Jason restructured all student academic support including academic and college counseling, created the student advisory program, and led an academic and artistic program review. He also formed a school counseling program and redesigned community gatherings to address SEL (Social & Emotional Learning) needs and emerging COVID effects on student mental health. Prior to joining Interlochen Center for the Arts, he served in various roles at Episcopal High School in Baton Rouge, LA, including Associate Head of School, Arts Director, and Arts Department Chair/Director of Choral Activities. Jason holds a Graduate Certificate in School Administration and Supervision from Johns Hopkins University, a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from The University of Oklahoma, and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Pittsburg State University. He is originally from rural Kansas.

While he plays many different instruments from strings to horn, Jason is a trained vocalist and ultimately found his joy in choral directing. 鈥淚t really taught me a lot about how to bring folks together, and that is where my calling is,鈥� he muses. Indeed, Jason has a special talent for building community and consensus; he considers this 鈥渟uperpower鈥� as integral to his leadership philosophy, and fully intends to implement this approach to arts education in his new role.

鈥淚t’s not just about the performance鈥� It’s also about the process. It’s all about the idea that we’ve come together, that we understand each other, and that we’re doing this thing together,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 really believe in broad artistic education on top of specific artistic education, because both should be accessible. A cellist may benefit from a curriculum that allows them to take a visual art class. Empathy and collaboration are key,鈥� he says. 鈥淟ook at Jazz players!鈥� He expresses a belief that all artists should consider empathy, flexibility and trust鈥搒kills fundamental to jazz鈥揳nd incorporate them into their individual practice. 鈥淧art of art is service: service to your community, service to each other, and ultimately, service to humanity.鈥�

Jason Hallowbard is thrilled to join 蜜桃直播, a place where he sees profound potential. 鈥淎nything can happen here!鈥� he says. 鈥淲e are smaller and more intentional than many other places. We have a moment to bring everyone in. Everybody has their own path and we should celebrate it all. The art world is exploding with new ideas, and we have the chance to plug students into this incredible frontier.鈥�

All of us at 蜜桃直播 enthusiastically welcome Jason Hallowbard and look forward to continuing the adventure toward that frontier under his leadership.

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