Pomona College quietly retired two of most popular songs — “Hail, Pomona, Hail!” in 2008 and “Torchbearers” in 2015 — due to their roots in Blackface minstrelsy and cultural appropriation. While Pomona’s website acknowledges these histories, Zena Ameida-Warwin PO ’28 critiques the College’s choice to remove the songs without engaging the community in any meaningful public dialogue.
Tag: Musical
‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’ delivers a spellbinding performance
From April 10 to April 13, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” premiered at Pomona College’s Seaver Theatre. Based on the Broadway production of the same name, the musical tells the hilarious yet heartfelt stories of six quirky contestants who enter the titular spelling competition where only one can emerge victorious.
‘Finding hope through music’: ‘Reason to Be’ musical debuts at 5Cs
Devon Tao HM ’25 first began writing songs about climate change as a final project for a music class. These songs eventually formed the backdrop for their original musical “Reason to Be,” which opened at Seaver Large Studio on March 27 and ran through the weekend.
We are all ‘Anon(ymous)’: The power of representation in Pomona’s final show of the semester
Blue light rippled across a pile of clothes, creating ocean waves on the stage of Pomona College’s Seaver Theater. Anon(ymous), a play directed by Sylvia Cervantes Blush, ran for six shows from November 16 to 18 on the mainstage at Seaver Theater. Adapted from Homer’s “The Odyssey”, it tells the story of a refugee finding his way back to his mom after they were separated by a storm during the journey to the United States.
Original student-made musical ‘It Takes Time’ tells pandemic stories of growth, hope
A mother and daughter united, supporting their family. A kindergarten teacher learning to teach without a classroom and make friends without leaving his house. A couple planning a wedding without a guarantee that guests will be able to make it.
These interweaving pandemic stories coalesced in the student-produced musical “It Takes Time,” which played at Pomona College’s Seaver Large Studio from April 21 through April 23.
Front of house: ‘Tick, Tick… Boom!’ is a spellbinding love letter to many mediums
“Tick, Tick… Boom!” is more than just a film adaptation of a musical, writes Caelan Reeves CM ’24.
‘Corona Cutie’ pokes fun at quarantine dating with sardonic musical numbers, campy costumes
“Corona Cutie,” a musical written by Lucy Geller PO ’21, entertained audiences with virtual screenings from April 23 to 25.
‘The Addams Family’ to spook the 5Cs this weekend
Streaming May 1-3, the full scale, virtual spring production of “The Addams Family” musical brings spooky, spirited fun to the 5Cs.
Regularly scheduled programming: ‘High School Musical: The Musical: The Series’ is ‘Glee’ meets ‘The Office’
TV columnist Claire DuMont SC ’23 reviews spin-off “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” and its portrayal of high school theater. “‘High School Musical: The Musical: The Series’ also thrives in its ability to find the balance between making fun of high schoolers and taking itself seriously,” she writes.
Q&A: ‘Pippin’ cast members talk hip-hop anime take on classic musical
The Claremont Colleges’ production of “Pippin,” directed by Tim Dang, takes a classic musical production about a young man who tries to find meaning in his life and adds an anime hip-hop twist.