In a darkened Stewart Lobby, Upper School students basked in the spotlight, performing original monologues and comedy sketches, Broadway songs and instrumental music that showcased their wide range of talents.

The lobby became a theatre in the round, as students expressed their creative talents and soaked in the applause from an appreciative audience that turned out May 6 for the Arts Showcase, an annual celebration of the visual and performing arts.

Before the lights were dimmed, the walls of the Upper School glowed with a gallery of studio arts and photography as students displayed and discussed favorite pieces they had created over their high school years. The exhibits included the senior studio arts students’ watercolors, pen and ink drawings and charcoal self-drawings, as well as junior and senior displays of surrealistic and portrait photography, to name just a few.

Senior Evan Prakhin, who stood next to his gallery of work, was happy to talk about the finer points of art, and what he had learned since he first became interested in drawing when he was 6 years old.

He said he had learned to use darker darks and bright whites to create sharper contrast. “The art looks nicer when you are bold,” he said.

The second half of the night belonged to the performing arts, and the crowd assembled in the lobby for the entertainment — a dozen performances and two short films.

Among the highlights: Senior Joshua Diamond’s improv, after performing a classical scene from “Macbeth,” first with an Aussie accent and then as Donald Trump; senior Matt Norden capturing the crowd with his energized performance of an original song, “Womanizer,” and junior Jordan Smelcer, becoming an over-the-top camp counselor in an SNL-type comedy sketch.

As the laughter died down, quiet reflection rose up with senior Lucy Silbaugh on cello and sophomore Morgann Thain on violin, performing a selection from Bach. The beauty of their music offered yet another example of the wide spectrum of talent among the Upper School students.

For a gallery of photos from the night, visit here.