A First: Revue Showcased Cultural Highlights from the Upper School

“We pooled all our resources—with discipline and, above all, with passion.” Over the course of two days, 160 participants from the fields of theater, visual arts, and music captivated the audience in the packed Forum. The results of Steinmühlen’s work in the arts were presented as a “revue” in a joint performance—a format that had never been done before.
Culture suffered particularly during the pandemic. Many rehearsals had to be canceled or took place under difficult conditions. Events with an audience were out of the question. Yet there were so many things shaping the students’ thoughts: the war in Ukraine, the climate activists’ protests, life at school, personal matters, and their own love lives. But where could these topics be heard?
Daniel Sans is the cultural coordinator at Steinmühle. “I see it as my job to bring all cultural areas together and, in doing so, create a platform for everyone.” An initiative was launched to offer the entire upper school a performance opportunity where everyone could showcase their talents.
Sans envisioned a loose sequence of acts, including drama, singing, music, acrobatics, and magic. “I sought out the leaders of these departments,” he recalls, “and they, in turn, engaged with the student body.” From this collaboration emerged topics that resonate with young people. The working title “Revue” was born.

Working in small groups, high school students brainstormed and compiled topics. They rehearsed plays, created many art pieces, developed a music quiz, and compiled songs that fit the overarching theme. That overarching theme—which was also the title of the event—was spot-on and couldn’t have been better: “The World and Me—Me and the World.”
In addition to the challenging rehearsals, the big rehearsal weekend with 160 participants, and the dedication required of everyone involved, practical help—such as designing posters and tickets—was also essential. Artistically designed by art teacher Heike Rabben-Martin, known as Rado, the tickets, when distributed at the school office, indicated that a larger audience was expected. The revue was to be free of charge; the process was simply intended to provide an overview of how many audience members to expect.

The result of all these efforts was art and entertainment at its very finest. Great acting talent came to the fore, and the performers connected brilliantly with the audience, who were soon captivated. The segments where the audience was invited to test their dancing skills were particularly lighthearted, and the way the show seamlessly shifted between serious topics and humorous segments was especially impressive. Kudos to the director!

Many teachers and a wide range of Steinmühlen equipment were involved in the preparation and presentation of the event. In order of appearance, the audience enjoyed Melisande Lauginiger’s DS class performance, “DS 13 Has More Than Meets the Eye”; solo artists Laura Salvati (violin) and Iliya Zand (piano); the “World Music Quiz” by Ulrike Wilmsmeyer’s 12th-grade music class, the performance by tenor Félix Müller—which was met with a standing ovation—Ines Vielhaben’s 11th-grade DS class with “Ich will mich sein wie Ihr,” and the upper-level choir conducted by Daniel Sans. Olaf Roth and the 11th-grade music class presented new material with the band “One World.” In the foyer, Ines Vielhaben and the Q1 advanced course displayed figures from the “All Welcome” cultural installation.

It goes without saying that the evening, with its rotating emcees, could not have taken place without the support of members of the school community, but it is still worth mentioning. Special mention goes to Frank Wemme, who is not only the head of the lower secondary school but also well-versed in music and organization, as well as Anna Prokop, a new permanent member of the faculty. Reliable technical support from “Sound & Light,” led by Matthäus Otte, along with assistance from the custodians, ensured the right conditions for everyone to enjoy the evening. “The fact that the school administration supported us and made time available was, of course, the foundation for everything,” Daniel Sans recalls.
“It’s an experiment,” the cultural affairs representative had said in the run-up to the performance, adding that if it was a success, they were considering doing it again. From the perspective of the enthusiastic audience, which demanded an encore, the decision has been made.