Brooklyn tradition turns 70, SING celebrates a milestone year
One of Brooklyn’s most enduring educational and cultural traditions has just reached its 70th anniversary. SING, the annual high school theatrical performance that consists of student-developed theater, music, dance, art and costuming, was recently performed for the 70th time at Midwood High School, where it all began. Held at Midwood during the second weekend of February, the Senior team won with their show called “Prom Night of the Living Dead.”
SING was also recently staged at other area high schools: at Edward R. Murrow High School it was held the first weekend of February and the Junior-Sophomore team won with their show called “The Thief.” James Madison High School’s recent SING production winners were the junior-freshman team. FDR High School recently staged a one-night version of sing, which was run by the English Department. John Dewey High School did SING for the first time this year, aided by a grant given to the Department of Education by singer Taylor Swift, and the Sophomore-Junior team won. Leon Goldstein also has its SING each year.
SING is still wildly popular at Midwood, as well as at a handful of other schools in Brooklyn, Staten Island and Queens, but was more widespread (especially in Brooklyn) in past decades. Is its heyday now past? Will it be revived at more schools?