Community Play
The annual SSFS Community Play is a rich opportunity for students, parents, faculty, staff, alums, trustees, and others who are closely tied to the school community to enjoy working together to produce a play or musical. Started in 1994 by then-Upper School Arts teacher Bruce Evans, the Community Play is recognized as a signature extracurricular program. It delivers a quality theater experience that is both entertaining and educational for both participants and audience.
The Community Play at Sandy Spring Friends School (SSFS) has been a beloved tradition for more than 20 years, bringing together the entire community to create an enriching theater experience. This tradition, rooted in the creative vision of former drama faculty member Bruce Evans, began in 1996 with To Kill a Mockingbird. Since then, it has provided a platform for students, parents, faculty, alumni, and more to work, grow, and perform together—while simultaneously immersing in meaningful pieces of literature.
Over the years, the play has featured dynamic themes and topics that honor SSFS's diverse community. Some productions have highlighted small-cast shows and original productions, aiming to deliver impactful narratives to a mature audience. For example, Foxfire (2000) explored the trials of urban development and land ownership, Clybourne Park (2006) tackled issues such as racism and gentrification, and Seed Corn (2019) captivated audiences with its original script.
In other instances, the production featured a large ensemble designed to engage and entertain audience members of all ages. Productions like Fiddler on the Roof (2014) and The Sound of Music (2018) featured students of every age, as well as parents, alums, and friends of the School, creating a vibrant, inclusive experience for all.
The 2024 production, Metamorphoses by Mary Zimmerman, engaged audiences with stories derived from Ancient Rome and a focus on the theme of change.The Community Play continues to be a cornerstone of our school's cultural and artistic expression, fostering collaboration and a shared love of theater across generations.
SSFS Speaks...about the Community Play
"Playful performing arts traditions have long been essential characteristics of our evolving SSFS culture since the school's founding, from the Gilbert and Sullivan operettas featuring our earliest alums, to the Community Plays of recent years, and beyond. I think that the participatory spirit of a community that explores its shared values—in our case, the SPICES—can be meaningfully felt and passionately cultivated through the arts."
“I worked a little in professional theatre, but I have to say, I really love the Community Play. I love how everyone comes together and brings their different talents. I like having people of all different age groups, and I love seeing the kids’ eyes grow wide at the first read-through when they hear the adult actors perform.”
“As an early childhood educator, I know that the elementary years are incredibly formative. Certain skills and habits are easier to establish when you’re younger. In the Lower School at SSFS, they intentionally teach kindness and stewardship of people and the environment. You want to make sure you get it right in the early years—here at SSFS, they get it so right.”