As this year’s graduating class completes their last year of high school, many of them are not just leaving Pinewood, but the Pinewood Performing Arts community as well. 

Mia Gustavson joined the PPA as a freshman, although her acting career started earlier when she performed in several Lower Campus and Middle Campus productions. Her productions throughout high school include “Mary Poppins,” “Mr. Burns,” “Matilda,” and most recently “Alice by Heart.” Gustavson has also been a part of the Pinewood choir since her freshman year and part of Take Note since her sophomore year. Being a part of the PPA has helped Gustavson feel more confident and empowered.

“It’s such a cool community, more than just a community,” Gustavson said. “We’re all so close by the end of [the show] and spending so much time with each other. Finding a community that you like, also just the value of doing what you love because that’s what’s going to make you happy.” 

Leo Gray has also been in the PPA since his freshman year, participating in shows such as “Puffs,” “Argonautica,” “Matilda,” and “Alice by Heart.” He has also been a part of Pinewood Singers and joined Take Note this year. 

“I’ve had a very diverse theater experience, being in plays and musicals and contemporary works and just a lot of different stuff,” Gray said.

Caroline Blotter has been a part of the PPA since her junior year when she was in Pinewood Singers and was a guest singer for Take Note. This year, she decided to join the spring musical, “Alice by Heart”, making her debut as the Queen of Hearts and the Red Cross Nurse. 

During her experience, she enjoyed the Take Note competitions and trips they all took, since they bonded throughout those trips. 

“I really loved Take Note and going to the competitions because it’s just a whole trip where we get to bond with each other and just have fun singing songs and making cool harmonies together,” Blotter said. 

Being a part of the PPA has also helped Blotter with her confidence. 

“It’s made me a lot more comfortable just being myself and not worrying about what other people think of me,” Blotter said. “And it’s given me an opportunity to express myself and express my interests freely.”

Josephine Tu has been a part of the PPA since her sophomore year, when she joined Take Note. She is also playing the cello for “Alice by Heart” this year. Throughout Tu’s experience, the teachers and her peers have made it very special for her. 

“I would say the people in PPA are really what make it special to me,” Tu said. “The teachers [are] all really supportive, but also everyone in choir and on trips, especially, you get to know people and it’s really fun.”

This supportive environment has helped Tu be more confident in herself and show more of who she is.

“I struggle with performance anxiety and to put myself out there, so being a part of the PPA really let me come out and show more and realize that in a supportive environment like Pinewood, it’s OK to have fun onstage,” Tu said.