October 2024 Falcon Wings

FWCD’s Parent Faculty Association awarded Sarah Blan, Upper School Librarian, and Eric Tysinger, Technical Theatre Director, with the October Falcon Wings honor. Falcon Wings recognize PFA volunteers, FWCD teachers or staff who soar above and beyond the call of duty to enhance PFA programs or events or have improved the greater FWCD community through their dedication and enthusiasm. Designing Broadway by Derek McLane and Eila Mell and Eliza Hamilton by Tilar J. Mazzeo were donated to the Lower School library in their honor.

Carrie Naylor McPadden, PFA Falcon Wings Chair, shared the following announcement at the October 21 PFA meeting:

The two Falcon Wings recipients executed an amazing summer reading experience for our Upper School students. There is a Summer Reading Committee that includes representatives from all academic departments, the arts and athletics that gives input about the Universal Book for each year. Blan was responsible for putting together the remarkable compilation of lyrics, videos, and primary source documents that comprised our print and online ‘book.’ She scoured numerous websites, including the Gilder Lehrman Institute, which runs EduHam – an educational site devoted to all things Hamilton the musical. This book is a remarkable compilation most schools would be envious to have. She also organized the break-out sessions for the day of discussions and indulged particular faculty interests in the musical. 

Tysinger was responsible for getting us the libretto – the lyrics themselves, which are available online, but not in book format and likely won't be for a few more years. [In 2018, Eric joined the national tour of Broadway's Hamilton (Angelica Tour) as Stage Manager for 14 months.] He reached out to his contacts, and they gave consent for us to use the libretto for educational purposes. Sarah matched the lyrics in the libretto to videos, primary source documents, newspaper articles, and other writings about the musical and formatted the entire document. Then, Eric brought in the choreographer from Hamilton, who was an absolute delight and a phenomenal speaker and entertainer. FWCD’s desire to do Hamilton as our Universal Book would not have become a reality without his contacts who still work with the musical.