Vol. CXXXII · July 10, 2026
On Friday, May 29, students gathered in Straus Library for Beatstock, an annual event celebrating the culmination of the three Magus Mabus boards’ work: music, art, and literature. Unlike Beatnik, Beatstock is traditionally performed on the Quad rather than in Straus.
From Thursday, May 14 to Saturday, May 16, 2026, student performers put on a vibrant performance of Wicked Sketchy, the annual sketch comedy performance held in King Theater. This year’s production—a program of 12 individual sketches by a cast of sixteen students—left members of the community hungry for more. The show has developed a reputation for finding humor in the things students and teachers love and care about, and this year was no different.
When I came to school on May 15, I was surprised by how tired everyone around me looked. People drifted in silence, AirPods in, eyes half-open, as if they had stayed up far too early the night before. Many of them, I learned, had. The night before, popular Canadian music artist Aubrey Drake Graham, better known as Drake, released not just one but three separate albums: Iceman, Habibti, and Maid of Honour. Many of my classmates had stayed up until midnight to listen to the songs.
Launching on May 1, 2026, The Devil Wears Prada 2 debuted in theaters with enormous anticipation and equally fierce criticism. With a current audience rating of 6.8/10 on Internet Movie Database (IMDb), this sequel to The Devil Wears Prada has been a massive box office hit, opening at $76 million domestically and grossing $430 million in its first twelve days in release. Twenty years ago, the original movie became a worldwide blockbuster, shaping fashion trends and redefining the fashion industry for an entire generation. Yet two decades later, despite the seemingly successful financials and audience expectations hoping to relive that magic, many left feeling conflicted, anxious, and disappointed.
As the end of Milton’s performing arts season nears, The Humans, the last of the 1212 plays for the year, took place in the Black Box Theater from April 30 to May 2. The Humans, written by Stephen Karam, follows a modern-day family gathering for Thanksgiving while also offering a look into the family’s individual and collective struggles. The production was directed by Shane Fuller and featured a six-person cast consisting of Lyla Tanzi ’26, Davey Glazer ’28, Vivienne Mockenhaupt ’27, Phoebe Zhang ’26, Nora Jin ’28, and Arsen Shymon ’27. As a 1212 play, a series of productions named for their previous location in Warren 1212, The Humans had a very different style compared to many other Milton Academy productions, both in scale and in material. While The Humans’ setting, a family dinner, is definitely less grand compared to those of other productions this year such as Hadestown or Clue, it provides a much-needed change and voice in Milton Academy’s performing arts, one that reflects our own everyday lives.
During the pandemic, Noah Kahan broke the charts with his album, Stick Season. It debuted at number fourteen on the Billboard 200 and helped him earn his first Grammy as Best New Artist. He gained commercial success, appearing on Saturday Night Live, and even having a documentary made about him this year. What made this avant-folk songwriter so alluring to many was the effortless blend of his intricate lyricism and the melancholic melodies of his acoustic guitar. His breakout album reached a wider audience beyond his hometown of New England; this year, the country was introduced to his highly anticipated first album following his rise to success, The Great Divide.
The 2026 Met Gala, hosted by the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4 in New York City, sparked widespread debate over elitism, the blurred boundaries between fashion and art, and the growing presence of high street brands on one of fashion’s most exclusive stages. Every year, the Met Gala dominates social media; celebrities, influencers, and billionaires wear outfits meant to be extravagant, artistic, shocking, and memorable. Even people who often don’t pay attention to fashion still end up encompassed by the Met Gala’s lure.
On Friday, May 8, the annual Student Film Showcase, held in Greeley Auditorium and featuring fourteen students’ films across a wide range of genres, showcased the dedication of the filmmakers, actors, and faculty involved. Performing and Visual Arts Teacher Shane Fuller created the festival about fifteen years ago, shortly after his arrival, to showcase his students’ work. Although the event has evolved, Fuller has had a concrete vision for the event since its inception. He hopes that filmmakers will feel the “joy of … see[ing] … other people watching their work” and of “getting … [an] audience response.” He also wants community members to “see some creative and interesting ideas brought to life … [and for the event to] create some excitement around [the Milton] film program.”
After a ten-year hiatus, the GOAT of love ballads has struck again with a solo studio album. But did he strike out? From the beginning of his relatively short album, Bruno Mars captures a highly Latin, Chicano sound, with trumpets and salsa rhythms in “Risk It All.” The album’s overall sound is not much like the 2010s “Bruno” sound we were anticipating. I remember Bruno Mars as a staple of my childhood, but after ten years, his sound has definitely changed—for better or for worse. Particularly, some songs sound very neo-soul and slow jam, much like his highly popular song “After Last Night,” featuring Anderson Paak. As usual, Mars’ vocals are on point and emotional, making the songs feel very polished. The happiness is overwhelming in this album–very cheerful and triumphant. But I wonder what his listeners truly expected. Did they want his “It Will Rain,” “Grenade,” “Locked Out of Heaven” style, yearnful music that marked Bruno Mars’ peak? Though The Romantic’s songs are somewhat nostalgic and reminiscent of the 2010s, Mars hasn’t quite matched his music from this earlier era.
Robert “Bo” Burnham is no ordinary guy. In fact, he’s probably one of the most talented people this world has seen. An actor, stand-up comedian, musician, director, and so much more, Burnham is one of the most prolific Bohemians of the modern era. His story is an interesting one too, with his comedic journey having started over 16 years ago, when he posted short, comedic songs about various topics and often made fun of how ridiculous some aspects of life were. In early YouTube, he was a massive success, with his channel quickly becoming one of the most popular on the platform and his videos receiving hundreds of thousands of views, numbers that were unheard of on the site at the time. He was so successful that he eventually started to go on tour, performing stand up comedy in front of a live audience and creating various songs in his unique style.
On Tuesday, April 14, Milton held its biennial Culturefest, a half-day event that unfolded in several parts. Students attended morning classes before transitioning into two assigned workshops chosen from fourteen different options, each led by students and centered on cultural learning. After the workshops, the entire school gathered for a series of performances, followed by food stalls where students shared traditional dishes.
On April 10, the community gathered for Spring Beatnik in Straus Library. The night featured 23 unique student performances and was the last Beatnik of the academic year.
The 98th Academy Awards, or the Oscars, hosted by American comedian and television host Conan O’Brian, took place on March 15th, 2026. The Oscars recognize some of the best films released in the last year, serving as a reflection of Hollywood and the greater film industry throughout 2025. This year, the Oscars gave out awards in 24 categories recognizing multiple facets of filmmaking with awards ranging from Best Actor to Best Production Design, and even Best Costume Design. Some of the most anticipated awards of the night this year were dominated by Sinners and One Battle After Another, two of this season’s most acclaimed films. Besides this battle between the two films, particularly for the spot of Best Picture, the night also featured musical performances featuring the nominees, including performances from the cast of KPop Demon Hunters and Sinners.
As sixteen cities across the United States, Mexico and Canada prepare to host the highly anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup, the event globally recognized as the most prestigious football competition and most viewed sporting event in the world, FIFA released the first song in its 2026 World Cup album: “Lighter” by Tennessee singer Jelly Roll and Mexican singer Carín León. Containing both English and Spanish vocals, the song was intended to be FIFA’s first step to creating “one global rhythm” that encompasses many diverse musical styles. However, a quick skim of the comments section on the official YouTube video of “Lighter” reveals that FIFA failed to appease the “global” audience even before the song reached the global stage.
Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives follows a group of Mormon influencers balancing family life, religion, and social media success. A star on the show and considered the leader of “MomTok,” which grew from the show, Taylor Frankie Paul, drew major attention after being cast as the lead on 2026 season of The Bachelorette. She had just previously left an unhealthy relationship with the father of her child, Dakota Mortenson. However, Paul was removed from The Bachelorette role in light of footage of Paul assaulting Mortenson in 2023, published by TMZ. Although the assault filmed had already been handled legally in 2023, many fans responded negatively to the contents of the video.
In the United States, the top one percent by net worth holds 31.7% of the nation’s wealth, the highest share in almost four decades per Forbes. According to the 2025 “State of the Acad” by The Milton Paper, 43.8% of respondents’ families earn over $500,000, which sits between top 1% and 2% of household earnings.
Chris Jones, a hypnotist and past America’s Got Talent competitor, brought curiosity, skepticism, and, most importantly, entertainment to Milton on Friday, April 3. A large crowd gathered in King Theater to get entertained, or, perhaps, to attempt to get hypnotized by Jones.
FKA twigs is one of music’s “vanguards” who fearlessly amplifies her ever-changing identity while defying critics and consumers alike. She’s a jack of all trades: dancer, vocalist, director, wushu artist, and 2025 Grammy winner for her album Eusexua. She’s been in the music industry for twenty years, and despite her increasing recognition, she keeps her authenticity ablaze in midst of those who are blinded by the façade of stardom. MAGDALENE, her sophomore album released in 2019, serves as a testament to her personal ethic amidst a difficult period in which she faced pervasive scrutiny, health problems, and a breakup that led to controversy in her name.
On February 11–13, Clue: On Stage (High School Edition)—often called Clue—left students in awe in Milton Academy’s King Theatre. Each night, from 7:00–8:30 p.m., the theater buzzed with the energy of the cast and rang with laughter. “It was pretty good, I can’t even lie,” said Matthew Ngure ‘29. “The part where the chef fell on the man really got me laughing.”
Maya Walsmith ‘26 strives for self-expression through deeply personal storytelling and evolving, experimental composing. While music began as a hobby for Walsmith, it has since become a profoundly meaningful form of expression. A singer-songwriter, pianist, guitarist, and performer, Walsmith has explored a range of sounds, styles, and creative outlets both inside and outside the classroom. From songwriting and vocal arranging to live performance and collaboration, her music reflects a curiosity-driven approach to music that continues to evolve as she finds her artistic voice.
On January 23, Improv Night drew a crowd of almost 40 students—as estimated by Anna Robinson ‘26—with many seeking a break from the midterm workload. As Dylan Chu ’29 explained, “the energy of the night was spectacular. Events like the Improv Night always bring the community together.” According to Chu, the relaxed atmosphere allowed students to let go of some nerves during one of the most stressful stretches of the school year.
The 68th Annual Grammy Awards, which took place on February 1, 2026, was more than just a simple awards ceremony. It unfolded as a rare cultural celebration that merged fashion, music, and personal narratives with historical moments in the industry, curating an unfiltered and deeply human experience for its 14.4 million viewers.
During midterm week, while students balanced tests, essays, and projects, those enrolled in the Drama course added a very different assessment to their schedules on January 22: students across three classes memorized and performed sixteen scenes in the studio theatre. They presented short excerpts from full-length plays to an audience of students and parents after weeks of preparation.
On Thursday, January 15, the Nesto Gallery introduced Influence, an exhibition featuring different kinds of artwork created by a total of 18 artists and curated by artist and photographer Lou Jones. While the exhibit features mostly photography, it also includes various paintings, collages, and visual media.
At the time of its creation in 1891, many considered the play Spring Awakening by Frank Wedekind as too controversial for audiences due to its dark and, at the time, taboo themes surrounding sexuality and adolescence. Over 100 years later, the musical adaptation of the play, written by Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater, explores the same themes with a different approach. Although over a century apart, the message remains the same and is especially highlighted through the score and soundtrack of its 2006 musical. Incorporating rock music of the 1990’s and early 2000’s with the original album’s classic musical theatre creates a unique listening experience contrasting the two very different time periods’ styles. While one track might feature a fast-paced, angst-filled rock song, the next might still provoke tears with a slow-moving beat.
