By RUTH MILLS Special to the Palisadian-Post Current and former students, faculty and administrators celebrated 50 years of Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) at Palisades High on Saturday evening in Mercer Hall.   Highlights included performances by current Pali students, a video by media teacher Kerry Feltham that captured the history of the school’s arts programs, and presentation of new perpetual awards in the names of some of Pali’s most illustrious alumni in the arts.   After a performance by singing group AcaPali, emcee Scott Alexander, a successful screenwriter and 1981 alumnus, reminisced about his days in Pali’s drama and music programs. He lauded his teachers as having shaped his life ‘ a sentiment echoed throughout the evening.   Former principals Merle Price, Donald Savarese and Linda Hosford, as well as current principal Pam Magee, were acknowledged, along with legendary English teacher Rose Gilbert, for their support of the arts programs throughout the school’s history.   The evening’s perpetual awards in five genres’vocal music, instrumental music, visual arts, dance and theatre’were named for those (or representatives) receiving them on Saturday and will be presented annually to alumni who have made contributions in their respective fields.   The Herb Ritts Award for Outstanding Contributions in the Visual Arts honors the late Ritts (1952-2002), who was voted Boy Most Likely to Succeed in the class of summer 1970. Although he began his career in the family business, Ritts Furniture, he changed direction and became a world-renowned fashion and celebrity photographer. Accepting the award was Rory Ritts, Herb’s younger brother, who introduced a short video highlighting his sibling’s life and work.   After the video, Rory presented the first Herb Ritts Award to Cathy Salser, a 1984 alumna who founded A Window Between Worlds, a program offering art as a resource for healing and empowerment to battered women and their children (Palisadian-Post Lifestyle feature, February 9, 2012).   Two perpetual awards recognized alumni in music. The Newman Family Award for Outstanding Contributions in Instrumental Music honors a trio of siblings who graduated from PaliHi and have continued their family’s Hollywood musical legacy (their father, Alfred, won nine Oscars for his film scores).   David Newman is an Academy Award-nominated composer of nearly 100 film scores and a renowned conductor of film and symphony orchestras, including the L.A. Philharmonic. Younger brother Thomas Newman has received 10 Academy Award nominations for film scores and has won two Grammys, an Emmy, and other prestigious music awards. Sister Maria Newman, who conducts and plays violin, viola and piano, is well known as an award-winning composer in the field of concert music, as well as original music for vintage classic films of the silent era.   The will.i.am Award for Outstanding Contributions in Vocal Music was presented to William James Adams, Jr., a 1993 graduate who has become a famous rapper, musician, songwriter and leader of the hip-hop group Black Eyed Peas. He was out of the country, but has visited the school to show his support for Pali’s students.   The Adam Shankman Award for Outstanding Contributions in Dance honors the 1982 graduate who, although he never took a dance class in high school, won awards in student drama competitions for his achievements in movement and was accepted to Juilliard. He is a film director, producer, actor, dancer and choreographer (the 2007 remake of ‘Hairspray’), and is familiar as a frequent judge on television’s ‘So You Think You Can Dance.’ The J.J. Abrams Award for Oustanding Contributions in Theatre was accepted on Abrams’ behalf by actor Simon Pegg, since Abrams was hosting an event at his children’s school. Pegg, who starred in Abrams’ 2009 ‘Star Trek’ and the recent ‘Mission: Impossible ‘ Ghost Protocol,’ read an eloquent acceptance speech from Abrams (class of ’84), adding humorous commentary of his own. Abrams, who lives in Pacific Palisades, has been hugely successful as a film director, television producer and screenwriter, having created such familiar fare as television’s ‘Alias,’ ‘Lost’ and ‘Fringe.’ The logo of his production company, Bad Robot, is familiar to millions of television viewers and filmgoers.   The teachers who mentored these and other Pali students in the arts were honored by emcee Alexander. Former orchestra teacher Joel Lish and choral-music teachers Linda Badran and Janette Smith received enthusiastic ovations from grateful alumni, as did retired art teacher Sherry Kahn, retired photography teacher Rob Doucette, and past drama teachers Victoria Francis and Monica Iannessa.   Pali’s current arts students and teachers contributed greatly to the program. In addition to the a cappella group, choral director Josh Elson presented a vocal preview from the upcoming spring musical, ‘Hairspray.’ Chamber musicians trained by Arwen Hernandez provided entertainment before the program and at intermission. Dance teacher Cheri Smith’s choreography was showcased by dance class students, and Smith and drama teacher Amanda Porter collaborated in a scene from ‘Doctor Faustus,’ the fall play that was reprised on Friday and Sunday. Terry Henderson’s jazz band performed during the program.
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