DISSATISFIED WITH THE ORDINARY

AST's fabled arts program was born in 1963, when students launched a Dramatic Society and asked new English teacher Joe McPhillips to advise them. From these modest beginnings was born a professional-level dramatic arts program featured in Vanity Fair, Vogue, and other publications. McPhillips, who went on to be headmaster for 34 years, was the driving force and recruited luminaries such as Paul Bowles and Yves Saint Laurent to lend their talents.