Where else would you find standing side by side and in conversation with each other, the likes of Galileo and Pocahontas, Isaac Newton and Napoleon Bonaparte, Audrey Hepburn and Anne Frank, Steve Jobs and Albert Einstein .... and others -- than the yearly D-E Living Wax Museum presented by the 8th grade?

With Middle School English/History teacher Mimi Garcia and Middle School English teacher Lisa Graham at the helm, this year's 20th Annual Living Wax Museum featured many creative, unique, and even out-of-this-world presentations by enthusiastic 8th graders on a chilly Nov. 19th.  The students presented themselves in full character during two 'programs' that took place in the Silberfein Gym, and earlier that day they also delighted Lower School students with a visit to Drapkin Hall.

While the Wax Museum was started by former Middle School English teacher Rob Carson in 1982, Ms. Graham took over and has overseen last three Wax Museum productions, the culminations of the students' independent reading projects which begin in mid-September. Students first make a list of three historical figures, either deceased or retired, about whom they'd like to learn more; once assigned, often their top choice, students then have a month to read either an autobiography or biography about their figure before preparing to live and breathe as their figure for one day. They are ultimately given a "multifaceted grade," says Ms. Graham, based on their in-class participation, how they meet deadlines, and their day-of performance.

The students not only get to practice their public-speaking skills, but also embody an (usually) admirable historical figure that is often someone who has inspired them. Tennis aficionado Noa Levin, for instance, knew that she wanted to learn more about Wimbledon's history; she chose the lesser-known five-time Wimbledon winner Charlotte "Lottie" Dod after looking at the list of Wimbledon players and seeing Dod's name five times. "Then I read about her and I was hooked," says Levin, who scoured eBay for a late-1800s dress and tennis racket (the latter of which she scored for $20) to wear for her presentation. Levin found the entire experience "moving, because I learned a lot about her and was surprised... [that while] she's really talented, no one has heard of her."

For Cindy Zahn, aka Barbie founder Ruth Handler, the choice was obvious, as "Barbie was my favorite doll" while growing up. Her set included her own Barbie dolls, shoes, clothes and accessories, and Zahn even handed out dolls that she had purchased from the dollar store. What Zahn took away most from becoming cancer-survivor Handler for a day? "No matter what life gives you, live through it; work through it."

To add some fun to the Living Wax Museum, there is also a popular voting aspect, where the public (parents, Lower/Middle/Upper School students and faculty) can vote on such titles as "Best Costume", "Best Set", "Best Overall" - and are awarded candy prizes the next day.

This year's Wax Museum awardees included:

Best SET: Mia Vegliante as Debbi Fields
Best COSTUME: Dani Zeller as Sally Ride and Sarah Fleiss as Shirley Temple Black (tie)
Most KNOWLEDGEABLE: Dara Panter as King Tut
Most CREATIVE: Pryor Kahn as Andy Warhol and Joel Lee as Pablo Picasso (tie)
Best PERFORMANCE: Olivia Fuld as Barbra Streisand
Faculty STANDOUT: Elliot Roman as Victor Borge
Best OVERALL: Allan Festekjian as Walt Disney