Gretna High School • 11335 South 204th Street • Gretna, NE 68028 • Volume IX • Issue III • December 2010
the
December Unsung Hero Page 6
Voice
Holiday Cheer Pages 8-9
New Favorite Read Page 10
Photo by Nate Olsen
An “Incomparable” Experience Lauren Sawyer Editor-In-Chief It was about 7 o’clock at night, meaning GHS’ one act cast had been sitting with butterflies in their stomachs for over four hours waiting to hear the results of the State One Act Tournament. But first, before the overall award, came the individual awards for the Best Actor and Best Actress in the state. All of the nominees were lined up on the edge of the Merryman Performing Arts Center’s stage in Kearney, Neb. After a bit of stalling by the US Bank representative and compliments to all the competitors,
she said, “I would like to congratulate the 2010 recipient of the best actress in the state award… from Gretna…” The entire GHS cast flew to their feet. The anticipatory silence was broken as a roar of cheering and clapping cut in. All eyes were on Taylor White ’11 as the announcer finished her sentence. And what everyone had known was confirmed: Taylor was the best actress in the state. “It was the most unbelievable moment in my life,” White said. “I felt like everything finally paid off and there is just nothing in the world I can compare that feeling to.” White played the part of Chicklet Forrest in this year’s one
act play Psycho Beach Party. Her character had multiple personality disorder, requiring her to master the characterization of an innocent child, sweet teenager, professional doctor and “Empress” Ann Bowmen. The character of Bowmen also required White to perfect a Russian accent. “Taylor was so deserving of the Best Actress Award because as the role of Chicklet she really controlled the pacing of the play and it was as hard a role as I have ever directed,” director Carole Carraher said. “I am glad the judges recognized that.” White has been acting since the first grade and hopes to move to Los Angeles next year to “follow her dreams” in the theater business.
Being able to be someone other than herself is White’s favorite part of acting, saying she can be crazy and insane and it doesn’t matter because it’s just what the part calls for. So a character with multiple personality disorder truly was a superb match, allowing her to have plenty of fun on the stage. The state tournament was made even more perfect when the team finished in first place, earning its 17th state title in the past 25 years. Other nominees for the Best Actress Award included Brooke Arp ’11, Jentry Merriman ’12, Kelsy O’Neill ’11 and Emily Zapotocny ’12. Logan Henning ’11 was also nominated for the Best Actor Award.