Get to know some of the new staff at Lindbergh Feature 9 pathways available to LHS students
Editor’s Note
Hello Flyers! The Pilot staff welcomes you back to school as we discuss the first home football game, the start of the cross-country season and meet some of our new staff members. Read about the upcoming presidential election, how students’ anxiety rates have increased and make note of the upcoming changes to the ACT. Finally, learn about the different pathways offered to LHS students, get an overview of pickleball club and get a sneak peek at the LHS Thespians fall production.
- Elizabeth Cleary, Editor-in-Chief
Pilot Policy
Pilot is a monthly newsmagazine published by students enrolled in the Pilot Publications class at Lindbergh High School, 5000 Lindbergh Boulevard, St. Louis, Missouri, 63126. The publications office is currently located in Room 21.
Opinions of Pilot writers or the Editorial Board are not reflective of the opinions of the staff as a whole, the Pilot, or the administration. The Pilot welcomes responses and letters to the editors. These may be submitted by email to lhspilot@lindberghschools. ws or by signed letters brought to Room 21.
The Pilot reserves the right to edit submissions as long as their original intent remains unaltered, and to re-fuse to print material for any reason the Editor-inChief and adviser deem appropriate.
More information about our editorial policy can be found on lindberghlookup.com.
HUT, HUT, HIKE! HUT, HUT, HIKE! HUT, HUT, HIKE!
Lavia Raof GraphicsEditor
An insight to LHS Football . . .
The shouts coming from the stands, commotion near the concessions and the distant blare of the band; football season has been in fruition for practically 2 months now, this memorable time of the school year being a prime example of school spirit at Lindbergh. However, the preparation and effort the football program puts into delivering these games to the student and staff body isn’t often as magnetized. In this small Q&A PILOT staff have with LHS counselor and football coach Benjamin Smith, here’s a deeper dive.
Q: [The fall football season] just started a month ago. How have you and the football team been preparing the varsity football team? Do you have any strategies you’re utilizing heavily this year or anything?
A: So, yeah, I think all the training and preparation really starts all the way back into the spring with strength and conditioning. And then throughout the summer there are practices, events that we go to; 7 on 7, scrimmages, jamborees. I mean, it’s not like all that just started a few weeks ago. It’s been [in] preparation for a long time. Anything specific that we’re doing; I think, really just focusing on a lot of the fundamentals, you know, blocking, tackling. If you can do those things, you’re gonna be pretty good.
Q: Is there an opponent you guys are looking forward to playing?
A: No. I think we just take it week to week. We just really focus on the team that we’re playing each week.
Q: Bouncing off of that, are you coordinating the offense or the defense? How have you been training them?
A: So I work with the safeties and the corners at all levels. It starts with just trying to improve their footwork and their speed and then a lot of repetition with what coverages we’re in, where their eyes need to be. Keeping everything in front of us is something that we’ve really been trying to focus on too.
Q: Apart from the skills, I know that teamwork is very important. Do you do stuff together– like team bonding? I know a lot of sports do that.
A: Yeah. I think we do a team dinner for home games, and then I think for away games and home games, a lot of our kids meet some place after a game for a lot of that fellowship. So, yeah, I think there’s plenty of opportunities.
Q: How many people are on the team?
A: Oh, I don’t know the exact number. We’re somewhere between 80 and 100 for the whole program.
Q: Is there a difference between the intensity of the training each team goes through? (JV, V, Freshman)
A: I think we really set the bar high for every level. We keep the expectations high, but we stay very fundamental with the lower levels and at the varsity level we add a little bit more to the plate.
Q: Last question-- what’s your favorite part of coaching or just being in the football atmosphere in general at LHS?
A: This is my first year back with football. I’d taken a few years off from coaching. When you’re coaching a sport, you feel like you’re just more involved in the school, you know more students. You just feel like you’re a bigger part of the Lindbergh community, and that’s a lot of fun. And then specific to football, it is the ultimate team sport. What one person does on the field affects everybody else on the field with them. So, the idea that everybody has to be on the same page and everybody has to be working together is pretty cool.
CSoaring With Cross Country
The endurance of Lindbergh athletes
Hunter Whitehead Staff-Writer
ross country kicked off its season in August, starting strong with a two mile race. As the new season begins, many athletes are excited for the upcoming meets to see how they fare against the amazing competition from the likes of Parkway, Kirkwood, Webster, SLUH, Northwest and Affton. While the cross country season is only just starting that doesn’t mean the athletes aren’t ready for the challenge and according to Boys Cross Country Head Coach Jeffrey Linger:
“Cross country is a difficult sport and the competition keeps getting better and better. As a team we keep getting better and better. That said, qualifying for State is a really difficult thing to do. We have a few people hopeful of achieving that goal this year,” Coach Linger said.
This is a picture of Lindbergh’s boys cross country athletes competing (Lindbergh High School Athletics)
For those unfamiliar, cross country meets typically last two to three hours and the races the athletes compete in are three miles or more. The athletes often train together and work in teams of five or more. Because of that, many of the athletes here at Lindbergh are very close-knit.
“Sometimes after a meet, we go to a restaurant and eat all we can,” Mason Bahr said.
The athletes have been hard at work training on many different terrains to become the best they can be. At every cross country meet, there is usually a roaring crowd of parents and athletes alike encouraging the team.
“The energy for these cross country meets is usually very intense with many parents and fellow athletes cheering,” said Bahr.
So far, all the athletes have been working hard to achieve better stamina to run for even longer amounts of time.
“Year round numerous athletes train off season to improve their race times,” Bahr said.
Due to the efforts of their cross country coaches, many athletes have been getting the advice and training they need to continuously succeed against all the competition from other schools. The drive for competition is only getting bigger as the cross country meets become increasingly difficult.
“Helping an athlete become successful is a combination of teaching them varying approaches to racing, and then helping them understand what their strengths and weaknesses are so they can choose the best approach,” Head Coach Linger said.
The upcoming terrains the team will be running on are very exciting. For example, the Man Maker includes two massive hills and that is sure to be a challenge.
“I look forward to running in a variety of different courses. Each course is different; some are flat like Twilight at Fort Zumwalt North, which is held in a soccer complex. However, some of the meets are super hilly like a course named Man Maker because it features two massive hills one with like a 20-degree incline,” Bahr said.
The cross country athletes are sure to be busy as they prepare for the many miles they will be running throughout the season.
The cross country athletes are ready to go despite the challenging training and even more challenging competition. The many difficulties involved with cross country are even more apparent when you remember that most athletes train throughout the entire year to get even the slightest improvement on their time.
“Cross Country is a sport that’s run right along the edge of the pain threshold. Push yourself over the threshhold and you’ll crash. If you don’t push yourself close enough you’re not going to maximize your performance. Advances in technology, nutrition, and training seem to be constantly improving and every year times get faster and faster” Coach Linger said.
This is a picture of one of the Lindbergh boys cross country teams (St. Louis Call Newspapers)
Meet Five of Lindbergh’s New Staff
Meadow Roy Staff Writter
Wendy Vander Tuig, FACS teacher, has four kids that have all come up through Lindbergh. She has a dog named Lily who is almost 15. Some of her hobbies include traveling, cooking and playing pickleball. She taught middle school in Columbia, Missouri for five years before having her kids and staying home with them. She started working again at LHS as a substitute but now gets to work up here full-time. The three ways she would describe herself are: energetic, kind, a family person. “I’m passionate about my students and my kids and trying to help everybody find something they can be successful with,” Vander Tuig said.
Jonah Boyd, Math teacher, has been married to his wife Faith for seven years; they just had their first child, Eliza, in August. Some of his hobbies include reading, watching sports and playing music. His favorite instrument to play is the acoustic guitar. His faith and family are two of the most important things in his life. Three words he would use to describe himself are: loving, loyal and caring. “I am grateful to be at Lindbergh High and looking forward to getting to know everybody more and more and getting involved,” said Boyd.
Carrie Magee, Science teacher, has four kids with ages ranging from middle school to college. Some of her hobbies are hiking, camping and being outdoors. Teaching was not her first career; she was originally trained as a research scientist in biochemistry and molecular biology before coming to teach at LHS last year. She started last year in the spring as a student teacher, working with Mr. Abbott in biology. This is her first year as a fully certified teacher. Three words she would use to describe herself are: energetic, caring and short. “One of the reasons why I wanted to be a teacher is I love thinking about how people learn. There are so many different ways that people can make those connections and get that information and, honestly, I think teenagers are brilliant, and I enjoy being around brilliance. I really like thinking about how to help people learn; that’s why I’m a teacher,” said Magee.
Ann Madison-Phillips, English teacher, is married and has two kids, one in elementary school and one in middle school. She also has a pet gecko named Mack. She enjoys family camping trips and spending time outdoors hiking or canoeing. One of her fa vorite pastimes is to sit down and read a good book while drinking a cup of coffee. She is originally from Kentucky, but she moved to the area in 2020 after hearing good things about the Lindbergh district. After moving, she realized that she wanted to go back to teaching. She worked parttime in the library for a year and then worked as a teaching assistant for two years. She is now back to full-time teaching this year. Three words she would use to describe herself are: present, compassionate and humorous. “I think to be able to help somebody and give them a good education is just so valuable… I have done a lot of different things in my life and I have been able to do that because of the good education I’ve had along the way,” Madison-Phillips said.
Dana Megargle, German teacher, has two cats that she brought here from Germany. Their names are Misha and Kleo. Some of her hobbies include cycling, baking and cooking. She also enjoys crafts like painting and crocheting, sometimes playing video games. For the last six years, she has been teaching in Berlin, Germany. She originally went there on a Fulbright grant to teach English for a year but ended up staying longer. She decided to move back to St. Louis to be closer to family and found a job at LHS. Three words she would use to describe herself are: creative, approachable and adaptive. “I am super excited to be here at Lindbergh, and I have been really enjoying it so far. I really like working at the school; the students are great; the staff is great; everything is awesome,” said Megargle.
Create Your Future
Make your voice heard by voting
Sydney Jones
On November 5th, one of the most controversial and talked about presidential Elections will take place. Current President Joe Biden withdrew from the race on July 21, 2024, leading the way for Vice President Kamala Harris to take his place, making her and Former President Donald Trump the two leading candidates. Both sides are hoping that more young voters will cast their ballots in November. On Wednesday, September 25th, the League of Women Voters were in the commons during lunch to help students 17 1/2 and up register to vote. Then around election time, the high school becomes a voting precinct.
“Typically, when the high school is used as a polling place, the voting location is in the performing arts center. Then when you go to vote, all you need is your driver’s license to show your address and sometimes they require a piece of mail or something like that after you’re registered to vote,” said Senior Principal Dr Stacy Heuberger.
If students are unable to make the trip to their regular polling location within their polling district and would rather vote elsewhere, they can check the website stlouiscovotes.maps. arcgis.com for an address/location of another polling location nearest to them. All voters
Staff Writer
must bring their Voter ID to the polls, which they should receive in the mail after registration. In recent years, the youth voting rate has decreased with only a 23% National Turnout, Missouri with only 19.9%. The 2018 election had a slightly higher turnout with 28%, according to the Circle. The trend seems to be that as the years go on, less and less citizens in the 18-29 age range don’t vote. The question is asked: why do younger people feel the need to stay silent? Social Studies Teacher Brian Tobias offered an explanation.
“I mean, politicians tend to be old, and their constituents, their voters, tend to be old, and they only have their immediate gain in mind. Like, ‘I want social security.’ ‘I want Medicare.’ ‘Environment is not that important to me just based on life expectancy.’ They have five to 10 years left. And so they don’t see the big picture where, you know, 18 to 29-year-olds should care about the high cost of tuition and health care, environment and things that will be im-
pacting life on this planet for the next 75 years while they’re on it,” said Tobias.
Even though there may be a lack of common interest, it is very important that young people are getting out there and casting their vote. Tobias pointed out that some of these politicians only have so many years left and they are not looking 10 plus years into the future like the younger generation.
“If we want to create a more inclusive democracy that represents the diverse needs of its people, we must empower young voters. This isn’t just because young voters have the power to decide our upcoming elections – though voters aged 18-34 will make up over 40 million potential voters in 2024, nearly one-fifth of the American electorate. It’s also because young voters’ diversity, fresh perspectives, and status as the future leaders of our nation make their voices critical in shaping our nation’s future,” said the League of Women Voters.
Elections can be a fearsome exercise for students, however, there is an abundant amount of information online that can help young people grasp how policies will affect government and politics.
Dr. Heuberger stated that she believes that doing research beforehand is an important step. She feels it’s in one’s best interest to look into candidates, figure out what their beliefs are and what policies they plan on implementing.
“I think it’s important for them [students] to be knowledgeable about how systems and processes work, because there is so much that happens, and there are so many different things in which you people do have a say. There are so many ways to be involved,” said Heuberger.
Despite all of the uncertainty, there are still students willing to use their voice. Senior Alexis Schmidt has registered to vote and will be at the polls in the upcoming presidential election.
“I think it’s important to exercise your rights as a citizen. I think everyone’s vote is very important,” said Schmidt.
Students Anxiety Rate Heightens Significantly
Increase in traumatic impact among students since the beginning of Covid-19
Lily Donaldson Staff Writer
Lindbergh students have shown a noticable increased anxiety and mental disorders since 2020. The pandemic has pushed various students beyond their coping limits, leading to constant worry, panic disorders, anxiety and depression. LHS Social Worker Laura Brusman shared her knowledge.
“We all noticed that there is a lot more anxiety in students now and more deppression then there used to be,” said Brunsman.
These challenges often stem from isolation and learning difficulties. School administrators monitor student well-being using social emotional surveys. Brusman sheds light on the surverys results.
“Anxiety I think is even higher than it used to be. I think depression is higher too but anxiety seems to be the biggest increase,” Brunsman said.
Students with anxiety and depression are more likely to avoid classes, assignments and tests which can lead to a poor academic performance. An abrupt shift in learning and an increased perceived workload contributes to these symptoms.
“Indicators of student wellbeing have decreased during the pandemic and young adults have faced increased stress and anxiety. Within the broad student population, highschool students are particularly vulnerable, facing a much higher prevalence of mental health symptoms than the general population,” according to the National Library of Medicine.
Student behavior also changes based on their interaction with technology. Many students seem less confident and are less inclined to participate due to anxiety. This is particularly relevant for students who do not engage in after-school activities.
“When students are more connected by outside clubs, groups, sporting activities or bands, those students have better connections because of those things. They have goals, they have additional adults in their lives that are trying to encourage them so I see that those students tend to have less issues with anxiety and depression than the kids that are more isolated and don’t participate much,” Brunsman said.
While occasional unease is normal, ongoing anxiety can become challenging to manage and disrupt daily life. Excessive worry and fear can be mentally exhausting, leaving individuals with diminished energy and motivation.
Kristi Kienzler, a counselor at Lindbergh High School, encouraged students to seek help if their anxiety becomes unmanageable.
“Every person has anxiety. Just because you feel a little anxious here or there doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with that or you can’t overcome it. But when that anxiety starts to interfere with your daily activities or the things you want to be doing or the things you used to be able to do, that’s when a student should get outside help,” said Kienzler.
It is valuable for students to develop selfawareness about their anxiety triggers and responses. This enables students to implement personalized coping strategies. For instance, if a particular type of task or social interaction increases anxiety, students can work on gradual exposure to these situations or employ relaxation techniques beforehand. Kienzler offered further advice on managing anxiety.
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“Some strategies for helping with anxiety could be limiting social media time, getting good sleep, and physical exercise. I think that having a person or a network of people to talk about problems, issues and concerns is really important as well,” Kienzler said.
Image from Shutterstock
Graph from Gallup News
ACT Revised
Upcoming changes to the ACT
The ACT is a college entrance exam that roughly 1.4 million students take each year. The test is designed to measure high school students’ readiness for postsecondary education. As of April 2025 for online and September 2025 for written, the ACT will be introducing changes to the test.
“Starting in April, the science portion will become optional and the test is going to be shortened by 44 questions. The length of the test is going to go from 195 minutes to 125 minutes… Now for the paper version of the ACT, this will not go into effect until next school year,” Dr. Jonathan Riethmeier, an LHS counselor, said.
Since these changes will be implemented into the online version of the test first, some students may wish to test online in the time between April and September, however, this may not be possible for all students.
“The online test version is not as readily available. For example, here at Lindbergh, I am only able to test 40 students online whereas I can do paper tests for 160 to 180 students. The reason is, Lindbergh has to provide the computers for the students and we don’t have enough. I have scraped together every possible spare computer to do this. There may be a larger want for the online version but we’re going to be limited in what we have available. That is first come, first serve for whoever signs up,” Riethmeier said.
This online versus written gap will be short lived, however, as soon the changes will be integrated into the entire test. Inside Higher Ed explains that the ACT hopes these changes will make the test cheaper, reduce stress and help personalize the test to individual students.
“Our analysis shows that students are running out of time, rushing to get through their last questions. We want them to be able to demonstrate what they know and not just how fast they can do their work,” ACT CEO Janet Godwin said to Inside Higher Ed. Whether these changes will be beneficial or not is yet to be determined. Some students, however, are already questioning how effective these changes will be. “Why make science optional when that’s a core subject? Why science and not the other three tests?” Senior Taylor Brand said.
As these changes are implemented, students must decide for themselves whether they wish to take the ACT, take the ACT without the science section or bypass the test altogether. Dr. Riethmeier strongly recommends that students check with specific college websites in order to assess what the individual college expects.
“What I would recommend for students to determine what would be the best avenue for them would be to talk to one of our college and career counselors who can sit down with them and go through the pros and cons,” Riethmeier said.
Elizabeth Cleary Editor - in - Chief
Photo from Piqosity.
Photo from Achievable Test Prep.
Path to Greatness
Various College and Career Pathways
Elliot Lentz Staff Writer
Traditionally, preparing for college is a task assigned for senior year, with many students spending their time writing essays and sending out applications. While this works out for some, others wish to start forming their future earlier. Lindbergh has multiple programs to help with this process, each being a bit different to assist students with any goal they have in mind.
The three most popular programs offered are the A+ program, Early College and South Tech. Each is unique depending on what after-high school goal students have in mind. The A+ program allows for students to attend community college in the state of Missouri with tuition paid for.
“You can sign up anytime in high school. You have to complete 50 tutoring or mentoring hours, most of which you have to do through a Lindbergh school and we help you find those. You have to graduate with a cumulative GPA of 2.5, you have to have a 95% cumulative attendance rate and then you also have to score proficient or higher on the Algebra 1 EOC, and if not, you’ll have to get a qualifying score on the ACT,” said College and Career Advisor Kate Keegan.
Some students may be apprehensive about completing tutoring or mentoring hours, but many different routes can be taken to acquire these hours, volunteering being one of them.
“I did all my hours over the summer. I signed up for summer camps as a volunteer to watch the kids and I would do that from about 8:30am to 3:00pm. I was doing it four times a week; Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. It took me about three weeks and in the end I got around 60 hours,” said Elsa Sears (12).
When looking into colleges, many students worry about the cost, but by completing the A+, students will have secured money. Even if students aren’t entirely sure they’ll use the money, completing the A+ program is a smart decision in case plans change.
“I chose to do it because it’s easy money just in case I might need it, it can give me backup options,” Sears said. “[For A+], I’d recommend a student who is looking for other ways to make college easier and a bit more accessible, and doesn’t mind putting in extra work. It can be really easy depending on what you choose to do since there’s multiple options.”
While the A+ program pays for community college once you’ve completed high school, the Early College program is different, allowing students to obtain college and high school credits simultaneously. Students apply for Early College either in 10th or 11th
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grade.
“So, ideally, students start it in 11th grade. If they get accepted, they do it in 11th and 12th grade. That’s where you take all your classes-- at St. Louis Community College. You’re able to take one class here if it’s not offered there, so examples would be like any of the bands or a high-level modern language class. Ideally, you can graduate with your associate’s degree, which is your 2-year degree, and your high school diploma at the exact same time, but if you start your senior year, then you’ll just have a lot of college credit going into college,” said Keegan.
Early college is one way for students to get a headstart on their future plans, whether that be getting a job or attending university. Student Makenna Hoeing (12) takes psychology, astronomy, business, fiction, and an online nutrition class at STLCC-Meramac, along with Orchestra at Lindbergh.
“Early college is going to help me by giving me transferable credits, which will save money and hopefully a year or two of four-year college. I’m also hoping it has, and will for the rest of this year, enhance my social skills in mixed-age settings,” Hoeing said.
Not all of the benefits from Early College are purely educational. The college experience is much different from high school, so becoming familiar with it now gives students skills that will set them up for success in the future.
“It gives a sense of responsibility to students that isn’t available at Lindbergh. People have to manage their own time, create their schedules and be able to provide transportation. These are all important life skills that many teenagers don’t possess that need to be known. There are also many great opportunities for making friends and business or work connections, like clubs you can join and meetings for different beliefs and topics,” Hoeing said.
Early College is indeed helpful, but it’s not for everyone. Very little time, if any, is spent at Lindbergh and college schedules can be much different from what highschool students are used to. It isn’t always easy to adapt to a new environment and group of people.
“You have to be able to be good about time management because college looks way different than high school. You’re not in classes much, but you are gonna have more homework,” Keegan said. “You also have to know that you won’t be in the high school and if that’s something you like, if you like being here, then you have to make that work. It’s just a little bit more challenging to find where you fit, but for many students, it works out.”
Some students hope to immediately enter the workforce after highschool, and the South Tech program can help with this. This program prepares students for a specific job or trade. Those who participate attend Lindbergh for half of their day and South Technical High School for the other half. Once completed, students will have earned a certification in a specialized area.
“You get to know if you really like that trade or not. You see students go into something and realize it’s not for them and that’s great because you get to figure that out when you’re 17 years old and not 30,” said Keegan.
A multitude of different programs are offered at South Tech, all appealing to different students. Octavia Berry (12) takes part in the Law Enforcement program where she does a variety of different lessons and training.
“I’d say it’s pretty fun. You do physical training two days a week and the rest of the week is studying how our law enforcement works in the United States and throughout the world. The training in my program definitely helps my physical health. It’s exhausting, for sure, but getting out there in the sun and running a bit always helps,” Berry said.
While South Tech is a great way to get a headstart in the process of finding a job, students must be able to balance their lessons and assignments at both Lindbergh and South Tech to ensure they’re getting the most out of their learning.
“I take a learning lab and have to miss most of lunch in order to get a good spot for parking because there’s only
and receiving certain certifications, many pathways will open up for these students. They will be able to seek out open positions freshly out of highschool, not usually needing additional schooling.
“It’s going to help by providing me with opportunities to learn in areas that aren’t really provided at Lindbergh and possibly provide internships. I know that’s what some of the other programs do and I’m applying for a couple in my program, but they aren’t guaranteed,” said Berry.
No matter which program students may choose, all offer them chances to learn or take part in something that wouldn’t traditionally be available to high school students.
“I think there is a program for every kid at Lindbergh High School,” Keegan said. “We have so many opportunities that whatever it is that you’re interested in, there’s something with these Diploma Plus programs that you can find that’s right for you.”
Students at South Tech learning in the Cosmetology program. (@thisissouthtech)
The Rise of Pickleball Club
How pickleball club has grown in popularity
Maddy Boyd Staff Writer
The fast-growing pickleball club has gotten a lot of attention beginning this school year. Seniors Mackenzie Moon, Hannah Busso, Ryan George, and Alexandria Bleich started the club in April of 2024, and are finding a lot of success in continuing it.
“The club idea first came up when we all went to Florida together over spring break and spent most of our time playing pickleball,” Busso said.
“I was looking at the number of people in the club after the fair and saw 256 kids signed up for the club, and I think we were all a little shocked,” Maassen said.
Moon has been working on recruiting new members through an Instagram account.
“We have a good amount of people at our club. We want to use our platform to tell not only Lindbergh students but also other people interested in pickleball about the rules of the sport and tournaments nearby,” Moon said.
After that trip, the group came together to create the club. Needing a teacher to sponsor their ideas, they went to Mrs. Maassen.
“They told me their ideas and I couldn’t say no to such a great group of kids,” Kylee Maassen (English Department) said.
The group’s goals for the upcoming academic year are to expand their club and engage more students who are joining a club for the first time.
“It is an activity that is continually growing, and I think we implemented the club right when it was needed to bring a lot of different types of people together. Anyone can learn to play pickleball,” Bleich said.
The group found quick success following the activity fair, the first week of the new school year.
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Preparing to announce the raffle winner for a new pickleball paddle, Ryan George opens the slip of paper in suspense. Each student that signed up for the club and attended the first meeting got a chance at winning the raffle.
Looking at his friends with excitement, Ben Harberberger walks back to his table. Harberberger attended the first meeting of pickleball club and, fortunately, won the raffle.
Curtain Call Countdown
LHS Thespians prepare for the fall play
Lily Andre Staff Writer
As the new school year kicks off, the Lindbergh theatre department has reunited to put together their first production of the year. After multiple rounds of auditions and weeks of training and preparation, the Thespians are almost ready to show off their portrayal of Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap. With its thrilling, whodunit attributes, the classic murder mystery has been captivating audiences for decades.
The Mousetrap has been a big hit with LHS Thespians, and the show has proved to be in high demand within the student body.
“We had 38 people audition for a show with only 8 characters in it. The audition process was extremely difficult in terms of casting,” Anna Stimac, sponsor of Lindbergh Thespians troupe #2533 said.
Whether it’s directing, acting, set design, props, costumes, hair/makeup, lighting or sound, over 100 members of the theatre department have been hard at work to ensure that
The Mousetrap can be an exceptional production. While a lot of preparation aspects are similar to previous years, the behind the scenes process has been slightly adjusted for this show, particularly with designing the set and running it throughout the play.
“This show kind of stands out a little bit because there’s not really a run crew. This means that there’s only one place that the show is set in, and we won’t need to have people running on stage to change the set,” Set Crew Chief Maya Fitzpatrick (12) said.
Many Thespians have expressed their interest in the set, as it has a classic, historical feel and there are numerous unusual parts to the design process that may set this show apart from others. The set crew has been working to implement amusing easter eggs and references for the audience to interpret throughout the show.
“I’m excited to see the completed set and how it can be interacted with,” Noah Coleman (10) said.
Opening night of The Mousetrap will take place on October 10th in the LHS Auditorium. The show will run
Brady Joy (11) and Anna Soeder (12) rehearse their lines.
Riley Childers (11) and Aislyn Sage (10) work on the set.
