NEWS

“The Odd Couple” Takes the Spotlight

As the time comes for the annual play, the theatre department hires a director and works with a smaller cast.

BY DANI ROTERT BREAKING NEWS

The theatre department hired Dan O’Connell to direct the school play, “The Odd Couple,” rather than continuing with the tradition of a student directed play. This play also features a smaller cast.

“The Odd Couple” is centered around two friends, one sloppy friend named Olive, played by senior Joileeah Worley, and one super clean friend named Florence played by senior Emily Bello. After Florence’s husband kicks her out, Olive invites her to stay in her apartment. The play follows the two friends as they learn to coexist together in Olive’s messy apartment.

“This play was a classic when the male version came out,” O’Connell said. “And this female version is very funny too.”

After student director and alumna Lucy Bahner directed last year’s play “Rosie the Riveter,” Mulkey decided to change the spring play tradition of having a student director by hiring O’Connell, who has also directed the three of the musicals in the past.

“We don’t have enough experiences to have them direct yet,” Mulkey said. “It really should be someone who can work with us the whole year and learn to direct. We just don’t have the time.”

Even though the head director is not a student, junior Jordan Harrison will be working as the assistant director.

“Having an assistant director is great because there are so many details and ideas that come up in rehearsal that she keeps track of,” O’Connell said. “It’s nice to bounce ideas off of her too.”

Harrison played the queen in the musical “Cinderella,” after transferring and wanting to get involved with the theatre program. Following the musical, she became interested in seeing the other side of the production.

“After Cinderella, I knew I wanted to continue within the program because I loved the people who I was working with,” Harrison said. “I also am someone who loves to be busy, and what is better than starting a whole new production.”

In addition to there being a new director, the cast is also much smaller than last year’s production. There are only eight characters in the play, six of which are girls. The actresses must learn more lines putting a lot of pressure on each actress, according to Bello.

“I enjoy working with the small cast,” O’Connell said. “It’s fun to get to know them and to see how they each grow into their characters.”

As the cast and crew continue to get ready for the play, they are extremely excited to showcase their hard work, according to Harrison. The play will be will be performed at Rockhurst High School this year April 20, 21 and 22.

“Everyone on the cast and crew have been working so hard to make this show the best it can possibly be,” Harrison said. “We are all so excited to show our friends and family what we’ve been working on two hours everyday after school.”

ACTING UP

During an after school play rehearsal, seniors Joileeah Worley and Emily Bello practice their lines and block a scene for “The Odd Couple.” (Photo by Dani Rotert)

Debate Finds New Season Success

This year has been a year of travel, participation, trophies and medals for debate unlike they have seen before.

BY PHYLICIA BARNER-LEWIS REPORTER

Debate has earned an array of new opportunities since English teacher Jeri Willard took over as head coach this year. Before taking this position, Willard had an impressive record of her own.

“I was a four year high school competitor and a national qualifier. I coached for 16 years,” Willard said. “I had about 40 national qualifiers and state qualifiers and included a couple of national finalists and two state champions.” In past years, the debate team hadn’t done much traveling. However, this year they branched out to Marquette High School in St. Louis with Rockhurst High School. “I loved that we were able to do some traveling this year and to go St. Louis,” Willard said. “I definitely want to look for some more opportunities where we can find some different places to go.” POWERFUL The Marquette competition was the largest PARLI and most competitive that the team has ever Sophomore attended. Of the 35 schools entered and 81 Elizabeth Finn people in the Dramatic Interpretation event, debates at a home meet Nov. 8. (Photo by Mimi Wright, senior Anna O’Byrne won. “I didn’t want to have too high of expectations. I wanted to advance into the Le Flambeau) second day so that it wasn’t a pointless trip,” O’Byrne said. “It was such a large competition and I didn’t realize I was skilled enough to beat 81 other varsity competitors. My jaw literally dropped on stage when they announced my name.”

O’Byrne has been participating in forensics for five years now. She credits her transfer with helping further her communications career.

“I started speaking events and competitions when I was in 7th grade,” O’Byrne said. “When I went to St. Teresa’s Academy, they didn’t have much of a debate team. But luckily I came to Sion and I’ve been involved with [the] debate team after my transfer [sophomore year].”

Though Marquette proved to be a pivotal moment in debate this year, Willard doesn’t define the accomplishments as silver or gold. Growing numbers of participants each year is a win to her.

“I don’t think that you can necessarily count successes in terms of trophies and medals though we did win several of those,” Willard said. “I think that last year when we would travel particularly to the suburban conference tournaments, there were a lot of times only three or four students went. The Park Hill South and North Kansas City weekend we had 12 students. When we went to Marquette this year we had 15. I definitely felt like that was a success.”

Freshman Anna McQueeny doesn’t know if she will participate in debate next year, but said she took a lot away from her experience.

“I think the greatest accomplishment I’ve had during this quarter would be conquering my fear of public speaking,” McQueeny said. “I love the team and Mrs. Willard is so much fun and such a good teacher.”

Willard has high hopes and goals for next year, but also wants for the girls to focus on being a team.

“I would like to continue on our path of success of getting kids out to have as many opportunities to showcase their events as possible and building that sense of community,” Willard said.