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entertainment Panther Prowler • Oct. 5, 2018
Students dive deeper into IB Theatre Gianna Spiro Ad Manager IB Theatre students in the Performing Arts Center (PAC), contemplating the deeper meaning of art on stage, discovering new ideas and learning more about themselves. Marilyn Strange has taught theater classes at NPHS for five years, adding IB Theatre to her list. “(The class) is actually not as new as people think. It was taught here before a long time ago. I’m excited about the class and this was the right time, it fit the schedule… It was time for IB,”Strange said. “I think even if you don’t do theater, it’s such a great class to take because as teenagers we are all exploring ourselves and the arts are a great way to open that door,” Celina Kott, senior, said. “It’s a mixture of directing, writing, creating and acting. We analyze scripts and the way culture affects theater and not just in America but also in different cultures,” Charles Ocampo, senior, said. IB Theatre approaches teaching and learning differently from
a typical classroom. As the teacher, Strange tries to be hands-off, and lets students lead the discussions. “The students are the ones that are really delving in, thinking about; ‘Who am I? Why do I hold the values and biases that I have based upon what I gravitate towards.’ It’s really exciting to watch them figure out and it also is gives me food for thought as an artist. It’s neat to see them explore theatre in a different kind of free way,” Strange said. “I think it’s a really exciting opportunity, I have some students in there who are not as familiar as theatre as some as the others. So there is all levels, and I think if anybody is just interested in that level of theatre and thinking too. It’s not just that kid who likes to sing and dance, or is a big Shakespearean actor it is for all levels and all kinds,” Strange said.
Hard at Work- The IB theatre class sits attentively as they listen to Ms. Strange speak at the front of the classroom. The class addresses a list of topics ranging from directing to the ways culture affect theatre. Aditya Vunnum/Prowler
Prepare to be enticed by... Pumpkin Spice! Daria Azizad Entertainment Editor and Prowler Staff It is quite observable that Southern California has no seasons. The last time I saw hail was in 2007. Spring showers are nowhere to be found during an endless drought. But for many places across the US, the changing seasons are something to look forward to. For those places, the start of October represents the nascent stages of fall. For Californians, it is along the lines of, “Oh look, it is Fire Awareness Month already!” It is reasonable -- the only orange hues we see on trees are when they go up in flames. But not to worry, fellow Californians, there is a way to infuse this season with typical autumnal vibes: all we have to do is make a trip to the grocery store.
Quality: 1 Pumpkin Flavor:1 I had high hopes for this soup: I expected warm pumpkiny goodness and the aroma of spice. I was very disappointed with the reality. The soup had barely any flavor-- it kind of tasted like diluted tomato sauce.
All items reviewed can be found at Trader Joe’s. Ratings are the average value assigned by Prowler Staff.
Quality: 5 Pumpkin Flavor: 4 At first glance, these dark cookie sandwiches are just another box of Oreos. But that flash of orange prompts a double take, revealing their true Pumpkin Joe Joe nature. Their black and orange color scheme pair perfectly with the Halloween spirit while their sugary chocolate flavor are sure to please anyone’s taste buds. The crunch of the cracker coupled with the smooth frosting makes every bite satisfying. While the note of pumpkin is definitely present, it plays second fiddle to the sweet bass of the filling.
Quality: 4 Pumpkin Flavor: 4 I’m a big fan of the Perfect Bar in general, so when they came out with the Limited Edition Pumpkin Pie flavor, I knew I had to get my hands on some. The Pumpkin Pie flavor is a mix of peanut buttery goodness with lighter pumpkin hints. However, I wish that the traditional spices associated with pumpkin pies-cinnamon, nutmeg-- played a role in this bar.
Sarah Lu/Prowler
Quality: 2.5 Pumpkin Flavor: 1 The Trader Joe’s Granola Bark is a granola bar coated in dark chocolate, with pumpkin seeds sprinkled on top. The chocolate was sweet, but not overpowering, and nicely accompanied the rough texture of the granola. However, the pumpkin element was severely lacking -- the pumpkin seeds could barely be tasted amongst the other components.
Quality: 3 Pumpkin Flavor: 1 The pumpkin cereal bar from Trader Joe’s is an extension of the many pumpkin flavored foods sold this season. The cereal bar itself tastes pretty good, but it does not really taste like pumpkin. When you first take a bite you taste the sugar and the cinnamon, but it tastes more like an apple cinnamon cereal bar than a pumpkin flavor bar. It’s a great snack, but has less appeal since the only time you taste a little bit of pumpkin is 30 seconds after you are done eating it.
Quality: 4 Pumpkin Flavor: 1 The Trader Joe’s Petite Pumpkin Spice Cookies are just as cute as the packaging suggests. Half the fun of eating these cookies comes from the pretty pastel frosting and fall colored sprinkles. The cookies themselves are shortbread with pumpkin spices, covered in yogurt frosting. I was not impressed with the pumpkin factor of these cookies-- they basically taste like fancy frosted animal cookies. They were tasty and nostalgic, but their autumnal vibes left something to be desired.
Quality: 5 Pumpkin Flavor: 2.5 The Trader Joe’s biscotti is the perfect fix for your holiday cravings. It can easily be paired with a warm pumpkin spiced latte or eaten dry for a crunchy delight. The spiced pumpkin flavor is very prevalent in the biscotti but does not overpower the biscotti’s inherently distinct texture. Make sure to pick these up next time you’re at Trader Joe’s!
