2022 OG Children's Show Playbill - James and the Giant Peach

Welcome to another wonderful performance by our outstanding theater department. We are truly blessed to have a beautiful theater in which to perform. A special thanks to all of the talented staff that dedicate their time and leadership to our students on and off the stage.

The history of O’Gorman’s Theater is rich in excellence and steeped in talent, each class of students living up to and exceeding every expectation with every performance. Something truly magical happens when our students take the stage. We are excited and appreciative to have you attending tonight and for being a part of the students’ special moments.

Thank you to all who made this performance possible by contributing to O’Gorman High School’s Theatre Department. We are truly blessed to receive your continued support and commitment to our students and staff.

Enjoy the show!

Kyle L. Groos President

Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools

Dear Friends of O’Gorman High School Theatre,

We live for

creating our own melody.

No matter your role, you contribute to the beautiful melody and rhythm of life. You’re essential at your job and in your family. Stay well with Avera, who proudly partners with Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools, where teachers and staff encourage students to find their own melody and rhythm that will encourage generations to come. Avera.org

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Spotlight on Jacob Olson 2022 OGHS Thespian Award Winner

Currently, Jacob is at The University of South Dakota in Vermillion, majoring in Music Education. When taking a quick look back at all of the shows he has been in and the roles he played his favorite show was Newsies because “Everyone involved was so talented and so fun, the vibe that show had was so inclusive and I was in love the whole time.” His favorite roles played were ”Grandpa” in the One-Act Play The Perfect Ending and “Judah” from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Jacob points out that his biggest love of theatre is how it “takes all the great aspects of performance and makes it available for anybody to be inspired or feel something that is greater than them.”

When asked what some of his favorite memories were, many of them included experiences behind the scenes. “My whole experience with Newsies was nothing short of an astonishing and an awakening experience for myself as it gave me so many friends and endless memories,” he explained.

He recalls his sophomore year where he enjoyed hosting the State One-Act Festival and giving tours around the school to kids from around the state, as well as watching the variety of shows throughout the festival. However, not all of his memories were enjoyable ones. He recalls his junior year, during Godspell, when the students held a tailgate outside in the parking lot all day before our final performance. Jacob admits he wasn’t very wise as didn’t wear sunscreen. Come show time that night, much of his body was bright red. “Some of the worst heatstroke I’ve ever experienced occurred on the stage. It was not super fun, but very memorable,” he described.

Finally, Jacob’s advice to current students at OGHS is to just love each other. “When you create a warming and inclusive environment where everyone treats each other with kindness, patience, respect, and love, the entire process of the production is profound,” he said. In regards to facing challenges, he reminds students to “never give up and don’t compare yourself to others. I have had some major doubts in my abilities as a performer, but those doubts aren’t worth it when you can turn that anxiety into energy that fuels your passion for a pursuit of excellence,” he revealed. Jacob has three pointers for those involved in the rehearsal process: 1) Embrace the dance days for musical, 2) Enjoy making new friends during your times offstage, and 3) Get off script because once you have your lines down, a whole new world of different emotions opens up for you to employ in your own way.

Overall, Jacob is appreciative of his time in the theatre at O’Gorman as it gave him some of the best memories and the best of friends. “Although I am sad my time there has come to an end, I have the utmost respect and faith that these kids are going to keep the amazing traditions alive and make it thrive for a long time,” he added. He will be back to see what everyone has in store for this season of shows!

.Dru Collins

Owen Watson

Directors

Production Crew

Neil Hoogendoorn

Rose Rueb

Mrs . Joan Mahoney

Mr . Steve Kueter

Mr . Alex Anderson

Acknowledgements

Parents of Cast & Crew

Mr Aaron Strand Mrs . Tara VandenBos Mrs Jodi Rysavy

Gabriella Picconi

Kaci Wilson Madelyn Nekvinda Riley Hagen Karen Szwajlik Gabe Prairie

Jordan Heisler Mr . Charlie Solomon

Mr

Mrs

Kevin Humke

Kendra Dexter

Raeya Allen Macee Bortnem Aiden Geiver

Jeannie Johnson & Yellow Bug Photography

Alice Masters Lucas Johnson

Arends

Senior Cast and Crew Members

Abigail Arends

Aiden Geiver

Raeya Allen

Karen Szwajlik

Carson Tschetter

Amaya Reddy

Dominic Johnson

Erin Kassing

Barbara Gonzalez

Peter Wegleitner

Front:

Technical Crew

Back: Gabe Prairie, Lucas Johnson, Matthew Schulte, Riley Hagen, Abigail Arends, Ian Winter

Not Pictured: Million Amare & Karen Szwajlik

Freshmen

Kylie Roemen, Gabriella Picconi, Kaci Wilson, Alice Masters, Brayden Carlson, Madelyn Nekvinda

Owen Tschetter, Adud Arop, Garvey Mueller, Molly Johnson

Sophomores

Juniors

Izabella Johnson, Conner Woody, Sofia Izaguirre, Jacob Thomas Not Pictured: Rai Rosa de Sharon

Front: Rayna Schoenfelder, Dru Collins, Elsa Bell, Olivia Duncan

Middle: Macee Bortnem, Auburn Dexter, Annie Olson

Back: Hudson Connelly, George Patrinos, Gavin Rook, Owen Watson, Alzbeta Maskova

Directors

Mr . Charlie Solomon and Mr . Jordan Heisler

Technical Director

Mr . Kevin Humke & Family

Costume Director

Assistant Costume Director

Janet and Dean Liesinger

Mrs . Kendra Dexter & Family

Costumes

Front: Erin Kassing, Teagan Garbers, Brooklyn Lee

Back: Leah Nielsen, Sydney VanDenHemel, Eve Nielsen, Sienna Castelluzzo Not Pictured: Madison Woody

The O’Gorman Performing Arts Department wishes to thank the following for their Patron SUPPORT

ACTOR:

Leroy and Kathy LaPlante

Brad Jarabek

Boyd and Dody Hopkins

Steven and Brigetta Klein Andy and Lea Johnson Mark and Jeanie Conzemius Martin and Amy DesLauriers

Leroy and Kathy LaPlante Jr. Catholic Community Foundation for Eastern SD Thomas and Leslie Morrow Don and Janet Fischer Michael and Sandy Fitzgibbons

DIRECTOR:

Jack & Gina Hopkins

John Knudtson and Sadie Dardis-Knudtson Michael and Sandy Fitzgibbons Mark and Jeanie Conzemius John and Bridget Wenande Michal and Mary Kay Bannwarth Dale and Jeanita Erickson

PRODUCER:

The Duncan Law Firm

David Krogman Shawn and Julie Cleary Russ DeNeui Donald Jr. and Shelly Kosiak Clint and Erin Brunner Thomas and Linda Penisten Daryl and Anita Thuringer The Dance Line Brian and Patricia Vognild Fr. Charles Cimpl Richard and Kathleen Sweetman Clint and Erin Brunner Shawn and Julie Cleary Randy and Ann Cowan Wallace and Pamela Fritz Honorable Stuart and Pamela Tiede

John and Nancy Schulte

Lee and Whitney Bumgarner

Quintin and Mary Honerman Fr. Paul Josten

Barry and Carol Solomon Greg and Kaye LaFollette

Quintin & Mary Honerman

Rory and Amber Kelly

Erik Thoen

Keith and Ann Schaefbauer

Siouxland Oral & Maxillofacial Surgical Producer Randy and Ann Cowan

Jon and Jenny Ellenbecker Jason and Stephanie Jones

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Team Excellence

Top Ranked Speech Team Does It Again

For decades, the O’Gorman Oral Interpretation and Debate team have performed well both in state and at the national level. However, this past year the team reached new heights by being named one of the National Speech and Debate Association’s Top 100 Schools in the nation. More than 3,000 schools compete in the National Speech and Debate Association each year. The prestigious Top 100 award is based on the number of students and new degrees earned through competitions. The continued success of the program is partially due to the work done by coaches, Ms. Teresa Fester, Mr. Bob Stevens, Ms. Chloe Goldade, Mr. Greg LaFollette and Mr. Charlie Solomon. The other contributing factor is the dedication and talent of the students.

2022 National Team of Excellence

This year’s award is even more impressive because it shows the comeback staff and students have made after competing online for the past two years. For many programs around the country, the pandemic presented significant challenges as the national tournament was held online in 2020 and 2021. However, in June of 2022, students were back to an in-person National Tournament in Louisville, Kentucky. O’Gorman qualified 11 oral interpers and two debaters. For all of the students, this would be their first experience competing at the national level. It was a bit overwhelming upon arrival in Louisville as students did not know what to expect. However, once they headed off to their first round, they simply embraced the opportunity and enjoyed competing against students from across the nation. In the end, this national team would end up earning O’Gorman a National School of Excellence in Speech Award which is given to the top 20 schools in the nation. This would be the 4th time O’Gorman has received this honor. The award is based on a point system that applies to how far each student advances in their categories. The fact that this team could bounce back from the pandemic and have such success truly defines the dedication and talent of the staff and students. Here are the results from this past summer.

Aiden Geiver receives 6th in the Nation

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2021-2022

Jacob Olson 2020-2021

Maria Evans 2019-2020 Elli Richardson 2018-2019 Nick Maxwell 2017-2018

Miles Cowan 2016-2017

Samuel Billion 2015-2016

Kelly Maxwell 2014-2015 Samuel Maxwell 2013-2014 Clara Bentz 2012-2013

Alexander Shields 2011-2012

Joseph J. Bezenek 2010-2011

Steve Schaeffer 2009-2010 Emily Hoffmann 2008-2009 Andrew Thuringer 2007-2008

Chloe Goldade 2006-2007

Kate Hennies 2005-2006

John Michels 2004-2005 Mary Fitzgibbons 2003-2004 Xavier Pastrano 2002-2003

Jeff Miller 2001-2002

Kate Orlando 2000-2001

1995-1996

Jackie Garry 1994-1995

Andrew Schafer 1993-1994 Amanda LaFollette 1992-1993 Matt Pehl 1991-1992

Jean Gross 1990-1991

Bannwarth 1989-1990

Jon Clausen 1988-1989 Sharon Picasso 1987-1988 Mollie Krum 1986-1987

Jennifer Waggoner 1985-1986

Mark Curley 1984-1985

Mary McGreevy 1983-1984 Kevin McCluskey 1982-1983 Mary Ellen Doyle 1981-1982

Kathryn Lyons 1980-1981

Mark Bechtel 1979-1980

Michael Randall 1978-1979 Dave Dedrick 1977-1978 Barbara Rossmeisl 1976-1977

Donnelly 1975-1976

Kathi Brick 1974-1975

Teresa Lyons 1973-1974 Gerry Kreitzer 1972-1973 Theresa Donley 1971-1972

Richard Zimmer 1970-1971

Marybeth Billion

Zooming in on the Visual Arts

Each year as students walk the halls of O-wing they get a small sampling of what is being created in the art rooms. Mr. Gary Siska built the foundation of a highly productive and meaningful program which is now led by his former students, Mr. Patrick Frankman and Mr. Alex Robey. The department continues to include essential courses such as drawing and painting, pottery, and photography. But the addition of a Functional Design course is combining the past with the present and is producing some visually pleasing additions to the school.

chairs and table designed by students

The Functional Design course is starting to spruce up the halls of O’Gorman. Recently, the art room received new tables and chairs. Mr. Frankman didn’t want the 30+ year-old chairs and wood from the tables to go to waste, so he decided to repurpose the chairs by decorating them with O’G history: “The chairs and tables have served so many students. I wanted to show respect to the materials and the people that came before. They teamed up with the Environmental Awareness Club to complete the project. Then came the question of what to do with the old art tables. The tables meant a lot to the Rutten family who had nine children attend O’Gorman High School, two of whom are now priests in the Diocese. Their father, Ed, custom made the tables for the school more than 30 years ago. Mr. Frankman wanted to repurpose the materials in a meaningful way, so he asked Father Paul Rutten who is at St. Mary Church if he needed any furniture. Father Rutten had been using a cardboard box for an end table, so Mr. Frankman had his class design and craft a table with the wood Fr. Rutten’s father used to make the art tables. Functional Design students will continue to work on projects to fill the halls of O’Gorman. One more special project involves displaying a stained-glass panel designed and created by Mr. Gary Siska. He used glass from the original high school to construct the new panel.

Focusing in on some of the individual talent in the Visual Arts we look at the results from the State Visual Arts Competition last spring. Congratulations to the following students!

Amy Longo 2nd place Multimedia, 3rd Place Painting

Ava Hillberg 2nd place Mixed Media

Ry Tupper 2nd place Photography

Harris Barnes 1st place Crafts

Amy Longo also received some of the highest honors given by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers Annual Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. The Alliance states that Gold Key Awards demonstrate the highest levels of achievement in technique, originality, and personal voice. Silver Key Awards demonstrate achievement worthy of recognition on the regional level. American Visions Award Nominees are selected by regional jurors who nominate five gold key artworks as best of show. Ms. Longo received four gold key awards in art portfolio, two in digital art, and painting. She also earned one silver in painting as well as two honorable mentions in painting and drawing and illustrations. We are proud of the creative minds in our visual arts and look forward to what they think of next!

Repurposed

Father Rutten’s custom table

Mr. Siska’s stained glass panel

performing

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of Performing Arts

To Be or Not To Be a Theatre Major

Interview with OGHS 2020 graduate, Katie Dinsmore

While a student at O’Gorman, Katie was involved in several play productions and was team captain of the speech team. She enjoyed her time on stage and being a part of the theatre community. Now she is taking her love of the theatre to the next level and is officially a Theatre Studies and Public Relations major at Penn State University. For some, the thought of majoring in theatre sounds a tad risky but Ms. Dinsmore states: “it is actually one of the soundest choices I have made.”

She started college undecided and thought she was going to study Criminology or Communications. As the semester went on she decided to audition for the Penn State School of Theatre (SOT) her second semester. ”I always knew I wanted to study theatre, but was really nervous about the college audition process. One day I was sitting in my dorm and after months of checking the audition website, I recorded a self-tape,” she said. The audition consisted of one monologue, two vocal samples, a statement of interest, theatre resume, two recommendation letters, and two analytical essays about a show of her choice. Katie got an interview with the head of the department and was accepted into the SOT.

Katie in the one-act play at OGHS

While some may view majoring in theatre as simply acting, Ms. Dinsmore is exploring the variety of options in the theatre industry. She shares that networking is a huge part of her classwork. “We form relationships with working professionals in the industry. Through the Penn State School of Theatre, I have two mentors- Mike Karns, the CEO of Marathon Digital and Social Media Director of Hamilton on Broadway, and Mary Lou Belli, a 2022 Emmy Nominated Director for a Comedy Series,” she explained. When it comes to course requirements, Katie will be taking ones that focus on dance, voice, theatre history, directing, theory, acting, playwriting, script analysis, and production classes. She is involved in a pre-professional program and works alongside directors and dramaturgs. Her favorite project so far has been playing “Sara Johnson” in Mountain Language at the Penn State Downtown Theater. “This show pushed me in ways as an actor I have never been before,” expressed Katie. Being in shows is just a small part of the major. She is also focusing on jobs behind the curtain and is working on writing a pitch for a short series in one of her classes. Theatre majors are also required to spend a semester in London and where they will take classes and attend shows on the West End.

Most of all, Ms. Dinsmore is working collaboratively with people that are professional and passionate about what they do: “It’s awesome to be surrounded by students who want to impact the world in a positive way.”

Her future goal is to utilize her degrees to do partnerships for Broadway shows or be an NBC Page. As for advice to current O’Gorman students thinking about majoring in theatre, Katie says: “Do it! There are so many jobs in the industry besides being a performer. You can make a career out of something you love. The world needs more creative and trailblazing people and this path has taught me to be one. You do not have to be the most talented or experienced person in the room, you just have to love what you are doing.” Bravo, Katie! Bravo!

Working an event at Penn State

Backstage at Penn State’s School of Theatre