Staff and students share Halloween traditions pg. 8
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Staff EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jackson Parks PRINT EDITOR Ava Musgraves JUNIOR EDITOR Lydia Urice BUSINESS MANAGER Izzy Poole PODCAST Maren DeMargel SOCIAL MEDIA/GRAPHICS Zeke La Mantia VIDEO EDITOR Calum Shank NEWS/OPINION Emily Goben FEATURE/ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Layla Johnson SPORTS EDITOR Owen Crews PUBLIC RELATIONS Calvin Lescher ADVISOR: Donald Johnson SOME MATERIAL FROM TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE The Echo is a monthly publication of the newspaper staff of Webster Groves High School, 100 Selma Avenue, Webster Groves, MO. To contact staff members, call 314-963-6400 ex. 11157 or write to wgecho@wgmail.org. Unsigned editorials are the opinion of a majority of staff members; signed articles are the opinion of the writer. Letters to the editor of 300 words or less are welcome; submit letters by the 10th of the month to wgecho@wgmail.org, or room 155. All letters must be signed, although the name may be withheld from publication if requested. The Echo has the right to edit letters for publication as long as intent remains unchanged. The Echo is a member of SSP, Quill and Scroll, MJEA, JEA, MIPA, NSPA and CSPA.
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Instagram account catches students sleeping Volleyball team honors late team member Students exchange thoughts on U.S. vs. home countries Halloween costumes raise cultural appropriation questions ‘You’ season 3 review Is ‘Riverdale’ still ‘the town with pep?’ Staff and Students share Halloween traditions and costumes Editors brave Creepyworld’s haunted attractions Animated Halloween movies may be upsetting to children 1st Webster Royals are crowned Drama department chooses spooky fall play Teacher helps pass bill in Missouri Women’s Tennis has best season ever What Halloween movie to watch based on your Zodiac sign American audiences connect with ‘Squid Game’ Anonymous donor makes Little Theater usable again
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Photo by Ava Musgraves
Senior Varsity cheerleader Victoria Proffer practices stunt before senior night at Moss Field on Friday, Oct. 22.
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Table of Contents | October 2021
Instagram account catches students sleeping Maren DeMargel Podcast Editor Anonymous Instagram accounts seem to be growing in popularity within the Webster Groves High School community. Examples include @websterparks (photos of bad parking jobs by students), @webster_lunchs (ratings of the WGHS cafeteria food) and @webstersfashionrates (ratings of student outfits). However, an account with the username @webster. naps has surpassed all of these accounts in popularity. This account has reached nearly 800 students and community followers. The account’s purpose is to post photos of WGHS students napping in school and other places. It has become popular for students to send in photos of their friends napping. The current operator of the account, who chose to remain anonymous, drew inspiration from their tired peers. “When I got to school, a lot of people were sleeping, and I just thought it would be a really cool idea,” the operator said. They also drew inspiration from similar accounts on Instagram.“I saw that other accounts like @chami.naps had a big follower base, so I thought it would be a cool
idea,” the operator said. The operator expected @webster.naps to gain this same following. “The other accounts around the high schools just exploded because people thought it was really funny,” they said. This person is not the account’s original creator, though. @Webster.naps was originally created by freshman David Trampe. Trampe gave up the account earlier this year. “It takes a lot of time to properly run the account. It might not seem like a lot, but there’s all kinds of stuff you have to do, and I have a busy schedule,” Trampe said via email. Trampe is in the process of regaining control of the account, which he described as a struggle. “I do regret giving up the account because I feel like the new owner doesn’t do as great of a job but hopefully that gets worked out,” Trampe said via email. Even though Trampe is not in control of the account anymore, he is still proud of the impact it has had. “My favorite part of the account is it’s something you can just do with friends and laugh about. In a way it connects the whole school,” Trampe said via email.
Photo By Maren DeMargel
The @webster.naps Instagram page posts photos of WGHS students sleeping in class and in other places.
Volleyball team honors late team member Business Manager Izzy Poole Volleyball players honored late teammate Kara Wrice Sept. 30. Students, parents and staff came to the game wearing purple to remember Wrice. The night started out with a packed student section with fans continuing to come to watch and filling out the corners of Roberts Gym. Students took any free time that they had to come watch the game. “It was really important to come to the game and support the team, and do anything that I could do, but I had to leave to go to work before the game even started,” said senior Emily Goben. Women’s softball team, men’s soccer team and women’s tennis team members came to watch the Kara Game after their games for that night had finished. Volleyball team members decorated the gym with posters, balloons, signs and streamers. They also gave speeches about their memories with Wrice, taking time to honor Wrice’s father, Karl Wrice, and brother before the game as well. The team gifted flowers to Northwest High School in memory for a student who had recently died in a car crash. Raffles raised money for The Kara Lynn Wrice Foundation, which donates money towards scholarships. As well as, a miracle
October 2021 | News
Photo By Izzy Poole
Varsity women’s volleyball stand together before their game to honor Kara Wrice in Roberts Gym on Thursday, Sept. 30.
minute during half time where JV volleyball players ran around the gym with bags, and spectators put donations in the bags. A total of $2,001.54 was raised for the foundation during the game through the raffel, the miracle minute and more. T-shirts and bracelets were being sold up to the game and Tshirts continue to be sold for donations to The Kara Lynn Wrice Foundation. The team plans to continue The Kara Game in the future to always keep Wrice in their memories.
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Students Spill:
Students exchange thoughts on U.S. vs. home countries Junior Editor Lydia Urice Of the 1,410 students enrolled at WGHS this year, four of them are foreign exchange students. They compared America to their home countries. “I think the biggest difference would be food,” junior Marie Dapper said. Dapper is a foreign exchange student from southwest Germany, near the Black Forest. “Everything is just bigger over here, including food. The portions are bigger. Cars are bigger. Even shopping carts are bigger. Streets are bigger; everything’s just bigger.” Dapper said. “Then the food, we don’t eat so much cheese. Some things are very sweet. At the beginning, that was the biggest culture shock for me, but I’m kind of used to it, and I like it. I do miss bread, like German bread, because it’s different. Bread is also sweeter than in Germany,” Dapper said. “I would say the primary difference would be like how people are,” junior Lukas Hillström said. Hillström is a foreign exchange student from Stockholm, Sweden. “So how extroverted and welcoming people are here. I would say that people in Sweden are much more introverted. If you’d go there, you would probably not feel very welcome because if we don’t have anything good to say we don’t say anything, but here, people always say what is on the top of their head,” Hillström said. “When I was younger, like in elementary school, the U.S. fascinated me,” Dapper said. “In 2016 I decided I wanted to do an exchange here, and then I was looking to go to Ireland or England. I wanted to go somewhere English- like a country that speaks English, but then I decided I want to go to the U.S. because I wanted to have that whole experience,” Dapper said. “I don’t like that people are so fixated on politics here,” Hillström said. “We do care about it, but I could be on the left, and you could be on the left, doesn’t really matter, doesn’t have anything to do with our relationship. We can still get along; I think it’s harder here.” “I’ve been here before, so I knew that most of the people were nicer than German people,” Dapper said. “I feel like if you’re interested in a culture, and you know a lot about it, you’re not as surprised. That’s why I didn’t have a big culture shock, the only thing was food. I knew it was different but not that different.” “Then there are the government things,” Hillström said. “Taxes are way higher so we have more welfare. People are more healthy in Sweden, less obese.” “The thing I dislike most is the health care system. There are a lot of things you can improve on with that,” Dapper said. “There are guns [in Sweden], but you have to get special permits, and it’s only for hunting. So we don’t have, like the, maybe it’s not very normal here, but school shootings happen here, but they don’t... It’s not a thing [in Sweden]. When I heard that there are school shootings in here, I thought you were crazy,” Hillström said.
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Photo by Logan King
Junior Marie Dapper with her host family. Dapper is from Southwest Germany, near the Black Forest. “Do you know Cuckoo clocks? Yeah, they’re from there,” Dapper said.
“No [not worried about school shootings], not really. St. Louis seems like a good place. Especially I like Webster too. I don’t really know [what] the thoughts behind a school shooting would be, but I guess if it’s students, I would not imagine any students from here doing a school shooting,” Hillström said. “I feel very comfortable here, and I like Webster Groves,” Dapper said. “ I’m part of the football team, and they were like immediately, everyone’s my friend now. I don’t have any disagreements with them. They’re just nice. It’s very easy to be part of something which also leads to feeling less lonely,” Hillström said. “It’s easier to know many people here, but it’s harder to know few very, very good. Like the friend groups I have in Sweden, I’m very, very attached to them as they are attached to me,” Hillström said. “School in Germany is very different,” Dapper said. “I know German, English and then kinda Spanish and kinda French because we are required to learn more languages, and that is basically the only thing we can choose, like languages and science,” Dapper said. “School in Germany focuses more on general knowledge so we don’t have classes like web design or housing and interior design,” Dapper said. “In general, we focus on learning and learning only, and not having fun while learning stuff,” Dapper said. “The teachers are much more lenient here. I’d say they’re very similar to the teachers we had in fifth grade and sixth grade. They’re just nice. They want you to succeed.,” Hillström said. “We don’t really have school spirit, at least in my school in Germany, because sports and schools are separated,” Dapper said. “I really like the school spirit, and I do love the traditions like Thanksgiving, and I’m very excited for Halloween because Germany, we realize that there is Halloween, but we don’t really do stuff,” Dapper said.
Feature | October 2021
If they can’t take it off, you shouldn’t put it on
Halloween costumes raise cultural appropriation questions
Multiple retailers, including Amazon, sell costumes that culturally appropriate. Screenshot from Amazon.com.
Contributing Writer Maya Hamid Each Halloween Webster Groves High School students are permitted to wear their costumes to school, granted they aren’t inappropriate, include a mask, weapon or face paint. Those are stated clearly in WGHS’ rules, but there is no explicit mention of costumes that are culturally inappropriate. About how cultural appropriation factored into school rule, Matt Irvin, principal, said “I don’t think there’s anything codified around specifically cultural appropriation. There is some language around, that schools often, I would include us in that, that usually put out in anticipation of, it’s usually around no face coverings, no face paint, no weapon or facsimile of weapon.” Irvin said, “Those are definitely things from a safety standpoint, but also from another safety aspect of cultural appropriation, that would definitely be something that would be, kind of thinking about how we might guide and support students making selections for those who choose to dress up at the high school.” However, Irvin said he is open to suggestions of what the administration could do to give cultural appropriation a more concrete position in school regulation, how to educate those who culturally appropriate and how this message could be presented to the student body in an accessible way. Cultural appropriation is in focus in America, specifically around Halloween with costume shops selling merchandise with names such as “Arab Sheikh,” “Native American” and “Mexican,” and the instances of individuals donning black or brown face. To figure out why American culture seems to have a problem with identifying cultural appropriation, American history must be looked at. About what historical events or figures could have contributed to the development of this practice Jessica Pursell, social studies teacher, who teaches American history said via email, “The cul-
October 2021 | Feature
tural appropriation of Native American symbols and dress has a long history. The first example that comes to mind is the Boston Tea Party where colonists dressed up as Native Americans to protest the Tea Act. This is problematic because by using (appropriating) Native American identity to meet their own needs means Americans often mis-use or even grossly disrespect Native American Culture.” Pursell said, “This is so complicated because many Americans today and even during the Tea Party wanted to dress as Native Americans because they have positive feelings about Native Americans. Unfortunately because they are not knowledgeable about the specific culture they end up causing serious offense.” About why there is such an issue in identifying and sympathizing with this appropriation Pursell theorized, “Due to previous assimilationist policies it is possible that many Americans today no longer have a deep knowledge and tie to the cultures of their ancestors. Therefore it might make it harder for us to understand how deeply hurtful misuse of another’s’ cultural symbols can be.” According to Wikipedia, “Cultural appropriation is the unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption of an element or elements of one culture or identity by members of another culture or identity. This can be controversial when members of a dominant culture appropriate from minority cultures.” Appropriation is not to be confused with appreciation. The Finery Report stated that, “Appreciation, by definition, is the act of recognizing or understanding that something is valuable and important. With this context, cultural appreciation is mutual understanding and benefit for both parties involved when implementing or portraying a culture.” Cultural appreciation includes learning about a culture from its source, crediting these sources and having “fair compensation,” for example, purchasing cultural objects from the people of that culture directly. To people of color the answer to why cultural appropriation is so harmful is obvious, but to white Americans there seems to be some confusion regarding why these costumes are offensive and why they should care. Journey magazine interviewed Sam Elk, an indigenous woman who explained the feeling of seeing her white peers dawning costumes of indigenous people. According to the Journey article, “’It has always been an eerie experience to see a non-Native dress in make up regalia, even back when it was a fad,’ Elk said. ‘For anyone who knows that truth in the making of this country, you’d be properly spooked. For all of your [white] ancestors who came to this land aided in some form or way in the genocide and cultural genocide of millions upon millions of people that resided on this land for thousands of years.’” Elk added, “The remaining survivors of this genocide do not want to see our culture, which has been torn to bits, getting mocked or romanticized by the slaughterer’s kin.”
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Hello, YOU
Netflix‘s ‘You’ season three review Editor-in-Chief Jackson Parks
The third season of “You” is quite the trip -- a trip to Joe (Penn Badgley) and Love Quinn-Goldberg’s (Victoria Pedretti) new life in the American dream-type town of Madre Linda, California. Netflix’s “You” returned for its third season on Oct. 15, with its usual 10 episodes. Not in New York City or Los Angeles, “You’s” third season cements the feeling of a semi-anthology format for the show (based on its changing location and usual one-off characters.) Season 3 picks up with Joe and Love faking the suburban dream, but for them it’s clearly a nightmare. A newborn son, Henry, or wedding bells can’t seem to change who they are at heart: obsessive and impulsive murderers. Their new town is filled with influencers, keto and vegan everything, and rich cliques of trophy wives; of course, they refer to this as one of the best and safest towns in California. This season of the hit show reads a bit differently than its predecessors, still relying on its location and oneoff characters as usual though. The ten episodes are chopped up by random,
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brushed-off and short time-jumps that almost give each episode an awkward feel. The characters’ moods and dilemmas jump around from episode to episode, with them almost being in a different headspace each time the Netflix logo queues each episode. Of course, the season comes with many twists and turns -- creating the perfect binge-watch. Joe’s and Love’s relationship has its ups and downs, but their obsessive and homicidal tendencies (which they hope to bind them together) are only their worst enemy when it comes to married life in Madre Linda. The characters are interesting and current this season, though they are quite one-dimensional and make you think to yourself: “Well, they’re going to get killed off.” Season 3 of “You” just seems to feel a bit separate and almost to the side compared to its first two seasons. The first two seasons of the show really seemed to flow together quite well and were a lot more unexpected than its latest installment. The awkward and choppy storylines aside, the acting of Victoria Pedretti, who plays the complex Love QuinnGoldberg, and Penn Badgley as the lead monster Joe Quinn-Goldberg
are a major highlight. Pedretti’s ups and downs shown through grief, lust, love, and aggression make the show quite the trip, and with her leading it might as well be a first class ticket. Badgley’s performance is great as always, and it’s interesting to see him in the role of a father this time around. Their newfound roles as parents definitely give the show a new and more grown-up feeling, which is clearly one of the reasons why the show might read a bit differently now. The show tackles storylines of adulthood -- not just their normal navigations of murdering in your mid-20s. It’s interesting to see these two characters, that it’s hard to have much empathy for, being parents, when it’s really that last thing to expect of them after last season. “You” season 3 is solid, but it’s definitely its weakest season in its collective. Of course, it’s filled with fun and outlandish moments and doesn’t shy away from its almost every episode cliffhanger, but it does fall flat a bit overall. “You” is available to stream on Netflix worldwide and has already been renewed for its fourth season.
Entertainment | October 2021
7 years ahead:
Is ‘Riverdale’ still ‘the town with pep?’
Editor-in-Chief Jackson Parks “Riverdale” returned for its fifth season on Jan. 20, on the CW, picking up the pieces that its pandemic-halted fourth season left behind. These pieces--the first three episodes of the fifth season--wrap up the high school storylines, which were left hanging when the pandemic led to a shortened previous season. From an action-packed and final prom for Archie Andrews and the gang to a bittersweet graduation episode, the pretime jump episodes are wrapped up by the end of episode 3. Episode 4 acts as the intentional season 5 premiere, picking up with the characters we’ve only known as high school students as adults in their mid-20s. Seven years in the future, Riverdale is a ghost town -- an unincorporated and gang-ridden town which rests in the hands of Hiram Lodge, who hasn’t changed at all in the seven years that have passed. The story picks up with Archie (KJ Apa), Betty Cooper (Lili Reinhart), Veronica Lodge (Camila Mendes) and Jughead Jones (Cole Sprouse) returning home to celebrate Pop Tate’s retirement but also to escape their troubled pasts. In the time that’s passed since their graduation, the lives and fates of all the characters have changed drastically. Archie is a celebrated sergeant for the military, who has been sent back home to revive the town’s ROTC. Betty is an FBI trainee who continued her serial killercatching after high school. Jughead is a published but troubled writer, living in New York City and with addiction. Veronica is trapped in a dying marriage and lives in the city too, dubbing herself the “She-Wolf of Wall Street.” Other characters have stayed in town or returned earlier than the “core four.”
October 2021 | Entertainment
Riverdale’s resident gothic heroine, Cheryl Blossom (Madelaine Petsch), planned to stay in town to revitalize her family’s name and maple empire; instead, she trapped herself inside her family’s mansion Thornhill, where she spent the years renovating and isolating. Her ex-girlfriend, Toni Topaz (Vanessa Morgan), has a much more emphasized role in the town and the show this season -- largely in result of the Black Lives Matter movement and Morgan’s comments on her character’s treatm e n t . Toni works as a counselor at the high school and was crowned as her rightfully-earned Serpent Queen title. She is also pregnant with a mystery baby by a mystery father (which is later revealed in the season.) Other characters, like Kevin, Alice, Fangs and more, pick up the slack around the town -- whether it be at the school, local businesses or in family life. Season 5 welcomes newcomer Erinn Westbrook joins “Riverdale” as the energetic and business-savvy Tabitha Tate, the granddaughter of Pop Tate. She comes to town to take over her family’s diner, with hopes of franchising and growing the business. Westbrook brings a new and exciting energy to not only her character, but the show and ensemble as a whole. “Riverdale” would not be a show -- or a town -- without a mystery (or several.) Without spoiling, the post-time jump portion of the season surrounds the disappearance of Betty’s sister, Polly, on the Lonely Highway, a long stretch of road polluted by a band of serial killers who target street workers and addicts. There’s also an interesting alien aspect, dubbed “Moth Men” in a typical “Riverdale’’ fashion, aspect to the mystery -- but of course, it’s somehow wrapped up by the end of the season. This season of “Riverdale” is just a lot darker than its predecessors -- whether it be its colors, mysteries or its emphasis on trauma and its toll on mental health. The writers do a decent job of making the characters a lot more vulnerable than
before, especially now with seven years of baggage on their shoulders. Grief, PTSD, depression, and loneliness are all strong aspects of the season, and these are topics that are only ever just brushed over in the show. Although it is dark, “Riverdale” spares no musical moment. A highlight is an episode centered solely on Josie and the Pussycats, a fan-favorite group of characters that haven’t been seen on the screen together since season 2. The episode is well-done and glamorous, focusing on global superstar Josie McCoy’s abrupt return to town and reconciliation with her former bandmates and best friends, Valerie Brown and Melody Valentine -- who have apparently stayed in town despite not being shown since their sophomore year of high school. The season also features its annual musical episode, which this time is Broadway’s 2009 “Next to Normal,” which seems to fit perfectly in the show and its ongoing storylines. It’s a musical about a troubled family, and a mother who just wanted everything to be perfect -- which mirrors Alice and her role in the Cooper family. Many aren’t a fan of “Riverdale’s” musical episodes and moments (though I always will be,) but this season’s musical feels very real and fitting to the story. “Riverdale’s” fifth season, like previous seasons, is a lot. The storylines are hitor-miss, the change in characters is a b i g adjustment, and some moments make you think: How did they allow this? Overall though, the season feels refreshing. The mystery is enticing and leaves you waiting for the next episode. The new characters, relationships, and dynamics are some of the highlights of the season. Just as Sprouse read over shots of the town in the 2017 pilot, “This is a story about a town. A small town. And the people who live in the town.” Even on its fifth season, “Riverdale” still seems to function under that line. Art by Sadie Coalier
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Staff and Students share Hal
Editor-in-Chief Jackson Parks
Art teacher Jocelyn Reiss reflected on her favorite Halloween memories, specifically memories of childhood costumes. “I think my favorite childhood memories of Halloween were watching my mom whip up our costumes from what we had around the house. She was a wiz on a sewing machine and could turn just about anything into a costume or prop. One year, we set up a haunted house made out of refrigerator boxes; we had a strobe light and dry ice. It was creepy and fun,” Reiss said. Reiss continues her memories and fondness of Halloween costumes through her own children. “Over the years I’ve continued the Halloween tradition by sewing up my own kids’ costumes or thrifting pieces and getting
Halloween is not just a holiday for children but also WGHS staff. With anticipation for a somewhat normal Halloween celebration, teachers reflect on their favorite memories and traditions. Social studies teacher Alison Bryar shared some of her favorite childhood memories from the Halloween season. “I am from Manchester, and Manchester Park used to put on a big Halloween celebration. They had a haunted hay ride, and they turned the pool complex into a haunted house. Me and my best friend Michael went to it together as kids ev“My favorite childhood memories of Halloween ery year. We loved the haunted hayride and finally got up the courage to do the haunted ‘house,’” Bryar are with my brother and I designing costumes said. About her new traditions and plans for this year, from our favorite shows,” Petter said. Bryar shared, “ My husband and I moved into our first house at the end of last summer, so this is our first Hal- creative for a celebratory effect,” Reiss shared. Psychology teacher Jon Petter also appreciates the costume loween in our new neighborhood. We are so excited to hand out and decoration aspects of the season as well. candy, then head to a neighbor’s for cider and a bonfire in their “My favorite childhood memories of Halloween are with my driveway. Other traditions we have involve going to my brothbrother and I designing costumes from our favorite shows. Our ers’ houses early in the evening to see the nieces and nephews parents wouldn’t buy us costumes so we had to create them out dressed in their costumes. One of them lives in Webster, so I of what we already had, which presented a cool challenge “I am a little ‘old’ for trick or treating, but I and an opportunity to be creative and spend some family designing,” Petter reflected. do enjoy seeing the kids come by. I always give time Homemade costumes seems to be a theme for WGHS WAY more than most families,” Holcomb said. teachers -- some more top notch than others. “I once used a green sweatsuit to create a Riddler costume with a bunch of construction paper question marks and then hope to spot some students as well!” the next year used it as a Slimer costume with some creative SSD teacher Marina Holcomb revealed her favorite childhood make-up,” Petter said. memories of the trick-or-treating season as well. As times change, so do traditions. While making a Halloween “My favorite memory is trick-or-treating with my four sisters costume might be more fun for others, a store-bought costume and three brothers. Because there were so many of us, one would might be a convenience. Creative costumes aren’t the only way think we wouldn’t receive much candy. Wrong! My sisters are to express yourself this time of year; there are also over-the-top older and very attractive (three became professional models), decorations. so I always enjoyed trick-or-treating with them because I made Petter shared his family’s yearly traditions, “We don’t really quite the chocolate haul!” Holcomb said. create any costumes anymore. My kids always want to buy the Holcomb expanded by adding how she continues her traditions newest and coolest ones, so I get creative by decorating. We alas an adult and mother, rather than a child, “Now, I still eat all of ways decorate for Halloween on Sept. 1, so we can enjoy them the chocolates I can find. As soon as the candy bags hit the store, for a lot longer, especially with COVID as we need the morale I start eating it all! I am a little ‘old’ for trick-or-treating, but I boost. We really go big inside and out with decorations. We aldo enjoy seeing the kids come by. I always give WAY more than ways buy one large decoration each year, and after 13 years we most families. What can I say? I just love kids.” have quite a collection! My kids really love it, and that’s why we Holcomb is not just a fan of the treats but also the tricks. keep doing it year after year.” “A new tradition that we did not have when I was a kid is tellHalloween is a time filled with nostalgia, celebration, and exing a joke. I think that is a St. Louis thing. However, I do enjoy cessive costumes and decorations, which are not just for chilhearing jokes that are ‘cornier than the candy corn,’” Holcomb dren. With Halloween creeping up and pumpkins being carved, said. memories and nostalgia are at their highest. The anticipation and While some teachers might reflect on the candy and jokes of excitement of the season seem to run high through the teachers the season, others enjoy the costume aspect. of WGHS.
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October 2021 | Feature
lloween traditions and costumes Senior Sarah Jane Hornburger dresses in a toilet paper roll costume.
Psychology teacher Jon Petter poses as a “Ghostbuster” with his family.
Senior Sydney Harp poses in an 80s themed look with brother Asher Harp dressed as a “Duck Dynasty” character.
Art teacher Jocelyn Reiss poses with siblings for Halloween.
October 2021 | Feature
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‘Scariest Scream Park in America’
Editors brave Creepyworld’s haunted attractions
the actors that included them assigning us
Editor-in-Chief nicknames, like “blondie.” Print Editor Ava Musgraves Jackson Parks Speakers line outside of the houses Halloweentown: “Kalabar’s Revenge,” candy corn, pumpkins, glitter, witches hats. All things that come to mind when October rolls around. Halloween can easily be a tame and child-friendly holiday, or to the more thrill seeking part of our human race who will pay someone hard earned money to chase them around with a chainsaw. Naturally, Jackson Parks (editor-inchief) and Ava Musgraves (print editor) decided to get chased around with a chainsaw to observe if Creepyworld, a local outdoor series of haunted houses, lived up to its name. Creepyworld is open now: Oct. 21, through Halloween after being open a few select weekends in earlier October. Sunday through Thursday it is open 7-9:30 p.m., Friday through Saturday it is open 6:45-11:45 p.m. and on Halloween it will be open from 7-11 p.m. Tickets are $30 and are available for purchase on site or online. Friday Oct. 15, we set out to Fenton, MO. After standing in line, in about 50 degree weather, a faint rain dusting the crowd caused everyone to be a little damp and a little more anxious. To keep anticipation high to enter the string of 13 themed houses, actors dressed as various characters including Freddy Krueger, clowns, zombies, etc.... We experienced a personalized approach from
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playing eerie music, and a deep voiceover claims Creepyworld to be “America’s biggest and scariest scream park.” The entrance is thought out in a smart way. The whole park is kept dark and moonlit. The rain just added to the ambiance, thrill seekers shouldn’t let the forecast turn them away. Visitors warm right up as soon as they’re in the door. What sets CreepyWorld apart from other haunted houses is the intense dedication the actors bring to their characters. As a collective we felt actual fear, as the whole experience takes about an hour and a half, and they did not give us time to catch our breath “Monsters” jump out from behind dark corners, acting as a statue until patrons dare to cross by. They also wait behind the door and chase visitors all the way to the next house, calling names, keeping the whole experience very immersive. This immersive experience is not for the faint of heart. By about house four we were both ready to be done and back in the car safe and sound as exhilaration
proves to be quite exhausting. We don’t know if they train these people in parkour or something because they actually were jumping from surface to surface to chase us through onto the next house leaving no room for avoidance. Aside from the actors, the actual rooms left us disoriented and vulnerable with strobe lighting, mazes, and literal (fake) hanging dead bodies from the ceiling we had to walk through. The whole time we both felt a sick and nauseated feeling. The experience affected us physically and emotionally as Ava was gripping on to Jackson as we took the walk up through a wooded area back to the car and Jackson insisted we pull into the nearest QT because he “felt like he was going to puke.” He did end up puking in the Ballwin QT while Ava got a slushie because the experience left her feeling parched. “I barely ate that day, and I was scared,” Jackson said about what caused him to puke. The scariest part was when “there was a guy with long hair and blood dripping down his face who wouldn’t stop chasing us. I almost peed my pants,”Jackson said. Part of the disorienting nature of the experience was “they never did tell us where to go. I would change the directions they give you,” Jackson said. “It felt at times they were touching me or my hair they were that close to me. The only thing that got me through it was the fact that they weren’t actually allowed to touch me. I was clinging to Jackson for dear life, so honestly there was not a point when I wasn’t scared. The worst part was you never knew what was coming next,” Ava said. To conclude, for people who are looking for the “Scariest Scream Park in America,” after attending Creepyworld, the editors of the Echo believe they can find that thrill right down in Fenton. Photos by Ava Musgraves
Actors portray “creepy” characters throughout Creepyworld’s various houses.
Feature | October 2021
Traumatizing or not meant for kids?
Animated Halloween movies may be upsetting to children Social Media/Graphics Editor Ezekiel La Mantia Animated movies are written off as being child friendly only because of the fact that they’re animated/not live action. This assumption can be tricky to navigate when it comes to animated movies marketed as Halloween/spooky movies because, to keep that aspect of horror or spooky/creepy, some subject material is too much for younger viewers. When it comes to Tim Burton films, especially his clay-animation works, he captures the scary fall vibes October holds while still keeping things friendly enough for young watchers. “Coraline” is a clay-animation Tim Burton film that members of Gen Z watched during their childhood. “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” another one of Burton’s films usually watched around Halloween, has frightening aspects to it. Between Oogie Boogie and his bugs, Jack the Pumpkin King, the inhabitants of Halloween Town and Sally’s detachable limbs, it’s understandable why the movie is rated PG and typically recommended for elementary students and above. However, Burton does make the movies palatable towards younger crowds
and parents alike by maneuvering around darker topics and adding bright colors and non-clay aspects to his movies to make them more visually pleasing and less scary to the eyes. The same can be said for other Burton films and other clay-animation movies like “Corpse Bride,” “Paranorman” and “Frankenweenie.” The movies have dark academia vibes while still being classified as good children’s Halloween movies. Other popular children’s Halloween movies outside Burton films and clay animation films include shows like “Halloweentown” (film series), “Monster House,” “Hocus Pocus” and “Scary Godmother: Halloween Spooktakular.” Halloween movies fall into two classifications: one being graphic and scary while the other being fall vibes and magic. Children’s Halloween movies typically fall into the latter category, but “Monster House” by Gil Kenan, which came out in 2006, is a movie that handles the darkness of horror while still finding itself popular. “Monster House” has horror as well as heartbreak, while following the storyline of three youths. Being animated, being “scary” and it literally being set right before Halloween, it’s a movie that is closely associated with being a children’s Halloween movie. It does a good job of conveying the overall message that bully-
Photo by Joel Fletcher/Online USA/ Hulton Archive/Getty Images/TNS
Lock, right, Shock, left, and Barrel, center, return to Halloweentown with “Sandy Claws” in order that Jack Skellington can take his place in Touchstone Pictures animated film, “Tim Burton’s A Nightmare Before Christmas.”
ing is the true horror of the world. “Halloweentown” is a film series set half in a magical world of monsters and half in the human world that deals well with the subject of Halloween and magic without being traumatizing to anyone. Being a popular Disney series, as well as being live action, it’s made its mark in the Halloween scene. Just because it’s animated does not mean it’s child friendly, an example of this would be Adult Swim shows.
History is made
1st Webster Royals are crowned at Friendship Dance News/Opinion Editor Emily Goben Seniors Hugh Wade and Keith Fisher were crowned as the first Webster Royals at the Friendship Dance Saturday, Oct. 9. Wade was nominated by the band. Fisher was nominated by the Pep Club. Wade is a member of the men’s cross country team, men’s track, National Honor Society and Tri-M Music Honor Society. In his free time, he likes to stay active; he enjoys running, playing ultimate frisbee and hiking. “I really enjoy the sense of community and camaraderie that I get from my friends, in band, and in cross country,” Wade said about his favorite thing about
October 2021 | Entertainment
Webster. Fisher is a member of student council, the cross country team manager, the founder of Tailgate Club and has been a Camp Wyman counselor and a PACER. In his free time, he tries to catch up on sleep. “I think Webster is like a really tightknit community, so it’s like really easy to get to know everyone,” Fisher said. To make Friendship Court more inclusive, Webster Royals were crowned this year rather than a Friendship Queen and King. Band, cheerleading, Echo, football, student council, Statesmen Stars, Statesbots, yearbook and pep club each selected one nominee from the senior class, except student council, which nominated two people due to the size and leadership of the club. Each group selected someone
Photo by Matthew Grace
Seniors Keith Fisher and Hugh Wade are crowned the first Webster Royals at the Friendship Dance.
that they thought best represented “the pride of Webster Groves High School and Friendship tradition,” according to an email from assistant activities director Munir Prince.
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Women’s Tennis has best season ever Sports Editor Owen Crews
Video Editor Calum Shank
Women's Varsity tennis team has the best record in school history. It has broken the previous school record by going 12-1 this season. Seniors Julie Bardelmeier and Audrey Swaine won Districts for doubles and went to State on Oct. 14, in Springfield. This is the first time in eight years a doubles partner has done this from Webster Groves High School. The pair have played together for all four years of high school and won their last game against Ladue to move on to the official high school tournament. “It was really good. Both me and Julie have only been playing since my freshman year of high school. We were playing girls who had been playing their whole lives. We were just happy to be there, even though we lost in the first round due to nerves and weather conditions. It was also cool because nobody on the tennis girls team has been to State in nine years,” Swaine said.
Graphic by Izzy Poole
Head coach Terrance Verstraete has a pre-match meeting with seniors Julie Bardelmeier and Audrey Swaine, who then went on to win their match and played in the State meet Oct. 14-16.
“I really liked Winning the quad tournament this year and playing with my best friend,” Swaine added. Bardelmier said, “It was a new experience for both of us and it was just a fun time all around.” “This has 100% been my favorite year so far, but I'm going to miss the seniors so much next year,” junior Annemarie Sweeny said via email. “Almost all of our Varsity team was seniors, so next year we are going to need to work extra hard and prepare more during the off season.” Freshman Addison Simpson played
Varsity this year, and her partner senior Calli Hepfinger placed third in Districts for doubles. Simpson said via email, “Calli and I did have a great season! Calli was the best partner to have as a freshman. She was extremely encouraging, and I had a great time playing with her. I loved getting to know her as a person as well as a teammate.” Tennis coach Terence Verstraete thought it was a great year. Verstraete said via email, “12-1 record. School and team record. We won our own tournament (the Webster Quad). Calli Hepfinger went undefeated during the regular season. Audrey Swaine and Julie Bardelmeier won their individual District and qualified for State. First time in over eight years. Calli Hepfinger/Addison Simpson also took third in Districts.” Verstraete mentioned how each year the team loses seniors. Verstraete added, “Addison Simpson (freshman), Milly Binkelman, (junior) Grace Closson, (sophomore) Elena King, (freshman) Ava Marsh, (freshman) Katie Dirks to name a few,” about leaders for the next few years.
Joins us in Fellowship and Celebration of God’s Love! Worship Service is Sunday Mornings at 11 a.m.
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Sports| October 2021
Making progress
Teacher helps pass bill in Missouri Contributing Writers Sam Klein Hadley Hoskins Before Senate Bill 76 passed in spring of 2020, Missouri school districts were responsible for allowing teachers the space to breast pump at school-not the time. Spanish Teacher Jamie Adamski helped to change that. In January of 2020, Adamski came back to work from maternity leave. After returning, however, she said there were extreme scheduling conflicts, which resulted in her working for long stretches of time, (almost four hours). This posed a problem because as a new mother, Adamski needed time to breast pump around every two hours. “You have to mimic your baby’s feeding patterns,” Adamski said. Mickey Erb, Office 108 administrative assistant, said over email, “I had three children while at WGHS. I had nowhere to privately nurse/pump. I was forced to use closets, which people walked in on several times, or even the school records vault. With each child, I wasn’t able to nurse very long after returning to work, and it was heartbreaking.” Lauren Maedge, who teaches Foods and Nutrition, also shared her experiences. Her second year of teaching, she struggled with balancing being a new mother
gle was finding time in her schedule. Senate Bill 76 changes that by requiring all elementary and secondary schools to provide accommodations for teachers who wish to breast pump. The minimum, as defined by the bill, is three times each school day. Photo by Lydia Urice Helping to pass Spanish teacher Jamie Adamski shows the high school’s this bill wasn’t pumping/nursing closet, which features a comfortable chair easy for Adamand a lock. ski. She took a union day to go and teaching. She said there was a lack of to the House of Representatives in Jeffersupport for new mothers. son City to testify. With her help, the bill The need for a nursing closet was ap- passed. parent after many instances, for example, About the effects of the bill, Adamski when Maedge and Erb dealt with getting said, “I’m thrilled about it. I think it's basiwalked in on while breast pumping. Web- cally all of education, [about] 74% of all ster Groves High School now has a closet educators are female, so to have a guarandedicated to pumping/nursing complete teed right to something that our bodies do with a comfortable chair and, most impor- biologically, is pretty huge.” tantly: a lock. School districts across Missouri will For Adamski though, it wasn’t about have to put the bill into effect by July 1, finding the space. She said the real strug- 2022.
Zombies
Drama department chooses spooky fall play Owen Crews Sports Editor Drama department will perform “10 Ways to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse” by Don Zolidis in the Jerry R. Knight Auditorium Oct. 28-30, at 7 p.m. This play teaches the audience how to survive the zombie apocalypse using narrators and teenagers who run the lesson. The play is a comedy with speaking performances from sophomore Teddy Woldow, freshman Colette Giezentanner, junior Xavier Jurotich, freshman George Lemkey, sophomore Ciana Jackson and freshman Madeline Gibson. It takes place on a street and has the stylistic background of a street that is undergoing the
October 2021 | Feature
zombie apocalypse. The play was chosen because of how easy it was and how inexpensive it is to produce. According to Todd Schaefer, drama teacher, it was a choice based on money. When COVID hit, it really affected the drama department, and the department needed a play that was not hard to create within a tighter budget. Woldow said, “I think it’s really cool... I get to be in tech theater, which is the class I’m in right now, and I also get to be working in the play because I get every aspect of the set and of the acting.” Woldow added, “I think it’s great that everybody who auditioned gets to be a zombie in the play if they don’t get a speaking role. Overall it’s been a lot of
fun.” Senior Aiden Owens said, “Um, it’s a little chaotic, but it is very fun. Right now it’s hard to remember when to zombie around in what spot.” Owens added, “I just really like acting, and also it was originally going to be ‘Dracula,’” about why he signed up. Schaefer said, “It was one of our most successful shows when we did it last, and that was last in the Little Theater. We did it last time in a smaller place and now doing it in a bigger place.” Schaefer added, “Everybody who auditioned really got to be a part of it because we have a huge group of zombies. If you auditioned you could be a zombie.”
wgecho.org 13
Ava’s Anecdotes
What Halloween movie to watch based on your zodiac sign Ava Musgraves Print Editor Personally, “spooky season,”otherwise known as October, is my favorite season. To commemorate and celebrate October, many enjoy Halloween or fall themed films. These films range from horror slasher to fluffy hallmark fall romance. It can be overwhelming trying to sit down and pick one, so fret no more: I have thoroughly examined what Halloween themed movie to watch based on the zodiac signs. Capricorns are the responsible friend with a strong moral compass who loves to solve problems. “Ghostbusters” is the perfect watch for Capricorn’s as a team of scientists works to save New York City from the looming threat of ghosts, it will definitely fulfill the need to problem solve. Aquarius’ are the archetypal outcast, not unpopular but strive to be the “quirky friend.” The Halloween movie that dares to be different is the “Nightmare Before Christmas.”A classic Tim Burton stop motion film incorporates every holiday all into one movie, but in my opinion features Halloween. Pisces are considered dreamy, sensitive, and go with the flow. The Halloweentown series is exactly what a pisces needs this October as it follows Marnie, a teen torn between her normal life and her life as a witch in “Halloweentown” where it is always Halloween. Her personality obviously has to emulate her two very different lifestyles, similar to the traits of a Pisces. Aries are direct, competitive, and can be a bit of a hothead at times. “The Shining” will instill a thrill in Aries as they watch Wendy, determined (like that of an Aries), to keep herself and her son safe from their deranged husband and father, Jack, all in the setting of a creepy snowed-in hotel. The film style and ambience will be in tune with Aries’ need for constant twists and turns. Taurus enjoys stability, they are the logical and grounded friend who would pick a consistent routine with a checklist over a spontaneous lifestyle. A classic, “It’s a Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” brings the familiar comfort Taurus craves as they probably watch it every year and tradition brings them joy. A slash thriller would not go over as well with Taurus as they are not an adrenaline junkie. Geminis are funny, analytical but also filled with a childlike wonder that leaves them always asking question after question. They are a versatile friend, they can make friends with the cashier at the grocery store. This makes “Casper” a perfect fit for Gemini as it follows a story of a teen girl who makes friends with a friendly ghost. While not everyone would automatically befriend a ghost, Gemini totally would. Cancers are very in touch with their emotions, and don’t like change. They find comfort in things they can control and hate what is out of it. My pick for Cancer is “Spooky Buddies,” a film from the series “Air Buddies,” which follows a group of puppy friends as they work together to save the world from a new warlock threatening them. A more kid-friendly film is a more heartwarming pick for Cancer than a horror flick, as the
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Public domain images from Pin Clip Art and Raw Pixel
fear they can instill, a cancer would not enjoy. Leos are captivating and love to be the center of attention. “Rocky Horror Picture Show,” a cult classic movie musical, fulfills all the theatrical desires of a Leo. Even the trend of live showings of the movies where viewers dress up in costumes and sing is right up the alley of a Leo. Virgos are known for their perfectionism and attention to detail. Their criticalness can set them back. The attention to detail and plot Jordan Peele gave to “Us” would connect with Virgos’ need for a storyline that’s thoughtful and requires more insight than the more traditional horror film. Libras are empathetic, embodying many personalities depending on who they are with, and strive for constant happiness. Buffy, in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” embodies these characteristics to a T. The story follows our protagonist, Buffy, who involves herself in a twisty love story all while slaying vampires. Typical Libra behavior. Scorpios are fearless, and hard to read, they do not let most people in. A true Scorpio wouldn’t like the fluffy Halloween films I recommended for some of the other signs, a psychological thriller is way more up their alley. “The Conjuring” series is just scary enough that it can provide a Scorpio with the thrill they are looking to fulfill with a Halloween movie. Sagittarius are aspirational and not afraid of change. Sagittarius are the friends who always encourage you to think with your brain before you follow your heart. I think a Sagittarius would gravitate more toward the genre of horror movies that make fun of horror movies because of the plot points that take more of an intellectual perspective to understand. Scream perfectly pulls this off, and is a classic Halloween film. Halloween movies can be enjoyed all year round, but the fall months with a cup of tea and a blanket and a group of friends makes any of these a perfect watch.
Entertainment| October 2021
Netflix’s highest streamed show in October
American audiences connect with ‘Squid Game’ Maren DeMargel Podcast Editor “Squid Game,” a Korean fictional drama series filled with violence and emotion, has skyrocketed to the number one spot on Netflix’s Top 10 in 94 countries. The nine-episode show, rated MA, follows the story of GiHun, a broke father who gets involved in a mysterious game. Along with 456 other indebted people, Gi-Hun accepts a vague offer to play several games for a chance to win money. The players are transported to a warehouse on a private island and assigned a number, and all seems well. However, when the first game, Red Light Green Light, begins, things quickly take a turn. If players do not closely follow the rules of Red Light Green Light (go on green, stop moving on red) they will be eliminated, or in other words, killed. Within the first round, more than half of the contestants die leaving 201 players alive. The remaining players then vote to end the contest and go back to their normal lives, but many quickly realize that their lives outside of the game are miserable. This coupled with the possibility of a 4.56 billion South Korean won prize (38,798,604.96 USD) encourages 187 players to return to the game. After they reconvene, alliances begin to form, and the true strategy of the game begins to arise. The most notable alliance is between protagonist Gi-Hun (number 456), prodigy Cho Sangwoo (number 218), Pakistani immigrant Ali Abdul (number 199), and Oh Il-nam (number 001), an elderly man who has a brain tumor. Together, this odd combination of men attempt to win games and stay alive. Later in the story, more characters join this alliance such as fan favorite Kang Sae-byeok (number 067). However, with the forming of alliances comes opportunity for betrayal. In this game, it quickly becomes evident that those players thought were their friends could become enemies in the blink of an eye. This intense atmosphere forces players to choose between their friends’ lives and their own lives, which makes for a very interesting series. Not only is the dramatic feel of this show enticing, but the underlying themes are very interesting to dissect. Throughout the show, the series touches on ideas of equality, both socially and economically. The game itself is made up of only the poorest and most desperate members of society, and it is run by some of the wealthiest elites in the world, referred to in the show as “MVPs.” This idea of the rich controlling the poor makes a statement on capitalism and inequalities that are present in the real world. This theme of equality is also evident in the way that the game
October 2021 |Entertainment
is structured. At one point in the story, player 111 is receiving unfair advantages from several corrupt guards, so he is eliminated. This elimination proves to the remaining players and to viewers that equality is something that is strongly valued in this game. The creator of the game wants to make sure that all of these people, no matter their history or their current game strategy, are given a fair shot at winning the ₩45.6 billion. While the motives behind this show offer a stimulating mental experience, this series should be recognized for its stunning visual appearance as well. “Squid Game’s” sets are filled with bright colors and nostalgic feel, a striking contrast to the heavy themes and emotions of the show. One notable set is a confusing geometric staircase which bears strong resemblance to the iconic painting “Relativity” by MC Escher. The stairs are painted in a variety of pastel colors, as are many of the other sets in the show. These colors create an illusion of calm, happiness and childhood wonder. This idea of childhood wonder is another element that is prominent in this series. All of the games played in the show are deadly variations of popular games for Korean children. These include marbles, tug-of-war and, the show’s namesake, the squid game. This twisted idea of incorporating childhood memories into deadly competitions makes another unique claim to the equality of man: how all people should be equal in life as they are in early childhood and in death. These games also offer foreshadowing for the ending of the show regarding who is behind the creation of this deadly experience. All of these elements have made for a show that has become more popular than anyone could have imagined. According to Bloomberg, a data and media company, over 130 million people have watched “Squid Game,” and Netflix has estimated the show’s value at almost $900 million. According to CNN, “Squid Game” was Netflix’s biggest launch of all time. It was the first Korean series to reach No. 1 in the US. Netflix also praises Squid Game for the addition of 4.4 million new streamers to the streaming platform. A study by Design Bundles found that the phrase “Squid Game costume” accounts for about one-third of the top 11 Halloween costume searches this year. Cast members have gained millions of followers on Instagram. Jung Ho-Yeon who plays Kang SaeByeok has gained over 13 million followers since the show’s release, and, according to NME, she is now the most followed Korean actress on the platform. Despite the language barrier, “Squid Game” has managed to break records across the globe and has amassed a colossal following of loyal fans desperate for season 2. Who knew that a show about division and murder could unite so many people?
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Anonymous donor makes Little Theater usable again Emily Goben News/Opinion Editor Reconstruction of the Little Theater was made possible again by a $2 million donation from an anonymous former teacher who had a special relationship with the school district. The return of the Little Theater benefits a plethora of groups at Webster Groves High School, including but not limited to the drama department and the music department. It will also offer a space to host guest speakers and a modified revival of the All Write Festival. The Little Theater was shut down because of water damage that eventually led to mold. Originally, there was a gym against the back wall of the Little Theater; however, it was removed when the Auxiliary Gym was constructed. The original wall remains. It was not constructed to function as an exterior wall and does not handle rain well. Todd Schaefer is in charge of the drama department. Schaefer began teaching in Webster in January of 2006. When he arrived, the Little Theater was a mess. “I remember going to Ms. (Mickey) Erb and going, ‘I need another dumpster,’ It was in bad shape, and the space itself was foul, dirty; it needed a full clean up,” Schaefer described. He filled 13 dumpsters with trash. His first tech theater classes played a big role in cleaning out the Little Theater because of the rush to get it ready in time for the spring production. Schaefer’s first show was a play called “Marvin’s Room.” “The opening night of ‘Marvin’s Room,’ I discovered the flaws of the Little Theater, it leaked, terribly bad,” Schaefer said. He explained when he entered that night, almost 3 inches of water in the front row of seating had come up through the floor. “As I get close, I realize there is a waterfall coming through the back doors and running across the front of the stage and down off the front of the stage,” Schaefer said. This posed an issue because it threatened the electrics, lighting, the set, the curtains on the stage, and everything else that was needed for the show. He and a few custodial staff who were still at the school cleaned up the water, and the show
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was able to open that night. The set was on wheels and did not suffer any water damage. Water and flooding remained an issue throughout Schaefer’s 12 years in the Little Theater. “We just prayed it wouldn’t rain when we were in there for a show,” Schaefer said. Schaefer used the Little Theater as his classroom. Every time it rained, he had to deal with this issue. “I was dumping trash cans full of water out of there, once, twice, three times a year,” Schaefer said. “If I’m hearing it right, it’s probably going to be demolished and rebuilt,” Schaefer said. Senior Ava Musgraves was invited to be a part of a redesign advisory committee for the Little Theater. Musgraves is a member of various artistic groups at the high school like choir and drama. The committee also included a student who has now graduated representing the music department, a member of the Statesmen Stars dance team, interior design experts, someone who designed theaters throughout St. Louis, the executive director of webster arts, and a few others. Schaefer also was involved in committee meetings. “The Little Theater movement was really big in the 20s and 30s,” principal Matt Irvin said. The Little Theater was modeled after the Yale Little Theater, which has since been redone. The redesign of the Webster Little Theater will be based on the Yale Little Theater once again. The goal of the Yale Little Theater is to be a double duty space, according to Irvin. “When the donation was first announced, there were a lot of question marks,” Schaeffer said. He mentioned that one of the most important things was figuring out what the high school needed. The committee determined that the most important thing would be to make the space versatile. “This will be kind of different where there can be a stage; the stage can be taken away; the seats can be taken away; it can be used as a rehearsal room; it can be used as like an event space. I think that’s just really cool and like really smart to make it versatile, also just to accommodate all the different groups at school. I think there’s a
Drama teacher Todd Schaefer directs then senior Sean O’Brien and then junior Sean Kaelble from the Little Theater audience on Jan. 18, 2011, as they prepare for a performance of “A New Brain.” lot of groups that just don’t have that kind of a space,” Musgraves said. Musgraves compared the plan for the Little Theater to The Pageant, an event venue in The Delmar Loop often used for live music performances or concerts. Irvin added the Staenberg Performance Lab at COCA as part of the inspiration. “After going back and forth with Dr. Irvin, we kind of thought that the most versatile way to use the space… would be to have some kind of seating options, where the seats can be tucked away, or they can be out, and that’s something that The Pageant features. It’s kind of like bleacher seating… but it looks nicer than bleachers,” Musgraves explained. Schaefer said the drama department does not necessarily need it for productions but may use it for presentational work, monologue showcases, Broadway Revues, or One Acts. It is also intended to be used for small ensemble music performances, an art gallery, or guest speakers for any department. Dr. Irvin is excited to bring back the All Write Festival and hopes to tie in the Webster Art Fair. “It should be a neat community space. It’s right there on the corner of Bradford and Selma, so the parking lots are really close,” Schaefer explained. He also noted it is easy to get audiences in and out of the Little Theater and that it is handicap accessible.
Entertainment | October 2021