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Community comes together
to remember beloved band
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Official Student Publication of West Linn High School
Published Since 1921
October 2009 - volume 98, issue 1
"Sound of Music" unites community
The musical, performed by cast members of many ages, premieres next month
K atie D u d l e y __________________
SPECIAL TO THE AMPLIFIER
With a cast of more than
50, including students from
high school, middle and
elementary schools, the
fall musical, "The Sound of
Music" has a strong family
theme. The production will
open Nov. 4 and run for 7
perform ances over a two
w eek period.
The varied cast, ranging
from six to 18 years old, is the
brainchild of Jessica Murray,
director, who thought to
cast the von Trapp children
w ith elem entary and middle
school children from the
district.
"Since we cast kids from
the grade schools, not just
high school kids, I really
think that the com m unity has
ownership of this sh o w ...
It's a show they're fam iliar
with and som ething they
know and love," M urray said.
"I'm really glad we could get
everyone involved, especially
now that w e're part of the
com m unity,"
Murray, her husband,
Colin, and their infant son,
Tristan, moved to West
Linn over the summer.
Colin, who also acts and
directs professionally is
guest directing the winter
production, "Waiting for
Godot."
" I think it's important that
we all come together. Theater
is a great way to bring people
together. It's like being a part
of a family," she said.
Emma Davis, junior, plays
Maria and is joined in the
lead by Michael Johnson,
junior, who plays Captain
von Trapp. Tyler W hitcomb,
senior, who played the
lead role of Bobby Strong
in last year's production
of "Urinetown" was cast as
Rolf. He had always wanted
to be involved with the fall
musical, but could not in the
past because it conflicted
with football which he
quit this year in order to
concentrate on drama.
"It's been very eye
opening to find out where
Nov. 7. Tickets which are
$7 for students and $10 for
adults, are on sale online and
Fridays during lunch and
after school.
National Merit
Semi-finalists
Avilash Cramer, Aaron
Waller and Emily Fischer,
seniors, are National Merit
Sem i-finalists who scored
in the top one third of the
50,000 highest scores from the
PSAT/NMSQT test scores.
Over one million students
take the PSAT each year.
■ *.
# '•
I r e a lly b e lo n g ," W h it c o m b
Photo by Katie Dudley
Anna Stapleton and Michael Johnson, juniors, work with Maia McNamara and Claire Matheissen,
elementary school students, to rehearse a scene from "Sound of Music." The cast has over 50 members,
including six elementary and middle school students and at least three children of West Linn faculty
members. Opening night is Thursday, Nov. 5.
Welcome back students and staff of Lion country!
We are off to a great start
this school year. Every fall
brings the excitement of
another school year and what
it will bring. There is a good
spirit around campus and it is
fun to be part of it all.
As I ended my first year as
Principal last year and thought
over the summer about my
second year, I continue to be
awestruck about this place
we call WLHS. The staff, the
students, the parents, and our
community combined together
are powerful sources that make
this place the best school in
Oregon. WLHS is more than a
place; it is a special experience
for everyone involved.
As we gear up for another
school year, it is exciting
to think about all of the
outstanding academic and
curricular opportunities,
programs, and events that will
take place to create this positive
Photo by Ethan Brent
experience for everyone. I am
especially proud of the efforts
of our student leadership/
ASB class as they continue to
push for increased school spirit
and pride. It takes everyone
involved from the athletic
program, the cheerleaders, the
staff, the fine and performing
arts, the AP program, the
leadership from the Senior
Class, the contributions from
the 9 th, 10th, and 11th graders,
the clubs and activities, and
from everybody associated
with WLHS to create true,
genuine pride of being a Lion
at WLHS. I would prefer to be
a Lion than anything else!
I look forward to seeing
how this school year plays out
and enjoying the successes that
will come from our staff and
student body.
Welcome back!
Lou Bailey, Principal
said.
The work is proving easy
to the family von Trapp,
in which there are six cast
members that are from the
elementary and middle
school. They were some of
the first cast members to have
all their lines memorized.
Among them are Nell and
Connor Egan, the daughter
and son of Kevin Egan,
band director who is also
conducting the Orchestra,
and Katie Jones, the daughter
of Todd Jones, social studies
teacher.
"It's not that hard for
m e...," Katie said. "[My dad]
helped me in the summer
before we started practicing."
The m usical is set in
Austria 1939, just before
and during the German
invasion. Maria, a postulant
from an abbey who loves to
sing, is sent to the home of
Captain von Trapp to work
as a governess for his seven
difficult children. There, she
bonds with the children and
teaches them how to enjoy
life and how to sing.
The musical was adapted
from the stage to the screen
in a 1960's movie starring
Julie Andrews as Maria.
The musical features such
popular songs as "Do Re Mi,"
"16 Going on 17" and"The
Sound of Music." It also
features two songs that were
cut from the movie.
The play will run Nov.
5, 6, 7 , 1 2 , 1 3 , 1 4 at 7 p.m.
and at a 1 p.m. matinee on
Aaron Waller
• Eagle Scout
• Fields of study:
engineering, physics
and math
• National Honor
Society
• Math club
Avilash Cramer
• Cross country, rock
climbing, and Model
U.N.
• College choices: Stanford
and Williams
• Field of study: physics
• First in the Engineering,
Computer Science and
Math category at the In
tel International Science
and Engineering Fair
Emily Fischer
• Colleges choices: Brown,
Stanford, Yale and Duke
• Choir, Math Club and NHS
• Oregon Youth Chorale
H