Published Since 1921
Official Student Publication of West Linn High School
January 2010 - Volume 98, Issue 4
Romeo and Juliet casts more than students
N icole C ampbell & J ulia V an W inkle
Most school plays are
understandably cast with
only students. However,
"Romeo and Juliet," which
opens on Feb. 25 features
nine adults as well.
"W orking with adult cast
members, many of whom
are professional actors,
will be such an enriching
experience," Anna Stapleton
(Juliet), junior, said.
The students cast in
"Romeo and Juliet" will
work with the adults, who
come from all different
backgrounds. Some
are teachers, some are
professional actors and some
are both.-Normally students
play all of the roles, but in
"Romeo and Juliet" all of the
adult roles will be played by
adults.
"I am most excited about
the fact that I get to work
with adult actors... This
opportunity will be such a
great experience for me as
an actor," Michael Johnson
(Romeo), junior, said.
O n D ec. 7 , a u d itio n s , .
followed by callbacks,
were held to finalize parts.
The lead roles of "Romeo
and Juliet" were awarded
to Johnson and Stapleton.
Students Tyler Whitcomb
(Paris), senior, Lucy Walker
(Mercutio), senior, Dayne
Scanlon (Benvolio), junior,
Peter Bonoff (Tybalt), junior,
Louie Hogan (Balthasar),
junior, were also cast, among
others who will appear in
minor roles and as part of the
ensemble.
"They [Johnson and
Stapleton] are perfect for the
roles in many ways— it is a
complex puzzle and they are
a perfect fit," Jessica Murray,
director, said.
The nine adult cast
members are: Annie Kaiser,
Theatre Production, (Nurse);
Robin Bowles, Theatre
Faculty at University of
Portland, (Friar Laurence);
Colin Murray, Theatre
Faculty at University of
Portland, (Lord Capulet);
Nancy Monson, Science,
(Lady Capulet); Ward Lewis,
English, (Lord Montague);
Diane Gauthier, Fine Arts,
(Lady Montague); Gary
Eppelsheimer, Photo/Film,
(Friar John); Mike Lord,
Social Studies, (Apothecary);
Photo by Alex Houston
Avery Breyne-Cartwright, senior, Jessica Murray, director, Megan Kays, junior, Kyle Re villa, senior,
Thomas Olson, sophomore, and Bradley Stone, freshman, rehearse for "Romeo and Juliet." The play,
which opens on Feb. 25 and runs through March 6, features both adults and students as cast members.
"I think it is cool to have
teachers and adults in the
cast. I like the fact that we
teachers can learn from our
a n d M u rra y , T h e a tre A rts
s tu d e n ts ," L o rd , said .
Director, (Prince Escalus).
Though there are many
adults cast, 26 students
will take part in the play as
well, and about another 15
backstage.
The play features two
families, the Montagues and
the Capulets, that have been
feuding for many years.
Though their families hate
each other, Romeo and Juliet,
fall deeply in love and plan
to marry in secret.
Rehearsals for "Romeo
and Juliet" officially started
. o n Jan. 5. The actors w ill
continue to practice the play
until opening night on Feb.
25. Tickets for the show
will be $8 for adults and $6
for students. The play will
continue to run until March
Mr. WLHS in danger of being cancelled
D anny M c G arry ______________
Being in a pageant isn't
everybody's dream , but
for som e students, the Mr.
W LH S contest helps them
to realize their dream of
com peting, w hile allow ing
them to donate to charity
as w ell. W ith only five boys
signed up so far, the annual
event m ight be cancelled.
"We ju st need to set a
date that everybody needs
to be signed up by," Kelsey
Bradshaw , senior and A SB
D irector of M ajor School
Events, said. "Hopefully, Mr.
W LH S w ill be happening."
If 10-12 contestants sign
up, as has been traditionally
been the case, A SB is hoping
to hold Mr. W LH S in the
spring. Since the production
of "Rom eo and Juliet" is
being held in the theatre,
Mr. W LH S w ill be held in
the gym if it happens.
"Last year there w ere
around six or seven guys
that com peted in the
event, bu t about four
guys dropped out of the
com petition last m inute,"
G abe W elp, C lass of 2009,
said.
In the contest, students
Photo by Hannah Zaayer
Last year's Mr. WLHS winner, Joey Leckey, Class of 2009, poses with
nearly $1,000 in prize money. All winnings from the competition
go to a charity of the winner's choice. Leckey chose to donate to the
Make-a-Wish foundation.
com pete in a "fake beauty
pageant" as a part of the
festivities. Usually, the
contestants don't take the
pageant aspect seriously
and it is fun both for
the audience and the
contestants. The event aim s
to raise $2,000 for a charity
of the w inner's choice. The
contestants com pete in
categories including talent,
sw im w ear, question and
answer, and group and
individual dances.
"M y favorite category
w ould have had to been
sw im w ear because I got the
chance to cool off and get
out of the stuffy suits w e
had to wear," Welp said.
Kyle Revilla, senior, is
thinking about entering the
contest.
"I w anted to do this for
m yself. I norm ally don't get
a say in m uch but I w ant to.
N obody really inspired me
to do this. It's kind of a goal
for m yself," Revilla said. "I
really hope I do get in."
H annah Zaayer, senior,
w as at the com petition
last year. "It seem ed like
everybody enjoyed it last
year. There w as a sw im suit
portion and they w ore
extravagant bathing suits."
Students w ho are
interested in com peting
in Mr. W LH S can sign up
in Room A101 or talk to
Bradshaw.
Welp challenged this
year's seniors. "The Class
of 2010 is w ay lacking in
spirit and needs to get m ore
involved w ith their school.
It's alw ays rew arding to
raise m oney for a charity
and have fun at the sam e
tim e," he said.
6. Tickets can be purchased
at the box office or from the
theatre web site.
Speech and
Debate Team
logs wins
B enjamin M ann
Speech and Debate Team
m em bers recorded w ins
including several at one of
the largest tournaments in
Oregon, which took place at
Pacific University and fea
tured over 44 schools.
On Jan. 8 and 9 at Pacific,
two entrants of Public Fo
rum Debate, Justin Altemus
and Josh Grelewicz, juniors,
advanced to finals, placing
second overall.
The team was also very
successful at a competition
on Jan. 16, taking place at
Glencoe High School. Elise
Brown, freshman, won first
in Poetry in an open division,
which contained both junior
and senior division entrants.
Benjamin Mann and Neelou
Etasam i, seniors, placed
first and finaled in Radio,
respectively.
.The Speech and Debate
team consists of nearly a
dozen students interested
in public speaking and the
debating current event issues.
The team meets Wednesdays
after school in the Forum
and competes on weekends.
The team has participated in
competitions at several other
schools this year, including
Barlow and Clackamas and
will be competing in Dis
tricts this March at home.