Tech Theatre titan trounces Thespian tournament
.......
M ark P oppert
"I knew from the first
moment in class, she was one
of the tribe," Jessica Murray,
drama teacher said. She
was talking about Katherine
"KD" Dudley, senior, one of
our school's most unknown
soldiers. She has worked in
the theatre department from
her first days as a freshman,
and has not stopped since.
Like so many before her,
theatre is more than just an
extracurricular activity, it is her
life.
She first set foot on a stage
to play Plaque, in her third
grade production of "Timmy
the Tooth."
"After that I knew the stage
was not for me. Ever since then
I have been a tech," Dudley
said. When she arrived at
WLHS she jumped right in
as a stagehand for "On the
Verge." Since then she has
participated in virtually every
show, not even taking a breath
in between the strike of one
show and the first work parties
for the next.
Her senior year has
surpassed what any had
imagined for her, though
nobody is honestly surprised.
She was production stage
manager for two very large
shows this year, "The Sound of
Music" and "Romeo and Juliet."
She faced major challenges
with "Sound of Music."
"It was a massive show with
lots of cues all at once," Jon
Ares, technical theatre teacher
and Emmy winner, said.
Dudley met it head-on in an
innovative way. She came up
with a system of actions, which
made the massive set changes
a breeze.
Though that was a
huge achievement, it is
overshadowed by her most
recent accomplishment,
winning first in the State play
writing competition for her
play, "The Morning Lands."
"It has enormous heart,"
Murray said. "Morning
Lands' is Dudley's heart on
her sleeve." Dudley is now
directing and lighting her
award-winning play for Shorts
XI.
But just listing what
she has done can't begin
to capture what Dudley is.
The woman behind all her
work is something the likes
of this world has never even
imagined.
"She is something
completely unique," Murray
said, "not for a statement
but because she is a pure
individual." And that pure
individual can hardly be
represented in print.
"A really unique individual.
That's the only way to sum
Dudley up," Ashley Welp,
junior said. Writing is
essential to the life she lives;
be it journaling or fiction, she
expresses who she is with a
pen. Her friends call her "A
Dudley" because she can not
be classified as a human being.
Dudley moves on with the
rest of the 2010 graduating
class, but where many will be
forgotten over the years her -
impact will remain. She will
be attending Cornish College
of the Arts next year for stage
management, which she wants
to pursue as a career.
"She will work the rest of
her life in theatre," Murray
said—a sentiment shared by
anybody who knows her.
Dudley's success and failure
rides on her shoulders, and if
her past is any indication she
could become a great name in
American Theatre. However,
her success for failure will not
impact her friends. To them
she will always be Dudley, one
of the most important people
they will ever meet.
"I met her in a tech sense,
but I know her as a dear friend.
I'll miss her when she's gone,"
Welp said.
Photo courtesy of Katherine Dudley
Katherine Dudley, senior, and friends Chris Daniels and Josh Valentine, Class of 2009, joke around in
the theater during the "Imaginary Invalid." Dudley plans to attend Cornish University to pursue stage
management.
Advanced Placement test study tips help process go more smoothly
M ary W ood
Heavy breathing, sweaty
palms, shaky hands and
butterflies in the stomach.
For many, this time of year
is characterized by frantic
studying and constant
study in shorter sessions
more regularly a few weeks
before the exam," Adam
Betzelberger, AP Economics
teacher, said. Some teachers
also provide time to review
before the tests.
"If study time is provided
technology
"Know how to use your
calculator," Steve Schramm,
AP Statistics teacher,
said. Being able to use the
calculator is important for
math and science exams.
The College Board website
Photo by Ethan Brent
Vanya Kirichenko, Ryan Scott-Deeter, juniors, Kristen Tremaine and Dylan Hinrichs, seniors, study in
Adam Betzelberger's AP Economics class. The AP tests are coming up next month, causing some students
stress. Many AP teachers suggest spreading out studying, eating healthfully and asking for help on
particularly confusing topics in order to be prepared for the tests.
anxiety, with students staying
up late and waking up early
to do their best to improve
their fate. What could be so
torturous? It's the season of
Advanced Placement testing,
and it's rapidly approaching.
AP testing doesn't have to
be so frightening. With the
right methods of preparation,
the tests can be less
threatening. Many of these
tips have to do with more
efficient studying.
"Instead of cramming,
in class, use it wisely," Jeff
Bilyeu, AP Chemistry teacher,
said. Bilyeu recommends
using Princeton Review books
to study. Other books like this
are available from Barron's,
Peterson's, Kaplan, Cliffnotes
and Sparknotes. They
provide tips and summarize
information for each test, and
some have practice exams to
further help students prepare.
Another helpful aspect
in readying for the AP
tests is understanding the
has more information about
their calculator policy which
forbids the use of non
graphing scientific calculators,
computers and calculators
with QWERTY keypads.
On the Free Response
Questions, more information
can make a big difference.
"Use context and explain
your answers. Show
your work — don't be a
knucklehead!" Schramm
said. Though this advice
is particularly helpful for
math and science exams, it
can be applied to the others
as well. The multiple choice
portion of each test is scored
by a computer, but trained
readers grade the free
response portions, and more
information can help them
grade more accurately.
For English and some
social studies tests, free
response answers can be more
subjective. The best way to
prepare is to practice. The
College Board website has
test questions from previous
years available, and these can
be used to prepare so the real
thing won't be as daunting.
It's also helpful to maintain
a healthy lifestyle before
the test. Making sure to
sleep and eat breakfast is
highly encouraged. It can
be beneficial to take time to
breathe, relax your muscles
and look over the questions
before beginning the test
to reduce stress levels.
Additionally, it's important to
know that teachers can be a
great support system during
this time.
"Ask teachers for help
if there is something you
are really unsure about,"
Betzelberger said.
AP exams begin May 3
and continue through May 14
with some make-up exams
during the week of May
17. Make sure to check the
College Board website to be
familiar with specific test
dates and to find tips for each
exam, from AP English to AP
Biology.