From LAto PVA
Transcription
From LAto PVA
paper* From *TheHighSchoolforPerformingandVisualArtsNewspaper LA to PVA “Wesley, would you go get her?” Mrs. Jennings requested. The boy’s mouth dropped as he shook his head no. “What do you mean ‘no’? This is such an opportunity!” Two enthusiastic students chimed in, “I’ll do it!” and “No, I will!” “I asked Wesley to.” Mrs. Jennings stood her ground. A few people in the room began to chant his name, and off he went to escort Chandra Wilson from the front office to the black box for her master class. From the minute she entered the room, she glowed. It was as if she truly were back home. After the master class I met Ms. Wilson in the theatre office, and surprisingly, she defied my preconceived notion of celebrities having some sort of guard up. She laughed and was honest as possible with all of her mistakes, experiences, and flaws. In the same way, actress Mireille Enos and her husband Alan Ruck freely gave their wisdom and vast experiences when they visited around the same time. Even Hannah Jones did her best to stay out of drama and keep her head held high during her run on America’s Next Top Model. It would seem that PVA has recently been starstruck by warm and caring celebrities who aren’t short on talent either. *PVA Alumni US FREE AUSTRALIA $ 10.50 DENMARK DKK 75.00 CANADA $ 9.50 FRANCE € 8.50 U.K. € 10.50 HOLLAND €8.50 ITALY€ 9.00 JAPAN ¥ 1740 SINGAPORE S$ 18.20 SPAIN € 8.50 SWEDEN SEK 75.00 SWITZERLAND CHF 16.00 UAE AED 45.00 VOL 2 ISSUE 8 JUNE 2011 Chandra Wilson (cont.) Interviewed by Alyssa McIntyre ALYSSA McINTYRE: Just to start, what brings you back to your alma mater, good old HSPVA? CHANDRA WILSON: (laughs) I have established the Sermoonjoy in the theatre department to be awarded to two seniors who meet certain academic criteria and have a need for a scholarship. So I come back every year and conduct the auditions and pick two students. They just have to have maintained a C average by the time they're graduating and also have not received any other scholarships awarded through HSPVA and... there's a third thing. What's the third thing? (laughs) Right... OH! And then they are definitely going forward into the arts. AM: You had mentioned earlier during the master class that you didn't want to be here for the first two weeks [of your freshman year]. What exactly changed that perspective? CW: Coming out of junior high school, I kind of got used to a culture of, you know, you're divided into groups, and there's the popular group and the not-so-populars. (laughs) I wasn't happy in junior high school, but I was just doing what everybody did, you know? So anyway, everybody was going to go to Lamar, and part of trying to fit in was you go and do what everybody else was doing. So when my mom insisted that I come to audition for HSPVA, I just couldn't understand. [But] for whatever reason I was accepted, and she said, “That's where you're going to go.” I was really upset after that because of my friends. They weren't great friends, but they were my friends. And as soon I walked in--and you know, you hear the music and everybody at school is having lunch at the same time--I just had never seen anything like that; I had never seen kids excited to go to school! (laughs) And early on, like, probably within the first two weeks, there was a kid that went to my junior high school; his name was Trent Roberts. He saw me standing at the lunch line, and he said, "Oh no! Not her!" (laughs) And he looked back and was like, "I remember you from Lanier! You used to throw your book bag down and get in fights with people! Whatcha doing here?!" He gave me grief that day, and he did not stop until last November when he passed away. (laughs) Very good friend of mine. But I just vividly remember that and his impression of me… and how I didn't need any of that. AM: What obstacles did you find here and also leaving here, including all of the nostalgia and whatnot? CW: Well, first of all to this day it's very difficult for me to wake up, so I was always tardy to first period. (laughs) I just was. And my senior year I lived four blocks down the street, and I could not get Karina’s Comics By Karina Farek to first period. Just couldn't do it. (laughs) But, let's see... obstacles. So you know, even though my self-confidence was being built and my self-esteem was being built, I still wasn't 100% confident as a performer. I was learning. I did at least have the nerve to try. (laughs) But you know, I just had really good friendships that I still have to this day, and we had a really cool class before us. We were all really tight, so leaving here was hard because it was like a little safe haven. It wasn't going to be fun to go out without having that safety net. But I'm very thankful for having felt so protected and so taken care of, and you know, it spoiled me to how things could be. AM: What was one of the most valuable lessons you learned throughout everything, starting from HSPVA all the way to where you are now? CW: I guess it's what I said earlier. You are your instrument, so do whatever you can to take care of it--mentally, spiritually, and physically. And take the opportunities life gives you! If you have the opportunity to travel, do it! If in college you have the opportunity to do an exchange program and spend a semester in another country, go do that! Because when else are you going to do it? (laughs) All of that stuff colors who you are. All of those things makes the kind of human being you are and even shapes the kind of actor you are. AM: Do you have any last things you want to tell everyone here? CW: Hmm… let's see. Okay, so this is like a big crazy adult thing to say. (laughs) The one thing that I certainly know now is that life is SUPPOSED to be fun. Bottom line: it is supposed to be fun. So if you are doing anything at all--whether it's work or a relationship or whatever--and you honestly can't say it's fun, there's no reason to be doing it. So even as an actor, if you're stressing all the time--you know, thinking about your last audition and "Did I suck?" (laughs)--the fun is gone! If the fun is gone, then that is not the thing you need to be doing, or you need to refocus the purpose and bring the fun back. So one thing you have to be careful about is, whatever it is you're involved in, if it doesn't feel good... don't do it. Leave! Fly Away! (laughs) I mean, that's your intuition right there, and have to trust that. Run away far! Go to the fun place! Well, without the use of any pharmaceuticals. (laughs) AM: Well, thank you so much for letting me talk to you. It really was fun! CW: (smiles) I collected my things and walked away from the interview with quite a new perspective. As much as any senior, I am prepared to walk out of here at any given moment. But as much as we complain about PVA and crave the freedom and independence college brings, I wouldn’t be the person I am today without this school. And I’m sure many of you could say the same. Ms. Wilson taught me not only that I am exactly where I’m supposed to be at this very moment, but also that I must be grateful for this moment. Mireille Enos’s Tips For Surviving Theatre By Gregory LaMontagne To us attendees of a renowned art school, fame may be an ultimate goal. We see celebrities everywhere: on commercials, on billboards, in obituaries. We research in magazines about their new favorite restaurant, new human rights foundation, new cocaine addiction. Who cares if being a household name doesn't make them role models? Celebrity is as celebrity does, right? Wrong when you're Mireille Enos, alumna from the HSPVA class of '93. She has an amazing career on stage and on screen; has a lovely family consisting of her notable husband, Alan Ruck (Ferris Bueller's sidekick, Cameron), and her adorable newborn; and has yet to be involved in any kind of scandalous divorce, drug arrest, or other typical Hollywood behavior. Wondering how she "made it" while keeping her head above water? Then you would be feeling exactly what a black box full of eager theatre students did when Ms. Enos recently visited and gave a masterclass on her professional experience, husband and baby included. (Her husband and she would take turns answering questions and quieting the child.) If you care to read more, then this is what was said, verbatim: Mireille Enos: My four years here was one of the most important moments of my life. Don’t take for granted the training you get here; HSPVA really is the foundation for all the training that comes after. Q: What happened after HSPVA? ME: Well, I then attended Brigham Young University, and, unfortunately, it wasn’t the school for me. I was coming from a small school in a large city to a gigantic school in a small town in the middle of nowhere. So I got a one way bus ticket to New York, and... well, went to New York. Q: That’s it? Holy heck! How did you get your career started? ME: Well, one important rule once in you’re in New York City is to keep busy. I created a sort of conservatory program for myself. I would take voice class, acting class, and Alexander [technique] class to always stay busy and keep honing my craft. But you also have to remember to get a part-time job with flexible hours so you can pay the rent. I worked in a ticket booth at a theater. I then got my first agent by being a part of a showcase with other actors and inviting a bunch of agencies to come watch. His agency was an agency of one, but he truly believed in me and worked hard to get me bit roles. Eventually, though, I was cast as an understudy in a production at Lincoln Center, which is how I got my Equity [union] card and my first Broadway show, actually. The casting director for The Invention of Love on Broadway talked to the director of the show at Lincoln Center, called me in for an audition, and I got the part. This play was where I met my husband. It took me five years to book a Broadway show, but five years is actually a very short amount of time. I consider myself lucky. Q: Wow! The Great White Way! How was it? ME: It was awesome. Just awesome. But I wasn’t home-free yet, once that show closed I had to keep finding work, of course, so I would do regional theatre, then come back to New York for an OffBroadway show, then go back to regional theatre, then come back to New York for a voice-over. And I continued to do that until I got a part in the revival of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Playwright Edward Albee, who was very involved in the process, considers this revival to be the definitive version of his text. The rest of the cast and I really worked hard to be loyal to and trust the writing, and our work paid off--we were all nominated for Tonys and the revival was nominated also. From then on, I didn’t have to support myself with a part-time job anymore. Q: What made you transition into screen acting? ME: Well, I had finished a show in the West End and decided, you know, I want to do something different, and that something has to be a little more stable. I was married then, and now my priorities had shifted. So we moved to Los Angeles, and I began auditions. I had already gotten my Screen Actors Guild card from saying one line in a Sex and the City episode. Q: Did you need to create another conservatory-like program for yourself in LA? ME: Yes, actually. I found tai kwon do to be a very good activity for me because tai kwon do is all about goal-setting. It’s very important in this business to have something that’s un-theatre related and keeps you with goals in mind. I was fortunate to be married, an automatic stabilizer right there. No matter what, live life. Q: Then what? ME: Then, I was cast in Big Love. And what became a three-episode arc character became a full season recurring character which became a three-season arc supporting cast member which became twins, two characters. I was very lucky. But the last season was more focused on the main family, so I left that show and picked up the script for The Killing, the AMC show I’m currently on right now. I was actually pregnant while we were shooting, and you can see the police jacket I’m wearing become bigger and bigger into the largest jacket the costume department possessed. Q: Wow. Finally, what’s next for you? ME: I got a call while I was shopping for diapers that told me I would be in the film adaptation of the book World War Z playing the wife of Brad Pitt. (After a round of applause) I know! You never know what’s going to happen to you in your career. So there you have it. Mirelle Enos exemplifies what it means to be an artist, exuding complete kindness, commitment to the craft, and a humble attitude. Still, Mireille Enos is going to appear in a big-budget film opposite BRAD PITT. Her hard work allowed her to succeed as an artist, but her humility, compassion, and generosity set her apart from most actresses. Ms. Enos is not the typical movie star; she’s brighter. Where In The World Is The Class Of 2011? By Ava Barrett The Class of 2011 will be scattered to the wind next year. Who will be near you? The numbers correspond to the list on the next page. Going, Going, Gone Compiled by Taylar Lewis The numbers correspond to the map on the previous page. Name | School | Major | Alternative Plans 1. Ben Adams | Marine Corps Band | Music | year off with a full-time job or community college 2. Drew Adams | University of Arizona | Dance! 3. Amanda Alexander | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | Architecture | Travel around the world 4. Cris Amador | Rice University | Biology | Fighting crime 5. Sean Amenson | University of Houston | Business Finance 6. Sarah Andreeff | Maryland Institute College of Art | Visual Arts, Culture, and Politics | Live with Amazonian tribes 7. Yessica Aviles | Texas Tech | Graphic Design 8. Adriel Ayala | Houston Community College | Physical Therapy | Chef 9.Gabriella Barboza | University of Houston | Dance 10. Anne Barkley | Loyola University (New Orleans) 11. Ava Barrett | The School of the Art Institute of Chicago | Starving 12. Amelia Bell | Northwestern University | Theatre | Stay at PVA and live amongst the rats in the tech booth 13. Chelsea Bohny | Texas Tech University | Dance Education 14. Kinsey Britton | New York Conservatory for the Dramatic Arts | Theatre and Film | Become a gypsy with a clan of traveling performers 15. Aubrey Brown | Blinn Junior College/Texas A&M University | General Studies 16. Chris Brown | Manhattanville University | Psychology 17. Libby Buck | Columbia College Chicago 18. Alexandra Buddingh | West Texas A&M University and Joffrey Ballet Trainer Program (New York) | Dance 19. Evan Burrus | Eastman School of Music | Jazz Studies 20. Gabrielle Byrd | University of North Texas | Jazz Studies and Music Education 21. Alexis Castillo | University of Houston | Baking and Pastry Arts 22. Saxon Clay | Nebraska Wesleyan University | Political Science | Make it in Hollywood doing only his Rabbit Hole piece 23. Shelby Colona | The Ailey School | Dance | Engineering 24. Gray Crawford | St. John’s College | Enter his Macbook by means of a laser and just ride lightcycles everyday 25. Terrica Daniels | Sam Houston State University | Computer Science | There isn’t one. Lord help me. 26. Avery Davidson | University of Houston | Architecture | Joining the Amish 27. Jodie Davidson | Taking a year off | Winning the lottery 28. Liza Davydova | Texas State University | Dance | No college. 29. Ralph De La Calzada | Houston Baptist University | Nursing 30. Adrienne Duncan | University of Houston | Business | Selling a kidney 31. Raffles Durbin | University of Arizona | Transmogrification | Take over Libya 32. Rebecca Echols | Texas State University | Theatre 33. Janai Edwards | Texas Woman’s University | Kinesthesiology 34. Kelly Engler | Northwestern University | Theatre and Psychology 35. Bailey Enloe | University of Alabama | Education | Get married and be a soccer mom (hopefully that happens anyway) 36. Will Eriksson | The School of the Art Institute of Chicago | Sound Art and New Media 37. Lenaa Escandon | Pepperdine University | Psychology | Marry Shia LeBeouf 38. Elizabeth Esquivel | University of Houston | Architecture 39. Carol Fairbanks | William Carey University | Music Therapy | Join the circus 40. Esperanza Falcon | Lone Star College then Texas Woman’s University | Nursing (Midwife Nurse) 41. Karina Farek | School of Visual Arts | Animation 42. Alexz Faulkner | Cornell University | Restaurant Management | Professional Name That Book member 43. Jessica Feist | Texas A&M | Business with a minor in Dance | Joining a convent 44. Capra Fellows | University of Houston | Business and Communications 45. Caleb Fields | Ball State University | Theatre 46. Jessica Flores | University of Houston (Downtown) 47. Yanira Flores | Houston Community College | Physical Therapist 48. Jorge Garcia | Manhattanville University | Music 49. Rudy Giron | Pepperdine University | Theatre and Vocal Performance 50. Belle Gomez | DePauw University | Vocal Performance 51. Justin Gonzales | New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts | Acting 52. Sarah Gore | Texas A&M University | International Studies 53. Katherine Greene | Undecided | Art or Education 54. Sarah Griffith | The DePaul of St. Louis (St. Louis University) | Waitressing (Acting) | Saturday Night Live or Bust! 55. Charlie Haehl | University of Alabama | Biology 56. Hayden Hamilton | Berklee College of Music | Jazz Composition | Get my swag on 57. Hillary Henderson | Minneapolis College of Art and Design | Illustration 58. Nikki Henderson | HCC or Kansas City Art Institute | Digital Textile Printing 59. Ian Hill | Southern Methodist University | Theatre Studies | RuPaul’s Drag Race season four winner 60. Jesus Hinojosa | University of Houston 61. Trent Howison | University of Texas (San Antonio) | Vocal Performance 62. Colby Hutcherson | Huston-Tillostson | Music Studies 63. Katherine Inman | Colorado State University | Biology 64. Moretta Irchirl | Southern Methodist University | Vocal Performance 65. Shira Israel | University of Washington | Health Science | Run from the rain 66. Brittany Jiles | Howard University | Music Therapy 67. Amber Johnson | Nebraska Wesleyan University | Theatre and Psychology 68. Brittany Jones | community college to avoid major debt | Dance and Psychology | Travel and get out of my parents’ house, FINALLY! 69. Kyla Jordan | Fashion Institute of Technology (New York) 70. Shelby Jordan | University of Houston--Moores School of Music | Vocal Performance | Travel, start a portfolio for photojournalism 71. Zack Kampf | New York Film Academy (Los Angeles) | Film 72. Michael Karl | Belmont University | Musical Theatre 73. Jonathan Kaspar | Dallas Baptist University | Kinesthesiology | Go play basketball overseas in Europe 74. Brittani Kelley | University of Houston (Downtown) | Psychology | Becoming an artist 75. Katie Kelley | Vocal Performance or Bust | Haha… 76. Kaitlin Kennedy | Shorter University 77. Michael Kibbe | University of Washington | Engineering 78. Lauren Kramer | Maryland Institute College of Art | Illustration 79. Brian Kyles | Loyola University (New Orleans) 80. Zachery Lacy | University of Houston | Vocal Performance | Pro Cage Fighter...jk. 81. Gregory LaMontagne | Penn State University | Musical Theatre 82. Morgan Leonpacher | Herp | Derp | Moving in with a few people and working for a year 83. Taylar Lewis | Howard University | Musical Theatre 84. Julia Lin | University of Washington | Computer Science 85. Veronica Long | University of Southern California | Theatre 86. Martin Longoria | Houston Community College | Music 87. John Maaskant | Texas Tech | Business | Become a super-spy 88. Morgan MacInnes | Texas State University | Musical Theatre 89. Kambale Malemo | Columbia College | Business/Law (Music) 90. Aaron Malone | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design | Graphic Deign 91. Mary Alice Martin | Mount Holyoke College | Critical Social Thought and Pre-Med | Become a nun 92. Katharina Matocha | Weihenstephan (Freising, Germany) | Land Management/ Brewery 93. Alyssa McIntyre | Sarah Lawrence College | Look at brains and stuff (Neuroscience) | Sell her kidney and buy a kitten to cuddle 94. Meredith McGrath | Rice University | Economics 95. Aphtan Mellado | Pacific Northwest College of Art | Undecided | Starving artist 96. Staci Merritt | Nebraska Wesleyan University | Musical Theatre | Russian Ballerina/Fortune Cookie Writer 97. Clarence Miller III | Join the U.S. Navy 98. Louis Monroe | Loyola University (New Orleans) | Music Industry Studies 99. Whitney Morrison | University of Houston | Biology (and later, optometry) | Nursing 100. Betty Marie Muessig | Texas State University | Musical Theatre!! | Nothing 101. Briana Munfus | Oklahoma Baptist University | Pre-Allies Health 102. Willie Napier | Drag University | Cosmetology | RuPaul’s Drag Race 103. Caitlin Otto | Texas A&M | Biomedical Engineering 104. John Owens | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design | Advertising | Marry rich 105. Elizabeth Passmore | Drexel University | Construction Management | THERE IS NO ALT!!! 106. Thaddeus Patterson | Houston Community College | Mathematics | Year off with a job 107. Alex Perez | The University of Texas at Austin | Clarinet Performance and Music Education 108. Ellen Phillips | Maryland Institute College of Art | Painting and Drawing 109. Sam Phillips | University of Houston (Honors) | Undecided | Work and travel 110. Paige Pollicoff | University of Texas | Electrical Engineering 111. Allison Pylant | Stephen F. Austin State University 112. Faith Pruneda | University of Houston (Downtown) | Industrial Design (maybe) 113. Taylor Rawley | Carnegie Mellon University | Vocal Performance | Homeless in Pittsburgh 114. Leo Rayon | Undecided | Jazz performance 115. Cristina Reyes | Texas State University | Music and Audio Engineering 116. David Reeves | Trinity University | International Business and German 117. Alejandro Rivera | Kansas City Art institute | Graphic Design | Join the new wave of costumes vigilantes and fight crime under “The Fez” 118. Lilian Rodriguez | University of Houston | Biomedical Engineering | Become a street performer in Hollywood...so add me on Facebook 119. Bradford Roland | Berklee College of Music | Vocal Performance | Work at my father’s church 120. Matthew Rusk | Indiana University | Ballet 121. Avery Sanford | Loyola University (New Orleans) | Music Performance | What alternative plan? 122. Katie Sauer | Pacific Northwest College of Art | Illustration 123. Paige Seber | Webster University | Lighting Design | Be famous 124. Matthew Seferian | Loyola University (New Orleans) | Music Industry 125. Lillian Seidel | Rice University | English | Marry rich 126. Gage Self | Fordham University | Dance 127. Sasha Shahriari | Suffolk University Boston | Engineering | Psychology 128. Alex Skalany | Berklee College of Music | Performance | Superhero: Cat Man 129. Camilla Smith | University of North Texas | Fashion Design | Marine Biology 130. Wallace Stelzer | City College of New York | B.F.A. in Jazz Studies 131. Alex Stone | Lindenwood University | B.F.A. in Directing 132. Warren Sylvester | Berklee College of Music | Piano Performance 133. Xavier Tamez | San Jacinto College | Engineering 134. Leonor Tran | Houston Community College or University of Houston (Downtown) 135. Abby Veliz | University of Houston 136. Valeria Villanueva | University of Houston | Undecided | Las Vegas 137. Vanessa Villanueva | Texas Woman’s University | Nursing 138. Nicolette Villarin | Undecided | Nursing | Travel 139. Allison Villarreal | Texas A&M | Psychology | Trash Truck Driver 140. Chloe Welch | Pacific Northwest College of Art | Illustration | Get married to a superhero 141. William Wheaton | Morehouse College | Political Science with a minor in Economics 142. Sarah White | Baylor University | Psychology 143. Alauna Wilson | Loyola University (New Orleans) | Vocal Performance 144. Emma Wilson | The University of Utah | Modern Dance and English 145. Matthew Wilson | Prairie View A&M | Computer Engineering 146. Margaret Winchell | Wheaton College | Undecided | Quit school to edit paper* 147. Damone Wright | Prairie View A&M University | Engineering | Business 148. Meridith Wright | Indiana University | Music Performance | Be a bum on the streets of Houston 149. Ben Zannoni | The Juilliard School | Music Performance Story Time with Dr. Robbins By Taylor Rawley Our last story with Dr. Robbins (for this year!) begins with Dr. Robbins taking his senior year AP English test. As we all know, Dr. Robbins is a genius, and apparently he thought so his senior year as well. So Dr. Robbins was pretty confident when he went in to take arguably the most dreaded of AP tests. Dr. Robbins flew through the objective questions in no time at all; those simpleminded question writers were no match for the superior intellect of our choir director. Next came the daunting essay questions. When it was time to answer the final question, Dr. Robbins decided on a novel idea. He was so confident in his ability to write a high quality essay, he chose to use the first 40 or so minutes doodling in the writing space. This, he thought, would let the grader know that his superior intellect needed but a fraction of the time allotted to write the per- fect essay. So Dr. Robbins began his masterwork, a beach scene. His pencil flew as he traced the white sand beaches and the tropical palm trees, complete with ripe coconuts. As a finishing touch, Dr. Robbins added a sailboat in the distance, sailing across the vast AP ocean. Dr. Robbins looked at the clock when the final stroke of his pencil ran across his paper. Forty minutes left. “More than enough time,” he thought to himself. Dr. Robbins then looked at the prompt. It was a prompt so sinister, so time-consuming, that it sent shivers down his spine. He quickly realized that he was no match for these crafty AP test makers. So Dr. Robbins quickly turned to Plan B. Instead of starting the essay and not finishing it, Dr. Robbins decided instead to start several award-winning essays, all on the same prompt, to prove to the graders that he had the ability to write several essays on the same prompt in a short amount of time. Every time he would end an introductory paragraph, he would stop, loosely cross it out, and move on to the next; every paragraph had a different style, tone, and verbiage, but almost certainly WOULD have answered the prompt brilliantly. Time was called and Dr. Robbins glanced at the final product: half a dozen excellently written introductory paragraphs and a beautiful beach scene. Dr. Robbins scored a five on the AP test that year. Note: paper* does not condone this behavior. Hunger Games Movie Casting By Elizabeth Passmore Enraged: the only word that could describe how I feel about the casting of The Hunger Games! WANNA KNOW WHY? I’LL TELL YOU WHY. 1. Katniss Everdeen: Jennifer Lawrence. OH GOOD LORD IN HEAVEN! Yeah, I know this qurl got nominated for an Academy Award. I’m not doubting that she’s a fine actress, BUT if she wants to successfully play Katniss she better dye her hair brown, lose 50 pounds, and get a breast reduction! Let’s just say she should look like Nicole Richie--a girl on the brink of starvation. 2. Gale: A young, handsome man who would do anything for Katniss. He’s strong and has brown hair and won’t take anything from anybody. Liam Hemsworth--a young, scrappy lookin’ man with blond hair that costared in a movie with Miley Cyrus! Yeah, I said it, he’s that dude that starred in The Last Song! Sorry, sir, but you have permanently tainted your career! 3. Peeta: Josh Hutcherson!?!? Really!?! It should have been Hunter Parrish! He cute, he cool, and he was on the best show ever: Weeds! So good freaking luck, Josh. Who did you have to brown-nose to get this role? Well that’s all I’m really upset about… BUT that’s like the main people! So it matters… right? N.E. WAYZ, these are da castin’s I’m really happy ‘bout: 1. Prim: Willow Shields 2. Effie: Elizabeth Banks 3. Haymitch: Woodie Harrelson 4. Caesar: Stanley Tucci--who doesn’t love him? To Bring Or Not To Bring? Everything You’ll Need For Summer Fest By Natalie Reilley Camera: Bring a small digital camera with an attachable wristband for easy access. Even though small digital cameras don’t take photos as well as your fancy, new Nikon D3100, no one wants to try and weasel his way through the concert crowd with a bulky camera hanging from his neck. Always bring a back-up memory card and extra batteries. Rain poncho: Even if the weather report says there is no chance of rain the day of the festival, bring a poncho just in case. A little rain won’t ruin a concert, but a little rain can ruin a camera and the rest of the items in a backpack. Sun protection: A hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses are essential for the outside concerts. Squinting in the sun during a whole concert isn’t fun, and no one wants to come back from the festival with a burned face and shoulders, giving friends an open invitation to slap you on the back. Water bottle: Instead of paying an outrageous amount of money for a bottle of water at the festival, bring your own bottle. Festivals vary, but many allow people to bring their own refillable water bottles. Some festivals even have filling stations where you Backpack: You’re going to want to carry can refill your water bottle. Cash: At a festival it is much easier to handle cash than it is to handle credit cards, but remember to bring enough to get you through the day. Food is quite expensive at festivals, and bands are always selling their overpriced merchandise. Toilet paper: It’s never fun to battle the long lines in front of the port-a-potties, and it gets even worse when you find out it’s out of toilet paper. around your camera, rain poncho, water bottle, wallet, and toilet paper in some kind of bag, and a backpack is your best choice. Keep in mind that you will have to carry this around with you all day, so only pack the necessities, and always leave a bit of room for items you might want to purchase during the festival. Ticket: Some summer music festivals have admission at the door, but if you paid for your ticket online, DON’T forget to print it out. Check the festival website for permitted items. If it’s not permitted and security sees it, you’ll have to throw it away or take it back to your car. Tickets to Summer Fest may be purchased online or at Urban Outfitters. Kate Middleton By Drew Jones As I’m sure you all know, Her Royal Highness Princess William Arthur Philip Louis, Duchess of Cambridge, Countess of Strathearn, Baroness Carrickfergus and His Royal Highness Prince William Arthur Philip Louis, Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn, Baron Carrickfergus, Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble, Order of the Garter, Master of Arts were united in holy matrimony on April 29, 2011. Millions of people watched as celebrities and members of the Monarchy drove through the streets of London to arrive at Westminster Abbey. It was a riveting experience for all, watching the high society of England (and Victoria Beckham) gather to see these two royal folks put a ring on it. The ceremony was practically as traditional as it could have been, except for His and Her Royal Highness’ exit in a 1969 Aston Martin DB6, which was pretty royally awesome. Everything went according to plan throughout the day, which left everyone extremely happy, except for the TMZ guy. Prom And The Prince William has been a part of this family since he was born; however, Kate Middleton is giving up a lot to join this family. Some of these things are rather large sacrifices; others, not so much. An example of something that will be a large change in the Duchess of Cambridge’s life is that she will have to give up her career; the only work she will be able to do will be charity work. An example of something not-so-serious that she will have to give up is Monopoly. The board game. The Duke of York decided in 2008 that the game can get much too vicious. So if the Countess has a craving for a financial board game, she will have to venture into the underground Monopoly clubs of Central London. She will also have to give up shellfish because the Royals have a fear of being poisoned. Come on, guys. No one poisons anyone anymore. Get with the times, people. On the other Kelly’s Korner &Alan’s Alley With Kelly Engler and Alan Gonzalez Dear Kelly, My best friend keeps lying--like saying she has a laptop, or she has a job, or that she’s a dancer and the best one at our school (and no, she’s not a dancer at all). I’m tired of her lying, but now some of my other friends have started to think she’s really cool and are copying her! What should I do to make them stop? I hate it when people lie! -Irritated Dear Irritated, The next time she lies about something, ask her to show you this new laptop or amazing dance move. If she comes up with an excuse, CALL ‘EM OUT! 2HOT2HOLD2MUCH2HANDLE Kelly <3 Dear Kelly, I’m taking over Kelly’s Korner. And I’m nervous. Am I going to do well? What is your advice? How can I stay at your standards?? Please help. Future writer for Alan’s Alley, -Alan Gonzalez Half-Bald Prince side of this double-edged sword of sacrifices, Baroness Carrickfergus will be inheriting more money than the wedding guests could fit in their hats, so I’m sure that makes up for some of it, not to mention having her one true love and blah, blah, blah... In any case it was a momentous occasion, and those of you who got up at three in the morning to watch got to experience a piece of British history happen live. Fortunately for me, paper* sold enough freezie pops to send me back over to my homeland (first class), and I got to be a part of the whole thing. You would’ve seen me on television, but unfortunately, I was standing behind Tara PalmerTomkinson’s hat. Dear Alan, I know it must be difficult for you to step into my shoes as the advice columnist next year. My advice for you is to let all of your advice come from the heart. I know it must be difficult for others to come up with good advice because they’re not as flawless and perfect as I am. Just be you, and remember to help the peeps. ThUg LiFe FoReVeR lOvE fOr ThE lAsT tImE -KeLlY EnGlEr Dear Alan, I’m going off to college like the good scholar I am, and I need to know that my Korner will be left in good hands. Are you going to do a good job, Alan?! U bEtTa RePreSeNt! -KeLlY EnGlEr Dear Kelly, Trust that I can handle it. There wasn’t a huge standard to live up to anyway. JK. I loved every single article. I’m a huge fan. And that is why it’s time to take this Korner to an Alley. I will answer every question with the harsh truth while being helpful. So get ready, PVA. Cause I’m ready to answer yo questions! Wurd! Welcome to Alan’s Alley. -Alan Gonzalez paperviews* Books Paperview Ratings YouTube Edition *In case you care what we think The Claidi Collection (Books I-III) by Tanith Lee Reviewed by Shaun Lesniewicz Now that the school year is over, it is time to put away your well-worn copies of The Scarlet Letter, Hamlet, Ender’s Game, and The Great Gatsby. It may be too much to part with those beloved pages, but there are other books out in the wide, wide world. Take a journey with Claidissa Star as she travels into the great unknown realm of the Waste with her handsome yet aloof escort. Her only constant com- panion is you, her beloved journal. Universally adaptable lessons of love are hidden in imaginative scenarios that cover sea and sky, mountain and valley, river and desert. The casual writing style and rather dynamic main character keep you wanting more as the plot continues to surprise you with every twist and turn. Call it a fantasy bildungsroman for girls. Jersey Shore Goes Wilde Marcel the Shell with Shoes On Very Mary Kate News reporter has a stroke on the air Rebecca Black--“Friday” Kathryn Stockett Book Signing Reviewed by Alexz Faulkner Showing up to Barnes and Noble an hour early for the signing of Kathryn Stockett’s popular novel, The Help, was a rather interesting experience. I was approximately the sixth person to arrive and by far the youngest. As I awaited Ms. Stockett’s appearance (and for Mary Alice and Mrs. Cardenas to kindly show up) I was vacuumed into a discussion about silly books and sororities with about a zillion middle-aged women. The kind of crowd brought together by The Help was not quite what I expected but perfectly fitting all the same. I was relieved by Mary Alice’s and Mrs. Cardenas’s arrivals so we could cut the small talk and get down to business. Momentarily, Kathryn arrived. She has a tiny voice, not anything I expected from reading her novel. Her characters are so bold and outspoken that I suppose I expected she would reflect Places that. I was wrong. Kathryn herself seemed surprised by the success of her own novel, which was a trait I found quite endearing. Her tiny southern drawl made the reading she performed entrancing. You felt like you were standing in the stuffy kitchen of a white folk’s home right smack dab in the middle of Mississippi, hearing the thoughts of someone you knew intimately but had never met. It was strange how my perception of that scene changed after she read it because I heard it spoken as it was intended to be heard. At the risk of sounding trite, it really did make the novel come alive. Typical questions were asked and typical answers received. Fans told cute anecdotes about the book’s effect on their lives, and Kathryn laughed and commented politely, clearly enamored with the reactions engendered by something she created. It was really cool to see. And then she signed my Kindle. It was awesome. I highly recommend going to a book signing for any book--whether you’ve read it or not. Seeing artists and their final piece in the flesh is an experience you won’t soon forget. Curves Reviewed by Mary Alice Martin Mrs. Cardenas and I have recently begun attending Curves workout center for women. For those of you who haven't heard of it, or only know it by the commercials, this is how it works: You go in for an initial consultation where the manager (JoAnn) takes your measurements and has a discussion with you about your target weight. You are then expected to come work out at least three times a week. A Curves workout consists of a circle of machines and spring boards. There is a CD (usually of bad dance music) playing, and every thirty seconds there is a voice recorded over the music telling you to "change stations now." Unfortunately for the image of Curves, there is an overweight, older-lady stigma that is associated with the gym. I have told many of my friends that Mrs. Cardenas and I have started this regimen and have only been met by laughter. I must say, Mrs. Cardenas and I (both) are the youngest members of Curves. We have recently become "superstars" because last week we actually made it into the gym three times. Now, for every week we come in three times or more we earn a sticker (yay)! They also have a cute little drawing each week. There is a theme object such as a flower, star, a pair of earrings, or Curves workout wear. If you have it on your person when you come in that week, you get entered into a drawing to win a Curves t-shirt! The newest thing at Curves right now is Zumba classes. These are Spanish dance-workout classes that start at six every night, and it has been stressed to us that we will be kicked off the workout circuit once Zumba starts. Zumba classes are only two dollars (BEST DEAL EVER), but I can't convince Ms. Cardenas to stay for one because she “doesn't dance." This experience is also opening my eyes to some facts about old age. Just as it is difficult for young people to approximate the age of old people, it is apparently also difficult for old people to approximate the age of young people. For example, Mrs. Cardenas and I were asked by Lucy (age 77-87?) whether we were twins. Another lady asked whether we were sisters "or something,” and the other day we were asked if we were teachers at a school together. I'm eighteen, and I won't tell you how old Mrs. Cardenas is. I've also come to realize that older ladies are very nice to one another. I am always greeted with an enthusiastic "hello, Mary!" when I walk in and a friendly "have a great day!" when leaving. The women never have petty, gossipy conversations, and they revel in one another's weight loss success, even at the smallest amounts. The best part? After going to work out just five times, I’m strong enough to do a side plank in yoga (for the first time), and I’ve already lost three pounds. Movies Battlefield Earth Reviewed by Jay Reed There is no movie quite like Battlefield Earth. No movie, no matter how bad, has been able to take itself seriously while incorporating as many plot holes, as many obnoxious special effects, as many scenerychewing actors to the extent that Battlefield Earth has. This scum casserole of a movie was lovingly based on a science fiction novel pumped out of the typewriter by none other than L. Ron Hubbard, the man who created Scientology. John Travolta, a devout Scientologist since the 1970s, took it upon himself to produce Hollywood’s latest blockbuster, heralded by Travolta to be “like Pulp Fiction for the year 3000” and “like Star Wars, only better.” After many studios bailed out on his project, he finally got a deal with Franchise Films, a new company fabricated by Elie Samaha, the owner of a local dry cleaner store. The movie begins in the year 3000, and humans have become enslaved by a race of aliens called “Psychlos,” which resemble fat businessmen with dreadlocks. The main Psychlo, Terl (portrayed by, you guessed it, John Travolta), finds a human, Jonnie, who wants to lead a rebellion against the Psychlos. Travolta… I mean… Terl… doing what any right-minded being would do, trains Jonnie to rebel against and kill the Psychlos. Let me repeat that: Terl, a Psychlo, trains Jonnie, a human, to kill all of the Psychlos, which includes Terl. Brilliant. As if this gripping storyline wasn’t enough, the audience is also treated to a wide variety of superb camera effects, such as angles, curtain wipes… and that’s it. Every single scene change is a curtain wipe, and every Summer Movie Preview single shot is at a weird angle. The only variation is that the angles range from 20 to almost 80 degrees. The special effects are reminiscent of Star Wars recreated on a state-of-the-art Windows 98 computer that has been enhanced by Line 6 stack amplifiers. The acting is beyond words. The only way to even get a taste of the ham acting in this movie is to go on YouTube and look up the boardroom scene. While Travolta’s egotistical spew was both a critical and box office flop, it still provides great entertainment fodder to this day. Just as one smells an expired foodstuff at the urging of a friend, just as one listens to Rebecca Black, just as one watches reruns of the Rocky Horror episode of Glee, people will watch Battlefield Earth for years to come. By Emerald McLaughlin X-Men: First Class--A good action movie, probably worth seeing in theaters. Super 8--Very enticing trailer; looks very much like War of the Worlds meets Independence Day with a few kids thrown into the mix. Mr. Popper's Penguins--Doesn't look like it has any plot; seems to rely on Jim Carrey doing his normal wacky character work; reminiscent of Ace Ventura (one of my favorites). Great book though. Cars 2--In my mind Pixar can do no wrong. The first Cars movie was good, so I will give this one a chance, but the trailer doesn't get me too excited. Bad Teacher--Cameron Diaz doing what she does best: comedy. She usually sticks with the ditzy blonde; now she is the evil blonde. For the ladies you get Justin Timberlake, and for the guys you get Cameron Diaz washing cars. Larry Crowne--Hadn’t heard of this, but it looks very good. With Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts, it’s bound to be a hit. Transformers--After the last Transformers movie, I don't have high hopes for this one. Looks like the whole movie is stuff crashing into other stuff, then blowing up, plus Shia Lebeouf and that Victoria’s Secret model running away from the explosions. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2--Dressing up for the midnight IMAX 3-D showing is a must, and then seeing it over and over and over again is a triple must. Everyone is dying to know how Warner Brothers will wrap up the most beloved film franchise of the 21st century. Winnie the Pooh--So adorable it will be impossible to resist. Grab the closest small child for a legitimate excuse to go. Captain America: The First Avenger--The focus of the first half of the trailer is Chris Evans' head Photoshopped onto an unnaturally scrawny body. This probably just won't deliver as an action movie. Friends With Benefits--Hopefully Mila Kunis's attempt at this plot line will be better than her Black Swan costar's. May be a bit cliche and corny. Cowboys & Aliens--Not your grandfather's action movie, but hopefully it will end with Harrison Ford riding off into the sunset. Crazy, Stupid, Love--Chick flick guys will go for Steve Carell; girls, for Ryan Gosling. The Help--Highly engaging trailer. Name That Book members hope it won’t be unduly cheery. Music Arcade Fire Concert Reviewed by Keenan Hurley Grammy-winning artist Arcade Fire made a visit to the Woodlands this month, but this was not an ordinary concert for this Canadian indie-rock group. The Suburbs, which won the Grammy for album of the year, is about Butler and his brother’s experiences growing up in the very suburban sprawl in which this concert was held--the Woodlands. When Arcade Fire returned to this small, pleasant, affordable housing “paradise” that inspired an album, it made quite a splash at the biggest award show in music. Butler, sporting his classic mullet with shaved sides, stepped up to the mic and said, “Hey. It’s good to be home. We’re gonna play our fuddling asterisks off.” (Well, for paper*’s sake.) The band then burst into one of their classics: “Ready to Start,” an appropriate choice. The band played with such life yet such a similar sound to their recordings, recreated beautifully by the large band and their additional tour members. After several songs, Butler came to the mic and said that this especially felt like home because he had worked as a ticket taker in the very venue in which he was now playing. He then broke into one of the best performances of the night, “Haiti,” which was wonderfully led by Butler’s wife Régine Chassagne. She adorably pranced around the stage hand dancing while William Butler suddenly jumped from his keyboard midsong. He clapped and danced across the stage, sat down at the empty second drum set beside drummer Jeremy Gara and started playing. No big deal, mid-song instrument change. There were pauses between the songs as the multi-instrumentalists traded instruments and were handed accordions and hurdy-gurdies by tech members. After one of these changes mid-show, Butler again stepped up to the mic and subtly slipped in, “When I was a ticket-taker here, this is the point of the show where I’d stop taking tickets and just let people go in the front.” As he began playing “Neighborhood #3,” the faces in the crowd looked at each other in shock before jumping over the walls separating levels of seating and sprinting to the pit, avoiding the security trying to control the adrenaline pumped indie-rock rave. Within minutes there were no longer walkways in the closest sections as people gathered in. The crowd continued going wild as Will Butler grabbed a signature single snare drum in one hand and a mallet in the other and began slamming the drum to the beat of the music. He jumped up and down like a wild man until he could no longer be contained to the stage and jumped out into the crowd, fell, hurled the drum back on stage, picked up the dented snare, and resumed playing. The band strummed the last note before walking off stage, leaving the crowd immediately cheering for an encore. Then the band came back to deliver their most epic performance in “Wake Up” and finished with Chassane’s Sprawl II. They sang while twirling colorful ribbons in a rainbow of lights as Butler thanked the audience for their support and their beautiful neighborhood. What We’ll Miss Most About PVA AFS Edition Things we will miss about PVA, after our one and only year: Music in the hallways Mariachi--that trumpet during third period Ms. Ballard--Strunk & White will make its way into New Zealand grammar, I promise. Chilling in our groovy Library with Mrs. Cardenas and Mrs. Stovey Dancing in the commons The AMAZING School Store Dr. Allen--I swear the best principal our school could ever wish for Mr. Springfield--jumping into tap class and giving sweet, encouraging notes before performances! Vocal--and vocal friends The ENTIRE theatre department (particularly Levels 2 and 3) Ms. Jennings’s hugs Jazz Combo 2 Mr. Trout constantly reminding the dancers they cannot eat upstairs… Manuela’s group of dancers--loved baking for you guys! CRAZY PVA Piano lessons The fact that everybody gets along well with one another The lovely people The other exchange students The size of PVA and managing to say hello to at least half the school in only one day! paper* without the occasion of a costume party That Texas pride we have become so fond of Swirl The mentality that bigger is always better :D with and spend time with you. I’m very sad to leave here. I do wanna meet you again. =) Japan [email protected] Things we will miss about the USA: Football Bacon for Breakfast (mainly for the Italians) Reese’s--how we have survived without them we have NO idea! American diners Freeways--except for Arne who is going back to the Autobahnen Seeing legit movie stars in person Vilde Bolstad Bakken: People: Our host families Our friends--you are all forever welcome at our homes abroad! Our classmates for your patience, kindness, and encouragement Our fabulous teachers who tolerated our jet lag If you are ever in one of our neighborhoods, come and visit … Haruka Koizumi: I’m definitely gonna miss my friends. I was lucky to meet you all, and it was always really nice to just hang out Things we’ll miss about Texas: GOOD Mexican food Spanish Country music and line dancing everywhere Baseball games where we sing “Deep In The Heart of Texas” The weather for those of us who get rain A LOT in our home countries Whataburger and their HBCBs Good restaurants and good service Mardi Gras in Galveston Coming from hot outdoors into cool indoors The excuse to wear cowboy boots What I Miss Most About PVA By Terrance Turner Being confused by Mr. Sanders with Phillip Young. The speech classes during senior year that turned into study labs most of the time. Getting to recite poems during said class. Lunch with the always-entertaining jazz kids. The laughter-inducing desserts that some students sold during lunch. Playing trombone in band. Spending half of jazz class waiting for rhythm section players to show up. The often unusual smell of the jazz room. Getting to skip class in order to watch previews of dance/theatre productions. Being kicked out of the library at 3:45 by Ms. Cardenas at least once a week because she had to pick up her children. The joy of finding an empty practice room after school. The unbelievably long lines of people at the school store who would rather buy Ramen noodles than actual food. Getting to watch combo practice during third period--and always being blown away. Being called disgusting. Being around people who were not only good (often great) students but also gifted and unique human beings. I am going to miss people who ask where in Sweden I’m from, random conversations in practice rooms, Dr. Robbins’s stories, secret handshakes, teriyaki beef, bringing my snuggie everywhere I go, listening to amazingly talented singers and how there’s always something awesome to go see, concerts, exhibits, and plays. But most of all, I’m going to miss all the gorgeous, hilarious people I am proud to call my friends. Norway [email protected] Arne Imig: I’ll miss playing jazz here… it has been great fun! Berlin, Germany [email protected] Manuela Bianco: I’ll miss everything about America. I’ll leave a little piece of my heart here! Via G. Pisanelli n’80, 73025, Martano (LE) Italy [email protected] Anneke Brouwers: I’ll miss HSPVA as a whole. This school will forever be my favorite thing about my exchange. I have learned so many valuable skills and formed so many special friendships that I know will last a lifetime. You are all such beautiful people, and we thank you for giving us the best exchange we could have hoped for. Continue to be fabulous, PVA! WE LOVE YOU! New Plymouth, Taranaki North Island - New Zealand [email protected] Random Facebook Statuses Compiled by Corwin Stoddard Renato Josue Flores: That awkward moment when you are at a dance concert and all you can think is I AM THE SWAN QUEEN! Irene Simmon: My mom saw both Arcade Fire and the Strokes in one weekend while rocking her beige TOMS... what a hipster. Andrea Popova: Whoever said “the freaks come out at night” has obviously never been to Montrose during the day. Malcolm Mateo Porto Mpinduzi-Mott: You know you’re in Ballard when you start using sentence patterns in text messages. Kirk Murrell: Singing while doing dips in Madrigals. You jelly Capra Fellows: It’s been hitting me at the most random moments that we’re graduating in less than a month. I was signing the Black Box wall during rehearsal like I’ve done a million times over the past 4 years, and I got choked up. Imma really miss pva. Jay Reed: ”We’ve had a request to make the mood more romantic.” - Olen Rambow How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? Maria Stovey. The library clerk. The lady. The legend. By Drew Jones Of course, we all know of this enchanting woman who dwells primarily in the library, but what is this perplexing enigma really all about? It struck me-and when I say that “it struck me,” I mean a pencil flew through the air and hit me in the back of the head--on April 7 as I sat in the library in my ninth period study hall. The blunt object made contact with my head, and I proceeded to turn around slowly to search for my assailant, only to be met by the glamorous, glittering, glaring cat eyes of Ms. Stovey. I gazed longingly into her fierce, piercing glower, searching for an answer to the question that plagued my mind: “Why did you just throw that pencil at me?” But I found nothing. It was at this very moment that I realized that there was no reason. She needed no reason. She is Maria Stovey. I first encountered her when I arrived at this school and ventured into the library Can We Be to collect my textbooks; I picked up my books and went to check them out, only to be greeted with a blunt “What you want?” Of course, this being my first encounter with Ms. Stovey, I took her words very seriously. I felt like I had done something wrong which had provoked her; however, I soon discovered that she meant no harm. Ms. Stovey just enjoys watching people being taken aback after she playfully harasses them. Like I said--harmless. Once you get to know Ms. Stovey, you will find out that she is the kindest, sweetest, most generous person you will ever come across. If you need food, if you need a button sewn back on to your shirt, if you’ve been locked out of your locker and need someone to rip the lock off with their bare hands, then she is one to go to. So the lesson to be learned here is that after high school, you will be thrust into the real world. People may not always be nice; people may not always act the way you want them to, but you have to just let yourself know that “That’s Life,” as the great Frank Sinatra once said. Ms. Stovey is preparing you for life. So if you feel like she’s acting hostile towards you and it upsets you… GET OVER IT. She’s all bark, no bite. That, my friends, is how you solve a problem like Maria. Facebook Friends Now? With Mr. and Interview by Emerald McLaughlin Emerald McLaughlin: When did you start teaching at HSPVA? Mrs: Fall of '91 Mr: 1987 EM: Why do you choose to retire this year? Mrs: I don't have the energy I used to have, so I feel like it is time for a younger person to come in here. Also, my husband is retiring and I am retiring with him, and we have been very lucky in that we can retire. Mr: Twenty-five years is long enough I think, and I've completed a good arc, I think, and I'm ready to move on, and they're ready to move on, too. EM: What are you looking forward to in retirement? Do you have any special plans? Mrs: Rix and I teach a film workshop. He teaches the technical film part, and I teach the acting, and we are hoping to open that up. I'm going to be working at Prairie View A&M with that. He has a couple businesses that he will be selling pieces, and I will help him with the business end of that. I have written a children's book, and they are illustrating that. And we’re going to travel as much as we can afford. Mr: Lots. Travel for one, but mostly working in the studio and having time that's not structured in the nine-to-five. EM: What will you miss most about HSPVA? Mrs: Children. Watching children grow and develop. Mr: Students. EM: What will you miss least about HSPVA? Mrs: Paperwork, testing, the hours, the way HISD is heading us in regards to that everything is so regimented. The inability that such a large district has to treat teachers and students as individuals. That we are missing out on the quality of education possible with a better teacher-student ratio. The lack of respect for the teacher as an artist. Mr: Politics. EM: What is one thing you feel you can take away from your experience as a teacher at HSPVA? Mrs: I know that I have contributed to the world. Mr: Seeing all the different forms of creativity. The quality, the energy, getting to see a lot of people working in lots of different ways together. Mrs. Jennings EM: Whom influenced you the most in your years here? Mrs: The children. Mr: The students. EM: How do you feel you have changed HSPVA since you have been here? What is your legacy? Mrs: In the Theatre Department, that the whole child is more important than the craft, that everybody gets the opportunity to be onstage and to learn in his own way, and that as much as time allows us to give the kids time and space to grow into who he is. Let them draw from the source of their spirits and be who they really are. And giving them emotional intelligence, personal boundaries, the ability to know what their limits are, to know where I end and someone else begins, and personal safety. Mr: Working in lots of different areas. I had a big impact on photography here and the digital lab was my creation. I think my biggest role here though in was in teaching drawing, a traditional, real solid, fundamental approach to drawing that sets a really good foundation. EM: Is there something you would like to say to the students before you leave? Mrs: HSPVA is unique in all the world, but it's sad that we have to depend on such a large district. As you guys graduate, you have to continue to give back. You need to volunteer if you’re in town, and if you have the funds to donate, do. The situation with the budget has caused the teacher-student ratio to get out of hand. It is going to be important to come back and give back to the school. Mr: They need to realize how much power they have and the impact they have; they need to be aware of this. Sometimes students feel powerless, at least at the beginning, and maybe not until they are seniors they realize the control they have over the system. It would be good for everybody if they realized this. H0r0$K0p3$ By PnG Libra: DOUBLE THE ONE, DOUBLE THE FUN, WE DID WORK, WE GOT SUM! C/0 ‘11!!!! Leo: yhu shuld continyhu 2 read paper* nxt year, even though the horoscopes will be grossly inadequate, because dem trifflin fools don even no how to read the MOON and tha STARS like ~*~PnG~*~ do!!!! Aquarius: yhu shud rly read tha reviews dis monf. whu knus? may-b u’ll c sum10 u lyke? Pisces: it is rly tyme 2 clean out ur loker Taurus: NERD! Virgo: if yhu think yhu b-ing qutte by wearin dem b00ty shahts 2 skool - yhu ain`t. it is 2 cold in dis buildin to be wearin no clothes Cancer: stop riding the drama llama bc you wil fall off an die. TRUF Capricorn: don’ go to botswana u won b safe Aries: educate b4 u l3g!sl@Te Sagittarius: go on gurl and werq dat new swimsuit!! yhu earned da rrriiight 2 wear dat SO YHU BETTA WHEAR DAT Gemini: qurl yhu betta study 4 ur finals! o nvm u gon fail anywayz Scorpio: BUH_BYE DIS IS IT Year In Review By Amelia Bell Across 3. _____ _____ Walking (two words) 6. The last name of the YoungArts finalist from the Theatre Department 7. _____ Joe’s Cafe 10. The second paper*-sponsored themed dance was the “Let’s _____ _____ ” Dance. (two words) 12. The first name of the YoungArts finalist from the Art Department who is not on the paper* staff 13. What did the underclassmen get as a reward for doing well on their TAKS tests? 14. The first name of the YoungArts finalist from the Art Department who IS on the paper* staff Down 1. What month came directly before the month of Spaghetti Supper? 2. What is the website that we use to fulfill our P.E. credit? 3. What kind of animal made a special appearance in the Spring Dance Concert? 5. HSPVA is thirty-_____ years old. 8. A _____ Night Music 9. What rapper did we spend hours voting against St. Agnes to have perform at HSPVA? (two words... even though we lost :[ ) 11. What grocery stores chain nominated Dr. Allen for an award? paper Staff Editors-in-Chief: Margaret Winchell/Laura Lisk Art Directors/Formatters: Ava Barrett/Emily Fens/Cara Butler/Carlos Womack Managing Editors: Ian Hill/Cece White Marketing Editor: Emerald McLaughlin Junior Editors: Ira Schlosberg, Pauline Berens, Jay Reed, Spencer Shen Standardized Testing Proctor: Amelia Bell Photoshop: Allen Robbins, Julia Lin Senior Staff Writers: Elizabeth Passmore, Sarah Griffith, Alyssa McIntyre, Gregory LaMontagne, Alexz Faulkner, Mary Alice Martin, Kelly Engler, Taylar Lewis, Karina Farek, Taylor Rawley Contributing Writers: Shaun Lesniewicz, Natalie Reilley, Drew Jones, Anneke Brouwers, Alan Gonzalez, Keenan Hurley, Corwin Stoddard