Freshman Schonher: Forensics star

Thom Hale Opinions Editor

Kyle Schonher isafreshman thisyear, coming out of Andersen Middle School. Schonher isactively involved in Forensics and Student Congress. He has ahumorous interpretation piece for forensics called “Bagel Boys.”

In this comedy, Schonher plays the parts of two quarrellingbrothers in an argument about bagels.

Schonher has ahard time comparing other classes to his fourth period B day. The only classhe says he really enjoys isMr. Brown’s forensics.

“Tt’sfun,” saidSchonher. It’snot easy, though: There isalotofwork and steep competition. While debating bills during student congress, some students getheated and very opinionated. uredIwould beok.Idon’tmind public speaking andI act atmy church.

Tuesday, we alllearned thesongs we would be singing for auditions. There were two songs forthegirlsand two different tunes for the guys. I’m prettysurewe allknow the“Ooh, isn’t this amazing...” song of Belle’s and thatis what we sang. We also had to sing a song from the Broadway show by the teapot, Mrs. Potts. That song was teally difficult, mainly because it had several high notes for several counts. We allpracticed the songs together,onthestage,offthestage,with and without the tape. We knew those songs so well, yet we were allnervous andkeptpracticing.Severalpeoplesang theirauditions thatevening, but Ihad to wait until Thursday. Besides singing well, itwas a key factor whether you could sing loudly. The louder the better even. Singing loud presented to justbe another factor ofmy cold feet. Even if mustered up allmy courage, I would just barely be heard, so singing loud would have tobe an actofGod.

Wednesday after school, we started the dancing workshop. Iam a genius, Iwore flip-flops toschool that day and ended up dancing barefoot. Probably not thebestwardrobe tobust amove in. Anyways, Iwas scared for this afternoon because Ihavea difficult time remembering dance moves. have long legs, and during the workshop,someone commented onandsaid they were too long and she was afraid ofbeinghit.The dance went fairlywell until the bell kicks, those little leprechaun skip things and then the pony. Allicansayisthatitwas tremendously difficult.Then thechoreographer said “Now, do that in a circle!” When we had practiced and practiced, we allsat back down exhausted. Groups of five were going to dance on the stage for the audition. I don’t even remember noticingwho wasinmy group orthatI was dancing infront of alarge group ofpeople. Itwaslikebeingnumbedby fear, but at the same time, not noticing. When Istepped off the stage, I was exhilarated from conquering the first obstacle: One fear down, two to go.

Friday afternoon Ihad a double header. Twice the chance to shine or fail. Ifirstwent tothechorus room to sing. No one had heard me sing by myself, and all of a sudden, I was expected to whip itout and amaze the world. Iwas atotalmess. Iseriously almost left the room, that’s how afraid I was. I’m not sure why Ihave such a fearofsingingbymyself, but Ido andthat day, absolutely had to defeat it. We practiced twiceand then auditions started.Two girlsauditioned, and then me. Ididn’t even get to go last so no one heard me. Iheld Katie’s hand reallytightly asIwaited. Ikept whispering that Icouldn’t do itand she kept telling me she believed in me. When my tum came, sheofferedtogoupwith me and hold my hand during my audition. So she came up with me until I _made herleavebecause wewere laughing too much. First I sang the Belle song, which I think went well.In no more than 2 minutes, both were over and was done with singing bymyself. Iheaded straight to acting after that andwatched afewauditions untilMrs. Baker calledmy name foragroup. One girl was to be Mrs. Potts, one was the dresser and Iwas Belle. We practiced inthehallway outsideoftheblackbox andtriedtoperfectourpiece.The scene was the one in which Belle discovers the enchanted objects and is shocked by their personification. We ran the scene four or five times and headed back into the black box to await our turn. Our turn finally came and looking back, Ican see that God did not

“Sometimes people make me look like an idiot,” said Schonher, “soIjustdo my best tomake them look likeidiOutsideofschool,Schonher takespartinHeart Group and the dinner theater group in the Divine Shepherd Lutheran Church. Schonher plays an IRS agent in the church’s production “The New Preacher.”

Ots, too.”

Currently, Schonher isranked number 4 on the congresschartand number 9ontheentireforensicsdepthchart. Schonher recently qualified forNational Forensics League standing, something he says he’s very proud of. He currently has atotal of55 forensics league points. He ishoping toletterand looking forward tomoving tovarsitynext year.