Hawkeye
LIFESTYLE
FEBRUARY 2022 | 11
Thespians set to return to the theater stage
By Maggie O’Hara and Rachel Davis HAWYEKE STAFF
ment from the prior year, there were still challenges. “‘Bad Auditions by Bad Actors’ was our first in-person play coming out of COVID,” Harmon said. With the nature of hybrid learning during the spring, it was difficult to have everyone together for rehearsal at the same time. As a result, the actors didn’t get the same experience as those in years past. “We would have to have people practicing scenes on some days and some practicing on others, and some were 100% online until the last week before the performance,” Harmon said. On top of that, it was a challenge to have the same level of organization as previous years with such unpredictable circumstances and low student morale in general. “There wasn’t really a process last year,” senior Anabelle Sumera-Decoret said. “It was more of, ‘if you want to be part of the play, just show up to the Zoom meeting, learn your part, and perform it when we record.’” This school year, COVID has still proven to be a challenge. While participation is higher and it feels closer to a normal year, people in the production have had to stay home, and the play was postponed. “Sometimes we’d have to skip practicing scenes some days
Students in the 2021-22 school year have faced more than the usual amount of surprises in comparison to any other regular school year. With students adjusting to being in person during a pandemic along with ever-changing COVID regulations, it’s inevitable for classrooms and clubs alike to be affected by sudden changes. Among these extracurriculars has been the drama department, who with the new production of Ken Ludwig’s “Midsummer/Jersey” has had to relearn everything it takes to put on a show in the midst of a pandemic. The play was originally set to be performed on Jan. 28 and 29, but was postponed due to concerns around the rapid spread of the omicron variant of COVID-19 at public events. As the production would involve actors interacting with each other without masks and an audience indoors in the theater, it was decided that it’d be best for everyone’s safety if it was changed to a later date. “The play was postponed back when the district suspended the activities buses due to the then-recent upsurge of omicron,” junior Tristan Harmon, an actor in the production, said. The current performance dates are Feb. 18 and 19, a Friday and Saturday. “Midsummer/Jersey” is the first production the theater program has put on since the start of the 2021-22 school year with implementing current COVID regulations, and the process leading up to the performance has changed thanks to COVID regulations. Over the past couple of school years, COVID has posed many problems for the program. “The production ‘Rumors’ was planned to take place in the second semester of the 2019-20 school year and was canceled due to morale being so ridiculously low when the pandemic started,” Harmon said. During the 2020-21 school year, the program had both EZRA FENWICK | HAWKEYE completely online and in-person plays. While an improve-
because person a, b and/or c are either out with COVID or had a COVID exposure,” Harmon said. The majority of students in the program also haven’t gotten the experience of being in person in theater at Terrace before, and bouncing back after the year online has been challenging. The newer students have limited experience, and the older members have their own obligations that may limit the time they can dedicate to the program. “It’s rough getting people back on track, especially when 90% of the program is now made up of new students who hadn’t experienced the program the same way I did in my underclassmen years,” Sumera-Decoret said. “However, the majority of the cast members are working hard and do have a passion for the production, so I trust that they’ll put on a great show.” Despite all of the hardships COVID has caused, the actors are still optimistic and enthusiastic for the prospect of being back to a somewhat-normal routine. Not only did the online year make motivation difficult in classes, but it also made clubs and extracurriculars almost obsolete, especially struggling with consistent participation. Being back in-person, that participation has significantly improved, and students are excited to get the chance to give it their all. “It feels great to have normal rehearsals again and having the entire cast at the theater at one time,” Harmon said. Sumera-Decoret, who has been with the program since her freshman year, felt the same way. “It’s wonderful to be back in the theater. Putting on virtual productions just isn’t the same, and getting to connect with scene partners in person and be moving with our entire bodies is something I miss a lot,” she said. While the play being postponed definitely wasn’t ideal, the theater program has taken advantage of the extra time to perfect their performance. “We’ve been working hard to make it until the blocking and tech shenanigans are completely set,” Harmon said. “We have been doing a couple things, however I can’t exactly say what they are as they’d ruin the surprise!” H
PASS table football tournament hosted to lift student spirit By Nicholas Iwuoha HAWKEYE STAFF
During the first weeks of second semester, the students of James Wilson’s PASS class are hosting a school-wide table football tournament. With over 38 teams schoolwide, PASS classes will compete for donuts and a special, one of a kind 3D-printed trophy. The registration period is over, but those still wanting to enjoy it may be able to view the championship games via a Zoom link. Right now, an elimination tournament for PASS classes with multiple teams is being played. After this set of games is finished, the schoolwide games for prizes will begin. Table football is a game that is played preferably on a 6-by2 foot table. The goal of the game is to flick the trianbular football, made of a folded piece of paper, so that it hangs off the short edge of the table but does not fall off. Each team gets four flicks, and if their goal is successfully achieved, they are awarded six points. The team that scores gets to attempt an extra flick for another point. If the ball falls off any edge of the table, the other team gets a three-point field goal attempt. The game lasts for seven minutes, and the team with the highest score at the end of the allotted time wins. This versatile game can be played anywhere, as the only materials required are a table and paper to make the football. Wilson’s PASS class has spent the last six weeks producing handmade table footballs and field goals for the event. PASS teachers can pick these up from their boxes if they have students registered to compete. A table football slideshow
is also available for anyone to view on the Advisory Canvas page. The idea of having the tournament originated from students being bored during Wilson’s PASS class. The game was an easy way to occupy their time before going to their next classes. Wilson noticed the excitement over the game and suggested sharing the pastime with the rest of the school. “They were engaging in something that was analog, using their hands and senses,” Wilson said. “They had social interaction while still being socially distant, so why not?” Over the next couple of weeks, the PASS students worked hard to make this vision come alive. They created over 60 table football and field goals with whatever extra time they could find, along with brainstorming and organizing how to advertise and hold the tournament. While the event’s only just begun, it’s been well-received thus far. The whole event has been primarily student-led, with Wilson just helping out as the adviser for the PASS class. The procedure for creating a tournament is rigorous and takes a vast amount of planning, however the students from the class proudly stepped up to this task. “There is so much learning and growth that goes into managing an activity,” Wilson said. “I definitely am supporting students being leaders. It’s a lot of good work for them.” Having students lead school events is not only good for the students leading them, but also benefits everybody around
the school. It lets students know that they can work together to make noticeable changes at Terrace and bring the school together with games or clubs. “If I can be in the position to support leaders in doing the stuff, then there’s much less work on my part,” Wilson said. “Those kids get a greater growth experience and then the cool events are happening, which is awesome.” All in all, this tournament is about bringing back, little by little, a sense of community at this school. “What makes high school such an experience is all of the traditions, and events, and experiences and social interactions,” Wilson said. “We have lost a tremendous amount of tradition. The school feels like a shell. Kids aren’t really sure how to engage in it mostly because y’all have done two years of remote.” This table football tournament may be a very small event, but it’s a start. If more students start events and clubs, school could become more of a welcoming place, and it would make each day different and the weight of schoolwork more bearable. “For high school to be the valuable experience that it should be, we need to rebuild. That is both a heavy burden and a beautiful opportunity,” Wilson said. “If this table football thing becomes a thing, then it can be one of those experiences. It can be one of those parts of our culture, and can be something that kids can feel like they’re part of, and we lack those right now.” H
