Lakeside Link: ‘69 alum closes the book
Lakeside Link: ‘06 alum returns for some high school drama
“The magic of theatre” has been with 2006 grad Kristina (Wortman) Meinel for a long time. From her own high school performances, through her college Fine Arts degree, to today—whether it be directing or with her behind-the-scenes artistry—Kristina has found ways to serve her Savior & others in the most entertaining ways.
A 1969 graduate, Phyllis (Heiliger) Huska came back to LLHS in 1992—the year her eldest was a junior— and developed our library into an all-day helpful and comfortable resource for students and staff alike. After 29 years, she’s closing the book on her Warrior career, but she agreed to one last report—on her own history—before checking out.
LL: What was your beginning like? PH: [Prior to fall ‘92], the library was open one period a day because Linda Seeklander had one free period. Principal Nelson wanted more and put out a plea to the Federation for anyone interested in helping. Our family had just moved to Lake Mills from the west side of Madison (we had two students at LL, Our Redeemer wasn’t federated yet and busing was only from Eastside and Holy Cross). So I answered the plea, organizing the library on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Only about half the books were cataloged on a simple library software program. There were stacks of donated books filling the storage rooms. I gradually weeded out the books that weren’t appropriate or useful and got the rest on the computer.
LL: How else has the library changed over the years? PH: The most significant was in 2003; when science and music rooms and the East gym were added, the library also expanded, more than doubling and allowing access to the new courtyard. When I started, there was one computer in the library, and that was for the librarian. Several years later, we had two computers for student research or word processing use. After the ‘03 addition, it jumped to 12 student computers. Now all students have Chromebooks under our 1:1 initiative. Years ago, students used free time in study halls to look at magazines, read newspapers, browse books like the Guinness Book of World Records or read a book. Now? If students have free time, they’re watching YouTube videos, Netflix, or playing online games.
LL: You were an onstage Warrior? The Lakeside stage holds many memories for me, and it is an honor to return to see others grow in their love for performance. In 2005, I played Marston in And Then There Were None, as well as Frau Schmidt in Sound of Music in 2006. My favorite role was Lily from Annie in 2004. I made so many memories with friends from different high school groups ... trailing feathers wherever I went with that molting feather boa ... hearing Annie (Katie [Rhodes ‘05] Lesperance) do justice to the beautiful song “Maybe” ... learning choreography from Linnea Koeppel ‘06 for “Easy Street,” my trio (Kristina, below left) with Josh Schultz ‘04 and Melissa Gallun ‘06.
LL: Describe some of your favorite times in the library. PH: My favorite day of the school year was Valentine’s Day (or a school day close to it) when I ran Library Speed Dating for Freshman English. Mrs. Schommer would tease them ahead of time—making them think we were really going to set them up with a human date—so some of them would be really nervous when they arrived. Some may have been disappointed to find out that their dates were books, but everyone seemed to have a good time. Not being able to do that this year was sad. Mr. Doering has used the library for his end-of-the-semester Government mock trials so they have a more courtroom-like setting. I always enjoy seeing students take on their roles of witnesses, lawyers and jurists. Over the years, some students really were memorable for how deeply they got into their characters. One student has always stood out as a success story: adamant that they hated reading and proud they had made it to senior year without really reading a book, they were assigned a report and had to find a book. I recommended one, and when returning it, the student thanked me, saying that they didn’t know there could be interesting stories, but they had read the whole book and really enjoyed it— might even want to read another book!
It’s a special opportunity to come together for a show, an event that can never be duplicated in the exact way after those people are done with that show. What a great thing to be part of AND to pass on to other generations of thespians now.
LL: Tell us about family & plans. Sarah (‘94) is a CPA and husband, Eric, is a pilot. Peter (‘96) is an engineer and wife, Kathryn, a speech therapist; they have two boys. Meghan (‘99) is a graphic designer and husband, Paul, a pastor, with two boys and a girl. As for retirement plans, if the pandemic ever ends, Jim and I will travel. After all, we have five grandchildren. Need I say more?
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LL: Tell us more about what’s special about passing it on. The best part of directing teens is watching them throughout the process, from auditions to final curtain call. They learn so much about performing and themselves. I hope to share an appreciation for theatre in general, but mostly I want to get each kid to reach a higher level of performance than they thought they could. I want them to learn to be expressive and learn timing and posture and presentation, but mostly, I hope they learn to use their experiences and personality to serve God with a different set of talents than in math class. I hope to teach them to embrace who they are (quirks and all) and gain confidence in their uniqueness because, just as each has a unique role in a theatre performance, each person has unique qualities that can further God’s work. We work hard, we have A LOT of fun, and we make some pretty cool art for God’s glory. This past spring was very different. We had lost last year’s performance of High School Musical [which would have been Kristina’s Lakeside directing debut–ed.]. In auditions and our first rehearsals in 2021, the teens were somber ... stiff. It was a challenge to breathe life back into the process, a lot of going through the motions until we felt “better,” like shaking free from the losses of the last year. The final month, we finally felt the creativity bursting out; it may sound lame, but the happiness finally seemed to return to the stage.
I began stage managing professionally at the Janesville Armory. For three years, I directed at Lake Country Lutheran High School. I also work at Salty Earth Pictures in Fort. Steve Zambo saw me in 2005 and asked me to audition. I became an intern during college, building and painting sets, giving tours, cleaning, and being cast and crew on films. Fast forward—working at Salty Earth remains a joyful blessing. We all cover a multitude of jobs there, but my official title is Key Hair and Makeup Artist, working on our Bible Stories project, Movie Critters (with puppets!) and our latest feature films, The Open Door and The Author, The Star and The Keeper. I also work independently as a makeup artist for other film projects, most notedly for Highlights Media.
LL : Final thoughts? I love to share the magic of theatre and help build self-confidence. Theatre embraces every type—just find the right “role”—lead acting, a character actor, dancing, costuming, stage managing, muscling as set crew, using brains to wire a light system, tuning an ear to minute sound differences, publicity, painting and more. I hope to help equip them for their future, wherever it may lead!
LL: What else keeps you busy?
This year’s seniors were speed dating books as freshmen with Mrs. Huska in 2018.
With a bachelor of Fine Arts with a Stage Management emphasis from UW–Whitewater,
Josh ‘07 and Kristina dated at LLHS and married in 2009. They are blessed with Silas (9) Mabel (6) and Grayson (3).
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