Story 5

Seussical the Musical COMING SOON

This fall, at Zimmerman High School, drama veterans Cassie Heyer, Sylvia Michaels, and Jessica Parnow will be performing in Seussical the Musical.
 Heyer, a senior at Zimmerman High School, just started acting in the spring of 2010. She scored a major role in The Wizard of Oz playing the wicked witch and in Seussical the Musical, playing a smart-alecky bird. Michaels, a Sophomore at Zimmerman High School and acting since seventh grade, has been in many plays, acquiring more vigorous roles each year. Describing her current role as a monkey in Seussical the Musical, she said, "It’s pretty crazy!" Parnow, also a Senior at Zimmerman High School, has been cast in many roles, but she most often finds herself working with the technical crew, an area she really enjoys.

All three girls stated that they take part in drama because of peer pressure. Parnow said, " ‘Shewski wanted me to be a techie for the three act because I didn’t make it into the play, so I did and I liked it." Heyer said that " Señor ‘Shewski had wanted her to try out" and Michaels talked about her friends that were trying out, so she audition too.

Play director and Spanish teacher Mr. (Señor) Palashewski makes sure the rehearsal times are fun yet beneficial for the students. Having a rather long last name, most students have taken to calling him ‘Shewski, or Señor if they are in his Spanish class. The atmosphere during rehearsal time is relaxed and playful yet informational, thanks, in part, to their director. Some of the cast members lovingly described him as nice, different and unique.

"All techies, stage hands and the cast attend rehearsals for more than two hours after school every day to prepare for opening night," Heyer noted. During rehearsals, cast members start by using the play books to read lines, figure out where to stand and what movements to make. By the second or third week however, they are expected to have their lines memorized and be able to work with the rest of the cast in a rough estimate of the scenes. The set is arranged by stage hands, technical crew, and cast members that aren’t on stage for each scene. The stage props are usually brought in from home by different cast members and ‘Shewski. "Whoever has furniture or decorations that might help with the musical brings it in… it is like a huge family helping each other out in a small community," said a new cast member.

Drama is a huge part of Zimmerman High School because it gives the Arts a rare moment to shine. Although Zimmerman doesn’t have a fancy theatre to perform in, it doesn’t stop the drama students from being proud of their performances in the cafetorium; making good use of the little space they have.

This fall, Seussical the Musical will be performed on November 19^{th and 20th at 7:00 p.m, and November 21st at 2:00 p.m.," stated Heyer.}

Story 4

Music as a Passion

Nine years old and already involved in music. Alexis Cantwell had started to play the violin, soon to switch to a trumpet. She became immersed with a passion that would continue throughout her life.

Cantwell said, "I started [music] because it intrigued me so much. There is life in music that grows and dies by the notes. All music is likable… ".

She switched schools in 5^{th grade, and her only choice was a recorder. Cantwell said, "That was agonizing to say the least, but 6th grade I started middle school and got to play trumpet again." By the next year, she was asked if she wanted to switch to a "less popular" instrument to help balance out the band, she agreed and switched to baritone.}

Interview Transcript

Is this what it is suppose to look like??

This was an interview done via e-mail with Alex Cantwell on 10/8/10
Q. What is something interesting about you? (Do you have a favorite hobby or sport that you are involved in?)A. My Hobbie, that will last me my lifetime, is music.

Q. (about the above mentioned ^ ) How long have you been involved with this? A. In music classes and such I've been doing music since 3rd grade at my music magnet school but listening and playing random instruments was since I was born

Q. Why did you start this activity? A. I started this activity because music intrigued me so much. There is life in music that grows and dies by the notes. All music is likable by someone which makes it amazing even if by small numbers. Playing and listening to all kinds of music can really help if you need to start up a conversation.

Q. Are you close with someone else involved in this? Have any relationships or other oportunities arisen because of your involvement? A. My mother is very much in love with music as well but not as me I don't think haha. When she was in high school, she joined the marching band. Later on someone heard her voice and she was to sing in front of the entire school for the mb. That event started her into many different things with music and all that. After all that she had been in 2 different bands that went on tour. She was lead singer for both of them, they would redo famous songs at that time, nothing too big, but she met a whole lot of awesome people (including my father ;) ). I think I have a voice for singing well but I would not sing in front anyone other than close friends. In my band classes in the years you get really good friendships with those who stay in the band for longer than middle school and freshmen year. My high school takes the music classes for trips around the state and country for things from big bucks fundraisers just to play to New York City to visit for a week. New York costs money to be get there and be there but still hell of a time. This year it's florida for just the band class. Music, but band especially, is awesome!

Q. What if you ever had to stop doing this? Would you miss it? A. If I ever had to stop playing music I would die a little inside every day. Sure, there's always things to listen to but unless you get to play it, the music loses its flavor. Some definitely don't have a musical intelligence but most of them don't mind not having to play the music they hear. Every chance I get, I sit on a piano or trumpet and try to just get all the notes right from trial and error.

Q. Why did you start this activity in the first place? A. This question sort of seems redundant 0.0

Q. Has it been expensive and/or time consuming?A. Joining band itself has some big fees attached like if you play a school-owned instrument or a trip wherever money. Marching band is a whole other matter. To be in the band of mb you must be in band. To do the frontline or pit, the marimbas and xylophones, a music class. Colorguard, you don't even have to know what a trombone is but knowing tempo and where to get it from should be known. MB has fees that are much larger than regular band. Going on a weekend trip to St. Louis or even Marshall, MN takes a lot of money. Coach buses, instruments, uniforms, and all that jazz is a bunch of mula.


Q. What do you get from this activity?A. I got a lot of friendships, experience, jokes, laughs, amazing memories, and a lot of general knowledge that most usually teachers wouldn't say. Music is so versatile that it can conform like water but won't move like a solid and also can't be kept like gas. Music, if you let it, can be that one thing to keep you going. I can not, and choose not, to live without music.

Story 3

Major Setback Doesn’t Stop Cyclist

Without meaning to, Marsha L. Taylor became involved in cycling. Her passion, however, was put on hold when she was injured in a motor-vehicle/cyclist accident after the U.S. cyclist Tour.

Taylor said, "I must have ridden at least maybe 3,500 miles because… I rode in the annual Governors Bicycle Tour… and a tour across the United states this year."

Shortly after she came home to Zimmerman after the U.S. Tour, she was hit from behind while on a short ride and went flying off her bike. "A lot of it is hazy" to her, but once in the hospital, she was told she had was lucky that she hadn‘t been paralyzed. After a couple weeks and the beginning of therapy, she was informed that more complications had developed. Her recovery would now take at least four months instead of the original two.

Despite all of this, she would "be out there right now, but its hard to ride when you have to use crutches". She says, despite her accident, "if you use precautions and wear a helmet, cycling can be pretty safe."

Taylor started cycling while in college as a way of keeping fit. Eventually, she became involved in rides and races. Taylor said, "Since then, it’s been a major part of my life." She has been living in Zimmerman for 15 years, since she took a manager position at McDonalds.


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