Plugged In Issue Five • the official school newspaper of Speedway Senior High School • March 10, 2017 Willy Wonka - Spring Musical 2017 Come with me and you’ll be in a world of pure imagination Willy Wonka is the story of formed behind the scenes Charlie Bucket (Clayton Allen), a of this production and poor boy who lives with his parents are a large part of what and four grandparents. Everything makes this show a suc- changes when Willy Wonka (Kevin cess. Kimberly Martin, Simonson), the world’s leading who student taught chocolatier and candy maker, holds under Amy Mohl (our a contest and invites five children resident music expert), to visit his factory and receive a life- took the place as the as- time supply of chocolate. It’s a story sistant director. “If you of positive thinking and resolve, a come prepared you’re all well-watched musical for all, chil- set, for whatever in life. If dren and adult alike. you come over prepared, This year, retired art teacher, you’re even more set.” TR Kennard replaces the beloved The glorious Barb Jacob Pactor as our theatre depart- Whitis has, once again, ment’s director. Performing this signed on to choreograph task couldn’t have been easy, and a what promises to be a classic like Willy Wonka is, in itself, fantastic show. Nate a challenge. However, Mr. Kennard Hall returns as techni- was well equipped to handle this, as cal manager and elected he has 30 years of theatre experi- junior Kaitlyn Sears (me) ence. His passion teaching shines as stage manager. Senior THINK POSITIVE. Willy Wonka, Charlie, and many of the children and adult characters from through in this rendition of the Claire Shutters was Willy Wonka gather for a quick photo in advance of tonight’s opening performance. Photo by Roald Dahl’s masterpiece. chosen to be this year’s Kait Sears. A great team seems to have student director and junior Kaylea Wright is once again every night, that I watched.” loses its meaning in the viewer’s prop master. So should the student body and com- eyes.” As far as the cast goes, we are munity come see the show? Wood- This production comes after the joined by many old faces. Senior lock responded with a resounding recent death of Gene Wilder, who is Kayelynn Woodlock rejoins the YES. known for his unforgettable role as theatre department as Mrs. Gloop “For one reason, to support their Willy Wonka himself. The late Gene to complete her high school theatre fellow classmates,” Woodlock notes. Wilder is definitely in our thoughts career spanning eight consecutive “I mean we know we don’t have the and this musical, I believe, would productions. As her final show, greatest sports teams - we’re a small make him proud. As I talked to my this was a good fit, as she connects school - but people still go to our other cast members, almost every- Wonka to her childhood. sporting events and I think that this one mentioned him. Josie Goldson “Growing up I think it was one of (the drama department) is one thing (junior), who is joining us for her my favorite movies,” reflects Wood- that really needs support too. sixth production, responded “Gene K A I T S E A R S lock. “I could not go to sleep with- “And two, people don’t realize it Wilder is my favorite!” before telling Plugged In Reporter out a movie playing and I remember but we work our butts off. We really distinctly THAT being the movie, do! And I feel like sometimes that See WILLY WONKA on page 3 The untimely loss of musical genius Inspiration and beyond: George Michael and his lasting legacy “Last Christmas”… Among the many losses of beloved celebrities in 2016, At the Brit Awards, Michael’s friends and former members of Wham! An- George Michael’s untimely death on Christmas day was one that left many drew Ridgeley, and dancers/backup singers Pepsi and Shirlie all gathered on fans and colleagues feeling a huge loss entering 2017. stage to pay tribute to their dear friend. “You Have Been Loved”...Among the in memoriam tributes at this year’s “His is a legacy of unquestionable bril- Grammys awards was Adele’s ballad rendition of George Michael’s “Fast- liance which will resonate years to come,” love”. Aside from Ridgeley stated proudly. As one of the most the actual perfor- unique and inspiring cultural forces of the mance by Adele, decades since the eighties, fans everywhere her statement after have faith this statement will prove true time deciding to restart and time again. the performance “The boys from Wham! will help you reach after a small vocal that goal.”... From Michael’s musical begin- flub spoke volumes nings in Wham! with his high school best about how fans and friend (Ridgeley) to his revolutionary solo inspired profes- career, George Michael was always ahead of sional colleagues his time in many aspects. In March of 1985, A B B Y feel about Michael. Wham! traveled for a ten day visit to China. T H O M A S “I’m sorry, I can’t The visit included two concerts and these Plugged In Reporter FRIENDS FOR LIFE. The late George Michael’s col- mess this up for leagues and friends from Wham! reunited at the Brit Awards to pay tribute. him.” See REFLECTING on page two 2 Opinion/News Helping tuition come to fruition Paying for college just got a little easier Preparing to go to college can be a daunt- This exposure to such a wide array of scholarships is invaluable to ing task even before having to pay for it, but someone looking to ease the pressure of paying to a university tuition. There actually being able to afford tuition poses an is an extreme variety, ranging from projects, to essays, to simple submis- immense challenge even after being accepted. sions. For instance, last Halloween, Fastweb provided access to a $1,000 One way to alleviate some of the stress of scholarship for carving paying for university tuition is through the a pumpkin, taking a acquisition of scholarships, but many find picture and submit- this to be daunting as well, as many scholar- ting it. Merely inviting ships provided at the school are highly com- a friend to the site petitive and selective. This is where websites provides the applicant such as Fastweb.com are exceedingly useful. with a chance to win Fastweb is a website which provides person- a $500 scholarship. alized, realistic, and profitable scholarships to Going to the “Meet A L E X students of all ages, as it is never too early to Our Winners” page of the website shows a list of such winners to inspire J E N S E N start planning for college. applicants and show how easy obtaining scholarships can be, and although Plugged In Reporter To create a Fastweb account, students such scholarships may seem menial initially, since Fastweb makes it so easy provide their GPA, planned college major, to apply for so many of these small scholarships they quickly add up and can interests, activities participated in, and other relevant information to receive significantly lessen the burden of paying a tuition. In fact Forbes recently a personalized dashboard of scholarships which fits their interests. Fastweb published an article praising it as “One of the top resources for finding help provides a database of thousands of scholarships from all fields and types of paying for college,” and the Today Show stated that “Money 911’s experts organizations. By simply scrolling through the main page students can easily agree, a great website to check for scholarships is Fastweb.” view the amount, and the required submission to see if they are interested. Reflecting back on a music tragedy Loss of musicians like George Michael hard to fathom Continued from page one marked the first concerts to be performed by a Western pop group in the tremely generous supporter of many charity groups that worked to fight and country. The boys from Wham! were received with great enthusiasm from inform about HIV/AIDS, to provide money for children in need around the the youthful crowds, and a great deal of the trip was filmed and packaged world, and to assist with treatment for cancer patients. These acts of kind- into a small documentary called “Foreign Skies: Wham! In China”. ness were done without much, or any publicity, but have not gone unnoticed “Cause I gotta have faith…” As far as Michael’s solo career, he was known by those who were helped by his selfless desire to help others. for pushing boundaries with risque subject matter in his songs. He inspired “So I’m never gonna dance again, the way I danced with you…” Artists many other professional musicians including Greg Hind of the Little River such as George Michael arguably do not come around as often as it seems Band. they should, but in the end that’s what makes people special. His achieve- “As a professional musician I covered many of his songs including Faith ments and inspiration will continue to live on to be known by countless [...] and I once stayed up all night long to learn to play and sing Kissing a people around the world and he is undoubtedly greatly missed. Fool,” Hind recalled. Both of these songs were off of the blockbuster album “Faith” released in 1987. Upon the album’s release, it remained high in the charts with the title track peaking at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.