Note: The first five students to discover and unscramble the holiday phrase and bring the phrase to Mrs. Gilliam in C219 will receive a very special (and not to be overlooked) prize.
Backstage Pass to Mamma Mia! by Saina Srivastava
This year, the Stallion Theatre Group is taking the audience to the sunny beaches of Greece, to The Summer Night Taverna. Mamma Mia!, which follows Sophie Sheridan as she tries to find who her father is by inviting her mother’s former lovers, is a cult classic. Using the iconic ABBA songs to further the plot, it truly is a wonderful movie and musical. And the Stallion Theatre Group just performed it this November. I am fortunate enough to be in the cast ofMamma Mia!, so I got to see the hard work and dedication of everyone involved. Having done shows before, I am no stranger to extremely talented, yet humble leads and amazing directors. I was able to interview Ms. Bender, the director of the show. In her words, theatre speaks to her: “It always felt natural,” she said when I interviewed her. She loves the ability to emulate human characteristics from real life and put it on a stage. And with any show, there are some hardships. With the lethargy from the past year, getting back to the grind can be a challenge to overcome. But Ms. Bender expresses her pride over her cast, of how hard the students have to overcome it as well as perfect the show. Another reason why Ms. Bender is passionate in what she does is because theatre evokes emotions that can’t be replicated in a pre-recorded show, nor can it replace the communal feeling that comes with going to a live show. Her love for her students and this show was evident, which is reflected in her work. I was also able to talk to a few leads about their experience in this show and theatre as a whole. When asked what got them into theatre, Hayden Cohen, who plays Rosie, recalls her mother “caught her doing the robot...so she put [her] in theater.” But she thanks her for it because theatre gave her an opportunity to come out of her shell and become the dynamic and wonderful person she is today. Meanwhile, Asher Thompson, who plays Sam, remembers how his Hamilton phase, coupled with watching Singing in the Rain for the first time, piqued his interest in musical theatre. I wondered how much of their character portrayal roots from them in real life. Matthew Doty views Eddie, the character he portrays, as Sky’s best friend. Coincidently, Caleb Doty, who plays Sky, is Matthew’s brother, so Matthew draws upon the familial love. Caleb also mentions how he shares his spontaneity with Sky. Savannah Easterling, who plays Sophie, draws upon her and Sophie’s similar love for family. She’s also a “daddy’s girl,” so she can understand the emphasis Sophie puts on finding out about her father. She views theatre as a place where the motto is “One for all and all for one.” But there are hardships. As Macie Love, who plays Tanya, puts it, “ …[performers should] not be afraid of what your friends think.” And I couldn’t agree more. Peer judgement should never influence doing what you truly love. Jamie Anderson talks about how chemistry between characters, actors, and the cast is what truly brings a show together. So, it’s important that everyone has chemistry so the audience can enjoy the show. Furthermore, Abby Curran, who plays Donna, finds the process of bringing a character to life both beautiful and difficult. Which is understandable. The ability to create a personality, a human being, from just words can be extremely hard, and I commend these leads for being able to do it. Abby Tam, who is the president of the Spring Hill High School Entertainment Academy and plays Ali, says how “high school theatre helped [her] understand show business,” public speaking skills, and how to have a presence, all which I’ve seen is a continuing benefit of theatre. She wants to pursue broadcast journalism, and I’m sure with her stage presence, she will succeed. Talking to these leads gave me perspective into what made them as passionate about theatre as they are as well as their thinking when they create these characters. I would like to mention Olivia Wamai, who plays Pepper, Ella Riley, who plays Lisa, and Chris diLorenzo, whom I did not get a chance to speak with, but I can assure you that they are wonderful actors, performers, and people. Additionally, I’d like to mention our stage manager, Violet Raftery, who worked so hard and has done a phenomenal job, as well as the rest of the stage crew. Your work is so appreciated! Mamma Mia! opened Thursday, November 18th, at 7:00 pm. We hope you got to come!
Author’s Note: I would like to extend my thanks to Grace Risha for her help in interviewing the cast.
Artwork by Lilly Reed Black
The Spirit of Giving by Armaan Verma
As you all have heard, Spring Hill is having its annual Spirit of Giving event. This is a multi-charity event dedicated to helping those in need during the holiday season. Based on your academy, you can contribute to different organization by making a simple donation. Here are all of the organizations you can contribute to and a brief description of each! (You can also click on the bold headers to watch the video about each academy's goal.) Environmental - Carolina Wildlife Rehabilitation Center According to the head of the Environmental Academy, headed by Dr. Ruth, Carolina Wildlife Rehabilitation Center rehabilitates injured and/or orphaned wildlife and does outreach work in our community. In addition, they work with interns from the CATS center to provide internship opportunities to students. You can provide donations in the form of dog foods, cat foods, and blankets/towels. You can scan the QR codes around the school for the specifics on the food brands, but if that seems like too much hassle, towels are greatly appreciated! As someone who volunteers at a pet shelter, I can confidently say that towels and blankets are always in high demand for keeping cages sanitary and comfortable. Engineering - D5 Snack Pack Program The D5 Snack Pack Program is an amazing program which hopes to fight hunger in the community we all live in. They help provide food for over the weekends and holidays for those who need it in District 5. This program helps provide provisions for over 400 students annually and acts as a lifeline for those who really need it. Donations can be made in the form of non-perishable food items, such as packaged mac ‘n cheese, fruit snacks, or ramen noodles. Exercise Science - Harvest Hope I feel like most of y’all are familiar with Harvest Hope, as it is the largest food bank in South Carolina. Their goal is to provide food for impoverished families all around the Midlands, and they are the sourcing for many soup kitchens and food pantries in our state. If you are looking to donate, we are looking for non-perishable items, such as canned vegetables and fruits. If you feel you can’t donate anything, you can also get involved! Check the link here to sign up as a volunteer at Harvest Hope. It is a very enriching and humbling experience being able to work to stop hunger around your own community, and it looks amazing on a resume if you are applying to college or a job. Entrepreneurial - Sharing God’s Love Sharing God’s Love is an organization which works to specifically aids families who are in crisis. They provide service feeding and providing refuge to people in emergencies, whether it being unable to put food on the table or not even having a table to put food on. Donations can be made in the form of non perishable items, such as canned goods, batteries, or blankets. Entertainment - Chapin We Care Chapin We Care is an organization which works with families in the Chapin area to provide food for those in need. I think it would be nice to know, especially if you live in Chapin, that your donations are going to people around you in your community and making a difference. If you feel like making a difference, they are taking donations in the form of canned goods.
The Origin of Milk and Cookies by Madeline Oswald
Artwork by Reagan Taylor
Every year, millions of kids around the world anticipate the morning of December 25th, Christmas day. They go downstairs to wake their parents and glance over at the plate of freshly baked cookies and a cold glass of milk they laid out the night before. The only thing the children see is an empty glass and cookie crumbs left behind. Immediate butterflies flow into the kid’s stomach as Christmas presents await them. Where does the tradition of milk and cookies come from? The tradition of leaving out milk and a sweet treat behind for Santa Claus has been practiced by millions of people for many generations. Where does the tradition come from? The tradition began in the 1930s during the Great Depression (History.com). It was done from parents to children as a way of teaching them to be thankful for what they have and to give to others. The real roots of this tradition originate back to Norse mythology. A god named Odin was rumored to ride an eight-legged horse with a raven on each of his shoulders and during the Yule season, kids would leave out food for Odin in hopes of receiving gifts from him. This tradition continues in Denmark, Belgium, and the Netherlands and they believe that horses pull Santa’s sleigh instead of reindeer. Different traditions in different countries:
Denmark, Belgium, and the Netherlands have a tradition of leaving out carrots and hay in shoes for the horses that pull Santa's sleigh instead of reindeer.
Children in Britain and Australia leave out sherry and mince pies.
Kids in Sweden leave out rice porridge.
A pint of Guinness and cookie is left behind in Ireland.
Kids in France leave out a glass of wine as well as hay in their shoes for Santa's… donkeys?
Children in Germany leave handwritten letters and some may be left on Christmas Eve or delivered prior during the holiday season.
This past November 4th may have been an ordinary day for some, but for others, it was a day of celebration. Diwali, festival of lights, is a holiday that some may be aware of. But those who aren’t, here’s a little background: As the story goes, once, the Lord Rama got exiled from his kingdom for fourteen years with his wife and brother. During this exile, a demon, Raavana, stole his wife, resulting in a war between the two. Luckily, Rama won and was able to bring his wife home. When the news of his valiancy reached the king’s ears, he revoked his edict and called Rama home. The night Rama was going home was a new moon, so it was near impossible for him to reach his kingdom. To help him, his subjects lit diyas, or oil lamps to lead the way home. Following the diyas, he was able to return home and ascend to the throne. So, to celebrate the day, people wear their finest clothes, clean their houses, and set off firecrackers. In some households, an assortment of sweets are made; all from jalibis, a snack made of flour and sugar syrup, to laddus, a sugary, spherical shaped sweet that can be of any flavor. It’s a day of jubilation and reconciliation. Especially considering the past year, it is definitely a festival that brings a community together.
Why Turkey? by Mary Ellen Morrison
Why turkey on a national holiday for thanks? Why is this large feathered, bald-headed, (kind of filthy) beard-carrying creature the staple for Thanksgiving? Well, I will tell you why: it was the males’ pride in being able to provide a wild game bird for his family. Turkey was one of the only animals that were able to be hunted and eaten at the time of the pilgrimage. So, naturally, when this idea of a day to give thanks came around, America wanted to have a distinctively American fowl in the middle of the table. There are many stories and reasons why turkey came to be the bird of choice for Thanksgiving, and why it is cooked the way it is. But they all come back to the same thing, familiarity. Colonists tried to maintain their English traditions in America, but obviously, that wasn’t entirely possible. So in a form of cultural acculturation, they substituted the well-known English Queen’s staple, roasted goose, for a roasted turkey. But why a turkey you might ask? This goes all the way back to the hunter vs. gather standpoint. Men like to provide and to be held to that standard that they can care for their families, which is proven time and time again. Men found this truly American bird and say it was hardy, large, and difficult/but manageable to kill. They found the turkey as a prize game fowl. So they got to the world in hunting these wild turkeys, to where it eventually became a tradition used everywhere. So now with advanced farming technologies, America is able to provide a turkey for every family who wants it on the fourth Thursday of November every year. So looking back we can find it is man’s want to provide for their family that gave us the delicious bird we see on our dining room tables every Thanksgiving.