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BW Little Theatre Opens Season with Comic Drama
The Belleville West Little Theatre will present its annual fall play on Thursday through Saturday, October 15 through 17. This year’s offering is Almost, Maine, a comedic drama by John Cariani.
On a clear, cold, moonless night in the middle of winter, all is not quite what it seems in the remote town of Almost, Maine. As the northern lights hover in the sky above, Almost’s residents find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected and often hilarious ways.
Easton (sophomore Wade Cook) discovers love in his own back yard, when hiker Glory (senior Bailey Guinn) sets up her tent there. Jimmy (senior Henry Holm) bumps into an old flame (senior Hannah Higgins), only to learn that she has moved on with her life.
Marvalyn (junior Janae Robinson) meets Steve (sophomore Miles Wadlington), an unusual young man who can’t feel pain, in the laundry room of her apartment building. Married couple Phil (senior Alan Estrada) and Marci (junior Rachel Deschaine) try to rekindle their romance at the local skating rink. And tomboy Rhonda (junior Tiffani Volkman) starts to see her friend Dave (senior Romeo Spells) in a new way.
This light-hearted show is appropriate for all members of the family. The production is directed by Ms. Laurie Bielong and Mr. John Lodle. The student director is senior Chloe Frisby. Student technical directors are seniors Heather Holdman, Brandi Karbowiak, Alexis Radden, and Michelle Woods.
Performances are at 7:00 each evening in the Belleville West Performing Arts Center, located at 4063 Frank Scott Parkway West. Tickets are $5 for students and $8 for adults.
Chess Team Announces Tournament for West Students
Belleville West students are encouraged to see if they have what it takes to be on the chess team. On Monday, October 5, students can compete for a place in the team’s ladder tournament and have a chance to win cash prizes. Players will be paired on Mondays when school is in session through October. A win earns a player one point; a draw earns half a point.
At the end of the month, the player with the most points will lead the tournament and play top board in team matches. The four next-best players will round out the chess team to compete in local matches. The top eight players will travel to the state tournament in February to compete in the largest team tournament in the world.
Board space is limited, so interested students should see Mr. Lucas Spriggs, the chess team coach, in room B340 to sign up. Students may also email Mr. Spriggs at lspriggs@bths201.org to reserve space in the tournament.
BW Book Club Holds First Discussion of the Year
The Belleville West Book Club will hold its first discussion meeting next Wednesday, October 7. The group will meet at The Abbey on West Main Street from 5-6 p.m. The group will discuss All the Light We Cannot See, a novel by Anthony Doerr. Any student interested in joining the Book Club can pick up a membership card from Ms. Ursani (in room B323), from Mr. Garland (in room B325), or from Mr. Lodle (in room B331).
ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE by Anthony Doerr
This bestseller tells of a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II.
Marie-Laure lives with her father in Paris near the Museum of Natural History, where he works as the master of its thousands of locks. When she is six, Marie-Laure goes blind. Her father builds a perfect miniature of their neighborhood so she can memorize it by touch. When she is twelve, the Nazis occupy Paris; father and daughter flee to the walled citadel of Saint-Malo, where Marie-Laure’s reclusive great-uncle lives in a tall house by the sea. With them they carry what might be the museum’s most valuable and dangerous jewel.
In a mining town in Germany, the orphan Werner grows up with his younger sister, enchanted by a crude radio they find. Werner becomes an expert at building and fixing these crucial new instruments, a talent that wins him a place at a brutal academy for Hitler Youth, then a special assignment to track the resistance. More and more aware of the human cost of his intelligence, Werner travels through the heart of the war and—finally—into Saint-Malo, where his story and Marie-Laure’s converge.
Literary Magazine Accepts Applications for 2015-2016 Staff
Page One, the Belleville West art and literary magazine, is currently accepting applications for the 2015-2016 staff. Writers and artists from all grade levels are welcome to apply. Interested students can pick up applications from Ms. Thurnau, Page One sponsor, in room B335. Applications are due this Friday, October 2.
BW Chess Club Welcomes New Members
Students interested in chess are encouraged to “embrace their inner nerd” at Belleville West. The chess team meets each Monday after school in room B340. Team members compete in area tournaments and in the IHSA series. New students are always welcome. The team is coached by Mr. Lucas Spriggs, a member of the English department.
BW Library Raffles Poster Autographed by Lea DeLaria
The Belleville West Spectrum Club, which is advised by library director Mary Barteau, is raffling a large Lea DeLaria promotional poster. The poster, which was displayed in the library during the presentation on Tuesday, was autographed by Ms. DeLaria. Raffle tickets are $1 each. They will be on sale in the cafeteria on Monday, September 28. Proceeds from the raffle will be donated to the Trevor Project.
Belleville West Students Thrilled by Visit with Lea DeLaria
On Tuesday, September 22, more than 200 students gathered in the BW Library to meet actor, singer, and comedian Lea DeLaria. Ms. DeLaria spoke briefly about her experiences on Orange is the New Black, but she spent most of her time answering questions from students. She provided audition tips for theatre students, talked about her early career as a stand-up comedian, sang her favorite George Gershwin song, discussed the importance of accepting ourselves (even when we feel different from everyone else), and helped one student ask his girlfriend to the homecoming dance.
Ms. DeLaria spent time signing autographs and posing for pictures with students after the presentation. Audience members left inspired and uplifted by her message.
Belleville West Welcomes Actor and Recording Artist
Actor, recording artist, comedian, author—and Belleville West alum—Lea DeLaria will visit West this Thursday, September 22.
DeLaria has recently rocketed to fame with her stand-out role as Carrie “Big Boo” Black in the Netflix hit series Orange is the New Black. However, DeLaria’s multi-faceted career in music, comedy, film, and television has spanned decades.
DeLaria is a native of Belleville, Illinois, and graduate of Belleville West High School and Eastern Illinois University. Her TV credits include Awkward, One Life to Live, Law and Order: SVU, Will and Grace, Friends, and Matlock. Her film credits include First Wives Club, Dear Dumb Diary, and Edge of Seventeen.
DeLaria has received Obie and Theater World awards and a Drama Desk nomination for her portrayal of Hildy in the Public Theatre’s revival of On the Town. She was also the recipient of an Ovation nomination for The Boys From Syracuse and has appeared in the Broadway musical The Rocky Horror Show.
DeLaria was the featured vocalist at the 50th Anniversary of the Newport Jazz Festival and has performed in some of the most prestigious houses in the world, including Carnegie Hall, the Chicago Symphony, Hollywood Bowl, The Royal Albert Hall, and the Sydney Opera House.
DeLaria has five records on the Warner Jazz and Classics label. Her sixth record, House Of David, was released this spring.