Freshmen and Sophomores Present New Play this Thursday

When Eleanor uses a Chatbot to write a paper on The Great Gatsby, she figures it’s not that big of a deal. But when her Chatbot writes the best essay on The Great Gatsby ever, she’s sent to a special school for genius children. Except every other student also used a Chatbot to get into the special genius children school. And that school might not be a school; it might just be prison. Now Eleanor has to lead a jailbreak with her friends. Can she escape without the help of artificial intelligence?

Belleville West Little Theatre presents this one-act play, featuring a cast of talented freshmen and sophomores, this Thursday at 7:00 p.m. in the Belleville West Performing Arts Center.

Speech Team Takes Second Place at Weekend Tournament

The Belleville West Speech and Acting Team claimed second place at the Waterloo SISAL (Southern Illinois Speech and Acting League) Tournament on Saturday, November 11.

The following students won individual awards in the varsity division:

Marissa Kearns and Elda Thacker – first place in Humorous Duet Acting

Eleanor Schmitz – first place in Original Comedy

Theo Rickert – first place in Humorous Interpretation

Zaria Houston – second place in Oratorical Declamation

Peyton Long – second place in Original Comedy

LaImani Silas – second place in Poetry Reading

Ryann Gordon – third place in Prose Reading

Natalie Hall – third place in Original Oratory

Natalie Hall – third place in Poetry Reading

Zaria Houston and LaImani Silas – third place in Dramatic Duet Acting

Teona Mosley and LaImani Silas – third place in Improv Duet Acting

Sylvi Segraves – third place in Dramatic Interpretation

Ayla Christian – fourth place in Informative Speaking

Ryan Gordon and Sylvi Segraves – fourth place in Dramatic Duet Acting

Eleanor Schmitz – fourth place in Humorous Interpretation

Olivia Bush – sixth place in Poetry Reading

Ayla Christian – sixth place in Dramatic Interpretation

Mia Kramer – sixth place in Radio Speaking

Teona Mosley – sixth place in Oratorical Oratory

Eric Perschbacher – seventh place in Informative Speaking

Jordyn Struense – seventh place in Prose Reading

Elda Thacker – seventh place in Oratorical Declamation

The following students won individual awards in the junior varsity division:

Dakota Henry – first place in Radio Speaking

Izzy Pfeffer – first place in Special Occasion Speaking

Allison Sheldon – first place in Informative Speaking

Kailee Williams – first place in Oratorical Declamation

Lucy Tourigny – second place in Poetry Reading

Brynn Flannery-Melson – third place in Extemporaneous Speaking

Brynn Flannery-Melson – third place in Impromptu Speaking

Megan Groom – third place in Humorous Interpretation

Saba Khidishel – third place in Original Oratory

Kara Kramer – third place in Prose Reading

Kailee Williams – third place in Dramatic Interpretation

Olivia Bush – fourth place in Poetry Reading

Lillian Herling – fourth place in Original Oratory

Kara Kramer and Izzy Pfeffer – fourth place in Dramatic Duet Acting

Abygail Bagby and Dakota Henry – fifth place in Dramatic Duet Acting

Allison Sheldon – fifth place in Extemporaneous Speaking

Megan Groom – second place in Special Occasion Speaking

Saba Khidishel – sixth place in Extemporaneous Speaking

The following student won an individual award in the next-in varsity finals:

Teona Mosley – second place in Prose Reading

The speech team coaches are Mr. Adam Jenkins, Mr. Tyler Herron, Ms. Anna Kurtz, Mr. Russ Reidelberger, and Mrs. Leigh Reidelberger.

Speech Team Competitors Pick Up 28 Awards at Season’s First Tournament

With several key competitors out for other events, the Belleville West Speech and Acting Team took third place at this year’s opening SISAL (Southern Illinois Speech and Acting League) tournament.  The competition took place at Mt. Vernon High School on Saturday, November 4.

The following students won individual awards in the varsity division:

Natalie Hall – second place in Poetry Reading

Lukas Pellmann – second place in Special Occasion Speaking

Zaria Houston and LaImani Silas – third place in Dramatic Duet Acting

Peyton Long – third place in Original Comedy

Teona Mosley – third place in Original Oratory

Eric Perschbacher – third place in Informative Speaking

LaImani Silas – fourth place in Poetry Reading

Ayla Christian – fourth place in Informative Speaking

Peyton Long – fifth place in Impromptu Speaking

Eleanor Schmitz – fifth place in Humorous Duet Acting

Eleanor Schmitz – fifth place in Original Comedy

Kailee Williams – fifth place in Dramatic Interpretation

Kailee Williams – fifth place in Oratorical Declamation

Olivia Bush – sixth place in Poetry Reading

Natalie Hall – sixth place in Original Oratory

Chloe Dietz – seventh place in Radio Speaking

Zaria Houston – seventh place in Oratorical Declamation

Elda Thacker – seventh place in Prose Reading

The following students won individual awards in the junior varsity division:

Dakota Henry – first place in Radio Speaking

Teona Mosley – first place in Prose Reading

Lani Schwoebel – first place in Original Comedy

Bree Aplin – third place in Radio Speaking

Lucy Tourigny – first place in Poetry Reading

Allison Sheldon – second place in Informative Speaking

Saba Khidishel – fifth place in Extemporaneous Speaking

Saba Khidishel – fifth place in Original Oratory

Kara Kramer – fifth place in Prose Reading

Allison Sheldon – sixth place in Extemporaneous Speaking

The speech team coaches are Mr. Adam Jenkins, Mr. Tyler Herron, Ms. Anna Kurtz, Mr. Russ Reidelberger, and Mrs. Leigh Reidelberger.

Thespian Troupe Welcomes New Members

After the final performance of the fall play on October 14, Belleville West Thespian Troupe #369 welcomed three new members: juniors Sydnee Davis, Theodore Rickert, and Melaina Robison. Each of these students has devoted more than 300 hours to the theatre program at Belleville West, with at least 150 of those hours behind the scenes (on technical crews, as student directors, or at work days). Congratulations!