Category Archives: Entertainment

Entertainment

The Apple Tree Musical – HPSH Thespian Society

HPSH Thespian Society Presents: The Apple Tree

By: Maeve Gimpl

Save the date!

Highland Park Senior High School theater students are performing the Broadway musical, The Apple Tree in May.  Adults and children of all ages are warmly invited to come and enjoy this show at the HPSH auditorium (1015 Snelling Avenue South).

Performances are 7:00pm on Thursday, May 28; Friday, May 29; and Saturday, May 30. There is also a matinee performance on Saturday May 30 at 2:00pm. Tickets are available at the door.  Adults $8, students and seniors $6.

The Apple Tree is an upbeat and comical performance sure to be entertaining for people of all ages. It’s a combination of three song-filled acts that all maintain the pattern of portraying Man and Woman throughout different time periods. The musical begins with the heart-warming play, “The Diary of Adam and Eve”, a story of the first couple on Earth and their adventures in Eden. Following is “The Lady or the Tiger”, which is a play consisting of an ancient royal kingdom with a princess, a brave soldier, and a very unique justice system. Finally, “Passionella” closes the musical with a fairytale performance about a yearning chimney sweep who is granted her wish of becoming a stunning, Marilyn Monroe-inspired movie star.

The musical is co-directed by HPSH Musical Director Kate Mendenhall and Park Square Theater Director Stephen Houtz.  The community arts organization, Friends of Highland Arts, is supporting HPSH’s well-anticipated spring musical with promotion, volunteer coordination, and fundraising through advertising sales and concessions. www.friendsofha.org

Highland Park Senior High invites both new faces and old to their spring musical. Come support the Theatre and Music students and programs at HPSH. The Apple Tree is sure to offer plenty of smiles and a night of pleasant entertainment.  

Entertainment

Friends of Highland Arts Showcase

IMG_0261By: Maeve Gimpl

Looking for a great way to support our school and community this month and have fun at the same time? Introducing Highland Park’s first-ever Spring Highland Arts Showcase, a collaboration of the senior high school and the Friends of Highland Arts organization. On March 19, students, teachers, and the whole community are invited to join FHA for an evening of the best of Highland Senior High’s dynamic arts.

This free event will feature many of Highland Park’s art students. A concert will include performances from the HP choir, band, orchestra, dance, theatre, and visual art students. An exhibit of visual art pieces will be displayed both on screen, in the auditorium, and in the lobby. As well as being able to enjoy the performance and displays, there will be face painting and activities for kids. Concessions will also be for sale.

For those who are still unfamiliar with Friends of Highland Arts, it is a non-profit organization developed for the benefit of all students involved in the arts within the Highland Park community. Their mission is to help support arts education and programs within our Highland Park schools and community.  Your attendance at the Highland Arts Showcase would help support FHA’s important mission.

Please, join the community on Thursday, March 19, in the Highland Park Senior High Auditorium for a very fun and free event.

“Come see, hear, and support the talent and creativity of the HPSH students!”

Lobby opens at 6pm, concert begins at 7pm

 

Tech/Games

iPad tips

heroNow that the entire student population of HPHS has an iPad in their own possession, there are some tips I’d like to highlight about the devices. Here are the top 5 things to know about SPPS iPads:

5) Use it as much as possible. Remember that whenever the red sign isn’t displayed in the classroom, your iPad can be out and in use. It has the capability to replace most of your paper, don’t let the simplicity of a notebook hold you back.

4) Note-taking. Evernote, Bamboo Paper, Pages, Google Docs and Notes all make for an easy and simple lecture. Just turn the iPad where it’s easiest for you to type and then go to town.

3) AirDrop. Use it as a tool, not a distraction. It can easily help you accomplish tasks. If you missed a day of class, have a friend drop you the notes or a teacher AirDrop the assignment that you missed.

2) “They’re watching you….” Teachers can use Casper Focus to see what you are doing, lock your iPad or lock you into a specific app of their choosing. Through Mobile Device Management, the district, with probable cause, can view you browser/download history and where you have been connected to a network. They also scan each iPad every 24 hours to see if you have downloaded one of the banned apps found at bit.ly/notapps.

1) iPads are a privilege, not a right. Use them the wrong way and continue to abuse your privileges and consequences will be handed to you about as quickly as your iPad was given to you. Use it as tool and avoid the game section of the App Store.

Entertainment

Friends of Highland Arts (FHA) Logo Contest

*This article is a re-posting of a contest announcement from Friends of Highland Arts (FHA) – please contact friendsofhighlandarts@gmail.com with any questions or to request more information.*

Friends of Highland Arts Logo Contest

Friends of Highland Arts Friends of Highland Arts (FHA) is governed by the fundamental belief arts education plays a vital role in enriching the lives of our students, families, schools and communities. FHA supports arts education: music, dance, theater, visual arts, literary arts and cultural arts, curricular and extracurricular programming within HPSH and its articulated-network of middle and elementary schools. FHA is helping students, families and community build connections to our schools, and to each other through supporting arts education.

Logo Design Criteria

Include the letters “FHA” in the design; or “Friends of HA” Creative, but legible. Must be reproducible. Graphic optional. Keep it simple. Logo identity must look good small as well as large. Consider hand-lettering the design. Graphic optional. 2-3 Colors preferred, but also reproducible in black & white. Design with meaning. Design must represent the organization. Study the designs of similar organizations for ideas and inspiration. Optional: Reflect the themes of FHA in your design; Arts, Community, Highland, Friend, Connection, Education and Support

Contest Open to all HPSH students, may submit more than one design. Design due by Thursday December 18, 2014 Submit design to FHA; friendsofhighlandarts@gmail.com Or turn in to FHA mail box, HPSH front office Selection will be announced in early January.

Winner will receive $25 VISA GIFT CARD.

Entertainment, Movies/TV/Theaters

Movie Review – The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

By: Gigi LeFebvre

Like most movies based off of Young Adult series (or YA for short), the last movie/book is split into two parts. The last Hunger Games book, Mockingjay, was published in 2010 where in shortly the first movie was produced and was a huge hit. For many fans, the last book was disappointing and was hoping that the movie would change a few things that would help improve it, which it did.

The movie starts at least a month after the ending of Catching Fire where Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) is now in District 13, the district many thought was destroyed by the Capitol many years ago. The Rebellion against the Capitol has taken base underground in District 13 and are planning on using Katniss as the image for the cause. Katniss not only has to deal with inner demons as she continues to suffer from PTSD but with the treats from the Capitol and from the leader of the Rebellion itself.

Unlike the first two movies, there isn’t much action in this first part. Much of it takes place in District 13 where the Rebellion is planning propaganda (or “Propos”)and getting all of the districts of Panem on their side. The few times Katniss is seen outside is when she’s being filmed for Propos, in which Lawrence shows off her best.

Acting wise, the cast is still very strong. Jennifer Lawrence is powerful as ever and continues to portray a teenager with PTSD appropriately and near flawlessly. Julianne Moore (who plays President Coin, the leader of District 13 and the Rebellion) is able to show that she’s as much of a dictator as President Snow (Donald Sutherland). Best of all, Josh Hutcherson (Peeta Mellark) has greatly improved as an actor in these past movies. Having to play a person suffering from more than one kind of pain and doing it well not easy, but Hutcherson does it.

As a fan of these books and the movies, I have to be honest in saying that Mockingjay is the weakest of the books. They’re all written in Katniss’ perspective, which lets you know that she makes it through the end and that much of the interpretations of the situations are biased. However, the movie was very good.

The real question is: Was it necessary to split it into two parts?
In some ways, yes. Since they added and changed a lot in the movie, like showing what was happening in the Capitol and in the Districts rebelling, having the first part as a calm-before-the-storm was what was going to set up the main action of the ending. Obviously Lionsgate split it up solely for money reasons, but for the plot it makes the most sense. Reading the book should not be done in one day, it’s far too slow for that. Having the first part show the plans and the consequences of said plans leads up to an explosive ending (badaboom stss).

Four Stars (There would’ve been more if my favorite line hadn’t been cut out)

Entertainment, Local, News

Friends of Highland Arts (FHA)

By Maeve Gimpl

we-value-the-arts
Image source: http://audubonpto.org/home/arts-reach-starts-this-week/

Friends of Highland Arts (FHA) is a newly launched organization here at Highland that supports both curricular and extra-curricular arts education. Visual, cultural, musical, literary, and performing arts will be supported. FHA believes the arts are a great way to create a stronger community for students, families, teachers, and volunteers.

This new non-profit organization will reach out to the middle and elementary schools in Highland in an effort to support arts programming and to facilitate older students mentoring younger middle school and elementary aged children. The vision is to create a unique Highland Park arts identity.

FHA will also strive to develop community partnerships and funding for arts education. In addition, the organization will provide exciting volunteer opportunities for parents to get involved.

Mrs. Colleen Zuro-White and Mrs. Anne Gimpl (my mom) developed the organization as new parents to Highland Senior last year. Conversations and early reports indicate a great deal of support and enthusiasm for the organization. Highland Park Senior High School’s IB Coordinator Ms. Charlotte Landreau has agreed to serve on the board. After asking what FHA is hoping to accomplish in the near future, Mrs. Gimpl replied, “Right now, Friends of Highland Arts is in its beginning stages. We want to get the word out and create some enthusiasm for our awesome arts programs!”

CALLING ALL THOSE WANTING TO SHOW OFF THEIR EXCELLENT DESIGNING SKILLS: Friends of Highland Arts is looking for a logo to represent their organization. Stay tuned for more info on the HP website.

Questions? Comments? Email friendsofhighlandarts@gmail.com

Prezi presentation “FHA Overview”(https://prezi.com/fwblhccnm3-l/fha-overview/)

Movies/TV/Theaters

End of year movie reviews

By Gigi LeFebvre

Reviews of two of the latest big releases, The Fault in our Stars and X-Men: Days of Future Past


The Fault in Our Stars

Whether you follow the hype of young adult novels/series becoming movies, you can’t deny how well they’re doing for the box-office. Movie franchises that started off as book series like The Hunger Games and Harry Potter have been the kind of investments that make money because of its large base, and The Fault in Our Stars is no different.

Hazel Lancaster (Shailene Woodley) has a terminal lung cancer that should’ve killed her years ago but still lives thanks to a lot of medication and an air tank. She meets Gus Waters (Ansel Elgort) after a cancer support group and the two strike up a bond unlike any other romance movie. Based on the best selling novel by John Green, the story is one for the ages, even if it is not a happy one.

A good movie formula is this: Good Writer + Fantastic Cast – Long Running Franchise=Oscar Worthy, this movie has everything it needs and more. Sure, this movie might be taken for granted because of all the young actors and it being based on a young adult novel, but it shouldn’t.

This moving film is filled with life lessons that even the healthiest of people should learn from; life is not a wish granting factory, and making an impact on one person is more important that making an impact on the whole world. Though this movie is hard to get through because of the reality of death and cancer, it is surprisingly heartwarming.

Five Stars and Two Tissue Boxes

You can read about the girl that inspired the book and the organization “This Star Won’t Go Out” here—>http://tswgo.org/our-mission.html

X-Men: Days of Future Past

Marvel Studios is famous for its Summer Blockbusters. This summer, they’re already making millions with Captain America: The Winter Soldier and The Amazing Spider-Man 2. So it was a bit shocking to find that X-Men: Days of Future Past wasn’t as good as expected.

Set in a apocalyptic future where Mutants are being hunted into extinction by Sentinels, robots created by humans that can detect Mutant DNA even in the most normal looking disguise. The only way to stop them is by going back into the past and stopping Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) from causing this dark future. Which sounded like a good idea in the comics when Shadowcat (Ellen Page) goes into the future, but in the movie they had to change a few things in order to work with the story line of the movies. So much to nobody’s surprise, Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) is sent back.

As a person who loves the X-Men, I had some expectations that this movie would make me forget that The Last Stand ever happened, which it did. However, this movie was very hard to follow. With the conflicting storyline between what happens in the comics and what happened in the movies, there was no way to properly execute what could happen next for the X-Men. Bryan Singer, the director of Days of Future Past, tried to connect what he had done in First Class to the older movies in order to make a brighter future for the franchise, which seems nearly impossible.

Despite all the great actors and great story, this movie was boring and confusing. Not to mention I couldn’t even count how many times Wolverine said, “By the way, I’m for the future”.

Marvel has been beating the dead horse known as the X-Men franchise for too long, making two solo Wolverine movies and First Class. Frankly, if they want to make things right, a reboot with a new cast is what’s going to do it. It’s very hard to fix a vase that’s been thrown out an airplane.

Three Stars because Quicksilver was the only thing I really enjoyed.

Movies/TV/Theaters

Movie review – ‘Hunger Games: Catching Fire’

By Gigi LeFebvre

Whether you’re a fan or not, it’s hard to ignore the hype that’s been radiating from the second movie installment of The Hunger Games franchise: Catching Fire. The trilogy, written by Suzanne Collins, has made itself at home at the top of the New York Times Bestseller list since the first book was published. Now, its movies are setting up shop at the top of the box office. On opening night, the domestic box office totaled approximately $25 million, and the weekend of release brought it up to $136.1 million.

Many people complained and were put off by the first movie: from shaky camera shots to Liam Hemsworth’s brooding looks, or the grisly fact that twenty four kids were forced to fight to the death for entertainment as people watched. However, many may rest assured knowing that with a new director and a bigger budget that Catching Fire is a film you should not miss.

The movie takes place a few months after the events of the first movie. Katniss Everdeen, played by Academy Award winning actress Jennifer Lawrence, returns home after winning the 74th Hunger Games with her fellow tribute and fake lover Peeta Mallark (Josh Hutcherson). The two of them then have to embark on the Capitol’s victory tour, where they visit all twelve districts. Katniss and Peeta won the games by attempting to eat poisonous berries. Many people in the Capitol saw this as just an act of love, while people in the districts saw the underlining meaning of defiance. This is what ignites the revolts and rebellions within the districts that Katniss visits during the tour. Katniss and Peeta then find themselves being forced to participate in the Quarter Quell, a special Hunger Games that takes place every 25 years. This time they are up against past winners of the Hunger Games from the other districts.

As a fan of the books, I saw The Hunger Games last year at the ungodly hour of 3:15 AM on the day it came out. So naturally, I then saw Catching Fire at 11:30 PM on the night before its release. Nevertheless, I was not disappointed, even though a scene I was anxious to see was cut out. Despite reading these books many times, I still found myself sitting at the edge of my seat thinking, “Run! Run! Run! Run! Run!”. Half of the movie is intense drama that leads up to thrilling action and suspense that doesn’t stop until the credits roll.

Fans of the books will enjoy not only the new actors like Sam Claflin (cast as Finnick Odair of District 4) and Jena Malone (cast as Johanna Mason from District 7), but the use of direct quotes from the books. I found that to be the most exciting thing. Even if you’re not a super involved fan or you haven’t read the books, you can still enjoy the story. The aesthetically pleasing scenery and graphics make this dystopian world all the more believable and real. The performances given by these talented actors and actresses are moving and powerful. Relatively obscure actors and actresses like Clafin will leave lasting impressions. I was exceptionally moved by Jennifer Lawrence’s portrayal of PTSD, which her character developed from being in the last games.

However, this movie is obviously not for everyone. There’s less blood and gore compared to the last movie, but there are scenes with loud explosions and noises that might give you a jolt. Unless you disapprove of violence and death, you shouldn’t have much to worry about with this movie. I recommend that you see it.