By Eli Solomon

The Thespians club went to a State Thespians Festival, on January 13th-15th. It was held at Southmoore High School in Oklahoma City. It consisted of different workshops and live performances. Some of these workshops included one dedicated to stage makeup and how to make homemade props.``I can't wait to apply these techniques to performing on stage, I learned a lot about how to make do with props (using) what we have."Gushed Ameria Daugherty.

   Featured at the festival was a production of the stage play “Our Town” which Poteau's very own Bethany Warren and Brekin Castilo performed in. “I almost forgot how much I love performing in front of people. There's something so special with working with a cast, especially being from different cities across Oklahoma, (it’s) so much fun." Bethany reminisced. This Thursday three speech team members will be competing in a prose reading competition that will be held at Bixby High School. Freshmen Mahala Latta will be reading an excerpt from the classic novel Anne of Green Gables. “I chose it because it is my favorite book of all time and I relate extremely well to her.” Sporemore John Thompson will read an excerpt from the novel Suicide Notes. “The piece is kind of like a sort of lense into the mind of a teenager who attempted suicide…it takes a lot for teenagers to be recognized and to be taken seriously, in the context of this piece, it is mental health,” he explains. 

 Junior Niomi Saldana will be performing a piece about body positivity. “I selected this piece because I believe all women should be comfortable in their bodies; we are all beautiful.” Reading in front of an audience can be nerve-racking for anyone when asked how she overcomes these fears Saladana had this to say “I just remind myself that I belong here and this is my performance.” Thompson had a more humorous answer, (on overcoming nerves) “tell me when you find out because I haven't figured it out yet.”

Poteau has many students-opportunities for creative expression, with many students also putting on a production of Clue based on the classic board game The show times will be at 7 pm on March 24th and 25th and 2 pm on the 26th in the newly renovated BLK center. When asked what she was looking forward to most about the production.  "The rehearsals, I love doing rehearsals, just the goofiness and getting along with everybody just messing around and getting along." mused Valerie Seachord who will be playing  Mrs. Scarlet.