Halloween: Holiday celebrated on October 31st
Pumpkin: Fruit that is commonly carved into a spooky smile  
Costume: What people wear on Halloween
Candy: “Trick-or-treat!”  
Maze: A combination of twists and turns to find the exit; often found on fields or farms
Vampire: Edward Cullen
Werewolf: Jacob Black
Dracula: Transylvanian count
Zombie: A corpse that eats human brains
Phantom: An apparition of a dead person 
Mummy: Egyptian pharaohs post-death 
Frankenstein: The doctor that created an infamous monster   
Skeletons: “Spooky, scary _________ send shivers down your spine.” 
Slenderman: A tall, thin figure sporting a black suit and a blank face 
Horror: A genre meant to scare audiences 
Witch: Hocus Pocus
Alien: An extraterrestrial being often associated with the color green
Pennywise: The clown in “It”
Casper: ______ the Friendly Ghost 
Halloweentown: Kids follow their grandma home to find out they’re witches 
Leaves: Things that fall from the trees during autumn 
Pie: A baked dish of fruit filling with a base of pastry crust
Apple: Candy _____
Chestnut: A brown nut that is often roasted 
Equinox: When day and night are approximately equal; happens twice a year
Sweater: A cozy, knitted garment with long sleeves
Harvest: A period of gathering crops 
Corn: A cereal plant that yields large kernels; often grown in rows 
Autumn: Official name for the third season of the year 
Coraline: “Black is traditional.” 

Halloween     Holiday celebrated on October 31st
Pumpkin       Fruit that is commonly carved into a spooky smile
Costume       What people wear on Halloween
Candy         “Trick-or-treat!”
Maze          A combination of twists and turns to find the exit; often found on fields or farms
Vampire       Edward Cullen
Werewolf      Jacob Black
Dracula       Transylvanian count
Zombie        A corpse that eats human brains
Phantom       An apparition of a dead person
Mummy         Egyptian pharaohs post-death
Frankenstein  The doctor that created an infamous monster
Skeletons     “Spooky, scary _________ send shivers down your spine.”
Slenderman    A tall, thin figure sporting a black suit and a blank face
Horror        A genre meant to scare audiences
Witch         Hocus Pocus
Alien         An extraterrestrial being often associated with the color green
Pennywise     The clown in “It”
Casper        ______ the Friendly Ghost
Halloweentown Kids follow their grandma home to find out they’re witches
Leaves        Things that fall from the trees during autumn
Pie           A baked dish of fruit filling with a base of pastry crust
Apple         Candy _____
Chestnut      A brown nut that is often roasted
Equinox       When day and night are approximately equal; happens twice a year
Sweater       A cozy, knitted garment with long sleeves
Harvest       A period of gathering crops
Corn          A cereal plant that yields large kernels; often grown in rows
Autumn        Official name for the third season of the year
Coraline      “Black is traditional.”

Spooky Halloween Crossword

   Dani Franke ’23 was initially drawn to acting when she auditioned for her sixth grade middle school play, “The Christmas Carol,” with her friends. She loves acting in different genres and experimenting with her different artistic skillsets. Although theater can occasionally become stressful and competitive, being on stage with her friends encourages her to continue the activity. In the PHS rendition of the musical “Newsies,” Dani Franke played Katherine Plumber, the lead female role. Additionally, she loves singing, specifically jazz music, and is a part of the a cappella group Around 8. In the future, Franke hopes to continue her musical journey by displaying her talents on tour. 

What encouraged you to do musical theater?
I don’t think anything encouraged me to do it. I just really love it. I love being on stage and getting to sing and act with all my friends. I love to dance too, so that’s why I like musical theater, because you get to do all three at the same time.

How is your current experience in Around 8?
We’re like a family, and I love everyone in Around 8. It’s so much fun to take a song that we all want to sing, and we just sing it. We start picking up the lines, the basses start a baseline, we start a soprano melody, and someone starts singing a solo. The performances are really fun too, but really just getting to casually sing is great. 

What is the best performance you’ve put on, in your opinion?
I really loved my performance in “Curtains” last year. I was in the dance ensemble. I really love to dance, and since I didn’t have any singing parts, I got to focus on dancing. I really got to work on my acting and character analysis because I had to make up my own character and storyline, so it really helped me use that for the role I’m in right now. It was really fun, and I worked really hard to make sure I got everything perfect. 

What skills have you gained that have helped you perform effectively?
I’ve definitely improved vocally. I’m singing in jazz band, choir, and musical theater, and having all those different styles of music really helped my vocal ability excel. I’ve never really taken dance classes, but being in musicals has helped me become a better dancer. 

What do you do to calm your nerves before a show?
I like to go around and help everyone else make sure their hair and makeup is done and they’re all good. It really helps me almost forget about the fact that I’m about to go on stage. So, talking to people helps me forget about the fact that I’m going to go on stage in five minutes.
What do you love about the story of “Newsies”?
I like the idea of the underdog. The newsboys don’t have a lot, and even though the antagonist, Pulitzer, has all this power, the newsboys still come together and fight for what they believe in, which is really inspiring.

What has the process of making the musical come together been like?
It’s been so much fun, and it’s also been very stressful. First, we start blocking rehearsals, where we have scripts out with no set, which is a really long process. We also have dance rehearsals, where we learn the dances and go over them a million times. The hard thing is that sometimes we block scene one, and we learn the first dance. Then, we won’t do that for three weeks because we’re learning all the other stuff in the show, and then we just have to do it. So, it’s really hard because you want to practice what you’re working on, but you also need to make sure you practice what you already worked on. So it’s time consuming, but it’s so much fun. Once we have it all together, we get to add the set, the mics, and the costumes, and we’re able to see everything come together. Also, since we’re double cast, I get to watch the show half of the time, and seeing everything come to life is so rewarding after all that hard work.

Where do you see your career in ten years?
If I continue music, I’d hope to be with a band on a tour. If I do musical theater, I hope I get to be on a world tour of some show. If it’s not music, I’m probably going to end up going to school for psychology, social work, or possibly teaching. 

What advice would you give to anyone who wants to take part in a musical or go into singing?
Try it, 100 percent. Auditioning can be really nerve wracking, but the second it’s over, you realize it wasn’t so bad. Being a part of musical theater is so much fun, and singing is something that everyone should be able to enjoy. Don’t be afraid to join because it is such a loving and accepting community. Go with an open mind and be ready to learn.

Dani Franke ’23 discusses life behind the curtain

As an annual tradition, the PHS Spectacle Theater opens up the season of giving with a fall play. This year, from November 17-20, they presented “The Play That Goes Wrong.” Unlike last year, when the Spectacle Theater’s performance of “Bethel Park Falls” was recorded and streamed due to COVID restrictions, the play was performed in front of a live audience. 
 “The Play that Goes Wrong” follows the fictional Cornley Drama Society as they attempt to put on a show called “The Murder at Haversham Manor.” This presents a challenge, as everything seems to go wrong - to start with, they have no budget or good actors. As the show progresses, a series of unfortunate events unravels, turning the play into a complete and utter disaster that made the audience cackle to their core. With an unconscious lead, a moving corpse, a ruffled detective, and a butler that fumbles his words, this comedic murder mystery kept the audience on their toes while the ‘actors’ themselves tripped over their lines and props. 
Sylven Waldman ‘25, who played Dennis, was absolutely ecstatic when he first heard about the show. 
“The moment I heard about it, I immediately downloaded a copy of the script and read it through completely because I was so excited,” Waldman said.
Though putting a production together is no easy feat (as demonstrated by the play itself), the cast worked hard to put on a good performance. 
“We’ve been rehearsing since late September. Initially, they were 2-3 times a week and we only had to stay back until 5:30. As we got closer to show day, we started rehearsing more often, about 5 days a week and the occasional weekend rehearsal. The last few rehearsals ran longer until about 9:00,” said Elliott Becker Peeler ’24, who played Chris in the show. 
“It’s a very physically demanding show. Because it relies so much on physical comedy, rehearsals have sometimes felt more like sports practice. The stunts are hard and the whole cast has had to build up a lot of strength and stamina. I find three new bruises when I come home every day, but the brutal nature of the show makes it all the more rewarding when we get it right. The preparation has been hard work but it’s work that all of us have put in and I know it’s going to pay off when we have an audience,” said Pippi White ’23, who played Robert.
This play presented a unique challenge - it had to be intentionally bad. 
“The rehearsal process has been tough but rewarding. There are so many bits in the show that the actors and crew need to do perfectly wrong, and they’re very satisfying to pull off as a team. The easiest part has definitely been playing off the other actors on stage,” Peeler said.  
The production also gave the students involved a sense of community. After spending long hours together in rehearsals, the cast and crew members grew close. 
 “[The preparation] was very physically demanding but also rewarding at the same time. My favorite part about the play is the community and support system that goes along with it. The whole process of line memorization, blocking, and stunts is so much more enjoyable with friends,” said Noa Zacks ’25, who played Annie. 
The play could not be done without the PHS Tech Crew, who work behind the scenes. 
“The Tech Crew manages the props, lighting, sound, stage management, costumes, painting, carpentry, and set design for the play. During tech week, which is the week leading up to the performance, we stayed afterschool until 9 every day with the cast for run throughs,” said Carolina Kertesz ’23, props supervisor and Tech Crew co-leader. 
The process presented some challenges to the crew members, though it all came together in the end. 
 “It was difficult figuring out what looks best on stage. We had to be able to differentiate between how it would look painted in a classroom and how it would look with all the lights. We did have to redo some parts, and some days we would stay after school until 10:00 pm, but in the end it all got done. Overall, it was such a fun experience, and it looked amazing,” said Tech Crew member Elizabeth Waldman ’25. 

PHS Spectacle Theatre presents “The Play That Goes Wrong” 

Ashley Chen ‘23 has been passionate about singing and songwriting since childhood. She initially became interested in jazz back in middle school, when her band teacher encouraged her to audition for Jazz Band, and she has pursued music ever since. She has sang with the PHS Studio Band since her freshman year, and with the Cat’s Meow since her sophomore year. Chen has found her community through music, and finds that she has formed many close friendships with her fellow musicians. In her freshman and junior year, she won Outstanding Soloist for Studio Vocals. Studio Vocals also won first place at National Jazz Fest her sophomore and junior years, and they won second place at states her junior year as well. Finally, in her four years of singing in high school, she has won first in the vocal category of the National Jazz Festival. Overall, Ashley Chen has formed a tight-knit family and supportive community throughout her four years at PHS that she treasures and relies on. 

*When did you first start singing and who first got you into singing?
I've always loved singing ever since I was really young, but I think I got into singing for jazz and for bands right now. In middle school, there were Jazz Band auditions, and Mr. Pollack told me to do it, and that's how I got into it. I used to think I'd be more of a musical theater person, but now I'm in Band because of that. 
*What experience has shaped your passion for singing?
What got me to really love singing and want to be really good at it was when I was a freshman, I watched the seniors do vocals or Studio Band. I saw them win awards and be crazy, and that's what prompted me to want to be like them. I remember the Princeton Jazz Festival when I was in middle school and watching the seniors at that time perform was what made me realize: “I want to do this when I'm older.”

*What is the most important thing singing has taught you?
I think perseverance, because when I was a freshman I was definitely not at the level I am now. It took time, maturity, and practice, and the determination and perseverance it took to get me here is the biggest thing I’ve learned. 
*Is there any artist or song you take inspiration from?
I really love this artist, Laufey, because she sings jazz and the standards that I do as well, but she also writes jazz pop and contemporary music for newer generations. I take inspiration from her because of the fact that she's introducing this old genre to the newer generation. 
*What challenges have you faced or have had to overcome when it comes to singing?
In the beginning, it was stage fright and learning how to get over stage presence because that's something you can't really learn right off the bat; it took a lot of experience. I think the initial awkwardness, not knowing what to do, and that fear were tough to get over. 
*What opportunities has singing opened up for you?
It’s opened up a lot of opportunities. For a summer band I sang in, I got to perform at major jazz festivals in Europe, which were really cool. I've also gotten to compete at the national Jazz Fest and go to states. There are a lot of things that I wouldn't have done if I hadn’t gone into band like the opportunity to win awards.
*How have the people in Band shaped your life? 
They’ve definitely shaped my life a lot. You get so much support from people, especially for activities like singing and music, which not all my friends are involved in. So having friends who are in it, too, we all support each other as we get better. Sharing similar experiences at competitions, at big auditions and having people do something you all love together, I have trust in them, so it's a good community.
*What's the difference between your experience in Band and your experience in Cat's Meow right now? 
For Cat's Meow, we have nine people, so we're very tight knit, and I love it because we're kind of a family. We do a lot of things together and we meet every week. It’s a smaller group and we have both underclassmen and seniors, so it's like we’re taking care of the underclassmen. Last year the seniors were taking care of me as the underclassmen in the group, so it’s a really tight family. Band is obviously bigger, definitely still a family, but more of a larger community. Cat’s is more of a family, and Band’s a community. 

*How have the people in Cat’s Meow shaped your life? 
Again, having support and having people be there for you. When things are a little rough or I’m stressed, I know that I can always rely on everyone in Cat’s. It's very supportive and very loving.

*Are there any challenges you've had to overcome as a group in the past? 
I think the initial couple of rehearsals, where it's a new group of people, especially after getting used to the last group, is something that we had to overcome together. We don’t have that many challenges because we get straight into things pretty quickly, and we just become really close really quick, too. 

*What's the best performance you put on?
I think the best performance I've done was for the National Jazz Fest. It was a recorder performance, and I won first for the vocal category. That was something that I was really proud of because I did that every year, and I've never gotten that high of a ranking, so I'd say that's my best performance. For Cat’s Meow, we do a lot of gigs, and I think every gig’s pretty good.
*What skills have you gained by singing that have helped you perform effectively?
Definitely a lot of confidence. It takes a lot of confidence to get out there because everyone's looking at you and you're just standing there, while everyone else in Band is sitting. Physically, I’ve gained breath support, and it's good for tennis too, which I play, so the physical endurance is good. 

*What is the best part about singing?
The best part is putting together the final pieces for everyone. After rehearsing so hard, going on stage with the final piece and seeing what you worked really hard for and rehearsed for come to life is probably the best thing. 

*Do you plan on pursuing singing in the future?
I'll definitely be singing in college and after that, but I'm not sure in what way. I’m not sure if I want to major in it, take a minor, or join a lot of clubs at school, but I definitely want to continue with it.

*Where do you see your singing career in ten years?
Probably singing with my friends at different places if we wanted to. I wouldn’t say a big venue because I don't know if I want to pursue that kind of career, but doing gigs with my friends and finding places to perform would be cool. 


Ashley Chen ’23 recounts her musical journey

Each year at PHS, different groups of students in Studio Art III paint a mural in relation to the word “skull.” For most, this word may conjure up images of death and decay, but these art students look through the gloom to find inspiration.

“In Studio Art I, students draw realistic skulls and animal bones, and in Studio Art II, they do the same again. Then in Studio Art III, they come back to the idea of the skull, and they think about what it could mean and represent symbolically,” said Matthew Pembleton, one of the Studio Art teachers at PHS.

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The tradition of painting murals or installing 4x8-foot painted panels onto the walls has endured since 2000. Unlike many of the individual projects done in the Studio Art III class, the mural project highlights that teamwork is needed in order to create a stellar finished product.

“I think the main purpose of this project is to show that art and collaboration can be made by many people, not just one person,” Pembleton said.

Although it may seem like a simple task to paint a mural, the project requires a few weeks worth of planning before the painting can actually begin. 

The process starts with thorough research of modern and historic murals throughout art history, ranging from the Renaissance era to the Mexican muralist movement in the 1900s. Students then take a tour around PHS to look at past murals created by previous Studio Art III students. After gaining inspiration and ideas from these different sources, students engage in collaborative mind mapping and sketching. To start, they need to come up with ideas relating to the skull theme. There are many diverse perspectives that can be taken for this project. It is fascinating to see how different minds approach the same word based on their imaginations along with their individual interpretations. After two to three weeks of laying the groundwork, students start painting the murals on the walls.

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Although the word skull often evokes feelings of death and doom, the students have shown that there can actually be a lot more to it.

“Our mural is like the exact opposite of what [we] first thought of when I heard the word ‘skull.’ We’re doing an art history inspired mural, but we’re also incorporating a bit of modernity to it. We’re mostly inspired by two Renaissance pieces: The Birth of Venus and Creation of Adam,” said Myrrah Shapoo ’23, a student in Studio Art III.

“We’ve taken components from each, and we’ve mixed them together to create one piece. We are doing them in the form of a skeleton to bring in androgyny and to put a twist on these classical pieces,” Shapoo said.

Focusing on darkness and mystery, students Andy Yao ’23 and Ned Erickson ’22 created a “surrealist landscape” that focuses on the uncertainty we have about the afterlife.“

We thought of death, and we thought about what happens to a skull after you die and if it’s just empty. This led to us wondering about what happens after you die and how we don’t really know. We wanted to make it weird because we don’t know what happens after we die,” Erickson said.

“We’re going to have a bunch of random stuff like planets, columns, and broken statues so that it’s dreamlike ... It’ll be made up of a weird collection of things, so you’re not sure what’s going on or when it’s happening,” said Yao. PHS art students have been enriching the school with their artwork over the years, as can be observed with the many posters, sketches, and paintings already being displayed on the walls.

This current mural project is a symbol of the beauty that lies in collaboration, and altogether, it will serve as a manifestation of the students’ creativity as a whole. The murals should be finished by early April, and will be on display in room 172 for students after spring break

The Tower

Sara Shahab Diaz's Work

The Tower