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Oklahomecoming: Scheduling Conflicts Make for a Chaotic Day

Oklahomecoming%3A+Scheduling+Conflicts+Make+for+a+Chaotic+Day+

Every year, students  go all out in full blue-and-white attire, paint their faces, and constantly scream cheers down to the players at the Homecoming football game. In another annual tradition, students purchase their tickets to see the Staples Players’ fall musical. But this year, many will have to plan their time to accommodate the celebrations surrounding Homecoming and the theatricalities of the Players’ production, as the two events are both set to take place on Saturday, Nov 10.

According to Athletic Director Marty Lisevick, Homecoming was not always planned to be so late in the year or on the same day as the Players’ production. Originally, the game was to take place in mid-October, but upon receiving a call from the superintendent, Lisevick was informed that that weekend was also an ACT testing weekend. The game had to be moved, and Lisevick was not left with many options.

According to Lisevick, a game against Stamford’s Westhill High School was already scheduled to take place on Friday, Nov 9. That date seemed to be the only other option for Homecoming, but the administration wouldn’t allow Homecoming to be a night game. After switching the date a few times, Lisevick finalized the date to be Nov. 10—the opening weekend for the Players production of “Oklahoma!”

According to Players director David Roth, the musical has always taken place on the two weekends before Thanksgiving, and having the events on the same day will now mean that the cast and crew cannot fully participate in Homecoming.

After speaking to various Players, it was found that, although many performers are not thrilled with the way the timing worked out, the seniors and freshmen in “Oklahoma!” are the most displeased with the planning. Danielle Frost ’13 explained that although she is thrilled to be in the show, she is not happy that she will likely be missing much of Homecoming as a senior.

“We don’t get to enjoy Homecoming festivities with the rest of our graduating class, and as seniors, I think that it is something we should be able to participate in without any unchangeable conflict,” Frost said.

However, some of the Players were able to keep an optimistic outlook. Claire Smith ’15 said that while it is true that timing is not ideal, but going to Homecoming that morning might actually liven her up and get her pumped for her performance that night.

Members of the football team agree that the timing is unfortunate. “I think it’s a shame that the attendance at both will be affected,” said Kevin Kearney ’13, one of the captains of the team.

While many may feel unhappy about the planning of Homecoming and “Oklahoma!,” it is still possible to attend Homecoming in the morning and then the production in the evening.

“Since Homecoming isn’t during an actual performance of ‘Oklahoma!,’ I don’t think it will hurt either of the events. But it’s a lot in one weekend and seems like pretty unforunate planning,” Taylor Jacobs ’14 said.

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About the Contributors
Rachel Labarre, Managing Editor
She trades her pointe shoes in for her spiral notebook.  Her dance classes for journalism classes.  Her spot at the front of the stage for her position on the Inklings staff. Rachel Labarre '14 has the unique ability to allow the creativity and passion she has in the dance studio to influence her writing style and work ethic. This work ethic is what gives Labarre the edge it takes to hold one of the most prestigious spots on the Inklings staff: Managing Editor. But what got her there? Labarre’s first claim to fame was her dance career, but there was one thing holding her back. “On top of the problems with my feet that I already had, I broke my foot during dress rehearsal for our big recital,” Labarre said. This forced Labarre to cut back on dance classes the following year.  All the energy and creativity that was once put into nailing a routine needed an outlet.  She found this outlet through writing for Inklings. Labarre landed a job as an editor her sophomore year.  She then went from Editor of Arts and Entertainment to Features Editor.  Labarre’s inventiveness has allowed her to climb the steps to the top of Inklings. “When you write there’s a certain part that requires creativity; whether it’s getting a good angle or keeping your readers engaged.  You have to do the same in dance; whether it’s perfecting the choreography or figuring out what will look the most atheistically pleasing” Labarre  said.  She was able to prove this ability in her article on the Sandy Hook shooting, which got over 50,000 hits.  This passion for the arts and creativity has not only led LaBarre to success on the stage, but in the classroom as well.  
Sara Luttinger, A&E Editor
Sara (who really should be called “Care-a”) Luttinger ’13 is very involved in Staples. She’s worked a lot with kids who have special needs – which would be her dream job, she’s interested in majoring in communications in college based on her “love of being around people”, and her favorite part of Inklings is the staff. Can you tell she’s a people person? As a senior girl, she’s had her fair share of highs and lows at Staples - the peak of her high school career being her first day of senior year. “We had a sleepover and decorated our cars the next day, it was so much fun,” said Luttinger. However, she continues by describing the all time low of high school - midterms in freshman year - as, “I had no idea what I was doing…” So, Sara, teetering between being overly caring with her love for people and not caring at all with her senioritis, is her own oxymoron.

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