The Joseph High School Thespians welcomed the new school year with a host of activities. To start things off, they gathered together for a picnic to welcome new members at the home of advisor Pam Latta on Thursday evening, Sept. 5, 2002. New officers were also elected: Brannon Farmer, president; Kevin Graham, vice-president; and Zeke Hale, treasurer.

The fall production of Sir Noel Coward’s Pulitzer Prize winning play, “Blithe Spirit” is currently in rehearsal by Joseph High School students.

The cast includes Edith, the maid – Emma Strickland; Edgar, the butler – Ritchie Meyer; Charles, the husband – Kevin Graham; Ruth, Charles’ wife – Erin Baynes; George Bradman, Charles’ physician – Zeke Hale; Violet Bradman, George’s wife – Megan Garnett; Stephen Hyde-Lewellen and Randolph Westlake, seance participants – Brannon Farner and Julian Moro respectively; Madame Arcati, the medium – Rajani Moller-Hansen; Elvira, Charles’ deceased wife – Jessie Botham; and Daphne, the control – Antonia Pfeiffer.

Serving on the technical crew are Ryan Harding, Joslyn Kite, Holly Parker, Alayna Brink, Brooke Moncrief, Andrew McFarland, and Kyle Clough.

Performance dates are Nov. 21-23 on the Jo-Hi stage. Tickets will be available at the door for $4 for individuals or $15 per family. Refreshments will be served.

A small group of students recently traveled to Tualatin High School to attend the Oregon State Thespian Improvisational Competition on Saturday, Sept. 28. Those attending were Brannon Farner, Kevin Graham, Zeke Hale, Antonia Pfeiffer and Rajani Moller-Hansen. Approximately 500 students from troupes all over Oregon participated.

During the competition, the students were divided into groups and given a fortune cookie, a name of a Shakespearean character, and a number. They had one hour to create a skit. After performing the skit twice for judging, the top eight skits were selected to be represented to the whole group.