By Donovan Minor

Trojan Tribune Staff

Photo Courtesy of Broadway World

With winter coming around and new sports starting, the West Central drama department is also beginning a new production. This year’s musical is titled All Shook Up. The play is a jukebox musical based on the William Shakespeare play Twelfth Night and features the music of Elvis Presley. The story focuses on Chad, a motorcycle-riding, hip swiveling“Roustabout” that comes to a dreary town in the Midwest where there is no dancing, kissing or public displays of affection allowed.

Chad brings his spunk and charisma to the town, while at the same time being chased by Natalie, a mechanic who never realized what she wanted to do with her life until she met Chad. There is one problem: Chad is ignorant of the fact that Natalie is in love with him, so Natalie disguises herself as “Ed” to try to find out what will attract Chad. This, and many other conflicts, causes several love triangles throughout the course of the play.

Auditions were held December 12 and 13, and the cast list was put up on the 14th. Over 30 West Central students auditioned, and everyone received a part. There are 10 principle parts. The play will take place the first weekend in March.

Chad- A dancing, motorcycling “roustabout”, very much like Elvis- Joe Schartz

Natalie- A mechanic who disguises herself as Ed to get to Chad- Liz Renner

Dennis- Natalie’s best friend, who is in love with her- Nick Shumaker

Sylvia- A poor owner of the Honky-Tonk bar in town- Mallorie Minor

Lorraine- Sylvia’s daughter, who wants to have fun- Brianna Titus

Mayor Matilda- The town’s mayor who is bent on enforcing the laws of no dancing or public displays of affection- Maria Wegleitner

Sheriff Earl- Matilda’s silent partner who helps her enforce the law- Donovan Minor

Dean- Matilda’s son who goes to a military school and falls in love with Lorraine- Alex Qualm

Jim- Natalie’s father, who has been down ever since his wife died- Dusty Kleba

Sandra- The museum owner who is disappointed by the lack of culture- Breanna Grey

By Sydney Rechtenbaugh

Trojan Tribune Staff

Photo courtesy of Alex Qualm

High school students are involved in numerous activities ranging from athletics to fine arts. There are quite a few who excel. Senior Alex Qualm is one of these extraordinary students. Qualm is involved in Improv, TATU, Oral Interp, the fall play and spring musical, concert choir, band, jazz band, men’s choir, student council, baseball and track. In addition to that, he also made it to All-State Choir and is in the National Honor Society.

Alexander Scott Qualm was born April 17, 1994, to parents Chris and Cathy Qualm. He has one sister, Samantha, who is two years older. When Qualm was asked what his favorite activity is, he replied, “Either the fall play or oral interp, because I really like to be in front of people acting. I think plays are fun because it’s challenging making yourself become a specific character, and not only that, but it’s fun being a character that someone in the audience can relate to… and seeing how your acting can affect someone’s life.”

Even though it may be hard to believe, he still has free time outside of school activities. In this time, he enjoys playing his five guitars. Qualm also enjoys spending time with his three dogs, cat and brown bear, Bear. He likes spending time with his pre-calculus buddies, Darren Kueter and Dylan Brynjulson. Qualm jokes that Isaac McMahon is his hero, and they will be getting married soon.