Interest in the CHS drama program is growing. "The Centralia Drama Club department has grown tremendously just in this past year," said Drama Club President Chelsea Wheeler. This is the first year Drama is considered an official club, and the club members are proud to be able to perform skits in the big school events like Homecoming and Courtwarming.

In the past, the Drama Club has hosted an Improv Night. They have also written and performed original plays. Additionally, the members performed published plays for the Intermediate School and hosted a costume dance party for Halloween. Some of their plays were dramatic, and some were comical in the past. Plays in general are almost all practiced and organized, whereas improvs are not organized, and they are usually more comical than serious.

This year the Centralia Drama Club consists of 15 people who dedicate around five to ten hours each week organizing activities and practicing for performances.The sponsors are Kortney Sebben and Kristy Tiesing, CHS language arts teachers. This year's officers include Chelsea Wheeler-President; Kim O'Loughlin-Vice President; Heather Richardson-Secretary; Brady McDowell-Costume and Props; and Amanda O'Loughlin-Advertising. The members meet each Friday after school unless a big performance is coming up, and then they meet every day after school for rehearsal.

Drama is very helpful for students to branch out and use a specific set of skills to entertain. Sebben said, "Drama is a fun and creative art that needs to be shared with the community, and Centralia has many extremely talented actors in the school." So far this year the drama department has performed and hosted many activities including Taylor Richardson performing in a monologue she wrote called "Bonnie and Clyde," and Amanda O'Loughlin and Brady McDowell performing the drama "Midnight of the Soul." The following students performed in a scene entitled "Disney Disclosed" that the Drama Club members wrote together:  Chelsea Wheeler played Fiona, a therapist; Jessica Pendergrast was Rapunzel; Heather Richardson was Pocahontas; Sydney Miller played the part of Mulan; Amanda O'Loughlin was Tinkerbell; Brady McDowell acted the part of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves;  Kim O'Loughlin was Alice; Taylor Richardson was Anastasia; Jessie Melegrito played the role of Sleeping Beauty; and Gabby Kniola was the White Rabbit. Additionally, Heather Richardson and Sydney Miller performed the drama "Gray Matter," and Gabby Kniola performed the monologue "Remember." Shelby Golian was an understudy and assistant director to the performances. Taylor Richardson was the stage manager, and Brady McDowell was head of the costume department. For the performance for the community, the club charged admission to get in and raised money in order to expand their costume closet. The costume choices are slim, which limits the types of plays the drama students can perform.

Being a part of Drama Club has many benefits for students. Students can learn and practice skills that will help them in the future, whether it be in school or in everyday life. Sebben said, "Acting in front of others, especially when improvising, helps people come out of their shells." Drama works on speaking skills and a person's confidence. She also said in the classroom the drama students are more comfortable and participate more. Chelsea Wheeler, Drama Club president, said, "Drama Club is spectacular motivation to keep my grades up and continue to work my hardest." Wheeler also believes that their club takes theatrics seriously, and she loves to see progression in performances and in the members' personal growth.  Wheeler is expected to set a good example and to inspire the other members to be all that they can be because she is the president of the club. She plans fundraisers and both educational and fun- filled trips. Wheeler also spreads awareness of the club's existence, selects performances, and helps direct performances. Wheeler plans to participate in theater at the University of Missouri-Kansas City in the fall.