Henry High’s Drama Club’s upcoming play She Kills Monsters
After Agnes’ little sister dies in a car crash, she goes on a quest to discover the girl she never really knew very well by playing the Dungeons & Dragons adventure she found when packing up her room.
This play is being produced in conjunction with Heart of the Beast Puppet Theater and Stages Theater Company. The Henry students are working closely with professional fight choreographer Mason Tyer to bring this exciting comedic drama to life.
Christopher Michael’s Theatre Production class and Henry Drama Club has been working with the puppet artists to create a massive Tiamat puppet (a five-headed dragon) that Agnes will battle, a symbol of her own struggle to deal with the grief of losing her sister.
The Stage Theater is known for artistic excellence. The nationally recognized Heart of the Beast Puppet Theater is best known for sponsoring the annual May Day Parade and Ceremony in South Minneapolis. Qui Nguyen, best known for his play She Kills Monsters, is an award-winning playwright, screenwriter and television writer.
She Kills Monsters runs November 10 and 11 at 7 p.m., and November 12 at 1 p.m. Get your tickets at the door or at onthestage.tickets/show/henry-drama-club/632cce0957fb160e3e13baec.
Henry High School’s 2022 Homecoming
The week of October 2-8 was fun-filled with spirit week themes, a pep fest with crowning of a queen and king, sporting events and the homecoming school dance.
The success of the varsity and junior varsity football teams has been a story on television and newspaper venues. Varsity was undefeated for six games following a 17-game losing streak. This columnist spoke to several coaches and students asking them what accounted for the change this year. Most responded that the off-season program in weight training offered to all students was a major factor.
The Patrick Henry Strength Program, called Totally Committed, offered free strength and conditioning, and was instituted by assistant coach Tyler Phillips of the Youth Coordinating Board. He also acquired funding for added weight training equipment.
Twenty to 30 students from all sports enjoyed being together each day following the COVID pandemic separation. Runningback Newmann Thomas, a leader in the state in touchdowns, said, “It improved us as like a brotherhood. It helped us come together.” Captain Rory Wyatt says that he became more committed to school, football and eating healthy. Mark Heiser has coached football at Henry for 11 years. He points out that the structured program set up by Phillips ran from mid-November last year and all school year until June with many football players attending. He thanks family, friends and community folks for their donations, in particular Kevin who operates a corner store a couple of blocks from Henry.
November is National Native American Heritage Month
Staff and students are preparing to explore the heritage, culture and experience of Indigenous peoples both historically and in the United States today. Each Henry High daily announcement will acknowledge that the school is located on what was Dakota land. We will review the 11 nations and flags of Minnesota Native Americans located on Henry High’s second floor and learn the meanings of the nation names. The seven Ojibwe/Anishinaabe Nations of Minnesota are Bois Forte, Fond du Lac, Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior, Leech Lake, Mille Lacs, Red Lake, and White Earth. The four Dakota Nations of Minnesota are Lower Sioux, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, Upper Sioux Community, and Prairie Island. The Little Earth Community in South Minneapolis and the Mendota Tribal Community Dakota will also be recognized.
Morning announcements and the Henry website will reflect upon the Seven Grandfather Teachings in North American Indigenous culture that have been traditionally passed down from generation to generation through oral stories and ceremonies. They are in English and Ojibwe or Anishinaabe: Humility/Dbaadendiziwin, Bravery/Aakwa’ode’ewin, Honesty/Gwekwaadziwin, Wisdom/Nbwaakaawin, Truth/Debwewin, Respect/ Mnaadendimowin, and Love/Zaagidwin.