The house lights dimmed and the stage lights went up on Thursday. April 26 at the Howland Middle School gym as the Howland High School Speech Team presented its annual "Night of Speech."
A total of 13 short performances were performed as the successful speech and debate team celebrated another year.
Among the performances:
* Heather Johnson, original oratory, "500 Shades of Gray" - learning to live in a world that's not black and white;
* Alioyah Bryant, dramatic interpretation, "Forgiving the Unforgivable" - a Rwandan genocide survivor remembers.;
* Gina Powers, prose and poetry, "My Massive Feelings" - teenage girls channel Sylvia Plath;
* Lauren Williams and Arnesha Tipton, duo interpretation, "Pretty Fire" - a woman looks back on how she learned what it means to be black;
* Eric DiBell, original oratory, "Take My Advice" - words of wisdom about making one's own decisions;
* Kelsey Loree, prose and poetry, "Joan of Arc in Autumn" - a heroine describes her persecution;
* William Tipton, dramatic interpretation, "God and Monsters" - the father of Frankenstein begins to lose his mind;
* Kara Mazey, prose and poetry, "The Burning Bed" - the classic tale of abuse and revenge;
* Veronica Lukach, dramatic interpretation, "Bastard Out of Carolina" - modern classic about a young teen's need to escape;
* Emily Bednar, original oratory, "It Pays to Discover" - explores the need to discover our own paths in life;
* Carmella Ruberto, humorous interpretation "Miss Polly's Institute for Criminally Damaged Young Ladies Puts on a Show" - a doomed attempt at a production of Hamlet;
* Rachel Ragheb, dramatic interpretation, "Duet for One" - a concert musician struggles to learn a new song;
* Matt Smylie and Kaleb Armstrong, duo interpretation, "Ninja Burger" - Kung Fu movies meet Burger King.