***This article was written by Chase Palm, a participant in The Kewanee Voice Student Journalism Program, funded by the Harry Anderson Memorial Trust.
Creativity is the lifeblood of Kewanee High School’s Group Interpretation team, or GI. This year, the students’ love of theater is bringing Barbie, the 2023 summer blockbuster, to the KHS stage.
The team is directed by KHS English teacher Heather Olalde. Olalde took on the role in 2010 and since then, has led 18 consecutive KHS productions to the state GI tournament.
“Group interpretation is a very strange acting event that relies heavily on the group telling a story through choral, unison lines and interpretation of the words in the script through physical and vocal stylist choices,” Olalde said.
According to Olalde, students are unable to use costumes, props, or objects of any kind to assist in their storytelling. Everything from sound effects and cues is up to the actors themselves.
“We create a whole world just with the people in the group,” she said.
The parameters of GI also restrict costuming. Though the actors have ensemble costumes, their outfits cannot individually identify their character. Instead, costumes must reflect the production’s theme or style, making the selection process harder and more creative..
“It should suggest the piece, but can’t differentiate one character from the next based on their clothing,” Olalde said.
Olalde emphasized the work the entire team puts in when creating a Group Interpretation production. The season is enjoyable yet stressful because every team member wants to push one another to make it to state.
“There’s no off stage, if you’re in group interp, you’re on stage every second,” said Olalde.
Clearly, performing in this troupe is no simple task. However, the cast doesn’t let this pressure deter them from bringing their best every day. Olalde said most cast members have to play more than one role, calling for different voices and facial expressions because they can’t change outfits to reflect their character change. This expectation calls for considerable creativity.
Unlike musicals and fall play productions, she doesn’t order a script from a theater company. Instead, she writes it herself.
“I think that it is one of the things that most people don’t realize makes this job incredibly difficult. Every GI script is written by the person putting the show together. It is 100 percent tailored to the kids in the group and what skills they bring,” Olalde said, adding that judges evaluate the creativity implemeted by the director developing the show.
Regardless, Olalde didn’t let that stop her from creating her own version of the 2023 film Barbie.
“It sort of hit me by chance this year. I didn’t really have any idea yet what I wanted to do, and I just happened to be watching the movie, and I kept thinking in my head, this screenplay was already written in the style of a group interp,” Olalde said. “Within 30 seconds of starting the movie, I thought this would be a perfect GI. I think it has a lot of interesting characters to portray, it’s a very relevant message of the moment without being too heavy.”
GI shows don’t have to be dramatic, she said. Performances can portray a range of different elements and emotions and highlight actors’ various strengths and skills.
Olalde and the cast of GI are excited to return to state this year and will offer a public performance of Barbie on March 12. More details will follow.
