![It was definitely out of my comfort zone to get [the dress] and decide I loved it enough not to wait and risk not having something that memorable.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Precious_20180902_JRS_00008_ed1.jpg)
![Sophomore Sahasra Mandalapu practices bharatanatyam choreography in class. These new dances will be performed in an annual show in February. Mandalapu found that practicing in class helped her overcome stage fright during her performances. “When [I] get on stage, Im nervous Im going to forget, even though Ive done it for so long,” Mandalapu said. “Theres still that little bit of stage fright [when] I second-guess myself that I dont know it enough, but I do because Ive been practicing for a whole year.”](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Sahasra-6-Large-1200x844.jpeg)
![In their full runway outfits, (from left) Audrey Lee 25, Olivia Lucy Teets, 25, Fashion Design teacher Ms. Judy Chance, and Xueying Lili Yang pose for a photo. All three girls made it to Austin Fashion Week by getting in the top 10 in a previous runway show held by Shop LC.
[I like my students] creativity and how they can look at a fabric and make it their own, Ms. Chance said.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_9686-e1714088765730-1129x1200.jpeg)
![IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Junior Zalie Mann performs “I Love to Cry at Weddings,” an ensemble piece from the fall musical Sweet Charity, to prospective students during the Fine Arts Showcase on Wednesday, Nov. 8. The showcase is a compilation of performances and demonstrations from each fine arts strand offered at McCallum. This show is put on so that prospective students can see if they are interested in joining an academy or major.
Sweet Charity originally ran the weekends of Sept. 28 and Oct. 8, but made a comeback for the Fine Arts Showcase.
“[Being at the front in the spotlight] is my favorite part of the whole dance, so I was super happy to be on stage performing and smiling at the audience,” Mann said.
Mann performed in both the musical theatre performance and dance excerpt “Ethereal,” a contemporary piece choreographed by the new dance director Terrance Carson, in the showcase. With also being a dance ambassador, Mann got to talk about what MAC dance is, her experience and answer any questions the aspiring arts majors and their parents may have.
Caption by Maya Tackett.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/53321803427_47cd17fe70_o-1-1200x800.jpg)
![SPREADING THE JOY: Sophomore Chim Becker poses with sophomores Cozbi Sims and Lou Davidson while manning a table at the Hispanic Heritage treat day during lunch of Sept 28. Becker is a part of the students of color alliance, who put together the activity to raise money for their club.
“It [the stand] was really fun because McCallum has a lot of latino kids,” Becker said. “And I think it was nice that I could share the stuff that I usually just have at home with people who have never tried it before.”
Becker recognizes the importance of celebrating Hispanic heritage at Mac.
“I think its important to celebrate,” Becker said. “Because our culture is awesome and super cool, and everybody should be able to learn about other cultures of the world.”
Caption by JoJo Barnard.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/53221601352_4127a81c41_o-1200x675.jpg)
Star on hit show Criminal Minds, the voice of Simon in ‘Alvin and the Chipmunks,’known as an artist, director, and more recently as an author, Matthew Gray Gubler began his tour for the release of his new book The Little Kid With the Big Green Hand last week. I was lucky enough to speak with him about how he feels about the big release.
Gubler is driving across the country in his vibrant bright green car with a large green hand attached to the top, in theme of his new book, and hand-delivering copies to hospitals, libraries, and schools. The first of Gubler’s stops were to his childhood librarian Mrs.Drake and his alma mater Las Vegas Academy of the Arts (LVA.) Gubler, visibly emotional while answering, says he chose these to be the first stops because of the great importance they have to him.“Two formative things that always encouraged me and inspired me, continually,” Gubler said.
The Little Kid With the Big Green Hand is Gubler’s second book, following the release of his first book ‘Rumple Buttercup” in 2019. He describes the book as “A 224 page reminder of the love that exists in everyone and everything.” Gubler said, “It’s about two unlikely friends that come together and see the world in a beautiful manner.”
The official release date of the book is September 26th, so LVA students who received a copy will be among the first to be able to read it. Following his Las Vegas stops, Gubler’s book tour will head up to the East Coast, dropping off copies wherever he can along the way.
Gubler clarified that it is a common misconception that this new book and his previous one “Rumple Buttercup” are related, and they are actually two entirely separate worlds. But as for his next project, he tells us that he has a sequel in the works to Rumple Buttercup that he is very excited about.
Gubler says his biggest hope for the book is to make people smile and to “bring warmth to their eyes.” The vibrant illustrations match the heart warming story that is sure to brighten the reader’s day. It’s one that anyone can enjoy regardless of age, and as the back cover of the book promises, is for anyone interested in the story of “colors, creatures, and connection.”
Watch the full interview with Gubler here:
https://youtu.be/1YYnbf4KWsk
This story was originally published on Accolades on September 14, 2023.
