News Briefs (Volume 67 Issue 9)

By Yvette Lin & Keilana Pang
Staff Writers

“Midnight Departure” Prom Night

Prom Night returns after a two-year hiatus on May 28. Titled “Midnight Departure,” the dance is from 7 to 11 p.m. at Union Station in Downtown LA.

ASB’s Activities Committee began planning for the dance in the summer, working with Event Group, a company that helps plan large gatherings. Inspired by the venue, the Committee based the dance’s theme on 1920s Art Deco, which consists of intricate displays of geometric shapes and patterns.

Ticket sales began on April 11 and will last until the third week of May. Late tickets are $135 with an ASB card and $150 without.

Visual & Performing Arts

Rams Repertory Company’s “The Imaginary Invalid” on April 29 and 30 and the May Arts Week Showcase on May 23, 24, 25 and 27 offer more opportunities for large productions following the cancellation of many events due to COVID-19.

Performances of “The Imaginary Invalid” began at 7 p.m. in 601. Audience members paid $10 for presale tickets or $15 for at the door admission.

“Rescheduled due to roadmap guidelines to December, postponed to December due to personal losses and funerals, rescheduled for February only to be postponed by Omicron—you name it, it affected our class,” Advanced Drama teacher Michele Gaffney said. “Overcoming all of that was reinforced by the old saying, ‘The Show Must Go On.’”

Every day of the May Arts Week Showcase features the visual arts’ free art gallery at the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse. The Instrumental Concert on May 23 features the high school’s instrumental music groups. On May 24, the Spring Dance Spectacular displays Choreo, Pep, Color Guard and Oak Avenue Auxiliaries. Brighter Side Singers, Advanced Drama and the combined choir classes perform separate pieces during the Drama and Vocal Arts Concert on May 25. The week culminates with two performances of Annie Jr. on May 27.

Students can purchase general admission tickets in Room 311 until May 13. Community members can find general admission, reserved seating and group package tickets through Ticketmaster. For those looking to avoid the website convenience fee, the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse box office sells tickets on Thursdays from 3 to 7 p.m. All profits go towards the “Annie Jr.” musical program.

Primrose Park

Temple City officially opened Primrose Park on April 23, its first new park in over 60 years. Joining Live Oak Park and Temple City Park, this is the city’s third park, located at 5928 Primrose Ave. The opening featured the City Council, representative Judy Chu, a ribbon-cutting ceremony and giveaways to the first 100 visitors.

Groundbreaking began on April 5, 2021 after the city secured $2.9 million in grants from the Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program, a part of California Proposition 68. Temple City officials decided to build Primrose Park after realizing that the city only had 0.5 acres of open space per 1,000 residents compared to the county average of 3.3 acres. The park is open daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.