SHS's Acting Star
Written by Carliann Espinosa, Former Student on Monday, January 11, 2016
Lily Stephens is a senior at Snohomish High School who is so mcuh more than just a student. Over her four years, she has been involved in Speech and Debate, DECA, Leadership, and Drama Club through the high school as an actress and now as a creator and director. This year, she was nominated and elected as one of the ten homecoming princesses for the senior class. She was also elected as senior class president for the 2015/2016 school year.
Stephen’s character is the working force behind her accomplishments. "[She is] sensitive, strong, and amiable," said senior Braden Sigua, who has been friends with Stephens since eighth grade.
“[I'd describe her as] scatterbrained (in a good way), busy, and original,” said senior Kelsey Watkins, Stephen's best friend, partner in crime, and debate competitor. Both agreed Stephens is a very comical person even without trying. “She makes puns all the time and I don’t think she even notices,” said Watkins.
As a contestant in debate, Stephens has been a very strong team member, and the team has benefited immensely with the use of her skill. “Lily is one of my biggest competitors in debate," said Sigua, "but she is also such an inspiration to work with and be around.”
Stephens and Watkins are co-captains for the humorous interpretation competition of debate. “[Although everyone is pinned against each other in competitions,] you still feel proud to be part of the team as a whole- even when someone on your team does better than you....In the end, we are all on the same team," said Watkins. "Plus, it motivates you do work harder to beat them next time.” Stephens is a large advocate for this enthusiasm to always do better, while still being a good team player.
For the first time ever, with the brainpower of Stephens, the SHS Drama Club presented a comedy sketch show called SNL, which stands for Snohomish Nights of Laughter. Stephens went to head director, Dana Oppelt, after hearing that the club would not be conducting a fall performance. She presented the idea that they create a show based on comedy sketches Stephens had created over time. Stephens then became an actress, creator, and director, all in one. Sigua and Watkins were both involved in SNL as well. Sigua was in various skits as well as the host for the performance. Watkins was in various skits which involved a lot of improv. Stephens and Watkins performed their infamous roles of Gladys and Margie. Stephens created all of the characters herself and gave the theater counsel credit for inspiring her "prom" sketch. Going into SNL, she was most excited to perform her role of Gladys and Margie with her best friend Kelsey Watkins. She was also excited to see all of the new actors in drama perform and how they would adapt to her style. Her most memorable part of the performance, "Seeing all the actors get better as the performance played out and watching the crowd enjoy it."
She accredits her comical personality to her father, who is a stand up comedian. Her mother also has always been a funny person. Stephens also included Speech and Debate as a contributor to her success in SNL.
With all of her involvement, this was not Stephen's first acting experience. In Speech and Debate. She has had many acting experiences such as being involved in two other plays put on by the SHS Theatre Club. Stephens plans to continue acting in her free time and to study Communications at Western Washington University.
