Decorah students again do well in Old Creamery Theatre writing contest

Decorah school children are once again winners in a popular writing contest. The Old Creamery Theatre's Young Audiences Tour has been bringing educational and imaginative entertainment to schools since 1971. The 2010 production, "The Right Stuff," is now on tour, and it will contain a piece written by Decorah authors.

Every year, the theater company hosts a writing contest revolving around strong character traits, and every year Decorah school children send in stories, songs, poems and plays based on the theme. After reading hundreds of stories submitted by Iowa schoolchildren, the theater troupe narrowed it down to a select few and began writing songs and dialogue, building sets and props and designing the costumes and sound effects that bring the kids' stories to life.

Winners in this year's contest include Grand Prize winner Helen Johnson, a Decorah fifth grader, who wrote "A Honey Flavored Snickers Bar." First Prize honors go to Kaylee Knight, a Decorah fourth grader, for her story, "My Life, by Buddy." Second Prize honors go to sixth grader Melanie Gossman for her story "Two Penguins, a Pair of Ice Skates and a Competition." Third Prizes went to "The Knight of Quack" by sixth grader Naomi Davidson and to "Jonie" by Autumn DeLong, Kalle Solberg, and Katie Perez, also sixth graders.

Participation in the Old Creamery Theatre writing contest is facilitated by Extended Learning Program teachers Peggy Beatty and Rhonda Thompson. Decorah students will be treated to a future performance of "The Right Stuff," thanks to the generosity of the Decorah PTO.

(Pictured above, first row, left to right): Helen Johnson, Kaylee Knight. (Second row): Melanie Gossman, Katie Perez, Kalle Solberg, Autumn DeLong and Naomi Davidson.