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The Viking Saga

The Student News Site of East Lyme High School

The Viking Saga

The Viking Saga

The Hidden Talent of ELHS
The Hidden Talent of ELHS
William Ambrosini and Maggie Whritenour May 28, 2026

Standing on the choir risers in the orchestra room, students face the glare of the stage lights and the pressure of performing in front of a crowd. For a moment, panic sets in...

'Michael'
‘Michael’
Dylan Manifold May 28, 2026

Before walking into the movie “Michael,” if you had asked me who fans called “The King of Pop,” I probably would have guessed Bruno Mars. Now, two weeks after walking out...

Big Feelings, Yet Familiar Roads: 'The Great Divide'
Big Feelings, Yet Familiar Roads: ‘The Great Divide’
Astrid Phillips-Geeza May 28, 2026

The Vermont singer-songwriter, Noah Kahan, released his fourth studio album on April 24. This album was long awaited by his fans after his hit album, “Stick Season,” came out in 2022. Kahan has built his career on the importance of mental health, expressing that he too has his own struggles. This turned Kahan from a singer-songwriter only known in his small town up north to a familiar name to many nationwide. Kahan’s album is filled with nostalgia, his lyricism rooted in seasonal shifts, and strained family ties. Overall, the album centers around the uncertainty of life. The album is truly about distance: between people, the past and the present, and expectations vs. reality. For many, even though the album focuses around the opposite ideas of closure, it still provides closure for...

Romance in Russia: ‘Eugene Onegin’
Nathaniel Scott

Dear readers: do not fear, for with the wonders of technology one can have musical ingenuity beamed directly to the silver...

ELHS Art Exposition
Sophia Sherman

Celebrating its 43rd year, Shoreline Arts Alliance’s “Future Choices Visual Art Exhibition” held a gallery for...

The Fall of a Midwest Princess
Maggie Whritenour

The Midwest-born pop artist Chappell Roan quickly rose from relative obscurity to viral pop stardom, but that same internet-driven...

Records of The Record Stores
Nathaniel Scott

Mystic Disc: For those into the good old era of Rock n’ Roll. Classic bands abound here, from ABBA to Zeppelin and...

Photo featuring actor Nathaniel Scott and director Sara Kelly running lines
Sara Kelly Brings Theater Workshops to ELHS
Molly Cooper and Nathaniel Scott April 30, 2026

ELHS Drama Club’s production of “The Wizard of Oz” wrapped up March 15 with students yearning for more experience and exposure to the theatrical arts, but with their two-show season being over, the arts community fizzled out quickly. However, the...

Horror Strikes in 2026; A New Level
Horror Strikes in 2026; A New Level
Sophia Sherman

I. Backrooms Opening in theaters May 29, “Backrooms” has already sparked interest around the country....

Maggie's Music: The Avett Brothers’
Maggie’s Music: The Avett Brothers’
Maggie Whritenour

The self-titled album “The Avett Brothers” is a timeless reminder that great music didn’t all just...

The Perfect Instagram Post  for April Vacation
The Perfect Instagram Post for April Vacation
Kay Williams

Training Your Photographers The finest photos to post are ones taken of you, not by you. Obviously,...

Prom Problems
Prom Problems
Astrid Phillips-Geeza

As prom season is coming up, many girls start to dress shop as early as January for the best selection....

An Apologia on Behalf of Contemporary Art
An Apologia on Behalf of Contemporary Art
Nathaniel Scott April 9, 2026

In 1986, Gerard Jan van Bladeren - an unemployed Dutchman staunchly opposed to abstraction - entered a gallery of the Stedelijk Museum wielding...

Jolly-Ballantine stands behind and other cast members rehearsing
Behind the Spotlight: The Stars You Don’t See
Kay Williams March 12, 2026

Ready at Moment's Notice: When the stage lights fade on and Dorothy, (played by senior Annie Rossi) steps on the rehearsal stage, her understudy,...

A Man About Town: Picture Perfect
A Man About Town: Picture Perfect
Nathaniel Scott March 12, 2026

For the culturally inquisitive amongst us wearied by curatorial banality, sampling artforms hitherto neglected by the museums, serves as a refreshing...

Dubai Chocolate: Overrated or Underrated?
Dubai Chocolate: Overrated or Underrated?
Mary Aram and Kay Williams March 12, 2026

While most trends rise fast and fall faster, Dubai chocolate takes no part in this pattern. The chocolate became popular over social media the...

Marquee outside the Garde Arts Center featuring ‘A Night in Vienna’
A Man About Town: A Night in Vienna
Nathaniel Scott February 26, 2026

Let us suppose three artists - a poet, a painter, and a composer - wish to immortalize a certain duke’s birthday. The poet, sharpening his...

Voices Across Generations: Alumni Choir Concert Unites Past and Present Singers
Voices Across Generations: Alumni Choir Concert Unites Past and Present Singers
Kylo Oswald February 26, 2026

The alumni choir concert stands out as one of the most meaningful performances in the school’s music program. Unlike a typical concert, this one brings together current choir students and graduates from many different decades to perform side by side....

Review of Noah Kahan’s Latest single ‘The Great Divide’
Review of Noah Kahan’s Latest single ‘The Great Divide’
Dylan Manifold February 26, 2026

Noah Kahan’s latest single “The Great Divide” dropped on Jan. 30, three years after his breakout album “Stick Season.” The song is worth the wait. Known for his emotionally...

Q&A: Jack Eiselt Talks Copywriting
Q&A: Jack Eiselt Talks Copywriting
Dylan Manifold February 12, 2026

VS: Could you describe your day to day life as a copywriter? JE: In the custom content ad sales world, I’m working on what we call pre-sale or post sale. Pre-sale is when you get...

The Rise of Breakup Music: Is It Helping or Hurting Us?
The Rise of Breakup Music: Is It Helping or Hurting Us?
Sophia Sherman February 12, 2026

From artists like Elvis Presley to Taylor Swift, music has helped reflect our feelings and emotions for centuries. Recently, the genre of breakup music has arisen from the bunch, and...

Billy Ambrosini sits on Santa’s lap and
shares his hopes and dreams
Santa Claus Comes to ELHS
William Ambrosini January 23, 2026

When I walked into the 15th annual “Cocoa with the Clauses,” my ears were eminently flooded by live Christmas carols, warm smiles surrounding...

‘Zootopia 2’ Amazes in Theaters
‘Zootopia 2’ Amazes in Theaters
Sam Caldwell January 23, 2026

The “Zootopia 2” sequel successfully recaptures the charm and humor that the first movie brought viewers over nine years ago. Judy Hopps...

Up for Examination: The Fabulous Frick Collection of New York City
Up for Examination: The Fabulous Frick Collection of New York City
Nathaniel Scott January 23, 2026

     A palatial temple of the arts, enshrining the masterworks of yore – one may thus describe The Frick Collection.       I,...

‘Stranger Things 5,” and the Cost of Growing Up
‘Stranger Things 5,” and the Cost of Growing Up
Maggie Whritenour January 23, 2026

  I didn’t expect the final episode of “Stranger Things” to feel like a goodbye to my own childhood, but somewhere between the flickering...

Wicked: For Good Review
Wicked: For Good Review
Lila Aram December 11, 2025

After a long year of anticipation for Wicked 2, hearing Ariana’s incredible voice as Glinda again  Watching Wicked 2 was an unforgettable...

'DWTS' A season twirling toward a showdown
‘DWTS’ A season twirling toward a showdown
Tristyn Lloyd December 11, 2025

Under the glare of disco-ball lights, something unusual happened this season on “Dancing With The Stars,” a popular TV show where professional...

Stranger Things 5
Stranger Things 5
Maggie Whritenour December 11, 2025

The beginning of well known and popular show “Stranger Things” Season Five arrives with a gravity that can only come from a show closing...

Excerpts from the Diary of a Dilettante: Assorted remarks upon film, television, and music.
Excerpts from the Diary of a Dilettante: Assorted remarks upon film, television, and music.
Nathaniel Scott December 11, 2025

Dearest reader, To live the life of an aesthete: that is, to submerge oneself entirely in beauty, surfacing merely to satisfy necessity…such...

Stevie Nicks performing ‘Dreams’ at the XL Center in Hartford.
From ‘Dreams’ to Reality
Sophia Sherman November 20, 2025

I left the stadium speechless with tear-streaked cheeks after hearing “Landslide” close the night. Still going strong at 76 years old and...

A Century of Greatness
A Century of Greatness
Sam Caldwell November 20, 2025

  Walking through the ‘New Yorker’ exhibit in NYC felt like taking a trip back in time. This year-long exhibition explored the New Yorker...

College Student Interns Take the Lead in ELHS Music Department
College Student Interns Take the Lead in ELHS Music Department
Danni Kim November 20, 2025

    The soothing sound of the woodwinds and the hum of the strings fill the room, hypnotizing the audience.       ELHS and the University...

Rehearsal featuring Nathaniel Scott and 
Charlie Clancy
ELHS’s Production of: The Importance of being Earnest – Behind the Scenes
William Ambrosini November 6, 2025

You feel the sweat drip down your forehead from the hot spotlights beating down. You look to the audience and see everyone’s eyes wide, waiting...

Real photo of the Smurl investigation done by the Warrens in the 80s.
Maggie’s Media
Maggie Whritenour November 6, 2025

After more than a decade of demons, cursed objects, and nightlights left on, “The Conjuring” franchise reaches its finale with “The Conjuring:...

‘IT: Welcome to Derry’
‘IT: Welcome to Derry’
Maggie Whritenour November 6, 2025

“Welcome to Derry” floats onto screen this fall dragging fans back to Stephen King’s original cursed hometown that birthed “IT.” The...

Taylor Swift for "The Life of a Showgirl"
Pop music Artist Taylor Swift Releases New Album, “The Life of a Showgirl”
Shannon Poirier November 6, 2025

Taylor Swift’s latest release, “The Life Of A Showgirl,” brings fans into a new, glam era filled with sparkle, glitter, confidence, and...

Review: Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Review: Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
William Ambrosini October 23, 2025

From vinyl to screen, Bruce Springsteen, heartland rock artist, promises to mix his trademark storytelling with the soul of his music. The upcoming movie has had fans wondering if the film will capture the same vibe “The Boss” has had for decades. Bruce...

Two Fans, One Night with Lorde
Two Fans, One Night with Lorde
Nathaniel Scott and Katelyn Dickie October 23, 2025

Katelyn’s Experience:  I have listened to the singer, song-writer, Lorde, ever since I had access to Spotify, but nothing could’ve prepared me for hearing her voice live at my first concert.  Lorde’s fourth studio album,“Virgin,” explores...

The Summer I Turned Pretty Finale: Bittersweet, Rushed, And Still A Little Unfinished.
The Summer I Turned Pretty Finale: Bittersweet, Rushed, And Still A Little Unfinished.
Tristyn Lloyd October 23, 2025

The train doors are closing when Belly finally chooses Conrad Fisher. For longtime fans who have spent three seasons living through author and director Jenny Han’s summer love triangle, this moment should have felt like fireworks. Instead, the bittersweet...

Scott’s Yankee Farmer in East Lyme.
Harvest Into Fall
Kasey Lambert October 9, 2025

As leaves begin to fall and summer becomes a memory, the season needs a new pallet; delicious peaches and tomatoes turn into crisp apples and pumpkins. The air shifts almost overnight as autumn begins. The season being known for its pumpkins, apples,...

Renaissance Reed
History teacher Willard Reed explains how dancing swing led him to become a DJ
ASTRID PHILLIPS-GEEZA March 18, 2025

One of the usual definitions on a freshman history teacher’s midterm review guide is the Renaissance Man: a person with many talents or areas...

‘Freaky Friday’ is Sure to Please
The joyous spring musical and its magical body-swap will soon be brought to the Viking’s stage
NATHANIEL SCOTT March 12, 2025

This spring production of “Freaky Friday” is sure to be a hit: simply take it from any one of the romping musical’s own cast members (March...

‘James’: Twain’s World as You’ve Never Seen It Before
NATHANIEL SCOTT February 4, 2025

The spirit of this clever novel is twofold: it serves as a revolt against Twain’s stereotypes and a celebration of his honest depictions of life along the great...

The Rise of Student Photography
MARGARET WHRITENOUR February 4, 2025

With more students than ever capturing the world around them with the lens of a camera, student photography is thriving at ELHS. Whether it’s snapping candid shots...

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