West High School - Shaheen Yearbook (Davenport, IA)

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Morne: Cooxihg The Blues Awoy With love, luck, and guts, Mame Dennis leaped over every stumbling block be- fore her. For the fall musical, the cast of Mame did the same thing. Days before school start- ed, the musical's directors had to find a substitute for their original choice, Grease, which had become unavail- able for amateur production. The replacement was Mame. The shift in shows delayed auditions, rehearsals, set construction, and costume work. That left 7V2 weeks to put together a massive show. Even at final dress rehears- als, a few set pieces, props, and costumes were still miss- ing. Practices lasted until at least 11 p.m., to do all the necessary polishing. Last- minute tech. rehearsals were called, to perfect the com- plicated scene changes. Then, twelve hours before the first performance, head director Michael Cervantes learned that Layne Sanden, who played Mame's grown nephew, was too ill to per- form. And he had no under- study. Rather than postpone the show, Cervantes decided to ,,. 1,1 W ,,,,,., ' W' Mm' W ' -..'r ff- 'Hr - wx i Q 4, 1 .. ,f 311' I 4 'V jj. i I V 5 Initially scared by her first acting role, senior Laura Heckemeyer be- trays no anxieties as the so-pleased- with-herself debutante Gloria. A -'2 There are 120 people hungry for parts in this play, said Mr. Cervan- tes at callbacks. No wonder junior Leslie Hoy looks nervous. step in, learning the part in one nerve-wracking day. Now we've really got to work hard, some cast mem- bers said. We can't have Mr. C. worrying about us. ln the Vocal Music room, awaiting their first audience, the cast held hands, said a prayer, shed some tears, and resolved to do their best ever. They meant it. On open- ing night, more than ever before, the emotion was there. And it carried throughout the show's run, through two sell-outs, two standing ova- tions, and a lot of hugging and kissing among the cast afterwards. Love, luck and guts did it again. Over 150 costumes kept costume helpers like junior Annie Hall ex- tremely busy. .A 1' 'Tm The burden of lines was heaviest for seniors Laura Memos iMame, top IJ and Darla Blocker lVera, top rt.l, and for juniors Angie Buesing lAgnes, bottom l.J and Paul Mar- berry fBabcock, bottom r.l. Musical 21

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Carrying senior Laura Memos and junior john Mutum high above the stage upon a window was just one technical challenge. It demanded a massive crew, safety precautions, and lots of practice. The scream, Sing! from music director Ron May and the order, More energy! from Mr. Cervan- tes started the adrenalin to flow, making the title number, Mame, exactly what it should be: a show- stopper, 20 Musical J J ,X 5? I Vg .. s.:. '... The big break came for sophomore Dan Coiner, top, when Mr. Cervan- tes chose him to replace the depart- ing john Saldivar as japanese house- boy lto. Then two weeks later, on opening night, Cervantes, middle, got the same chance: he stepped in for a seriously ill Layne Sanden, as Patrick. At The Fox Hunt, seniors Doug Heeschen and Sharon Becker and junior Susie Mackie act out their surprise.

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For the energetic opener, junior Cindy Ehrsam and five other danc- ers translate into joyous movement the words of Everybody Rejoice. Closing the show on a traditional note, the band and a cappella per- form The Battle Hymn of the Re- public. Pushing Mostest cupcakes and Twinkies is just one of the routines that seniors Layne Sanden, Darla Blocker, and jeff Kern stage be- tween acts. They dreamt up their commercial take-offs after learning that, instead of a host, the directors wanted to use comedy blackouts for the continuity. While They Wciil In Backstage, it was standing room only - literally and il- legally. The Variety Show direc- tors had ordered that, unless performers were waiting to go on in the next number, they shouldn't stand in the wings, watching the show. That's part of the price you pay for being in the show, said Vocal Music teacher Mr. Ron May. You don't get to see it. Despite this, cast members still crowded near the stage door and at off-stage right. They pinned themselves to the wall and packed them- selves together. They shiftedl about to make way for the other performers, instru- ments, and music stands roll- ing on and off stage. They stood on tiptoes and peeke over shoulders, straine their eyes in the darkness. All to have a view, if only from the side, of a friend' performance or a favorit act, and to listen, with satis- faction, to the audience's ap- plause. lt was a reminder of what the show was really all about. if seen only practically, it by ,Y gf ,ggi-3,1 -, T T i l i 375 5 . , - mm . ,.,,,. - , ,.., M: l VAJ,, . . A1 T ...T - fii K .