Barton Community College - Spoke Yearbook (Great Bend, KS)

Page 19 text:

Richard Bennett gives David Brewer a blow to the stomach during the fight scene. Bus Stops at Barton County Community College A glimpse of Kansas life during the 1950’s was caught at Barton County Community College’s pre¬ sentation of Bus Stop” on November 7,8, and 9. The play was written by Kansas born writer, William Inge. It was set in a cafe in a small town outside of Topeka. The cast consisted of 5 men and 3 women. Bo Decker, portrayed by David Brewer, Great Bend sophomore, was a young rancher and cowboy who fell in love with nightclub singer Cherie, portrayed by Debi Bingham, Sterl¬ ing freshman. Decker decided to marry Cherie against her will and took her to Montana. En route to Montana, the bus got snowed in at Grace’s Diner. Dr. Lyman, played by Randy Schmidt, Hoisington freshman, was the drunken professor with the sec¬ ret past. He fell in love with Elma Duckworth, played by Joni Zink, Claflin freshman. Gracie, played by Gayle Hayes, St. John freshman, was the owner of the diner who went for a rendezvous with the bus driver Carl, played by K.B. Bell of Great Bend. Cherie asked the sheriff, played by Richard Bennett, Great Bend sopho¬ more, to protect her and this set up the conflict between Bo and the sheriff, Will. Virgil, played by Scott Menzies, Great Bend, tried to act as peace maker between the two. Besides the conflict between Cherie and Bo, the audience also got a look into the other character’s lives. Most of the characters had missed success in some way and the professor was an absolute failure. However, throughout the play, the audience got a glimpse into the human side of everyone. Theater 17

Page 18 text:

Gayle Hayes and K.B. Bell discuss their rendezvous to take place in her apartment above the diner. Scott Menzies and Joni Zink help the drunken Dr. Lyman (Randy Schmidt) to the window seat to sleep off the effects of alcohol. Joni Zink contemplates her future as she watches the snow storm gain strength. 16 Theater

Page 20 text:

Community participates in annual musical Rogers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music” was performed at Barton County Community College March 6, 7 and 8. Most of the per¬ formers in the musical were from surrounding areas and not full-time students. This made the project truly a community effort. Tryouts for the production were held before Christmas. Rehearsals started when the spring semester began. The plot of the story centered around Maria, a postulant in an Au¬ strian abbey. Maria was sent to be the governess for the seven children of Captain von Trapp. Melanie Calcara, played the part of Maria. This was the first time the Great Bend Resident performed at BCCC. D. J. Sims, great Bend, played the part of Captain Georg von Trapp. He has appeared in previous produc¬ tions on campus. Ken Shaheen, music instructor and director of the musical had the help of several others while putting the production together. J. B. Webster, instructor of instru¬ mental music conducted the or¬ chestra. Students enrolled at BCCC and musicians from nearby com¬ munities devoted many hours to or¬ chestra rehearsal. Ed Kelly, drama instructor, was in charge of the technical and stage crews. Karyl Morrison, Great Bend, worked out the details of choreography and Patty Scantlin was in charge of cos¬ tumes. Lori Underwood, Betty Erikson, Myrna Holthaus, Lorene Dyke, Peggy Erickson, Pam Ryan and Mary Lou Fryberger who portray nuns in the play, practice one of their group numbers. (Photo by Shawn Stewart) Becky Dudrey, Margaret Pfortmiller, Connie Helm, Jeanne Hollenbeak and Lorene Dyke rehearse one of the songs for the production. (Photo by Shawn Stewart) 18 Theater