Bethel College - Graymaroon Yearbook (North Newton, KS)

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QUILTERS With a cast composed entirely of women, Quilters, directed by Arlo Kas- per, associate professor of drama, played to capacity crowds during every one of its six October performances. The musical portrayed the joys and heartaches pervading the lives of pioneer women. Michelle Schrag,a North Newton se- nior actress in Quilters , commented, The play was well received. I think the audience could relate to the strength of these women. Also in the musical were Leona Kaufman of Moundridge, North Newton Senior Marnette Hofer, North Newton Senior Kristi Neufeld, Newton Junior Lisa Zimmerman, Ballet Instructor Annette Thornton, June Krehbiel of Moundridge, Linda Schrag of Hutchinson, and Newton resident Linda C. Smurr. The cast was expanded from the orig- inal seven woman cast to nine. To deal with the wide range of characters portrayed from grade school kids to gran- nies, Kasper implemented area wide cast- ing. This type of cassting had been used for other complex fall festival productions such as Jim Juhnke and J. Harold Moyer ' s The Blowing and the Bending. The variety of characters and stories contributed to the near nation-wide success of the play after its debut. The lone exception to that success was on Broad- way, according to Kasper. It ' s not a pi- zazz Broadway musical, he said, but over fifty people had inquired about when Quilters would come to Bethel. When it did come, it became a colla- borative effort between Bethel and its com- munity. The Bethel College Women ' s Association and many area churches were involved in the production by making the many quilts needed for the show. Noting this outside help, Kasper called Quilters , a community kind of show. Musical direction was provided by Kathryn Kasper, assistant professor of mu- sic and choreography by Ginny Janzen, as- sisted by Annette Thornton. Kathryn Kasper also served as director of the ac- companying musical combo. Marnette Hofer and Linda Schrag relate a sig- nificant event of their lives. Quilters cast members show their genuine ex- citement for quilting.

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FALL FESTIVAL Although Fall Festival became quite a tradition during the 70 ' s and 80 ' s, it did not always exist as we know it. From the early 1950 ' s until 1971, the festival was known as Folk Festival. Folk Festivals, organized originally by Cornelius Krahn and John F. Schmidt, were much different than Fall Festivals. A Folk Fest was developed along the lines of a skill-craft show, in which hog-butchering and other demonstrations occured. The attendance averaged about 5,000. During the latter 60 ' s, however, subsiding attendance caused alarm and there were a few years when no festival was held. In 1971, the arrival of President hiarold Schultz marked a new era in festivals at Bethel. October 71 found Bethel celebrating its first Fall Festival. It revitalized both the Mennonite Folk Festival tradition and the homecoming tradition. Homecoming activities have gradually diminished, but there are enough events to keep drawing crowds of 10,000. 1961 Folk Festival

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The cast stands in front of the completed quilt with Sarah, played by Leona Kaufman, holding the symbolic oversized quilting rings. Each square in the quilt represents an event from the lives of each of these pioneer women. CAST Sarah Leona Kaufman The Daughters Marnette Hofer June Krehbiel Kristi Neufeld Linda Schrag Linda C. Smurr Lisa A. Zimmerman Friends Michelle Schrag . .Annette Thornton Musicians Heidi Waltner, Piano Kathryn Kasper, Keyboard Sondra Torres, Mandolin Designed and Directed by . Arlo Kasper Music Directed by Kathryn Kasper