Columbus East High School - Altis Yearbook (Columbus, IN)

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Getting into character Amy Holmes, junior, plays the silent, insane patient, Mrs. Paddy. Trying to block the world out, she insilis .on plugging her «us while Sieve Conway, junior, and Tim Staggs, freshman, try to talk to her. In meeting Mrs. Savage, played by Con Davis, senior, Fairy May played by Alison Peck, senior finds out that they have some things in common and develops a friendship with her. Tbeo Tucker Jobnda Buchanan In order to Find out where the fortune is, Stephen Conway junior, David Britt, sophomore, try to bribe Mrs. Savage as part of the scheme to get the money. The Curious Savage Ray LeBlanc, Director Sam Harvey, Assistant Cast Cori Davis Mrs. Savage Hillary Lewis Florence Alison Peck Fairy May Amy Holmes Mrs. Paddy Lori Houston Lily Belle Tracy McCracken Mrs. Willie Dan Klinger Hannibal James Frakes Jeffery Stephen Conway Titus David Britt Samuel Tim Staggs Dr. Emmett Curious Savage Performances 25

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E The Curious Savage Audience develops relationship with characters in play Viewers expressed feelings of love and kindness following the first fall production of The Curious Savage as strong identities developed between the characters and the audience. Since the characters represented different personalities ranging from an eccentric old lady to greedy children, there was something to learn about relationships and how the human heart reacts. One of the interesting parts of directing the play was to watch the actors develop the character and their personalities. Not only did the actors have to work on memorization, but they had to learn to get inside their character, Director Ray LeBlanc said. Senior Cori Davis, who played the central role of Mrs. Savage said, After a while I became Mrs. Savage, everywhere I went. I had been changed from a teenager into a retired old lady. Another cast member Senior Alison Peck who played Fairy May, agreed with Davis. I noticed in the past 1 usually played older women, but in this play I was a young, silly, bubbily girl. The more I rehearsed, I would act like her. My friends kept reminding me that I was acting a little dizzier each time they saw me. LeBlanc felt it was a perfect play to begin the year with since it was a good comedy with challenging roles. The play opened with Mrs. Savage, a widower who's deceased husband left her millions of dollars. Her stepchildren, in their efforts to get the money, declared her insane, and commited her to a sanatarium. In the sanatarium, however, the real widow discovered some genuine friends who were interested in her, not her money. For the cast, the preformance presented a few unexpected, embarrassing, moments. Dan Klinger, who played Hannibal, was involved in a serious scene with a violin bow in his hand. He somehow threw it across the stage and it nearly went into the orchestra pit. Everyone was having a hard time keeping a straight face, Senior Jim Frakes said. Even with the excellent performance, the play, presented on three occasions did not attract the audience that the director and the cast had anticipated. I think everyone enjoyed the play. However, there were several people who really missed out on seeing it, Junior Mina Cook said. by Heather Stern The Curious Savage was my first play ever, and I got to meet several new people. It was the first time I ever had to sit down for an hour to get makeup on my face! Sophomore David Britt Savage was great! Since it was my first play, I was nervous. However, everybody made me feel so welcome. We always had more fun than work, and that's saying a lot! Freshman Tim Staggs 24lPerformanceslCurious Savage

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The 1988 Follies East theatre walks audience through decades of the 20‘h century As the curtain opened, the 1900's came to life. Sweet Adeline, Give My Regards to Broadway, and Bill Bailey Won't You Please Come Home set the mood for the ragtime era. Follies 1988 had begun, leading viewers on an excursion through the decades of the twentieth century, from the ragtime of the 1900's to the upbeat rhythms of today. In less than six weeks, more than 100 cast and crew members pulled together a first-time ever three hour show, featuring all facets of the performing arts. The best thing about the show was it gave everyone an opportunity. The dancers and band each had five major numbers, drama was represented in the eight plays, as well as the choir being well represented, Ray LeBlanc,Chair of Department of Performing Arts, said. At the beginning of each decade narrators gave brief overviews of the types of music featured or social ideas that had caused changes in the music. In addition to singing and dancing numbers, an excerpt from a play written during the particular decade was presented Some of these included A Lion in Winter, the story of King Henry VIII and his wife Eleanor who wanted a king for a son, and Crimes of the Heart, the story of three very different sisters facing problems together. With 50 microphone calls, 100 different lighting changes to manage, and an average of four costume changes to each cast member during the show, there was never a dull moment backstage. My biggest concern was that the show ran too long (2 hours, 55min), but the audience stuck with us, we ran two weekends and only lost a few people, Ray LeBlanc, said. The numbers that comprised the show featured many soloists, and the members of Concert Choir, Vocal Jazz, Sugar N' Spice, Clark's Bars, and Reflections, under the direction of Mary Clark. Along with accompanists Clark and Senior Betsy Fowler, additional music for the show was performed by Jazz, Inc. under the direction of Peter Foster. Dance numbers were choreographed by Donna V anKlompenberg. Because of the variety of numbers, scenery was kept to a minimum, and costuming played a major role in setting the scene for various decades. Being backstage during Follies was like walking through time. It was easy to tell what decade we were in because people walked out with different costumes every five minutes. What a madhouse! David Britt, sophomore, said. In many cases students were responsible for providing their own costumes; a task which sent many to attics or second-hand clothing stores. I went lots of places to look for my costumes, my own closet. The Clothes Tree, my grandmother's closet, Cincinnati, and Indianapolis, Amy Holmes, junior, said. The nine four-hour technical rehearsals paid off, as Follies received a standing ovation after the Final performance. It really makes all the hard work worth it when the audience gives a standing ovation, Lori Houston, freshman, said. Decades (Follies)was the show that might have shown the audience that there are many talented students in the Department of Performing Arts, Gark said. By Heather Stern and Kim Sawyer I have really enjoyed being in the Follies. It has been a good experience and I have gotten the chance to meet several people. I am looking forward to it next year. Junior Cim Bowman Backstage jokes really flowed, especially between the cast and the band. I dedicated a song to Mike Vincent, a band member. Everyone knew about it ahead of time and completely cracked up! Junior Amy Holmes 26 Performances! Follies