E J Cooper High School - Talons Yearbook (New Hope, MN)

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▲ A Rufus (Benjie McLaughlin) approaches Great Great Granmaw (Brenda Poltiske) as Great-Aunt Sadie (Joan Hill) and family look on. A Grandparents Tim Korsmoe and Karen Falk-ingham mourn their son’s death. A Jay Follet (Andy Dahlen) and his wife Mary (Suzy Lee) reminisce about Rufus’ old stuffed dog. ► Rufus enjoys the company of his Uncle Andrew (Peter Frantz). 24 — Fall Play

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Royalty in the Snow The most important day of Snow Week was Tuesday, February 7, when the coronation ceremony was held. Because the sophomores and junior royalty had been named earlier, the real suspense was in the crowning of the Jack of Hearts and Snow Queen. Willis Boynton, associate superintendent of School District 281 on special assignment, was the special guest. He offered a few welcoming words and his congratulations to all of the candidates. He then crowned Paul Norman as Jack of Hearts and Barb Biren as Snow Queen. Junior Royalty consisted of prince Joel Konkol and Princess Jill Hansing. Sophomore royalty were Shannon Rice and Paul Steenerson. The chamber singers sang their congratulations to the royalty by performing “Sleigh Ride” and were joined by the cross-country and downhill ski teams in singing “Let it Snow.” They added a special Minnesota affect by throwing white confetti. The jazz band also had a part in the coronation. Directed by Roger Thompson, they played “Knight Coach” and “New Orleans Jazz Portrait.” Delighted surprise is shown by Becky Byer as Barb Biren is crowned by Willis Boynton. A Snow Week Royalty: Front Row: Shannon Rice. Paul Steenerson Second Row: Jill Hansing, Joel Konkol Back Row: Paul Norman. Barb Biren, Dave Young. Becky Byer. Tim Rayford Not Pictured Sherry Parpart M Dale Parr. Heidi Zahn and Tony Fredrickson celebrate Snow Week by entertaining the royalty with “Let it Snow. Snow Week - 23

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A A Children In the prologue watch their buttertly disappear, from left: Rachel Benson. Amy Schir-macher. Jeff Plombom. Brad Hanson. Mark Sawatsky. Bernie Reisberg. and Matt Johnson as the priest. Ralph (Dave Wintheiser) discusses alcohol consumption with his brother Jay. A After receiving news of Jay's death, Catherine (Laura Lindstrom), Aunt Hannah (Diane Izzard). and Mary (Suzy Lee) are horrified. ◄ Andrew expresses his anguish as Mary's father. Joel Lynch (Todd Wendt) looks on with concern. All the Way Home “We come from people, and in time they fall away from us ... But maybe if we keep going in the direction we think is right ... maybe we can’t ever get all the way there, but at least we can make that distance less than it was.” Everyone struggles with their beliefs; as they grow different things become important to them. This separates them from others, but maybe we will learn to communicate better as life goes on. The fall play, All the Way Home, by Tad Mosel was based on James Agee’s novel. A Death in the Family. It shows the Follet family in Tennessee in 1915. When Jay Follet, played by Andrew Dahlen, dies in a car accident, the family members are all deeply affected. The play deals with these reactions, but the joys and sorrows of being alive, whether young or old relate to all people. The show was directed by Gretchen Heath. Ms. Heath received help from John Elsen. Peter Frantz, who also played Andrew, Jay’s brother-in-law, and Reenee Kempf, the student director. Mike Koski designed and built the set. Most of the action was in the Follet family’s home. Three third graders made rehearsals more spicey. One of them. Rufus, played by Benjie McLaughlin, was Jay’s son. Suzy Lee, who played Mary Follet (Jay’s wife and Rufus’ mother) said, “Benjie knew everyone’s lines. He would come up and recite them to you.” On the November 5 performance Amy McQuade interpreted the show for the hearing impaired. Belinda Nitzkorski choreographed the prologue. This was slow movements to Barber’s Adagio for Strings. It set the mood, involving the pursuit of a butterfly by the children in the neighborhood. The theme of a butterfly comes back at the close of the play when Andrew tells Rufus about the funeral. “This perfectly magnificent butterfly came and settled on the coffin ... the sun came out just dazzling bright, and he flew up and out of that hole in the ground, high in the sky — so high I couldn’t even see him any more.” Fall Play — 25