Fort Hays State University - Reveille Yearbook (Hays, KS)

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The struggles of pioneer women, antics of twins help create a season of Stitches and stiffs ll the world ' s a stage — at least in Malloy Hall. The season be- gan with a por- trayal of pioneer women’s rugged lives, marked by emotional highs and lows in the musical “Quilters” the first week in October. “Quilters” tells the story of women pioneers though Sarah, the matri- arch of the family, who talks about all the quilts she has made in her lifetime. “The quilt is the thread that car- ries through the play,” director Stephen Shapiro said. “The spotlight is on the female role in establishing the plains. Us- ing all women helps to emphasize that,” Shapiro said. The spotlight in Felten-Start Theater then switched from pioneer women to the light-hearted produc- tion of “Noises Off.” With ‘‘Noises Off,” the area of theater also began inviting high school students for a preview per- formance. The director was Lloyd Frerer. The first spring production brought truth in the disguise of illu- sion to Felten-Start with Tennessee Williams’ “Glass Menagerie.” The classic play focuses on the delicate character of Laura Wing- field, a 22-year-old shy, crippled girl. The most unusual aspect of the production was the stage. It was only the second time in the history of the area of theater that a three- quarter stage was implemented. Shapiro, director, and Steve Lar- son, director of technical theater, chose this stage to emphasize the message of the play. “The focus is on the acting be- cause of the closeness of the audi- ence. The scenery, music and lights provide a wonderful background, but the main emphasis is on the four characters. The three-quarter struc- ture emphasizes this even more,” Shapiro said. The actors said they enjoyed the family play because they could iden- tify with the content. “It tells a lot about relationships. After seeing it, you might want to re- examine your relationships with your siblings and parents. It tells you that some things are beyond control,” Shawn Stewart-Larson, Hays graduate, said. The season concluded in a mood of comic suspense when a twin chased his brother in an attempt to murder him in the production of the mys- tery comedy “Corpse!” Director Frerer said “Corpse!” is a fairly recent play that is frequently performed on the college circuit. A review in the University Leader by Kristy Love, Palco senior, said the production offered something for every type of audience. “The Saturday night performance of this mystery-comedy for a nearly full house was quick-paced and en- tertaining, with all the actors, as well as the behind-the-scenes people, on top of things,” Love said. Bettina Heinz CAUGHT IN THE ACT. Evelyn Parrant, played by Scott Jacobs, Englewood Colo., freshman, threatens Major Powell, played by Todd Baker, Beloit sophomore, after he catches the major trying to steal a pearl necklace in the production of “Corpse!” (Photo by Carol Schryer) Campus Life 23

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Casts of Characters “Quitters” Jacqulyn Philip Sarah Sha wn a Agnew The Ensemble Lori Busscn Ruth Casper Dawn Lovcwell-Mermis Beth McCue Tana Ruder Barbara Russell “Noises Off’ Shawn Stew art- Larson Dotty Gtley Todd Baker Lloyd Dallas Sean Gunther Garry Lejeune Rebecca Wcstblade Brook Ashton Joan Gedraitis Poppy Norton -Taylor Scott Jacobs Frederick Fellows Heather Thomas Belinda Blair Scott Jecha Tim Allgood Wayne Alan Sipe Sols don Mowbray “Glass Menagerie” Beth McCue Laura Wingfield Shawn Stewart -Larson Amanda Wingfield Richard Parrott Tom Wingfield Sean Gunther Jim O ' Connor “Corpse!” Scott Jacob Evelyn Farrant Rupert Farrant Todd Baker Major Ambrose Powell Virginia Crabtree Mrs. McGee Q. John Boone Hawkins A FRAGILE WORLD. Laura Wingfield, played by Beth Me Cue, Sandy, Utah, fresh- man, evades her mother ' s questions by seek- ing refuge in her glass menagerie. (Photo by Jean Walker) BLOCK BY BLOCK. Singing the story of the windmill block, Ruth Casper, instructor of psychology, and Beth McCue, Sandy, Utah, freshman, piece together the history of their quilt during the production of M Qu liters. (Photo by Carol Schryer) 22 Theater

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CONCENTRATION Spring Trail, Osborne senior, performs as one of the Madrigal Singers (Photos by Jean Walker) A LORD ' S FEAST Layton Nance, Syracuse senior; Paul Cash, Hays senior; Shawn Mar- tin, Hays senior; and Volvey Blocker, Ellsworth junior, carry one course of the meal 24 Madrigal