Fort Lewis College - Katzima Yearbook (Durango, CO)

Page 29 text:

Entranced by the words of Preacher Haggler, Mrs. Allen, Dina Leuci, brings her daughter Barbara, Linda Wood, to the mountain prayer meeting to cleanse her soul and cure the strange melancho- lia which affects her behavior. Listening intently in the background are Lou Wells, Herbert Craig, Sonny Smith, Martha Hawley, Darlene Yesberger, Sue Terrill, James LaBelle and Julia Switzer. Dark of tlie Moon called for a large cast and a large pro- duction staff. Paula Sperling served as production manager, Craig Wallace as assistant to the dir ector, Sonny Smith as technical director, Mike Smith as business manager, Doug Ross as publicity manager. Herbert Craig in the role of Mr. Allen listens an.xiously as Preacher Haggler accuses John the transformed witchboy for Barbara Allen ' s condition. Dina Leuci and Darlene Yesberger witness the bizarre exchange. In charge of properties for the production was Dana Lea Noe; assisting her were Claudia Butterfield, Linda Gib- ble, Barbara Henson, Ann Barrett, Nancy Wong and Margie Fenhagen. 25

Page 28 text:

Marrs Employs Joy Circle To Drive Away Butterflies ♦ ♦ Sometimes shy. but always mischievous. Fair Witch, Jenny Muller, and Dark Witch, Stonne Anderson, ply Conjur Man George Cover with questions about Witchboy. In downtown Duran- go, Storme, make-up, leotards and all, walked up to an elderly couple and cooed : Would you like to buy a ticket to our play? Before the man could answer, his wife jerked him away and snapped, No! As a prologue to each performance of Dark of the Moon, veteran stage direc- tor Richard Marrs trooped the cast out- side the Fine Arts Building to the lawn where they joined hands, formed a circle and ran — until each actor was breathing heavily and working up a rapid pulse. With the traditional cur- tain-raiser butterflies dispersed, the cast adjourned to the stage; the lights were lowered, and the moon rose over the Smokies as witchcraft, love, hatred and comic relief blended in a powerful potion for an evening ' s entertainment. Dkector Marrs, commenting upon the work by Howard Richardson and Will- iam Berney, Jr., said, ' Dark of the Moon, a treatment of the incorporation of the legend of Barbara Allen in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, deals with man ' s readiness to hate — any- thing that is different or strange and, therefore, must be destroyed. Such a situation, said Dh ' ector Marrs, seldom destroys the warring factions, but rather destroys the innocent persons caught in the struggle. An enchanting production. Dark of the Moon won many plaudits. On-stage the witches were a fiery force, but in reality, their shyness made them hesitant about wearing the leotards — especially into Durango to publicize the play. Stop- ping on a corner of Main Avenue, a group of witches attracted admiring glances and one among the witches remarked: They ' re not looking at our make-up girls, And Walt Knowles, right, after a final scene with his dying love, reverts to Witchboy. He shows his ring of pretty stone to Storme and Jenny, who make much of the ring throughout the play. During one per- formance, Walt forgot to bring the ring on-stage. John Wright, however, picked up the lines and ad-libbed the cast through the chnch.

Page 30 text:

Suzanne Nugent Claudia Nielson Witchboy Walt Knowles learns about the agony of loneliness — a pain he had not experienced before he accepted the guise of man and the right to love. Dark Witch Storme Anderson toys with his despair. Many and sincere were the laurels handed to members of the cast and crew following four public performances of Dark of the Moon. Behind the scenes were a large number of students who worked diligently for the production success. In charge of scenery was John Frank. Assisting him were Pony Allen. Linda Gibble, Peggy Gordon, Joan McKee, Jim Johnson, Charlene Stiles, Jerry Gularte, Joe Eitsosie, Dina Leuci, Susan Monk, Claudia But- terfield, Doug Ross, Linda Klein, Merlene Orchard and Patti Sherman. Clint McAuliffe handled sound effects; Charlene Stiles arranged for costumes. Other members of the cast included Ruth Kehir as Greeny Gorman, Gwenda Wells as Ella Bergen, Bill Yowell as Marvin Hudgens, San Dee Heizer as Miss Leafy, Julia Switzer as the woman and Chuck Lanza as Sam Jones. At right in the midst of a Buck Creek rousing revival are Craig Wallace, Dana Lea Noe. John Wright, San Dee Heizer, Jane Peterson, Robert Sawyer, Herb Craig, James LaBelle, Darlene Yes- berger, Martha Hawley, Dina Leuci, Linda Wood, Sonny Smith, Daryl Kingsolver, Bill Yowell, Ralph Sundquist, Nomie Phillips and Bruce Phillips. 26 B»lHB» a