Grant High School - Memoirs Yearbook (Portland, OR)

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Playing Starbuck, an enterprising con man with a smooth tongue. Ethan Kramer calls upon the heavens to bring an end to the drought. Double-cast in the role of Starbuck. Tom Jones describes his amazing ability to Miss Lizzy, played by Jennifer VanDever. In a role that required John Useldinger to act as head of the family of grown children, he reminds his daughter that marriage should be her goal. Playing one of the brothers in the family. Brad Reeves muses about his future in the first act. Gathered at the dinner table, the men of the family with their guest. Starbuck, use their best boarding house reach while Lizzy watches. Drama 25

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 Rain and romance made on stage Rainmaker, a wonderfully corny, romantic comedy, was one of two plays performed during the spring. Having two plays in production cut down on the size of the audience, but it provided more opportunities for acting experience. In attempting this schedule. Grant’s drama department was unique in Portland, since no other school has attempted a simultaneous, double production. Because the play had a small cast, lead parts were given to two performers who alternated. The big advantage to a small cast was that it provided an intimate atmosphere so the cast members were able to get to know each other well and have a lot of fun. As director Bruce MacDonald described, “The cast and I laughed and giggled during rehearsals, but did they ever love those romantic kissing scenes.” The audiences that came to see Rainmaker were small, but the uncrowded auditorium did provide some advantages. The actors were able to get to know the audience and relate directly to them and even pick out the voices of people they knew. The cast agreed that enthusiastic audience response brought out better performances form the group. One member of the audience commented, “it was great to be able to sit anywhere I wanted and it was easy to hear the performers .” Many of the performers in Rainmaker-made their acting debut at Grant or played their first major role. AJ Bannon felt that his first major role challenged him in unexpected ways. “The hardest things to learn was to project my voice out to the audience and to make the fight scenes authentic. Jennifer VanDever helped the cast with techniques that would make the fighting seem real.” Johnny Useldinger, a freshman, was acting for the first time at Grant in a large role. Ethan Kramer who played the part of the Rainmaker commented, “I think it is great that Johnny was cast. He deserved the part and he did a great job!” 24 Drama

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Playing Baby June. Wendy Buel taps a patriotic finish to Let Me Entertain You ” In a characteristic pose as Mama Rose. Rebecca Kimball dramatizes “Rose's Turn in the closing number of the show As Uncle Jocko. Tim Miller faces severe criticism from Rose after her children. June and Louise, lose a talent contest. Glitzy extravaganza spares no expense The spring musical Gypsy, directed and choreographed by Bruce MacDonald was one of the biggest, most expensive, and one of the best productions the Grant drama department has ever produced. The musical, based on the biography of Gypsy Rose Lee portrayed the influence of a strong stage mother. Mama Rose, on her daughter Louise. The opening scenes, set during the declining Vaudeville era, featured Wendy Buel and Jeni Loney as the child stars. Baby June and Louise. Hauled around the country by their ambitious mother, portrayed in a showstopping performance by Rebecca Kimball, the girls tap-danced and sang countless versions of the familiar. “Let Me Entertain You.” When asked about her powerful performance as Mama Rose, Kimbell quipped, “It’s a good play, a good musical and the pan was made for me,” After hiring some extras, Mama and her daughters travel to New York, and with a little help from their new manager Herbie, played by Ethan Kramer, the new act is booked in a theater. About his role in the production Kramer stated, “1 wanted to get involved, but when I found out I got a lead, I was surprised.” The years pass and June and Louise grow up. To show this during one of the show’s more spectacular dance numbers, flashing chaser lights and a strobe created a time-stopping effect while Maggie Barton and Shelly Stevens took their places as a mature June and Louise. The struggle of Mama Rose and her docile daughters spans the girls’ adolescence but it brings no rewards of stardom. Their travels did feature several dynamic dance sequences and jazzy songs, however. A cast and crew of over a hundred students hoofed their way through scenes that included a moving train and a tap-dancing cow. Karen Dixon commented about her role as one of the dancing newsboys, “I wanted to be in a big production because there are more choices in parts for underclassmen.” Through it all Louise, played by Shelley Stevens longed for a normal life. In her poignant solo, “Little Lamb,” in which she yearns fcr a real pet and a place to keep it, Stevens won the hearts of the audience. In the course of their travels, June, played by Barton, elopes with Tulsa who was played by Tom Jones. Soon Mama Rose and Louise found themselves without an act. They receive some show business advice from strippers, played by Valerie Menely, Wendy Shelton and Daniella Duvall in an eyepopping, hip-swiveling rendition of “You Got To Have A Gimmick.” It is at this point that Louise decides she can make it in show business without her mother’s help, singing a revolutionized version of the show’s signature song, “Let Me Entertain You.” 2t