Manhattan College - Manhattanite Yearbook (Riverdale, NY)

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the players Call them different if you will, but such is not the case with the famed group of Manhattan thespians, The Players. Their argument, simply stated, is that Pope Saint Gregory assigned twelve months to each year, and twelve months will the Plavers have. With the ovations received by the Spring 1955 production The Emperor's Clothes ringing in their ears, the performers took to summer stock for the first time in history. The leisure season of June to August found the society involved in the rehearsals and rehearsals behind the scenes of four one-act plays and one three-act reading. The company, fifteen Players and ten ladies from the local colleges, presented their art before the audiences of many Catholic Charity organizations. September returned the group to their own Broadway, the stages of Manhattan, and on wet and windy November 4, the reading of Everyman, the morality play, hoisted the Jasper curtain. John Nagle portrayed the bewildered Every- man and, in preparing himself for the final journey, was admirably supported by the strong triumvirate of Roger Goebel, Phil Sandstrom, and Thomas Gowlan. With society moderator Professor John D. Mitchell and presi- dent James Bellew spearheading the major production of the fall semester, the semi-onnual play, the Players accom- plished another first by inviting the student body to select the work to be presented. The tally after campus balloting was overwhelmingly in favor of the Donald Bevan-Edmund Trycinski production Stalag 'l7, sending the Players scurry- Dramatic Declumution was a favorite at the meetings.

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departure of so many members, but determination and willingness to work brought nothing but prosperity to the group during the past year. Under the inspiring direction of Mr. RoBert A. Gary, moderator, and Mike Norducci, president, the forty members of the orchestra presented enter- tainment running the gamut of classical and modern com- position. Perfection is on endurance proposition where so much coor- dination is involved and where expression is so obvious. Thus it is that time is of such value to the orchestra man and his music can be heard in practice sessions late into evening. The results were very pleasing: two sucessful con- certs and a number of appearances in student body activities. In the Christmas Concert, the orchestra emerged from its supporting lrole to present Street Scene, featuring vice president Michael Dudeck and his fellow trumpeteers, Dancing Violins, and Brazilian Sleighbells. Topping off the splen- did entertainment, the group accompanied the Glee Club Octet, recreating the gay atmosphere of Oklahoma. The equally weII-planned Spring Concert featured another Broadway great, and the orchestra complied with the musical score of Carousel. The old adage correlating books, professor's glances, and vacation time seems to apply itself as readily to extra- curricular life as to subject matter. The young man about campus is only too willing to take a recess from the activities which have kept him so busy during the school months, and transport himself to the land of no tension. I don't care if you are the solo baritone of the show. No one gets in here without paying. I heard that the kid with the soprano voice has a yen for Sally's girl friend. The combined St. Joseph's College and Manhattan College Glee Clubs ioin in the Song of Christmas.

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One of the unsung heroes of the back stage crew takes a much deserved bow. -matlc readings were also in vogue this season. President Jim Bellew checks votes for this season's selection of performances. W . w ' , 2132 , Stuiag 17 as acted by the Manhattan College Players. ing to rehearsal and make-up artist. With George Delaney playing the unforgettable Sefton, Michael O'Hara, Bob Capiello, George Small, and Bill McGahan adding to the boisterousness, and Bob Maniello and Jim Bellew directing, the presentation was destined for success, and in early December ducats were considered a scalper's delight. The spring term found the Players again before the flood- Iights with the script that of the German artist Friedrich Schiller. Joining with the German Club in a bilingual por- trayal, the Players presented the English versions of a number of Deutschland's favorite and most valuable works of art. Within Cl description of the activities of The Manhattan College Players lies the motivation which leads such a group to provide highly enjoyable professional entertainment. This driving force must be the make-up of the individuals who form the group, the attributes of this core of Jaspers. Love of Manhattan and devotion to the dramatic arts might describe the Player's sense of values, but above all, pride in their organization makes the Manhattan College Players one of the most spirited groups on campus.