Midwood High School - Epilog Yearbook (Brooklyn, NY)

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time as I remember. There we were, nothing more than a group G of enthusiastic Seniors bubbling over with ideas. We had our problems then just as we did all the way through production, but working together, we solved them. One of the biggest of these questions was whether we should use a legitimate Broadway show or write our own, and just what the theme should be if we did write it. Well, we decided upon an original musical. We pondered over the theme and finally hit upon the old Faust idea of someone selling his soul to the Devil. Using a little imagination and some knowledge of history, we are able to work in a Dutch setting and before we knew it, we had an outtline written. Music was our next consideration. Some wanted Gershwin, some even went back to Bach . . . but our final choice proved to be a good one. As you will soon hear, we are using only Gilbert and Sullivan songs. They seemed to Ht right in to what we wanted to say. What could be easier than changing Behold The Lord High Executionern to Behold The Lord High Dean Our Punisher? Mr. Producer, I'm sure the radio audience would like to know how this long show was written. Can we meet the writer?', Oh, I would have to introduce more than fifty people to take in our whole lyric committee. They were swell, worked like beavers, dreaming up new, more appropriate words to go with the old score, and intermittent dialogue. What a thrill it was to see the first complete scripts after working so many weeks. You had your problems when rehearsals began I guess. You can say that again. The biggest job was to choose the cast. Imagine auditioning 50 or 60 potential stars for the leads. We almost lost our minds before we finally picked the 23 soloists. We had to eliminate the audition and . . . well, it was tough. But the chorus presented less of a problem. They just signed up and sang along. Everyone was wonderful. 'ilt sounds as though this show took many long and hard hours to produce Well, actually, when you come to think of it, we had time on our side. Four months to rehearse, to be exact. And we didn't rush. That is what was most pleasant about the work. This gave us time to really enjoy putting this thing together. You see, we had our own showroom, which we used for rehearsing and general get-togethers, a veritable Senior Lounge. Theres one question, Mr. Producer, that most of us wonder about when we see a show on the stage. Q That is, how were the various aspects of so huge a production, such as the chorus, soloists, stage directing, set designing, knitted together to turn out a finished job? Well, I can only speak for this show. You see we worked accord- f ' ing to schedule to the Z lc, 1 I' Xll fl, Kllc ll

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Hj n mmuunllllllllllllllllmm K... 11-412 I I D . DAYS I'- flslilffff f NW :III 1 v '::'.'r- 5,Q5 fl' 5- - . g ' 'JF 5 S E.----esl' All 3 A Wm Z- f N ul? Obpooo oooaoov - T xxi Here we are ladies and gentlemen, outside the Mid- wood Theater and this is your announcer ready to de- scribe to you all the glamour of an opening night on Bed- ford Avenue There s a large crowd gathered here tonight anxiously awaiting the First curtain call These lucky ticket holders are going to witness in just a few minutes, one of the season s most spectacular openings The Senior Class of Q june 1952 is presenting its wonderful, new operetta- The A I 6 2653 .. ,r 125: 26: ' n r 0 ' Ai i' E- W A '? : Q 9 W 5--f Q 115127: -J i 3 E 2 Q fl I Q as ' e ' Q Q 625 y s . . J5 , . Q K a . Vandal. Newspaper people are jamming the lobby and front entrance of Midwood High School trying to catch a glimpse of the many celebrities that have come to witness the event. I dare say all of Flat- bush society is represented. I believe that the show will start in the next Fifteen minutes. Meanwhile, we switch you backstage where our announcer there will try to bring you some of the pre-curtain time excitement. Take it away . . . We are now backstage at the Midwood Theater where a new and gala production is about to premiere. Members of the chorus are running back and forth here, carrying the spangled costumes that they are to wear tonight. All around me props and sets have been arranged, and I do believe that I am in the midst of an old Dutch classroom, created by the Senior set designers. Ladies and gentlemen, I wish you could see the principals who have just come from their dressing rooms. The costumes are fabulous. Their many well wishers are grouped about them now giving them a Final few words of encouragement. 5 tIt looks like the hit of the year. Certainly exciting! I have been trying to get a 3 word with the producer of tonight's epic, but he is very busy. One moment, X here he comes . . . Oh, Mr. Producer . . . Our radio audience is anxious for , ' some first hand information about this big show that we are about to see. ' X , Would you please say a few words? . I Gladly . . . X How long has this show been in rehearsal, Mr. Producer? f Well, rehearsals began in March, but this show dates back much ! further than that. You see, we first got the idea to do this musical H way back in December, when we learned that the Midwood Theater would be available tonight. It was around Christmas 4 p.lL

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rush act. We also developed a well organized system backstage. This system tied together the whole show by apportioning various functions to independent groups. For instance, there is the chorus, the largest single group in the show, directed by Ronnie Spinello. He taught them the songs, the melodies, and was generally responsible for their work. Then there was the art staff which painted and designed settings, took care of make- up, fashioned costumes, and painted posters for publicity. The stage crew took excellent care of lighting, sound, and backstage management. The secretary Phyllis Schulman, handled all attendance records, gave cues, and sent out notices to the cast. My assistant and chairman of the lyric committee, Blanche Lilienblum, was invaluable in working hand in hand with me. Our dancing staff was made up of many excellent dancers and chore- ographers. One of the most important people in the show is Lisa Herzfeld, head of the music department. Beside playing the piano along with Phoebe Rothman, she was very active and enthusiastic in the writing of the script. The job of tying these units together was a particularly pleasant one, especially with the cooperation and enthusiasm of the Senior Class of Iune 32. But the show is about to begin and l must be going. Good night. A'Thank you Owen Rachlefffl Yes it is curtain time. Now the house lights have dimmed, the conductor is making his way to the pit . . . there's the applause. Backstage here the chorus members are lined up for the opening number, the soloists are also anxiously waiting . . . There are the first chords of the overture. Ladies and gentlemen, the Senior Show of lune 1952 is on. UYVFN RAClll.l2Fl: