Park Center High School - Pirate Yearbook (Brooklyn Park, MN)

Page 24 text:

One Act — That Can’t Be Beat Reflections ... it all started when the lights dimmed, and a young man came across the stage and picked a mirror off a tree. Soon after he spoke, others on stage joined in and for 32 minutes the audience was completely struck with awe. The setting and costumes were done in black and white and consisted of one large tree (Fred) off whose branches hung hand mirrors, one small tree (Fred Jr.), a flight of stairs, a couple of benches, and a mushroomlike sculpture. The script of Reflections centered around two delicate subjects: hope and fear. Director Mike Forsbcrg believed that the subjects were important ones so he and the cast set about the fragile task of digging up the deepest, most common fears and hopes that people have. Rehearsals were stressful and intense because the cast had to create their own script. They collected poems, stories, parables, and writings many of which were very personal to the actors. No such play had ever been performed before. The team placed third in regions and was well received by the judges. I liked the Readers Theater because 1 was able to be many different characters. Each writing was unique and required a different role, explained Jens Loescher. Mike Forsberg had been an active part of P.C. over the last few years. He’s co-taught Caring Skills, directed last year's one-act as well as this year's one-act and three-act plays, and the student taught third tri. The seven cast members were Julia Booth. Audrey Gingerick. Kelly Kersting, Shannon Teas. Kai Dahlin, Jon Hall, and Jens Loescher. Student Director was David Kayser and Technician Folks were Nina Booth and Mark Haase. It's the strongest ensemble group I've every worked with! We all worked gogether as a team! concluded Julia Booth. — Christine Moore

Page 23 text:

Opening night performance, I was so ecstatic. Being behind the town of River City, listening to the orchestra play the overture, made my heart race. When I was able to sec the crowd, a big grin lit up upon my face because the thoughts Ohmigosh, I'm actually doing this” and Wow! these people are here to see senior high students in a show. raced about in my mind. — Lori Barney After long days, weeks, and a month or two of practice, the musical was ready. What was it like to be on stage, to perform for a live audience? Everyone will have told you something different, but many agreed with Brenda Toenies when she said. Being on stage during a performance was the most exciting thing I have ever experienced. It gave me a sense of true accomplishment and satisfaction as we received standing ovations. A live audience provided a very important part of a show. The audience provided reactions. People on stage found that the audience energy would give them energy. You just wanted to do the best you could for them. (Melissa Galuppo). Lara Elhard felt that When you look out and search the faces of the audience, it gives you this sudden burst of energy to smile, do your very best, but above all to please the audience and MAKE THEM smile! Susan Gcrhardson expressed her feelings by saying, Wanting to accomplish something great, to be able to see and hear the audience respond to whatever you were doing. To be overwhelmed by the feeling of live stage thinking that all those people were being entertained by my classmates and me, Tamy Paulson. Or the much agreed upon feeling of just wanting to KNOCK 'EM DEAD I miss all the excitement of everyone before going on stage. — Michelle Urness. Michelle Roppe recalled how, I held my breath for the first few minutes. David Wood added I love to perform. It's a lot of hard work, but it really pays off in the end! Julia Booth thought that. Friendships are what the musical is all about. Making them, breaking them, but mostly growing from them by taking risks. Joan McGonigal (costume director) had one comment about the musical: We have established a tradition of producing exceptionally fine musicals. They have become more than just a program for the students. Our musicals have evolved into a community ’happening' that continues to draw large crowds and generate much excitement each fall. We have a great deal to be proud of)

Page 25 text:

Opposite Page; Middle Left: Julia Booth. Jon Hall, and Shannon Teas discuss fear with the audience. Bottom Left: 1 think they're imitating sprouting seeds??! (Jon Hall, Shannon Teas. Jens Loescher) Bottom Right: Kai and Shannon listen to Jens. This Page; Top: What's happening.'' asks Kai Dahlin. Left: And these arc the Hollow Men (Jens and Kelly) One-Act — 21