Pekin High School - Pekinian Yearbook (Pekin, IL)

Page 30 text:

Miss Melba Reid During the year, Thespian troupe 146 initiated 25 new members into the National Thespian Dramatic Honor Society. New and old members alike enjoyed a very successful season. PCHS National Thespian Troupe was established on January 1, 1931, and the troupe charter, signed by Robert W. Johnson, Helen Hiett, Henry Whitfield, Ruth Weeks, Richard Von Der Heide, and E. Louise Falkin, sister of Miss B. W. Fal-kin, head of the English department, now hangs in the main office. The first-semester officers were as follows: president, Norma Rockwell, vice-president, Eugene Alesandrini, and secrtary-treasurer, Louise Coryell. The officers for the second semester were president, Vera Green, vice-president, Dean Wieburg, secretary-treasurer, Judy Donahue. The Thespians made a contribution of forty dollars to the nation-wide stage canteen campaign, for which they received TROOPERS OF UNIT 146 a certificate of recognition. During the year, the Thespians have been complimented for their presentations of productions to various clubs and organizations. In order to better the organization, the Thespians have attempted to arrange better programs for their meetings in The Little Theater. They also maintain a point system which the members use to total their points received by participating in dramatical events. These points, when totaled, decide whether or not the member is active enough to benefit the club and to be retained. In advancing the cause of dramatics at Pekin High, the Thespians have cooperated wholeheartedly with their sponsor, Miss Melba Reid, who came at the beginning of the year to replace Pvt. George Sparks. The 1943 dramatic season at PCHS began successfully with Growing Pains, the all-school play, under the direction of Miss Melba Reid. Growing Pains was presented October 22 and 23 to two large and enthusiastic audiences who thoroughly enjoyed the complications arising throughout the entire show. The cast included Dean Wieburg, Dorlene Gianessi, Eva Mae Gurney, James Bramlage, Josephine Lyon, La Vonne Hainline, Patricia Champion, Eugene Al-esandri, Bill Strickfaden, Bob Fuller, Gene Kumpf, Jack Campbell, Don Albers, Mary Jean D:‘m!er, Pat Frye, Jacquline Jenkins, Vera Pearl Green, Judy Donahue. The extras were Norma Cooper, A1 Weber, Norma Rockwell, Robert Preston, Paula Sie-bens, Fritz Joesting, Louise Coryell, Walter Fluegal, Jean King, and Jack Rosenberg. Growing Pains

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 SENIOR EDITION Page 27 LISTEN TO THE MOCKING BIRD Principals in the Cast The A Cappella choir, under the direction of Mr. Harry Langley, presented many concerts this year both for the students and for the public. The spring vesper heard on April 11 featured the newly-organized girls' choir. The program was presented in three parts: first, a group of patriotic songs followed by several numbers by the all girls' choir and, as a conclusion, the entire choir presented a group of sacred hymns. Besides presenting the vesper, the choir has appeared for the county teachers' convention, for baccalaureate and commencement exercises and has also presented several concerts for the community. Miss Carolyn Wilkinson accompanies the choir. The opera this year was The Mocking Bird, a story of the French settlements in New Orleans during the eighteenth century. The many duets and solos of the production added to the glamour of the musical performance. Costumes contributed to the exciting galaxy of events and the dignified atmosphere. Mildred Behrends and Bill Waldmeier portrayed the leading romantic roles. But not to be forgotten are the musical members of the group of French Settlers, the choir, which added to the opera considerably. Main characters in the opera were Wayne McGlinn, Clyde Parish, Marvin Jenkins, Nila Mae Allison, Harry Williams, Argel Allen, Dick Brown, Leah Spenser, LaVon Hall, Barbara Renfer, Joyce Hancock, Ilene Ozella, Rosemary Rahn, and Allen Weber.

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Page 29 THIS YEAR’S FOOTLIGHT FEATS Presented by the combined music and drama departments, the annual Christmas vesper, December 13, formed a very impressive and appropriate program entitled, Christmas Throughout the Ages. Every school has one and so did PCHS. What? A junior class play, entitled Every Family Has One. Performing for a packed house on February 5 and 6, the performance given by the junior class was heartily praised by the pleased audience. This comedy in three acts dealt with the troubles of marriage planning which were humorously solved by the grandmother of the Reardons, Nana, outstandingly portrayed by Mary Jean Dimler. The cast was as follows: Colette Lowman, Shirley Petrie, George Petrie, Sara Hinshaw, Clara Kuntz, Dale Runyon, Betty Lou Pierce, A1 Weber, Paula Siebens, and George Iftner. The drama 2 class was responsible for a fine radio show, What We Defend presented March 2. This program gave an answer to the cynics who find it difficult to justify our present conflict. A one-act play, Mr. F,” enacted by four well-known PCHS dramatists, was awarded first place in the sectional speech meet, and was placed second in the state finals held at Champaign, April 17. The cast for the winning performance was Mary Jean Dimler, Paul Belk, Allen Weber, Vernon Lewis. Stage Crew, Ilene O z e 11 a and Pat Champion, accompanied them to the contest. American Education Week was appropriately observed by PCHS when the drama department presented Education for Democracy, based upon the fact that our democracy is founded upon education for all people. Three Thespians were entered in the sectional speech contest in interpretative work. Mary Jean Dimler won first in verse reading with Murder at Lidice, thereby qualifying for the state contest, at which she captured first place and was privileged to EVERY FAMILY HAS ONE speak over station WILL at Champaign. Vernon Lewis took third place in the sectional with a cutting from Watch On the Rhine by Lillian Heilman. Dean Wieburg won second place in the comedy reading division with George Washington Slept Here, by Moss Hart and George Kaufman. Climaxing the dramatic season was the senior class play, Lost Horizon, presented May 6 and 7 in the PCHS auditorium. The mystery of Shangri-La was exceptionally fascinating and everyone's attention was held during the performance. Vernon Lewis's realistic portrayal of the principal character was acknowledged superb. Also to be complimented were Margaret Flynn, Leah Spenser, Roland Champion, Bob Fuller, Harvey Anderson, Paul Belk, Ella Mae Williamson, Don Winkel, Vera Pearl Green, Norma Rockwell, Harry Williams, Judy Donahue and Frances Lampitt.