Roosevelt High School - Roundup Yearbook (Des Moines, IA)

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Dramatists create life beyond the footlights A standard 50-cent membership fee and interest in the dramatic arts is all one needs to join Drama Club. Requirements to be initiated into Thespians is a mere $3 fee after earning ten thespian points achieved by assisting the drama department in producing plays by ushering, working on production crews, or performing on stage. What makes both these organizations unique is the sincerity involved in the de- sire of the members to bring intelligent entertainment to the audiences. Thespian Dancers Deirdre Hanson, Sandy Miller, and Martha Miller catch their breath during an after school rehearsal for Pajama Game. off icers (Jeff Wills, president; Jeff Mos- her, vice-president; Sue Moehl, secretary; Diane Dungan, treasurer; Lynn Hopkins, scribe; Ann Kitch, historian; and Susie Keck, refreshment chairperson) ex- pressed it best: ' The purposes of the Roosevelt Drama Department, not as an organ- ization of designed structure, but as an ensemble of the performing arts dedicated to achieving excellence in stagecraft is: 1. ) Not to split the ears of the groundlings capable only of in- explicable dumb shows and noise. As Hamlet puts it, ' but to create a bit of life beyond the footlights. ' 2. ) To take a black and white script and create a living, breathing creation. 3. ) To instruct students and all in- terested in this finest of the arts. 4. ) To act well our parts, for there all honor lies. Senior Linda Johnson practices her flirtatious character, Mae, featured in the spring musical. Accompanied by Jan sented April 6 and 7. Thomas. Greg Bodm nervously tries out his singing talents for the musical pre- Thespians Drama Club Members, ROW 1: Leslie West, Natalie Fobes, Diane Dungan, Sue Moehl, Jeff Wills, Jeff Mosher, Lynn Hopkins, Jenny Cochran, Val Russell, Doug McKenzie, Michael Harris. ROW 2: Jan Wor ley, Lisa Michalski, Tanya Franklin, Paul Craft, Mike Sandler, Joel Mosher, Dave Wor- ley, Karen Buffington, Sherry Webster, Nikki Leveque. ROW 3: Paula Brooks, Ann Dingle, Jim Mishler, Anne Marie Marsh, Jennifer Dun ham, Karen Dorsey, Jenny Carr. ROW 4 Alarja Luijs, Judy Richardson, Elite Rossen feld, Becky Aldridge, Barb Stacy, Julie Rutz Lanna Brooks, Beth Rocap. ROW 5: Susie Keck, Hank Adams, Kevin Edwards, George Peak. ROW 6: Kathy Jones, Jan Angier, Dun- can Moore.

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Jeff Wills wins raves in costume drama A pompous Cyrano de Bergerac (Jeff Wills) halts the gaudy flourishes of Montfleury ' s poetry. Seldom does a high school theatrical group undertake the task of performing the classic Cyrano de Bergerac. The Roosevelt Drama Department established this play as a classic last fall on November 10 and If. The play, written by French playwright Edmond Rostand, is built around the title character ' s love for the beautiful Roxanne. Fearful of her rejection due to his immense nose, the otherwise dauntless Cyrano confides his one and only fear to his friend LeBret. Cyrano is not alone in his love for Rox- anne. A young cadet named Christian cap- tures her heart with his handsome appearance, but is unable to express his love in words. In a self-sacrificing gesture to preserve Roxanne ' s illusion, Cyrano cues Christian on what to say. To spare Roxanne the truth, Cyrano re- mains silent about Christian for fifteen years after his death, and is discovered only moments before his own untimely end in the convent gardens at Paris. The dramatization of Cyrano ' s lifestyle not only revolved around the major characters, but also was assisted through the numer- ous minor characters of the nuns (Becky Al- dridge, Cindy Chamberlain, Val Russell), the cadets (Bob Dickinson, Matt Powers, Brook Wennerstrum, Greg Bodin, Rob Milligan, Paul Craft, and Joel Mosher), the poets (Keith Wuttke, Chris Street, Ann Kitch, Sue Kern, and Heidi Simpson), the actors and actresses (Matt Powers, Joel Mosher, Lisa Michalski, and Karen Buffington), the cooks (Mike Ericson, Mike Sandler, Glenda Parsons, Mary Mitchell, and Barb Stacy), and all the other colorful personalities of the theater crowd (Susie Keck, Mary and Martha Klu- ender, George Peak, Jim Mishler, Craig Run- ciman, Doug McKenzie, Tanya Franklin, Dave Rogers, and Mary Carr). The long hours of practice and dedication were most evident in two very polished per- formances. Drama department head Roger Anderson merits praise for an excellent di- rectorial job, aided by student directors Lisa Michalski and Michael Harris. Cyrano hides the tears he feels as Roxanne tenderly reveals her new-found love. Lovers Christian de Neuvillette (Hank Adams) and Roxanne (Karen Gentleman) share the applause at curtain call. The somber expression displayed by Val Russell as a mournful nun de- picts the mood felt by all at the time of Cyrano ' s death. A night of hammish entertainment at the Hotel de Burgonia.

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Mimes begin second decade of delightful entertainment (Right), Mike Sand- ler calmly licks his sucker while his mother (Sue Moehl) anguishes in pain as the mad pediatrician (Jeff Mosher) plun- ges a hypo into her arm, assisted by his empty-headed nurse (Lynn Hop- kins) . (Left), Jan Angier portraying Cupid be- comes nauseated af ter surveying the handsome lover ' s (Michael Harris) girl- friend (Diane Dun- gan) . nmmuwww Every Sunday one will discover 13 pan to mi mists diligently creating and practicing original skits concerning any- thing from making obscene phone calls to building castles in imaginary sand. After hours of discussion and ex- perimentation of ideas, the Mimes are prepared to appear before a wide variety of audiences. This year their perfor- mances were presented at elementary schools, fraternal organizations, women ' s clubs, nursing homes, banquets, the Iowa State Fair, and Roosevelt ' s man-of- the-year assembly. Sounds of Silence climaxed their school year, May 18, with 90 minutes of pantomimes inter- spersed with three one-act skits. Black grease paint drawn in fine lines over clown white make-up, multi-colored shirts, and black tights and trunks not only enhanced their performances, but helped them to lose their identities so that they could transform into any character required. Also, their costumes added uniformity to the troupe, but each still retained his or her own individuality through a different pastel-colored shirt worn by each Mime. Our make-up seems to fascinate children more than our 25 minute per- formances, commented Master Mime Jenny Cochran. The grade school kids always inquire about what the clown white feels like. One show we told them it felt like a cross between Crisco and peanut butter, and a boy from the back of the auditorium yelled, ' Is it chunky or smooth? ' Approximately a week before Senior Frolics, Mime tryoutsare held. Two days of clinics are offered where the 13 mem- bers teach some of the techniques of pantomime. Then, after two more days of judging improvisational and prepared two minute pantomimes, they attempt to discreetly choose those who appear to have the most outstanding originality, imagination, and mime techniques. Mimes, from left to right, on the ground: Kathy Jones, Mike Sandler, Duncan Moore, Val Russell, Jeff Wills, Jenny Cochran, Sue Moehl. On the roof: Michael Harris, Diane Dungan, Jeff Mosher, Katy Horning, Jan Angier, Lynn Hopkins. 21