St James High School - Saintonian Yearbook (St James, MN)

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 OUR TOWN” REPRESENTED DAYS OF OUR TOWN had such a large cast that there was a part for nearly everyone who wanted to try their skills on the stage. THE CAST Stage Manager . . . Jeff Scholar Dr. Gibbs.........Curt Bottem Mrs. Gibbs .... Linda Kuyper George Gibbs .... Bruce Johnson Rebecca Gibbs . . , Stephanae Daemke Mr. Webb..........Jay Gapp Mr . Webb.........Shirley Miest Emily Webb .... Cecelia Goree Wally Webb .... Keith Winkelman Joe Crowell .... Ron Malmgren Howie Newsom . . . Mike Walter Professor Willard..........Lyle Wolle Simon Stimson . . . Mike Dempsey Mrs. Soames . . . .Connie Kennedy Constable Warren...........Charles Dettman Si Crowell........Rick Knutson Sam Craig.........Terry Miller Joe Stoddard .... Karl Anderson Woman in Balcony..........Diane Sandmeyer Man in Auditorium .... Mark Krause Lady in the Box . . . Diane Harbitz People of the Town--R. Campbell, J. Currie, C. Erickson, R. Grev, G. Harbitz, R. Jackson, M. Joblinske, B. Johnson, L. Kluver, K. Offerdahl, V. Peterson, G. Sizer, J. Smith, M. Swan- son, M. Wetch, L. Wolle. This year's Junior Class Play, OUR TOWN, by Thornton Wilder, was a great success with the students and general public. Mem- bers of the cast were anxious to find how the audience would react to a play filled with pantomine and no scenery except ladders and tables. Mr. Heilman, the di- rector, and Mr. Udvig, his assistant helped the aspiring actors to perform a Mary Westman was the play's student director and Mr. Heilman directed the play. 28

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IN PRODUCING SHAW’S “ From left to right are Leo Balthazor, Mr. Heilman, and Carole Pietsch. Leo and Carole were selected as stage mana- ger and student director respectively. As an advisor, Mr. Heilman chose the cast members and committees that were responsible for various things. November was a hectic month for all seniors who helped to produce Pygmalion . This particular play was of special interest because it is the original version of the musical, My Fair Lady . Mr. Heilman, the play advisor, selected the cast members . . . Carole Pietsch acted in the capacity of student director, and Leo Balthazor, as stage manager, was assigned to handle the technical as- pects of producing the play. This year for the first time, the play was given on more than one set. With the aid of several props, three small scenes on different sets were given in addition to the acting in the three major settings. Those of us who were involved with moving the tons of furniture, props, and water, will never forget the mad scramble between set changes. The set change after the first scene usually got pretty sloppy because of the genuine downpour of rain. Anyway, we had the fastest moppers and the cleanest stage floor than can be imagined. Pygmalion was performed twice for the students and three times for the public. Members of the promotion com - mittee went from house to house, but ticket sales still weren't as high as we hoped they would be. Despite the crazy things that went on backstage, Pygmalion was a great success. Scene changes were very hectic back stage, but to the audience all went very smoothly. During an early rehearsal, 'Liza (Linda Fullmer) angrily leaves the room following an unsuccessful speech lesson.

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CONCENTRATED EFFORT BY JUNIORS Breakfast at the Gibbs home. Mrs. Gibbs, George, and Rebecca. show requiring many emotions and pre- cision movements. Their constant guidance helped the cast portray the daily life of common people in an early twentieth century village. The backstage and dressing rooms provided memorable gabfests, conversations, with the Ouija Board, and the feeling of warmth that comes from good teamwork. Mrs. Webb and Mrs. Gibbs are sitting outside Mrs. Webb's home, stringing beans. (Also talking about the furniture man who came to visit Mrs. Gibbs, and numerous other things.) 29 Mrs. Webb, Mrs. Soames, and Mrs. Gibbs comment on how drunk the choir director was at choir practice. George and Emily are in their bedrooms.