St Louis Park High School - Echowan Yearbook (St Louis Park, MN)

Page 29 text:

“TWIST” Left: The Artful Dodger (Dave Reynold ). Bill Syket (Chad Sedlacek), 1Nancy (Abbie Furmantky). Oliver (Mark l aidaj. Fagin (Jock Barnet), on ttage for the final curtain coll. “I just wanted to get up there and sing and dance right along with them, said an adult member of the audience. His comment summed up the quality of Park Drama Department's fall production. For despite the fact that the school's drama budget was cut over sixty percent, “Oliver, directed by Pete Peterson, was a stylish success. Based on the Dicken's novel, “Oliver had a cast of seventy, including senior high students, twenty 5th through 7th graders and five adults. Oliver (played by Mark Vaida. freshman) is the young orphan befriended by a London street urchin the Artful Dodger (Dave Reynolds, senior). Above: Nancy tingt of her tenteless devotion to Bill Sykes. Oliver gets involved with a gang of pickpockets led by Fagin (Jack Barnes, owner of the Park Bus Co.). Befriended by Nancy (Abbie Furmansky, junior), who is murdered for her kindness by Bill Sykes (Chad Sedlacek, senior), Oliver eventually finds his true family and happiness. The singers and dancers all contributed to the professional quality of the production. Furmansky's Nancy was warm and fullvoiced as she ranged from the boisterous “Oom-Pah-Pah to the poignant “As Long As He Needs Me. In numbers like “Pas De Deux” and “Consider Yourself' the energetic dancers sparked much applause, as did Mr. and Mrs. Sowerberry (seniors Megan Williams and John Vaida) in “That's Your Funeral.” At the close of the evening the delighted audience left truly believing, along with the cast, that “It’s a Fine Life”.

Page 28 text:

Below: While rehearsing the number “Consider Yourself the cast offers their support to Oliver. Right: Oliver poses the question Where is Love after being sold to an undertaker. Below: Fagin instructs Oliver how to Pick a Pocket or Two .

Page 30 text:

m 1983 PARK BAND Above: Marty Marion and Shelly Moe get married. “It was a well organized dance. I think most everyone had a very good time. said Mark Unze, senior. The Sadie Haw kins dance was sponsored by the cheerleaders with profits going to the cheerleading fund. The 1983 Sadie featured a band called the Tourists, which included three members from Park Seniors Don Damborg, Pete Elstrom, and Chad Sedlacek. “The band played a combination of jazz and rock which was very easy to dance to, said Unze. When couples took a break from dancing they were kept busy with many other things. One of the more popular options was getting “hitched by Park's own Marryin' Sam, Bruce McLean. Couples w ho patiently-waited in this long Marryin' line were treated to an informal service, a certified license, and a kiss from their new spouse. Other time was spent while couples had their pictures taken, surrounded by haybales and pumpkins. The school cafeteria was equipped with a makeshift jail for detaining unsuspecting guys caught not holding hands with their dates. The cheerleaders and their dates served as acting sheriffs in charge of “busting the guilty couples. Prisoners could rarely be seen, since bail was set at a kiss from the accused's date. Bread and water were not supplied in jail so, after being released, many couple went to celebrate at a nearby refreshment stand, which represented the town restaurant. Right: The TouritU perform a song called “Ringsrud” during the Sadie dance. The song uo named after Park’s oun physics teacher, Pete Ringsrud. 26