Truman State University - Echo Yearbook (Kirksville, MO)

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OVERWHELMED by her idol. Conrad Birdie (sophomore Bill Zuspann). a leeny hopper (freshman Susie Meckel) takes one last look before fainting. ALBERT PETERSON (Travis Laws, center) tells the McAfees (Randy Lee. Anita Jackson. Jim Mossop. and Julie Luetkenhaus) they will be on the Ed Sullivan Show. ALBERT’S REFUSAL to make a commitment to Rose (junior Rachael Gibbons) prompts her to ignore his telephone call. However, the bartender (Senior Kevin Pipkins) waits patient iy FRUSTRATED with Albert. Rose (junior Rachael Gibbons) packs, with intentions of leaving him. while warning teenager Kim McAfee (junior Julie Luetkenhaus) that men are trouble. Bye Bye Birdie -1 Q Student Life 1

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For the first presentation by the Residence Hall Players Bye bye means hello by LISA BURGER His presence was acknowledged by the screams and moans of hysterical girls. As he sauntered onto the stage, the lights caught the gleam of his white sequined suit. When his rich baritone voice belted out. Oh. give me one last kiss, ain't never felt like this. the teeny-boppers, one by one. began to faint. In the Residence Hall Player's debut musical Bye. Bye Birdie. last spring, it was time for singer-idol Conrad Birdie (sophomore Bill Zuspann) to go into the Ar- my. As a last attempt to gain fame and recognition for Conrad, his manager Albert (freshman Travis Laws) and Albert's girlfriend Rose (jun'or Rachael Gibbons) selected at random one of Bir- die's fans, on whom Birdie bestowed his last kiss before entering the service. The plot also involved a love affair between Albert and Rose, which was complicated by Albert's cheek-pinching, over- protective mother. Mae (freshman Cathy McLaughlin). The Residence Hall Players, the first group of its kind on campus, was the brainchild of Dave Lascu. director of Dobson . Hall. The idea came to Lascu in the fall of 1982 as a result of his exposure to a residence hall - theater group while he was an undergraduate at Central Michigan University. One of the main reasons for initiating a group such as the RH Players was that it offered some new alternatives to residents. It was an educational experience from ex actly beginning to end.” Lascu said. Not only was the play educational, but for most cast and crew it was a totally new experience to sing, act, and dance in a pro- duction that consisted solely of hall residents who were mainly non-music and non-theater majors. Laws said. “The best thing about the whole production was that it eliminated the political presence and the intimidation that people often feel toward trying out for a musical when they aren't drama or music majors. Junior Julie Luetkenhaus, who portrayed the chosen teeny bopper fan. Kim McAfee, had similar feelings. I never felt overwhelmed by the talent. No one was more important than anyone else.” We had no trouble getting people in- terested in performing. Lascu said. Perhaps the most unique aspect about the production was that it was totally residence hall oriented: all cast, crew, and orchestra members lived in the halls. Doing a musical such as this for the first time presented many problems. Lascu said. One of the first problems was get ting the musical scores. They didn't arrive in time and this caused us to use tape recordings of some of the numbers. Also, we needed money and support from the residence halls. We put in requests for funding to the hall councils and at first some of them were skeptical, but I think if they saw the production, they'd know their money was well spent. Rehearsals and set construction may TEENY BOPPER FANS reaffirm their undying loyalty to their heartthrob, Conrad Birdie (sophomore Bill Zuspann). after they learn of Birdie's plans to visit their town. have also posed problems to the residents of Ryle Hall, where the main lounge was used both for rehearsals and the actual production. The pounding of nails, scream- ing from teenage girls rehearsing, and the tune We Love You. Conrad were often heard throughout the hall. Lascu hopes to alleviate this problem in the future. The next time we do it. rehear sals will go on outside the halls so we don't disturb the residents. There was a problem with the set. too. because students could only set up the stage when they had time. Junior Randy Lee. who played Kim McAfees brother. Randolph, thought it was remarkable that everyone learned where to be. because the stage was built only one week before the performance. Another feature of the musical was that it was performed directly in Ryle's main lounge. It was a challenge to convert the lounge into a little theater. Lascu said. Lee said presenting the show in the lounge gave it a more personal atmosphere. In one scene. Conrad walked out and sang directly to the girls in the audience. I enjoyed the stage set-up, Laws said, because the place looked like there were more people in the audience than it would have if it were put on in Baldwin. Plus, the audience was closer to the stage and this brought the acting down to the audience's level and made it more personalized. Laws also thought that this contributed to the audience not being offended by the use of the tapes instead of live music because the show didn't try to be a Broad- way musical. But Luetkenhaus said. The stage was small for some of the things we wanted to do. If it was bigger, we could've done a lot more dancing. Lascu is planning on doing future productions, especially because Bye. Bye Birdie was. in his eyes, a success. The entire cast was very sup portive of each other. They really worked as one group, and that's why I think it went off so well.” One of the most positive things about the rehearsals was that other cast members helped you out with your lines. It was nice to have back ups like that, Luetkenhaus said. Laws said he is looking forward to the next RH Players production because the Fine Arts division only offered a musical every other year. We'll have to take it one year at a time, though. Organization is hard when working on a first production. But. next time we'll know what to do and what not todo. One thing Lascu would like to do dif- ferently is to have the show in March and also possibly do some fund raising. The players organized in the fall and planned on producing a variety show in the spring to raise money. Another alternative to pursue in the future is that hopefully it will become a totally student-run production. Lascu said. That idea is a very real possibility, con- sidering the effect that Bye. Bye Birdie had on cast members. It was great seeing the students satisfaction in doing a good job and accomplishing such a program. Near the closing of the musical, the teenage girls sadly waved to Conrad Birdie as he left for the Army. It was also bye-bye to the RH Players first production, if 1 ft Bye 1 O Student Life

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Chilled to the toga Everyone dreams of a white Christmas during December. But snow on the final day of Greek Week, after the official start of spring, was an unexpected addition to festivities. It seemed pretty strange because it’s not usually that cold. junior Cindy Cassady, Alpha Sigma Alpha member, said of the March weather. Although the chilly weather cooled par- ticipation during the weekend Olympics, campus Greek organizations managed a spirited turnout for their annual spring celebration during Greek Week '83. The coronation of the king and queen was the first event of the week. Sophomore Lori Petersma. member of The next night. March 22. the torch walk was led by King Van Roekel and Queen Petersma from the eternal flame to each fraternity house, then to Pershing Arena where the East-West basketball game was played. The East team, consisting of members from Pi Kap, Sig Tau, Sigma Phi Epsilon. Phi Sig. and Tau Kappa Epsilon defeated the West team with members from Alpha Kappa Lambda, Phi Lambda Chi. Delta Chi. Alpha Gamma Rho, and Alpha Tau Omega by a score of 53-52. A wine and cheese party was held at the Sig Ep house March 23. Faculty, ad- ministration. organization advisers and the presidents and vice presidents of the Carnival '83 was held in Ophelia Parrish Building on March 25 and raised $300 for muscular dystrophy. The Carnival gave a chance for campus organizations to make money for themselves and to donate money to muscular dystrophy. Lykins said. The Olympics, held March 26. were the final event of Greek Week festivities. Despite Kirksville's version of White Christmas in March, the Greeks celebrated in traditional fashion with a keg toss, a pudding eating contest, a car cram, and a soda chug. Mo one seemed overly surprised when they saw the white flakes that morning. The snow was nice; (it was) uncon- trollable and didn't hinder much,” junior Bruce Schonhoff, AKL member, said. The day began with a few intermittent flurries that developed into snowflakes as big as golf balls pelting the Olym- pics' participants at Stokes Stadium. The snow caused the cancellation of the chariot race and the bathing suit contest, Lykins said. Every other event went on as planned.” Phi Kap took first in the Olympics and first overall, with 425 of a possible 515 points. Pi Kap and AKL tied for second in the overall standings with 393 points. Tri-Sig took first place among the sororities with 435 points. DZ followed with 425 and ASA with 418. Susan Blair, sophomore Greek Week co-chairman said. Winners are decided by the total points accumulated from the events of the entire week. Everyone receives points for par- ticipating in Variety Night and the Olym- pics,” Lykins said. Substantially more points are given to the organizations that place in the events. Point totals notwithstanding, Greek Week gave fraternity and sorority members a chance to strengthen the ties within their own organizations and pro- mote unity throughout the whole Greek system as well. Schonhoff said. It's important for all the fraternities and sororities to get together and have a good time. freshman Matt Stelter, Phi Kap member, said-tf Phil Shiplry Sigma Sigma Sigma, was crowned queen, and junior Jay Van Roekel, member of Phi Sigma Epsilon, was named king. Awards were also presented at the cor- onation ceremony. Senior Katie Steele, member of Tri-Sig, recieved the Outstan- ding Greek Woman Award. Freshman Tracy Griesenaur, Tri-Sig, and junior Julie Moore, Delta Zeta. received Panhellenic scholarships. Senior Carl Mueller of Sigma Tau Gam- ma. received the Henry M. Boucher award. Junior Jim Prewitt, member of Pi Kappa Phi. was the first runner-up and senior Jeff Menz, Delta Chi, was second runner-up. The award is to show appreciation for the service these men have shown, not on- ly in their fraternities, but also to the cam- pus. Mike Kacir. Interfraternity Council adviser, said. DELTA ZETAS sophomore Debra Stewart, senior Geri Funke. junior Nora McNeil, freshman Sherri White, freshman Karen Harrell, and senior Wendy Smith cheer at Variety Night. organizations were invited, senior Gary Lykins. co-chairman of Greek Week. said. It was a first time thing and we weren't exactly sure how it would go over. There were a lot of people and they weren’t sure what they were supposed to do. We need- ed some type of program so the faculty could interact with the Greeks. There need- ed to be a purpose for the program, Lykins said. Variety Night, held March 24. was a chance for the fraternity and sorority members to show off and have a little fun doing various skits. Phi Kap took first place. Alpha Phi Alpha took second, and AKL third. 20 Greek Week Student Life