Turner High School - Turnerite Yearbook (Kansas City, KS)

Page 9 text:

41 51 The cast of FLOWER DRUM SONG included: Tom Athans, Terry Adair, Sandy Allen, Pam Archer, Susan Baker, Theresa Barth, Debby Bledsoe, Richard Carter, Jill Cervant, Sue Clark, Sherri Collins, Dee Dee Dempsey, Kailen Dingley, Kim Di Palma, Carlene Erie, Julie Frogley, Cindy Frogley, Cindy Frolin, Bruce Gentry, Shelley Hansen, Gwen Harding, Ole Segaard Jensen, Kim King, Don Lawrence, Robin Lawrence, Cindy Libeer, Teresa Lowe, Chuck Matney, Tami McDaniel, Karen McOsker, Marylou Mollett, Brad Myers, Matt Myers, John Owen, Shirley Pallanich, Brian Pierce, Jim Pierson, Don Ptomey, Robbie Reardon, Michele Roark, Jeff Smith, Julie Smith, Christy Steineger, Larry Thoele, Kenne Williams, Steve Wiseman, Chris Wiss, and Pam Yeary. The production staff consisted of: Mrs. Mary A. Hansen, production director and choreographer, Mr. Paul Klaassen, music director, Barb Shull, student director, and Donna Nixon, stage manager. Ms. Carolyn Schmitt, Mark and Mike Woods were in charge of lighting. Music was provided by: Cindy Housel on the piano, Rick Brownrigg on the drums, and Steve Dado on the guitar. 1. I'm strictly a female, fen.a1e , proclaims Linda Low, Jill Cervant. Linda Low as a vampish Chinatown bombshell interested in men and more specifically the gifts they could give her. 2. Dr. Li, Brian Pierce, and his daughter Mei Li, Julie Smith, perform a flower drum song for Liu Ma, Christy Steineger, Madame Liang, Pam Yeary, and Master Wang, Ole Segaard Jensen. 3. During the nightclub show at the Celestial Bar the audience met a group of international beauties. Here Miss Ireland, Shirley Pallanich, introduces herself to master of ceremonies Frankie Wing, Kenne Williams, and the audience. 4. Master Wang, Ole Segaard Jensen, who clings firmly to Chinese traditions tries on an American suit as Mr. Lung, Tom Athans, and Dr. Li, Brian Pierce, look on. Mr. Huan, Steve Wiseman, counts some of Master Wang's money as Wang San, Matt Myers, looks on. 5. Carlene Erie, Bruce Gentry, Teresa Lowe, and other cast members dance to the song Chop Suey. 6. Wang Ta, Richard Carter, realizes he is in love with Mei Li, Julie Smith. 7. On an isolated hill overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge Wang Ta, Richard Carter, and Linda Low, Jill Cervant, get acquainted. The Pieces 5

Page 8 text:

Musical Like Chop Suey In the space of four weeks, February 28 to April 1, Mrs. Mary Hansen, Mr. Paul Klaassen, and a group of students brought a musical to life. Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical, FLOWER DRUM SONG, was performed at the T.H.S. auditorium on April 1 and 2. San Francisco's Chinatown during the 1950's provided the backdrop for this light-hearted musical comedy. The plot involved the American Orientals' struggle to preserve Oriental traditions against everyday pressures to become totally Americanized. Performers learned a variety of dances. Aspiring Fred Astaires learned to pick up teen-age versions of Ginger Rodgers gracefully, and sometimes dropped them with a definite lack of grace. Many late hours were put in by some cast members building the sets and sewing the costumes in an effort to recreate Chinatown's atmosphere. For the sake of authenticity the actors needed black hair and yellow complexions, after all when was the last time you saw a Chinese blonde? Packets of black hair rinse were distributed the night before the musical. The cast agreed to attend school the following day with their hair dyed black. As could be witnessed the following day the rinse worked , literally, with varying degrees of success. The search for a good black hair rinse was on and soon local stores were sold out of black rinse. Yellow greasepaint was applied to the face, neck , and hands to create an Oriental complexion. The transformation from Caucasian to Oriental took about an hour to complete. The traditional breaking of legs, before each performance provided a time for reflection. Tears and hugs were shared by cast members recalling the long hours of rehearsal they had spent together. To quote a line from the musical concerning Chop Suey, everything is in it all mixed together. The musical like Chop Suey contained a variety of things. It was hard work, but fun and it was time-consuming and yet rewarding. 2l T 3 X 4 The Pieces

Page 10 text:

Sit Right Back and You'll Hear a Tale Each year the drama department gives four presentations, one of these is devoted exclusively to a children's audience. The Children's Plays as they were called were put on by students in Drama I classes. The students presented three playsg Memories of Mother Goose, Gilligan's Island, and The Princess and the Pea, on Saturday, February 19 . Children met Little Bo Peepg Mary, Mary quite contrary, and other Mother Goose characters in Memories of Mother Goose. The play consisted of several short scenes that were joined by Mother Goose rhymes, each rhyme led into the next scene. Gilligan's Island, was invaded by sorority girls who journeyed to the supposedly deserted island to win money. The girls discover the castaways and steal all their belongings and as usual this was all blamed on Gilligan. The Princess and the Pea, told the story of a king and queen who devised a unique test involving a pea and twenty mattresses to find a princess their son could marry. The proceeds of the plays went to T.A.O.T.A. Cast members were: Sandy Allen, Tom Athans, Russell Beck, Robby Buford, Carol Clark, Debbie Dean, Barbara Gainer, Ole Segaard Jensen, Kevin Johnson, Ramona Kooken, Mike Koperski, Diana McDonald, Libby McLean, Karen McOsker, Danna Neal, Gretchen Redwine, Sandy Ryburn, Sherrie Sanders, Deneice Skaggs, Danny Souders, Sandy Stump, Larry Thoele, and Mike Woods. 1. Ole Segaard Jenson, Tom Athans, Libby McLean, and Ramona Kooken in a scene from The Princess and the Pea. 2. On stage after a performance cast members receive recognition for their performances 3. The cast presents Mrs. Mary Hansen, director, with flowers and a cake after a performance. 6 The Pieces