University of North Alabama - Diorama Yearbook (Florence, AL)

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Fntnre of the tans i u.ilK good stoi ies --t.ii t with s »me ood However, this story begins with a death, the death ol Professoi ( las o k in lanuarj t 1973 Due to the suddenness of his death, iarj ( Ireer . hj professor, w.is given i llascoi k s office along with everj thing in it l In- mastei plan i il ' l niversit) was the other maps and National Geographies tucked awaj in the drawers thai !

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1 he departments of Communications and Theatre and Music teamed up to pre- sent the university ' s fall production of the classic Broadway musical Guys and Dolls. Dr. David K. Ruebhausen directed the show, with musical direction by Dr. Tom Ed Moore and choreography by Lisa Lyndon. Students in the cast included Leon I Cunningham (Nicely-Nicely), John Jackson (Benny), Daniel L. Tracy (Rusty I Charlie), Serena Hill (Sarah), Marc I Mitchell (Harry the Horse), Mark Spencer Hampton (Nathan Detroit), ! Dave M. Bishop (Scranton Slim), ; Christina Heline (Agatha), Keri Haynes j (Mimi), Brooke Hightower (General i Cartwright), D. Evan Tucker (Big Jule) ; and Rodney Bowerman (police officer). Also featured were Melissa Braswell, 1 Courtney Ary, Kellony Everett, Elishaba i Graben, Mandy L. Hughes, Mandy Maddox, Laney Marchbanks, Amanda Mashburn, Krissy Warren, Kelly Woody, Sam Gross, Steven Gross and Jody Johnson. Because of the enormous cast require- ments, Ruebhausen opened auditions to both alumni and faculty of the university. Returning for a walk across the Norton Auditorium boards were Randy Pettus (Sky Masterson), Elise Gilchrist (Adelaide), Terry Pace (Brannigan), Alan Flowers (Arvide), Janelle Clemons, Jan Ingle, Mark Newton (Society Max) and Jayne Jackson. 2000 marked the golden anniversary for the musical, which has been a favorite since its debut in 1950. For six weeks, the performers — most of whom had no JUST ONE MORE. Director David Ruebhausen snaps cast photos after final dress rehearsal. A BUSHEL AND A PECK. Adelaide (Gilchrist) convinces perrennial bachelor Nathan (Hampton) that she ' s worth marrying after 16 years of engagement, while the rest of the cast bear witness. previous singing or dancing experi- ence — were taught the basics of both disciplines as well as given dia- logue coaching in order to perfect the necessary Brooklynese accents. The massive set, designed by Ruebhausen, was constructed with the aid of Dr. John McCaslin-Doyle, members of the cast and drama stu- dents who did not audition for a role. Countless hours went into this pro- duction, one member of the cast said. Between learning lines, dance moves, how to carry a tune, how to talk like an authentic citizen of New York, not to mention keeping up my grades and holding down a job, I was kept busy. It was six weeks of hell — every joint ached, my vocal cords ached. I didn ' t see my bed for six weeks. When asked if he would do it again, the actor replied with a smile. Oh yes. Creating a character from noth- ing but language is the coolest thing you can do. The rewards make the torture worthwhile. He added, Getting applause at the end of the evening doesn ' t hurt either. — Marc Mitchell

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cover the wall of room 119 in Wesleyan Hall, which had been the registrar ' s office. This amazing piece of history, as well as geography, was drawn in 1929 bv the same archi- tects that designed Central Park for New York. Somehow Glascock got ahold of it in the ' 40s and has kept it in fairly pristine shape, said Green. Being a master plan, this map was drawn up as a way to move the University gracefully forward into the future. According to Green, a master plan is anything that you implement that will facilitate the movement in the direction of reaching whatever goal it is that you have in mind. And ours was to make this campus as pretty as it can be with the limited amount of funds available. Oddly, some of the most recent proposals for the campus such as The Plaza at the main entrance of the University were initially suggested in this 1929 map. Some other suggestions for build-ings, however, have alreadv been implemented. Dormitories 570.0, 574.7, 568.0 and 557.0 are where Keller Hall, the Guillot University Center, and Powers and LaGrange Halls respectivelv now stand, and all were indeed dormitories at one time. Even though the old Gymnasium is now the Communications Building, it was in fact built and used as a gymnasium shortly after the map was drawn. The gym provided facili- ties for both basketball and indoor swimming. Whenever students walk down the ramp in the Communications Building, you are walking onto the floor of an indoor swimming pool, said Green. When you walked into the gym, as soon as you did, you had that chlorinated smell that comes from the swimming pool, and when vou plaved basketball in there you were playing in a very heated, unairconditioned, high-humidity gvm. While some of the projections came to be, several did not. According to the map, Wesleyan Hall was supposed to have been torn down and a science building built in its place. The Temporary Infirmary is now situated on the other side of Wesleyan Avenue. The Future Men ' s Dormitory 551.0 has become the parking lot for Flowers Hall. The Teachers Homes area now is the site of WillinghamHall. One difference between the old master plan and the current landscape that has greatlv affected all of Florence was the connection of the two segments of Pine Street by way of a bridge. On the map, Pine Street stops at Circular Road and then picks back up several yards farther on. Sometime around 1965, the State of Alabama and the City of Florence connected the previously divided Pine streets. The faculty members that were here said that that was the greatest improvement that had been made to Florence State since thev joined the faculty, said Green. Over the years, this invaluable source of history has been carefully protected bv Green. And now, he promises to take the map to a respected framer and have it matted, framed and put into a very nice display, and present it to Collier Library to be hung there for as long as they want it. Anne Beam Numbers indicated the projected sizes of the buildings.