West High School - Shaheen Yearbook (Davenport, IA)

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The West Drama Department presented the Festival of One- Acts on December 10 and 11. The shows were designed to introduce people who had not been on the West High stage before. On the first night, the first act of the play. Vanities and the play. Bertha the Bartender's Beautiful Baby were presented. Vanities starred Nikki Bales. Sue Winfield. and Betsy Otis. Mike Cervantes was the director and Patty Duncomb was his assistant. The cast of Bertha the Bartenders Beautiful Baby included Dave Meumann. Jen- nifer Arp. Leann Donovan. Reid Robinson. Christine Holtkamp. Kelly Kranz. Mary Ruefer. jack Broughton. and Rick Eckstein. Paul Holzworth was the play's director and his assistant was Holtkamp. The plays Undertow and He Ain't Done Right by Nell were presented the second night. Undertow. also directed by Holzworth. starred Angie Agan. Kelly Mooney. Lisa Kupitz. Megan Onken. Bev Feldhahn. Connie Weiman. Helle Nielsen. Kim Kelly. and Lori Heath. Kelly was Holzworth's assistant. The stars of He Ain't Done Right by Nell included julie Beattie. Andy Hoyt. Pat Hen- dren, Cheri Wulf. Tammy Byram. Tim Leary. and julie Buesing. The play was directed by senior Jeff Ashcraft. and his assistant was Nancy Heuer. Holzworth commented, I think that it superceded my expectations because more students had an opportunity to develop a characterization than in a major play or musical. I saw excitement and enthusiasm all around me and I saw people really enjoying performing. They all took their parts seriously and had great fun in doing it. I think it was one of the more successful things we've done. 28 All in a play's Work When the lights dim and the curtain opens on another West musical or dramatic production it signals the climax of countless hours of planning, preparation and practice. It is the invisible part of dramatics which involves many people who will not bask in the glory of stage lights and applause. Each spring. Paul Holzworth and Mike Cervantes. directors. sit down with Ron May. musical director. and plan the following year's productions. They work to select works which will interest the audience and will make the best use of the level of talent that they have in the drama and music programs. Production dates are set im- mediately. since the auditorium facilities are often requisitioned a year in advance. Once the dates are set. the scripts are ordered and royalty contracts are signed. Seven to nine weeks before opening night. the hopeful actors and actresses get their first opportunity to perform before an audience. The audience in this case is the directors who will evaluate each performance and select a cast. For those who make it success- fully through the tryouts the work has just begun. For the next six Weeks the cast and director will spend evenings together blocking movement, polishing lines and developing characters. As they enter the final week before opening night. the entire cast and crew work together to put the finishing touches on costumes. sets and the play itself. As the curtain opens on opening night. the hours of planning, preparation and prac- tice all seem worthwhile.

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