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Class and Faculty talents were again exploited to even greater degree, due to the larger cast and the necessity for designing and constructing new scenery, capable of being disassembled and transported. In front of the footlights this time, we saw Al Russell and Bess Gray in the lead roles, capably supported by Bob Breitweiser, Charlie Stark, Max Van Rossum Daum, Vic Haugen and Nellie Nelson. And we should not overlook the outstanding performance of WAF Sgt Elois Barrett of Reading Lab fame (hence, practically an honorary class member) as one of the "blind mice". Again, the class and faculty came thri with the logistic support. Bob Billingsley as stage manager accomplished that "which couldn't be done" by having the scenery built for rehearsals in one place and the shows in another. Lights and sounds were supplied by Vic Haugen and Nellie Nelson, who "doubled in brass" and appeared also in minor character parts on the stage. Max Van Rossum Daum aided in the design and color scheme for the sets, while Freddie Gray, Al Hebert, Joe Petrolino, Orv Baldwin, Bill Smith, and Sam Gormly rolled up their sleeves, grabbed hammers, saws, paint brushes, spray guns, etc. and built and painted the scenery and stage sets. Ruth Walker demonstrated her versatility by taking charge of the stage properties, assisted by Louise Nelson, and Grace Johnson, while Juanita Hipps, Marguerite Louise Brown, and Joe Van Rossum Daum worked on makeup. Costumes were arranged for by Agnes Schmitz and Frances Van Sickle of the AWC secretarial staff. Pinky Webster was in charge of production.

All in all, the individuals who participated in both plays, whether visible to the audience or not, had a lot of fun putting the shows on, in spite of tedious hours of rehearsals and many obstacles which presented themselves during the preparations. In spite of the fact that most of the actors and stage crews, too, had had little or no previous experience along the line of amateur dramatics, both shows were highly successful as far as the audiences were concerned. Perhaps one significant observation may be made. As afar as this AWC year was concerned, the studies in oral communication and organization, as well as the verbalization exercises in the reading lab, have paid off not only on the rostrum, but also on the Maxwell amateur stage.

And, of course, it's our view that we walked away with the Flower Show. Jo Van Rossum Daum took top honors and Pop Polifka's and Noel Blake's shadow box arrangement had a lot of comment. Pop received the Josephine Hadden award.

While all of this was going on the studies "pressed on" (to quote Stan Wray) and we heard daily from the leading figures of the country. We didn't always buy what they told us and, (do you recall?) they didn't really solve our problems for us. The General said they wouldn't and they didn't. But they gave us much to think about. We found that these things we were dealing with could not, in many cases, be solved in tot. Often our solutions were only tentative and, even more often, incomplete. But we came close to realizing something of their extent and something of what will be required to solve them in the days to come.

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