There are never endings… only new beginnings… The SHS theatre community especially acknowledges the following people: Terry Schoppenhorst for stepping into the role of co-director of an outstanding Springfi eld High School • Schnirring Auditorium show and committing to the next generation of wonderful SHS musical theatre. March 17-19, 2017 Terry has been an invaluable member of this year’s staff, and we look forward to his leadership in the coming seasons! Springfi eld High School Production of T. David Parker for many years of dedication to building and then coordinating beautiful sets for our theatre productions! Beginning in 2005, David has spent many hours behind the scenes working with directors and groups of volunteers to help make SHS musicals come alive for our audiences. Kim Carter Parker for fourteen years of dedication to SHS musical theatre. Kim started with her son, Duncan, as part of the pit orchestra for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in 2004 and has served in many capacities, including producer, for every musical production since. Kim says, “What I am going to miss most is working with the MOST AMAZING parents and their kids over these past years.” Craig Williams II for eight years of outstanding musical theatre at SHS! An “For a moment, in the darkness, SHS alum himself, Craig has poured his heart and soul into creating meaningful we’re the same ...” opportunities for SHS students to perform and participate in theatre education. This is why he is the winner of the 2017 SHS Booster Club Lehman Award for outstanding contributions in extra-curricular activities. Craig will be greatly “Ragtime School Edition” missed! Book by Music by Lyrics by TERRENCE MCNALLY STEPHEN FLAHERTY LYNN AHRENS Based on the novel RAGTIME By E. L. Doctorow “RAGTIME SCHOOL EDITION” is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). www.MTIShows.com 32 Director’s Note SPRINGFIELD HIGH SCHOOL PLAY HISTORY In mid-December I was asked if I would be interested in being co-director of the SHS spring musical. Since my children have been part of the spring musical for 6 years, I • 1991 Wizard of Oz did not hesitate to say “yes.” Unfortunately, this was going to be Craig’s last year. I • 1992 Guys and Dolls didn’t think it quite through. Yes, I’d love to co-direct and replace him, until I thought • 1993 Music Man what lofty goals he had set and achieved through those years. Through my naïvete, I • 1994 Anything Goes still said yes and dove into this musical. Little did I realize how much both he and the • 1995 Bye Bye Birdie student actors would teach me during the last few months. • 1996 Li’l Abner • 1997 The Mikado I dove into “Ragtime,” without hesitation. During my preparation, I soon remembered • 1998 Working from high school the abhorrent atrocities that were occurring in the early 20th • 1999 The Crucible; You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown; century with working conditions and even subjecting children to those same horrors. • 2000 Get Smart; School House Rock Live It did not hit home until I needed to try to duplicate those same conditions. Then it hit • 2001 And Then They Came for Me; Bye Bye Birdie me, although we can only project those conditions by acting, this is why we are here: • 2002 Alice and Wonderland; Pirates of Penance to tell a story. • 2003 The Crucible; Kiss Me Kate • 2004 Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; Much Ado About Nothing This story is arguably the most timeless tale of all. Part of this country was founded • 2005 Guys and Dolls; Arsenic and Old Lace on the free labor of slavery. This particular story emphasizes bigotry, the desire • 2006 Music Man to keep immigrants out of the country, and segregation both institutionally and • 2007 How to Succeed in Business Without Even Trying; A Night of One Acts individually. The student actors are all too familiar with these concepts even though • 2008 Tom Sawyer; The Diary of Anne Frank the play takes place in the fi rst decade of the 20th century. Trying to reconcile • 2009 Oklahoma why they still have to deal with it a dozen decades later is somewhat troubling and • 2010 All Shook Up diffi cult to deal with. • 2011 The Wiz • 2012 Thoroughly Modern Millie; Arsenic and Old Lace Karl Marx remarked “history repeats itself, fi rst as tragedy, second as farce.” I • 2013 Cats; The Foreigner hope and pray that a third time is not required before this vicious cycle is ended. In • 2014 Legally Blonde; The Importance of Being Earnest telling this story, I hope that these students are doing their part in stopping this self- • 2015 Hairspray; A Streetcar Named Desire destructive cycle. It is my desire that you, as audience members, enjoy the strong • 2016 Beauty and the Beast; And Then There Were None music and dialogue of this show. Maybe, then, history wouldn’t have to repeat itself • 2017 Ragtime if we just listen. We are putting together a performance history in honor of the 100 year anniversary. If I dedicate this show to my two children, Jordan and Brad, who were responsible for you have information on any of the missing years please email Ken Gilmore at getting me involved in the theater once again several years ago. [email protected] or by calling the offi ce at 525-3100. A complete up to date list as we receive information is located on Springfi eld High website on the booster page. Terry Schoppenhorst 2 31 SPRINGFIELD HIGH SCHOOL A Fond Farewell PLAY HISTORY To many students, parents and friends who joined me over the last eight years, • 1921 The Honeymoon • 1924 The Tailor Made Man As my eighth and fi nal year of directing the SHS musical comes to a close, I fi nd • 1929 Student Opera myself refl ecting on every moment each student has shared with the history of • 1938 She Stoops to Conquer Springfi eld High and with me. We grooved to Elvis, followed the yellow brick road, danced the Jellicle Ball, got accepted to Harvard, changed the world with big hair • 1951 The Perfect Idiot; You Can’t Take It with You and transformed a beast. And now, we travel back in time to defi ne the face(s) of • 1952 Death Takes a Holiday America. • 1953 Papa is All; Meet Me in St. Louis • 1956 The Skin of Our Teeth; Arsenic and Old Lace But, for me, the most defi nitive memory I recall was presented to me through a • 1957 Mother is a Freshman simple life lesson taught to me by students. “Theater gives voice.” Not just a show • 1958 Gold in the Hills or The Dead Sister’s Secret in itself, but the entire art form. It allows anyone to share a piece of themselves • 1959 Sight Unseen no matter their age, race or background. It is a safe place for all. All it requires is • 1961 Our Team someone to listen. • 1963 Our Town • 1964 The Marriage Proposal; Riders to the Sea; Hope is the Thing with Feathers This simple lesson, unknown to the teacher(s), has changed the way I have • 1965 The Happy Journey to Camden and Trenton; No Count Boy; approached the SHS musical over these last few years. In fact, it has changed the way The Old Lady Shows Her Medals I approach life. Listen, then respond. No, listen, adjust and then respond. Consider • 1966 The Hitch-hiker; The Unsatisfactory Supper; Sorry Wrong Number everything and everyone. Welcome feedback and criticism. Take each and every • 1967 The Man in the Bowler Hat; The Boor; Antic Spring moment as a moment for teaching and for learning. • 1968 The Mouse that Roared; You Can’t Take it with You • 1971 Twelve O’Clock Murder; Impromptu; The Ugly Duckling The Springfi eld STAGE program has been an unforgettable experience I will treasure • 1972 Harvey for a lifetime to come. There are so many people to thank, many of them here in this • 1973 Cactus Flower program, but I want to especially thank Terry & Deb Schoppenhorst, Anna Bussing, • 1974 Barefoot in the Park Christie Lazarides, Damien & Morgan Kaplan, Mark Gifford, Kim & David Parker, • 1975 Come Blow Your Horn and Ryan Blesse, my husband. • 1978 Life with Father Thank you for all of the fond memories and the life changing experiences. • 1981 Hello Dolly • 1982 Guys & Dolls • 1983 Irene Craig • 1985 Barnum • 1988 Dracula • 1989 7 Brides for 7 Brothers • 1990 Bye Bye Birdie 30 3 Musical Numbers Recognitions A C T O N E • SHS Booster Club for their terrifi c fi nancial support of the arts at SHS. • Jill Miller (Stella and Rosa Cole’s Aunt), Graphic Artist, for designing and printing “Ragtime” most of the decorations you see in the hallway. “Admiral Peary’s March” • Erin Weller, Graphic Artist, for designing the awesome locker signs for the kids, the “Goodbye My Love” show posters, banners, tickets, ads for the sjr and design and production of the “Journey On” sponsorship ads and our program. “Evelyn’s Introduction” • Deb Iams for loaning historical items for the display cases and period costumes the “Crime of the Century” kids wore in their immigrant photos that are part of the large hallway fl ag decoration. “Houdini’s Airplane” • Kari Bedford of Kari Bedford Photography for taking the modern day cast “What Kind of Woman” photos and “vintage” immigrant photos that we were able to use in the large hallway “A Shtetl Iz Amereke” American fl ag decoration. “Success” • Harvey Edwards who not only came to almost every build day and let us use his “His Name Was Coalhouse Walker” truck and shoulders to get supplies from Lowe’s, but who also provided lots and lots “The Gettin’ Ready Rag” of battery operated construction toys (and was willing to share!).