PRINCETON DAY SCHOOL Vol. 3, No. 1 Fall/Winter 1984-1985 ALUMNI NEWSLETTER New Role for Chris Reeve Chris Reeve, PDS ’70, has had some tough assignments in his acting career. His roles have ranged from a legless Vietnam veteran to the invincible Superman and he has handled those demanding parts with success. However, he confessed to ner­ vousness at the prospect of returning to Princeton to face a hometown audience that remembered him as a child and teenager. He needn’t have worried. The Alumni Council sponsored "An Afternoon with Christopher Reeve" on Sun­ day, February 10th. Chris starred at the reception as well as in the special benefit showing of "The Bostonians" which preceded it. The film, which closely follows the Henry James novel on which it is based, depicts the women's suffrage movement and the battle of wills between Chris, as a Southern gentleman, and co-star Vanessa Redgrave as they try to possess a young girl’s affections and loyalty. The film and Chris’ performance received rave reviews from the critics as well as from thePrin- ceton audience of over 200 who saw it at Kresge Auditorium on the Princeton University campus. (Both the costumes and Miss Redgrave were nominated for Academy Awards.) The proceeds benefited the PDS Scholarship Fund. Vanessa Redgrave, Madeleine Potter and Christopher Reeve 70 in "The Bostonians.” Chris began his American acting career in the popular soap opera, “Love of Life.” His big break came when he starred with Katharine Hepburn in "A Matter of Gravity” on Broadway. His other Broadway appearance was in "Fifth of July" as Ken Talley, Jr., the Vietnam veteran. He made his London stage debut recently in "The Aspern Papers,” again starring with Vanessa Redgrave in a Henry James adaptation. His PDS alumni: (standing) Roger Williams 73, Molly Sword 73, Chris, Kip Herrick 75, Janet Masterton films include “Somewhere in Time," a haunting romance, "Deathtrap,” an intricate Schrope 70. Meg Brinster Michael 70, Lesley Loser Johnston '66; (kneeling) George Treves 71, mystery with Michael Caine, “The Aviator," and, of course, “Superman” and its two Yuki Moore Laurenti 75. Wendy Lawson-Johnston McNeil 70. sequels. On March 25th, he made his television film debut in “Anna Karenina” with After the film, alumni, students, parents and friends were able to meet Chris at the Jacqueline Bisset. reception at Morven. The afternoon was great fun for everyone and Chris was able to Although he’s unable to get back to Princeton very often, Chris manages a relax and renew old friendships with classmates and teachers. transatlantic existence, traveling between homes in New York City and London. He Herbert McAneny was Chris’ first director at PDS. Chris appeared in the 1969 PDS and Gae Exton, a designer and model agency executive, have a young son and production of ‘‘Watch on the Rhine” and the musical, “Little Mary Sunshine.” He also daughter. served as president of the drama club. He apprenticed at Williamstown Theatre Festival in Massachusetts where he still appears frequently in productions. After On behalf of the Alumni Association, we thank Chris for a wonderful afternoon attending Cornell and the Juilliard School in New York, he toured with repertory and for giving so graciously of his time. theaters in England and joined the Old Vic in London. He has also been a member of More on Chris Reeve on Page 2. the Comedie Francaise. Chris and former teachers, Ginny Lockwood, Herbert McAneny and Alice Archer. Page 2 PDS Alumni Newsletter Alumni Artists Display Work A very exciting Alumni Art Exhibition opened on November 16th with over 75 entries from 48 alumni filling the newly renovated Anne Reid Art Gallery. Entries arrived from alumni from all over the US and abroad. They included a Vermont cabinetmaker, a painter in Italy, an industrial designer in Denmark, a film “special effects" expert in California, a fashion designer in New York, a collagist in Rhode Island, and a photographer and illustrator in Princeton. Chris with his mother, Barbara Johnson, and two PDS Panthers. It was especially rewarding to hear from a new segment of our alumni consti­ You’ll Be Hearing From Us.... tuency. Katharin Huntington Anin from the Miss Fine’s class of 1910 sent a copy of her book about Richmond, Massachusetts and several PCD graduates were repres­ ented in the mediums of oil. watercolor, bronze and wood. May 5, 1985 is the date of the Alumni Phonathon. If you haven’t yet made your donation to the Annual Fund, we may be calling you. We would like to see more participation from our alumni and encourage everyone to contribute, regardless of the amount. Although we love to chat with old friends, you can make the job of our volunteers much easier if you send in your check before the Phonathon. Our thanks to the volunteers who made calls at our Phonathons on May 6, 1984 and December 13, 1984. Connie Sayne Ban '68 M olly Sword '75 Steven Cragg ’78 Fran Treves '74 Meg Brinster Michael ’70 George Treves '71 Martha Sullivan Sword ’73 Sarah W oodworth '79 Visitors were impressed by the professionalism of the show as well as its diversity. The exhibit helped to build a bond between alumni and present students at PDS and offered encouragement to those students interested in pursuing an artistic career. Students Pursue Lively Arts The Lively Arts Fund, established in memory of Moyne Smith, has swelled to over $9,000. The fund enables students to apply for grants to attend performances, workshops or other events in the field of the lively arts that they would not be able to afford otherwise. One of the best features of the fund is its flexibility. Steven Cragg 78 and Sarah Woodworth 79 helped man the phones at last spring's Phonathon at Colross. MADELINE WEIGEL RETIRING For many of us, Madeline Weigel was our first teacher. She helped smooth the transition from home to school and became our “mother” for a large part of our day. “Miss Weigel” will retire in June after 43 years teaching kin­ dergarten. She served as Head of the Lower School from 1951-1973. A party in her honor will be Several PDS students have taken advantage of the fund and their projects prove held on the Colross lawn on Fri­ the diversity of interests served by the fund. The application fee was paid for a day, June 7th at 5:00 p.m. Alumni student wishing to enter the 1984 Arts Recognition and Talent Search. Three are invited to come by and join us members of the Drama Club attended McCarter Theatre workshops on make-up, in extending our best wishes to costuming and lighting. A sophomore who does lighting for PDS productions asked this very special lady. If you are for aid in attending "Showlight ’85," an international symposium on theater, televi­ unable to come on the 7th, do try sion and film lighting. Two students have applied to the National Youth Theatre of to write and let Madeline know Great Britain for an intensive four week summer course in drama in London. The what you’ve been up to since you Lively Arts Fund will supply financial aid if they are accepted in the program. In all were five years old! Pictures and cases, the students will share their experiences with other students. notes may be sent to Madeline The vitality of this fund serves as a fitting memorial to Moyne Smith who was Weigel, PDS, P.O. Box 75, Prince­ always available to help and counsel her friends and students. Contributions to the ton, NJ 08542. Let her know you fund are welcome at any time. Checks may be made payable to PDS Lively Arts remember those first schooldays. Fund. PDS Alumni Newsletter Page 3 in the summer at their cottage at the New M itchell Osborne writes, "My husband, Fred, Jersey shore. Joan says she loves Medford and I are going, on February 20th, for ten days Leas and it was a good move from taking care to Key West, Florida to visit mu sister, Eliza­ of a house in Princeton. Anne Long Day lives beth (Bishy) Mitchell Beatty ’28 in her new at 114 Cedar Street, Wallace, ID 83873. Haven't home. Ourson, Frederick S. Osborne, Jr. PCD heard from her in ages. Nancy Goheen Finch '55, has been named Director of the School of and her husband, Jerry, live at 99 McCosh the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. He Circle, Princeton, NJ 08540. Didn't hear this will take up this work on April 1st of this year, time, but Nancy has been a good correspond­ leaving the directorship of Continuing Studies ent. Mary Love Glenn, Yacht C lub Road, Cen­ at the Philadelphia College of Art, a position tre Island, Oyster Bay, NY 11771, writes that he has held for over seven years. He will con­ last summer she spent three weeks in San tinue as one of the directors of the Vermont EDITORS: Miguel de Allende, Mexico, a fascinating na­ Studio School, a summer art school for pro­ tional monument town. This winter she is at fessionals and advanced students, of which he David C. Bogle home on her windy bluff. All her children live was a co-founder. Our daughter, Lydia Linda Maxwell Stefanelli ’62 nearby. Her daughter, Sarah, has three child­ Osborne Sferra '65, who was in the Alumni ren and she is teaching remedial reading. Office of Princeton University before, and in Woody is running the big machine at Brook- the early years of her marriage, returned after haven Laboratory, Will, who has two children, ten years spent in having and getting started handles a new securities division system at theirtwo children.