souThwoRcJs Vol. 24, no. 14
Maine Township High School South
April 22,1988
Halls alive with Sound of Music Rehearsals are underway for this year's Spring Musical "The Sound of Music." The Music Booster sponsored show is the original stage-script and there are many notable differences between it and the well-known movie. "The Sound of Music" is the story of yoimg Maria Rainier (played jointly by Maura Scott and Kristin Haller) who decides early in life to become a nun without really being able to accept the life. After many improp>erties at the Nonnberg Abbey, the Mother Abbess (Collelte Puczan, Michelle Schneider) decides to give Maria a taste of the outside world and sends her to the home of Captain Von Trapp (Troy McLennan, Mark Lundell), of the Imperial Austrian Navy, to hold the position of governess for his seven children. On the arrival, Maria finds a house of rules, being run by the Captain like a ship in the Navy since the death of his wife. Slowly, Maria gains the respect and love of the children through her personality and her music. She even gains the confidence of the oldest daughter Liesl (Mary Moore, Kristi Altobelli) by providing advice for Liesl's firstlove, Rolf (Mike McGarry). Her position in the household is threatened on the return of the Captain from Vienna and the company of his fiancde, Elsa Schreader (Dawn Baudek, Val NefO and his friend Max Deitweiler (Matthew Johnson, Jake Crampton). As Maria's love for the children and their father becomes known to her, she goes back to the Abbey but returns, knowing that she must follow her fate. "The Sound of Music" is a poignant story set in the last peaceful days of Austria, 1938, before the Aunschluss—the Nazi takeover of Austria that
Sister Berthe (Margit Johanson), on the left, and Mother Abbess (Colette Pusczyn) rehearse for a scene in which they discuss the problems with Maria Rainer. forces the family Von Trapp to eventually flee to Kohl, Nelson Pared6z), and Louisa (Jenny Drozd). Switzerland. The other children are cast from local grade schools Other cast members include the Buder Franz and junior highs. (Dean Westman, Chip Dunn), Sisters Berthe, Margaraita, and Sophia (Michelle Rante, Margit Show dates are April 29,30, May 6 and 7 at 8:00 Johanson, Meredith Brammeier, Mary Beth Haase, with matinees May 1 andMay 8 at3:00 in the Clyde Meg Filkens, and Nadine Aloisio), Admiral Von K. Watson Auditorium. Tickets are available in the Schrieber (Scott Duerkop), Herr Zeller ("Andrew bookstore and at the door for $4.00.
Brammeier, Pinto sctioiar semifinalist Meredith Brammeier and Jay Pinto have been named Presidential Scholar Semi-finalists. The 500 Semifinalists in the 1988 Presidential Scholars Program were named at the beginning of April. The United States Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964 by Executive Order of the President to recognize and honor our nation's most distinguished high school seniors. The Program was extended in 1979 to include recognition of students with exceptional demonstrated talent in the visual, creative and performing arts. Annually, 141 students are chosen from among the most outstanding graduating seniors to receive the nation's highest honor awarded to high school students. Those students who become Presidential Scholars are chosen on the basis of their accomplishments in many areas—academic and artistic success, demonstrated leadership, involvement in school and community. The scholars are representative of the achievement of excellence in
education and of the promise of greamess in young jjeople. In honoring the Presidential Scholars, the President of the United States symbolically honors all American graduating high school seniors of high potential. From the 500 Semifinalists, 141 graduating high school students will be selected next month as Presidential Scholars, the Nation's highest distinction bestowed upon exceptional high school seniors. The 500 Semifinalists were selected from some 1,500 students who were identified as potential candidates for the program on the basis of their exceptional test scores. These 1,500 were selected from the pool of nearly three million students who will graduate from U.S. high schools in 1988. The Semifinalists were chosen by a distinguished panel of educators on the basis of their lest scores on eith the Scholastic Aptitiude Test (SAT) or American College Test (ACT), grade point
average, contributions to the school and community, essays, self-assessments, recommendations and transcripts. In early May, the White House will aimounce the names of the 141 Presidential Scholars who will be selected from the 500 Semifinalists. They will include one young man and woman from each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and American students living abroad, 20 students selected ttom the creative and performing arts, and 15 students selected ai-large. Final selection of the 141 Scholars will be made by the Commission on Presidential Scholars, a group of 50 eminent citizens appointed by the President. Scholars will be invited to Washington June 12-16 for National Recognition Week, where they will receive the Presidential Scholar medallion at a While House ceremony and participate in activities with their elected representatives, educators and others in public life.