Posted on Tue, Apr. 16, 2002 Take a trip to the South Pacific with Skyline show By B. Roscoe STAFF WRITER It's spring, and things are blossoming everywhere, including talent on display in Skyline High School's latest musical production, taking place Wednesday through Saturday in the newly renovated Rawley Farnsworth Auditorium. The theater renovation is the result of three years of fund-raising that will culminate in a gala celebration and dedication on June 1. A large portion of the funding was made possible by a grant from one of Skyline's most famous alumni -- Tom Hanks, via the Tom and Rita Hanks Foundation. "This show is being done as a tribute to Tom Hanks, because it was the last show he did while he was here," said Jan Hunter, director of Skyline's Performing Arts Academy. Hanks performed in the production in 1974. The story takes place on a Naval base in the Soloman Islands in 1943. The Navy wants to wants to employ French planter Emile de Becque, who lives on the island, to scout the nearby Japanese-held islands and sends nurse Nellie Forbush to win him over. Making up the cast and crew are 45 students in grades 9-12. This production includes 11th graders Darcy Shiber-Knowles as Ensign Nellie Forbush, Jonathan Smothers as Emile de Becque, and Alexis Johnson as Bloody Mary, the island philosopher who sings the famous number "Bali H'ai." Senior Christen Scott plays Lt. Cable. "I take a lot of pride in my diverse casts. I do colorblind casting," said Hunter. She also casts students for whom English is a second language. The large cast includes Polish exchange student Kamil Zareba, a junior, as one of the sailors. Making a splash Freshman Jeremy Kahn won the role of Luther Billis. "When I auditioned, I didn't expect to get a big role. I thought I'd be a sailor or something," Kahn admitted. He is well aware that he's following in some large footsteps -- Hanks played Billis on the same stage 28 years before him. Nevertheless, he's pleased about the coincidence. "(Hanks) is kind of like a role model to me. You know, he's an actor and does all kinds of stuff," said Kahn. The earnest freshman was a bit flustered when asked what he would tell the two-time Academy Award winner if he has the opportunity to speak with him at the June 1 gala. "I'd probably tell him that he's great, and I really like all the movies he's in," said Kahn. Kahn is not a member of the Performing Arts Academy. He chose not to enter that Skyline academy as a freshman, so he could instead observe it first and make a more informed decision. His experiences so far have helped him to decide that he does want to audition to be in the academy next year. "I'm really, really interested in theater. I'd love to study it in college, but that's a little ways off," said Kahn The students are appreciative of the contributions Hanks has made to the school that have enabled the fund-raising committee to provide a cosmetic and functional facelift for the facility including new electrical, lighting and sound systems. "The kids are very, very grateful for these things. They think he's a great actor, and they're proud to go to the same school he did. But that's not what pushes them," said Hunter. "It's a love of the arts and a need for creative expression." That, coupled with this year's history-making best actor and best actress (Academy) Awards, each to African-Americans, has given these students even more confidence in their ability to succeed. "They see themselves as being able to get an Oscar," said Hunter, "and that goes for the Asians and Latinos, too. "If the door is open then you all walk through -- and that is a quote from the kids," said Hunter. South Pacific is a challenging show to mount, owing largely to the fact that this Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein production is "from an earlier style of musicals," explained Hunter. "It's difficult to mount because the sets change randomly, and there's a large cast," she said. "It's been hard. It's been a joy, but it's been hard." Many of the challenges are technical. There are numerous scenes in each of the two acts. The crew must deal with a traveler -- a thin curtain behind the grand curtain that reduces the depth of the stage, creating a different space temporarily for the actors. "This show was written where the traveler is used every other scene," Hunter explained while stage crew member Delayne Medoff, a senior, struggled to move it into place during a rehearsal last Friday. Additionally, there are two scrims (backdrops that can be opaque or semi-transparent, depending upon the lighting), a pagoda set that weighs 700 pounds and a brand new multimedia projection system that helps create scene changes by illuminating a photograph on a scrim. Stage manager Danny Buell, an 11th grader, said Skyline is the only high school in the Bay Area that uses such a sophisticated system, a claim confirmed by Hunter. Such a large and complicated production requires significant help behind the scenes, as well in front of the curtain. In addition to Skyline teacher Gary Quinn and his stage crew, many of whom are seasoned theater hands, Hunter talked about how fortunate she is to have the contribution of volunteers. Sheri Keatzel is a librarian at Redwood Heights Elementary and a Skyline graduate herself. For the last four years, she has also volunteered to serve as the school's sole costume manager. "One parent for the last four years, and I've always been able to count on her," said Hunter. Kaetzel was also in the South Pacific production with Hanks in 1974. Libby Trull is the show's choreographer. Neither a parent nor a teacher, Trull is a community member who heard about Skyline's productions and called to see if there was any way she could contribute. A professional dancer and choreographer from North Carolina, Trull had a very useful background. Hunter put her right to work. As with each of the school's performances, participants have contributed an enormous amount of time and energy in preparing the show. "There's something incredibly infectious about applause. They're doing this because they love doing it. It brings them praise. And how often do they get praise?" asked Hunter. |
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