Highlight April 3-5 on your calendar. That’s when Woodrow’s students present the “Little Shop of Horrors” play at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the school’s auditorium, 100 S. Glasgow. Thirty-five years ago, Woodrow drama teacher Helen Eckleman had a vision. She wanted something more entertaining than the staid senior plays Woodrow and other schools produced. She envisioned singing and dancing, as well as comedy and drama.
The most famous musical of the era, “Oklahoma!”, was just the ticket. Never daunted, Eckleman contacted Rodgers and Hammerstein to obtain performance rights. Her dream took the stage, and another Woodrow tradition was born.
Although Woodrow was first, producing Broadway musicals became a staple at most other schools during the ‘60s. But none eclipsed those of Eckleman and her troupers. During these years, a Woodrow Dance Corps was formed, and elaborate sets (such as a balloon carrying Dorothy back to Kansas in 1968) were built.
When Jerry McKinney took over as director in the early ‘70s, complimentary programs became lengthy tomes filled with pictures of the cast and crew. The program for “Calamity Jane” in 1972 was larger than most yearbooks.
The finale of the McKinney era was “Hello Dolly!”, starring Beverly Brin. In addition to a replica steam locomotive (with smoke), a horse costume used in the Broadway production and Dolly’s extensive trousseau were highlighted by a lighted runway built around the orchestra pit.
In rehearsal, June Russell and Susan Shanks in the horse costume (June brought up the rear) almost galloped off the runway and into history. And Woodrow’s musicals such as “Dolly” nearly fell victim to the same fate, running up a debt of several thousand dollars.
When current director Marca Lee Bircher arrived the following year, principal Wayne Pierce and some teachers were reluctant to continue the musical tradition. But Bircher picked an inexpensive show to stage (“Oliver!” – the costumes consisted primarily of “rags”) and galvanized a stage craft class to build, rather than rent, sets.
Bircher’s talent and enthusiasm made the show a hit, and she helped save the musical tradition. Although the following year’s show, “Fiddler on the Roof”, included more peasant togs, the musical once again made money.
In 1980, the ship set of “Anything Goes”, a multi-level affair used by the Dallas Summer Musicals, and costumes by Carolyn Cox (also real furs and jewels loaned from Szor Diener) brought back the glitz.
Wildcats on the Prowl: 27-4
Twenty-seven to four isn’t the title of an old Chicago song – it’s the margin by which our Wildcats defeated Pinkston in baseball. But the baseball team is only the latest among the athletic department’s star achievers.
After earning a triple crown of district championships in football, cross country and volleyball last fall, the Cats have won a girls’ district swimming championship (the boys finished second), the boys finished third in basketball, and the girls’ basketball team qualified for the playoffs.
Stars on the boys’ golf and girls’ soccer teams include several second- and third-generation Woodrow students. Some of the parents, including James Ostler ‘60s, George Theriot ’61, Steve Holley ’66 and Gregg Hill ’67, have organized the First Annual Tim Brown/Woodrow Wilson Golf Tournament, scheduled at Lakewood Country Club April 13. Call Gregg, 747-2583, for information.
