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Exhibit No. 10

 

Good News (1971)

Photos courtesy of Cindy Rosenthal and Mr. Stephen Piorkowski

 

On the evenings of December 16, 17, and 18, 1971, the Jericho Senior

High School Harlequin Players staged the musical Good News, which had run on Broadway in 1927 and 1928; was made into a movie in 1930; then was remade by MGM in 1947, with Peter Lawford and June Allyson in the starring roles and a screenplay by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. Here we have photos from the play, plus more information and assorted trivia about Good News than you can probably stand. Thanks to Mr. Piorkowski and Cindy Rosenthal for the pix, and to Mr. Piorkowski for sharing his memories of his first attempt at directing a musical.

 

      Director's Cut

 

by Mr. Stephen Piorkowski

 

Believe it or not, putting on a play is as big an event in a teacher's life as it is in the lives of the students. Here are some of my memories:

 

I remember the many nights we spent in the auditorium staging the finale, rehearsing it over and over until we were all

exhausted, thanks to my lack of choreographic experience.

 

I remember going to Homecoming and filming Jimmy Rudy and Peter Green in the "fumble" movie sequence.

 

I remember asking the students to contribute $10 (probably illegally) toward costume purchases to supplement our meager budget.

 

I remember Ms. Connie Foley (art department) working very hard on the scenery and Bob Lipton (my student teacher) being a terrific support person.

 

I remember having a run-in with Benita Zahn that I handled badly and that I regret to this day.

 

I remember thinking I had the perfect cast in Cindy Rosenthal, Jimmy Rudy, Beth Flanders, Peter Green, etc.

 

I remember "discovering" the  talents of Peter Green, Elyse Pepper, and Corey Pepper and changing scenes to showcase them.

 

I remember how much fun Charlie Koppelman was at rehearsals.

 

I remember the happy look on Brett Silvers's face when he saw his parents at intermission.

 

I remember all the camaraderie among the students and their patience with my overwhelmed frustrations. (I'm not musical, and I know nothing about dance, and here I was tackling a musical!)

 

I remember the excitement and happiness on the students' faces when we finally got it right and when the audience

seemed to love it.

 

I remember being so impressed with the whole cast, crew, and orchestra and being so proud of what they had accomplished. I remember feeling so close to the cast when it was over.

 

I remember saying "Never again!" and the next school year going right into planning How To Succeed in Business.

 

The Cast
 

Peter Lawford and

June Allyson

 

In the Movie

 

June Allyson

Peter Lawford

Patricia Marshall

Joan McCracken

Ray McDonald

Mel Torme

Robert Strickland

Donald MacBride

Tom Dugan

Clinton Sundberg

Loren Tindall

Connie Gilchrist

Georgia Lee

Characters

 

Connie Lane 

Tommy Marlowe

Patricia Bingham

Babe O'Day

Bobby Randall

Windy

Peter Van Dyne III

Coach Johnson

Pooch Kearney

Prof. Kenyon

Beef Saunders

Millie

Flo

In Our Play

 

Cindy Rosenthal

James Rudy

Beth Flanders

Elyse Pepper

Peter Green

Jon Cantor

Michael DiPasquale

Tim Manek

Lee Bloomrosen

Celia Felsher

Charles Koppelman

Anne Glussman

Benita Zahn

Jim Rudy and  

Beth Flanders  

s  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other cast members: Omnes (Roberta Eagle), Slats (Michael Gilbert), Sylvester (Corey Pepper), Sylvester's shadow (Doug Baumoel), Jim (Brett Silvers), George (Michael Leshin), Miss Pi Beta (Karen McBride), Sally (Meryl Edelman)

 

Click here for the full playbill.
 

 

< Anne Glussman ('74) and Benita Zahn shake a leg; at right, Michael Gilbert.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elyse Pepper ('74) and, in spiffy bowtie, Peter  Green. >

 

< Peter Green and Elyse Pepper.

 
 
Beth Flanders, Jim Rudy, Benita Zahn, Cindy Rosenthal, Marc Powers. >

 
 
< Peter Green and Beth Flanders.
 
Michael DiPasquale, Jim Rudy, Michael Gilbert, Corey Pepper ('74), and Marc Powers sing the showstopper "Stairway to Heaven." (Maybe it wasn't "Stairway to Heaven ...") >
 

< Michael Leshin and Brett Silvers as George and Jim.

 
 
Jim Rudy and Cindy Rosenthal get up close and personal. >

 
 

< Tim Manek as Coach Johnson and

Lee Bloomrosen as the trainer, Pooch.

 
 

Good News Fact-ites*

 * fact-ites: more substantial than factoids but not quite full-fledged facts ...

 

• Originally, the film was to star Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney under the direction of Busby Berkeley. But MGM studio head Louis B. Mayer suggested that they capitalize on the swing-music craze, so they all plunged into Strike Up the Band instead.

• In real life, Peter Lawford (Tommy Marlowe) spoke fluent French and had to teach the language to June Allyson (Connie).

• The 1927 musical was based on an actual sorority called Pi Beta Phi. However, its name was changed to the fictitious Phi Gamma Gamma for the 1947 movie.

 

• A Broadway revival of Good News, starring Alice Faye, Gene Nelson, and Stubby Kaye lasted only sixteen shows in December 1974─January 1975.

 

• Good news: Plans are underway for Good News to return to Broadway again sometime in 2008, but with a modern-day plot twist. Tommy Marlowe and the entire Tait backfield get busted for trafficking in human growth hormone. The rest of the class shows its school spirit by putting on a talent show in order to raise enough bail money to spring Tommy from the Big House in time for Saturday's Big Game against Barry Bonds Community College.

 

The whole cast.

 

Exhibit No. 11 →