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Show divided into two separate seasons. Fall's Heritage Season introduced the Pioneer Memorial Company, a resident company created upon the premise that the more professional the theatre, the better the training for the student and the better service for the community. They were made up of two teachers, Dr. Keith Engar and Dr. H.E.D. Redford, six graduate students, ten undergraduate students, and community players when needed. Heritage Season was comprised of classics from the American, French, and British theater. The first production was "Front Page" on October 2-10, directed by Dr. Keith Engar. It was in essense a caricature drawing the good guys versus the bad guys in the American conflict between politicians and newspaper reporters of the 1920's. Leon Ames took the leading role of Walter Burns and the audience responded with delight. The second production was "Figaro's Marriage", a French classical on October 23 to November 1, directed by Dr. H.E.D. Redford. A highly animated musical dealing with personal relationships and the generation gap, it was a gay and witty production. Heritage Season wound up with Leo Genn as "Dr. Faustus", November 13-22, under the direction of Dr. Edgar. The deeply moving and involved character of Dr. Faustus, presented the gutty and groveling man with all of the present-day conflicts that man faces today. Broadway Season, which opened in the Winter, presented two musicals, one comedy, and a touring musical, "Walking Happy," which was chosen by the American Educational Theater Association and the USO as one of thirteen university productions to tour for the armed forces. The first musical was "The Apple Tree," directed by Ralph Margetts. The second was a comedy, "Don't Drink the Water," February 19-28, directed by Robert Hyde Wilson. This proved to be a delightful comedy of world-wide chaos. And third, was "Man of La Mancha," a well-known Broadway musical directed by Byron McGrath. Students and community were featured in the three Broadway Season plays. 88 |