Reply With QuoteFirst photos, "Beauty and the Beast" - runs through Sunday
Musical premieres tonight - I guarantee you will be blown away and think you are on Broadway!
Kathy Johnson and Duward Sumner in the 1958 production of "Oklahoma"
Sumner will attend Friday's performance.
http://eastdallastimes.com/2010/04/1...otes/#more-899
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East Dallas Times
The times of your community, the times of your life
Musical footnotes
By Bruce Felps
The tradition of stellar musicals continues at Woodrow Wilson High School this week when the curtain goes up on “Beauty and the Beast” at 7:30 p.m., April 15, in the school auditorium.
As the cast and crew put the finishing touches on the show, I thought we’d run down a few side notes associated with the musical.
The first in this long line took place in 1958 when “Oklahoma” started the musical tradition. The show starred Kathy Johnson and Duward Sumner, the latter of whom will take in this year’s performance during the April 16 show, so welcome home Duward.
“Beauty and the Beast” producers and organizers still need a little volunteer help to make sure all goes swimmingly. They need help in the girls dressing room, and interested moms can contact Lori to pitch in. They also need ushers to help audience members find and take their seats. E-mail Cindy Bailey to tell people where to go.
Volunteers can earn props by helping out with the … wait for it … props. The props committee needs help with finalizing the stage sets and with arranging show props for easy actor access before the performances and putting away said props after the final curtain falls. Contact Beverly Regan to get in on the act.
Finally, the Woodrow Canteen, the show commissary, needs servers. Let Claire Hailey or Kathy Arnold know you’re there for them.
First photos, "Beauty and the Beast" - runs through Sunday
Woodrow Senior Dinner May 24, 2010
PTA President Patrick Luna
Freshman Drew Scherger and Kay Ellingson, wife of Kent Ellingson Choir Director
Freshman Anthony Duran
Woodrow Principal Ruth Allen Vail '91 and Advocate Newspapers publishers and Woodrow parents Rick and Sally Wamre
Senior Class President Nick Muston (accepted to UT Plan 2 Honors)
Class Vice President Kenly Ashbrook delivers the blessing. She's headed to A&M and her brother is at USC
Class Treasurer John Matusewicz welcomes the guest speaker. John will also be UT Plan 2.
Actor Burton Gilliam "Blazing Saddles" graduated in 1956 and was guest speaker.
"Bubba" rouses the crowd
The family of Dr. Percy Luecke enjoys dinner and the program. The Lueckes have three generations and 18 familly members from Woodrow, including granddaughter Emily Young in the senior class.
Melody Coffee '10 introduces teacher Alvaro Cantu. She plans to study Chemical Engineering
Teacher Alvaro Cantu who is a graduate of Greenhill
Class President, Emily Young and alums.
Woodrow senior Chelsea Felton chats with film star Burton Gilliam, class of ’56 and keynote speaker at the senior dinner. Felton cut her teeth on acting at Woodrow. She has been in the annual musicals — this year playing Madam del la Grande Bouche in “Beauty and the Beast.” She is a member of the New Conservatory of the Dallas Orchestra, went to state in UIL ensemble competition, and even placed second in district in tennis. She will attend Washington State University this fall
The Saldaña sisters...
Michael Kuers and Burton Gilliam
Madison Mathews and Gilliam. Mathews is headed to Austin College with classmate Laura Tepera
Gilliam and Barbara Byrd Adamson graduated together in 1956. Her granddaughter has applied to Woodrow Pre-IB for the fall.
Watch out World!
Last edited by Lakewooder; 25 May 2010 at 05:09 PM.
http://eastdallastimes.com/2010/06/0...g-experiences/
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East Dallas Times
Imparting Wisdom, Sharing Experiences
June 9, 2010
Angelo’s Italian Grill recently played host to the second annual Woodrow Top Ten Dinner.
The dinner served as an opportunity for the top ten from the Woodrow Wilson High School class of 2009 to pass on their collective college wisdom gained during the past 12 months to the top ten from the class of 2010 and to offer their congratulations.
The event was started last year by Susan Matusewicz, a Woodrow mom, and Bernadette Fisher of Angelo’s.
The students offer a big “thank you” to Angelo’s for the donation of the dinner.
Since there are too many name to list in the limited space of the photo caption field, we’ll just do it here. Starting left to right at the back of the table pictured to the top left of the image, and continuing that pattern, we have:
Sean Draper, ’09; John Matusewicz, ’10; Sarah Delph, ’09; Nick Muston, ’10; Brenna Buchanan, ’09; Ryder Billings, ’10; Kate Pederson, ’09; Joe Marshall, ’10; and Andrea Graham, ’09.
At the bottom right table sit Tara Huffman, ’10; Katie Cunningham, ’09; Rachel Godat, ’10; Emily Young, ’10; Rachael Regan, ’09; Melody Coffee, ’10; and Cole Heiner, ’10.
Thanks to Becky Pederson for providing the information and to Laura Graham, who took the photo.
-Ryan
- - - - - - -
When you have given nothing, ask for nothing.
Woodrow graduate Leslie McDonel '98, a cast member of "American Idiot", performed twice on the Tony Awards last night:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWn6BNnVgoE
She has previously performed in Broadway and touring versions of "Hairspray" and "Legally Blonde". Back in her days at "The Shrine" she trod the boards in "Sugar", "High Button Shoes", "Crazy for You" and "Wizard of Oz".
Although the show did not win best musical, it won the Tony Award for Best Scenic Design of a Musical and the Tony Award for Best Lighting Design of a Musical.
The American Idiot show, which is based on Green Day’s Grammy-winning album of the same name, It is currently showing at the St. James Theatre in Manhattan. In March, McDonel's Woodrow director, Marca Lee Bircher, was treated to complimentary front row seats for the show.
McDonel and the cast has also performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PG3ACTP9fws
Last edited by Lakewooder; 14 June 2010 at 07:19 PM.
http://www.whiterocklakeweekly.com/c...-they-now.html
Leslie in the 1998 "Wizard of Oz" program at Woodrow - Travis Willingham also became a star.
Prior to her role in “American Idiot,” Leslie made her Broadway debut in “Hairspray” with Harvey Fierstein and Marissa Jaret Winokur, and appeared in the show’s first national tour. She was also in the first national touring company of “Legally Blonde.” The singer-dancer-actor attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City, and earned a BFA in musical theater from the New School University.
According to Marca Lee Bircher, retired WW theater teacher who directed Leslie as a student, “I spotted her in 7th grade when she performed at JL Long Middle School. I said, ‘Whoa. This is a real talent.’ I saw her again in 8th grade, and thought, ‘this child is amazing.’ I immediately told her she had a future,” the teacher continued. Mrs. Bircher was her choir director, and directed her in the school’s musicals, including “The Wizard of Oz” in which she played Dorothy her senior year; and “Crazy for You” her junior year, in which she also played the lead. Bircher directed McDonel in “Sugar” and “High-Button Shoes” her first two years at Woodrow.
Last edited by Lakewooder; 24 June 2010 at 03:41 PM.
Woodrow Wilson High School legacy, historian Bradley Sue Howell shares lifetime devotion to school
http://neighborsgoblog.dallasnews.co...lson-high.html
Since 1951, Bradley Sue Howell has worn many hats on Woodrow Wilson's campus.
She has been a student, a parent, a grandparent, a volunteer for various departments, an employee, the PTA president and board member, a School-Based Decision Making member and a substitute teacher, and with no sure sign of letting up anytime soon, she will undoubtedly continue to influence many more.
"There are so many people here I've known and kept up with," Howell said. "I just love it. "
Read White Rock neighborsgo editor Kendall Kirkham's full story on Bradley Sue Howell here:
http://neighborsgo.com/index.php?pag...&post_id=58283
Story:
neighborsgo.com: post your community news
Full issue:
http://static1.smallworldlabs.com/ne.../whiterock.pdf
Runs tonight through Sunday afternoon matinee
What do you think of the proposed addition to Woodrow Wilson HS?
http://lakewood.advocatemag.com/2011...ool-expansion/
DAGNABBIT!
Wow. So much for DISD and the administrators having any ethics.
http://www.dallasnews.com/news/educa...ilson-high.ece
Ground breaking for new wing today:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee279/lakewooder/WOODROW%20GROUND%20BREAKING%20Science%20-%20Arts%20Addition/GBFIRST.jpg[/IMG]
Last edited by Lakewooder; 23 May 2011 at 04:02 PM.
Interesting story on desegregation and the natural integration of Woodrow -- will give you some insight -- I think I am in one of these photos! http://lakewood.advocatemag.com/2011/07/a-gray-matter/
I haven't been on the board in a little while and was surprised to see this was not posted: http://lakewood.advocatemag.com/2011...ctoral-degree/ and http://lakewood.advocatemag.com/2011...ool-principal/ . Vail was supposed to be some sort of education whiz, but the word I am hearing from many in the community is that most of her work was PR and the academic gains were a sham. Woodrow was propping up grades of failing students to keep up the facade (as Casper pointed out above), and most recently they were declared Academically Unacceptable by the TEA. Not. Good. News.
I don't know much about Mr. Richardson, but I hope he is able to somewhat steady the ship. Parents with kids going to LW are NOT happy with the turnover and I would not be surprised if few ever see the halls of Long, much less WW. It will take several years of strong performance as it related to IB for this scandal to blow over.
Nothing scandalous here - Stonewall Jackson, J.L. Long and Woodrow all have the regional school for the deaf and all suffered a drop in ratings because special education scores were counted this year. For an excellent explanation see:
http://eastdallastimes.com/2011/08/0...80%99s-rating/
http://www.danbranch.com/index.php?o...mid=18&lang=en
As for what "LW" parents think:
http://lakewood.advocatemag.com/2011...ble-who-cares/
If you really knew the pulse of the community you would know that many people see getting Principal Richardson as quite a coup. He took Marsh to Recognized in his last three years there. He has been recruited by W.T. White and Hillcrest in the past but was not ready to leave Marsh.
His children were in IB at Garland and he has Woodrow relatives from the 50s, 60s and 70s.
So quite a few people are ecstatic.
Last edited by Lakewooder; 26 August 2011 at 11:49 AM.
Last edited by Lakewooder; 21 March 2012 at 03:20 PM.
Very interesting article. I grew up at Lakewood Country Club. Very interesting to here how it and the area were back then.Originally Posted by Lakewooder
Still a long way to go... but definitely some progress...
The cast of "Do You Hear the People Sing" will be rehearsing Wednesday at Woodrow Wilson High and interacting with the students in our Performing Arts Academy. The concert starring Brian Stokes Mitchell, Lea Salonga, Stephanie J. Block, Terrence Mann, Marie Zamora, Peter Lockyer, the Dallas Pops Orchestra and the Turtle Creek Chorale will be presented Friday at the AAC.
Do You Hear The People Sing - Coming to the American Airlines Center March 23rd - YouTube
The show was created by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg, composer and lyricist for Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, Pirate Queen, and more.
This arena spectacular show is modeled after the 25th Anniversary concert of Les Miserables held earlier this year at the 02 Arena in London. The American Airlines Center concert will feature a two level stage with larger-than-life video screens and state-of-the-art sound system. The show follows the sold-out run of Les Miserables at the AT&T Performing Arts Center.
Woodrow Wilson High performed "Les Miserables" as its 48th annual Broadway Musical in 2005.
Woodrow Wilson High School presents its 55th Annual Broadway Musical,
"Thoroughly Modern Millie"
April 19 - 22
Click http://www.woodrowwildcats.org/PERFO...3/Default.aspx for info and tickets - tickets also sold at Lakewood Whole Foods.
Woodrow finished as the top school in the George W. Bush Institute/St. Mark's Debates last Saturday:
(my photo)
Woodrow earns $5,250 in scholarships at Bush debate | Advocate Magazine
Winner Barrett Blaker, who went to the state tournament in March with the Woodrow team, was invited to sit with George W. Bush at his table.
In January, they competed in a Houston tournament sponsored by the Texas Bar Association. In October 2011, the team participated in the Bickel & Brewer Foundation International Public Policy Forum. In April 2010 they won their division in the third annual Chase Urban Debate National Championship in New York City.
Yale Alley Cats to perform at Woodrow Fundraiser
Woodrow alumnus Ryder Billings, far left.
Ryder Billings, a Gates Scholar and 2010 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High, will be performing with his singing group at Yale, the Alley Cats, at the school at 7 pm on Friday, January 11, 2013.
The program will be a fundraiser for the performing arts academy at Woodrow and tickets will be $10. They may be purchased in advance at https://yalealleycats.ticketbud.com/woodrow
The venue will be the auditorium of the historic building at 100 S. Glasgow, Dallas, Texas 75214. The new $14 million science and performing arts wing, with its dressing rooms, costume shop and choir performance hall and black box theater, will also be utilized.
Ryder is the business manager of the group. While at Woodrow, he starred in many plays and the famous Broadway Musicals, which began in 1958 at the school. This was a first in public schools. Ryder is the first of two Gates Millennium Scholars from the school, the most recent being Dayna Martin in the class of 2013. He is also an Eagle Scout. He is majoring in Biomedical Engineering at Yale.
In 2009, the Princeton Tigertones, a similar glee group, performed at Woodrow with alumnus Thomas Simpson, class of 2007. Simpson was subsequently elected president of the group.
Founded in 1943, the Yale Alley Cats have since come to be recognized as one of the most well-traveled collegiate a cappella ensembles in the world. In recent years, they have performed on national television for Martha Stewart; entertained a host of celebrities including Dustin Hoffman and Sylvester Stallone; sung to President Obama, former President Bill Clinton, Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke, and Her Majesty Queen Silvia of Sweden. This year, their travels will take them from the rolling hills of Switzerland and Germany, to the bustling cities of Southeast Asia, but not before they stop by Texas for the first time in the group's history .
Any Dallas area student may apply to International Baccalaureate or one of the other college prep academies at Woodrow. See new video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?featur...&v=3m-tANAKL5w
Woodrow finished as the top school in the George W. Bush Institute/St. Mark's Debates last Saturday:
(my photo)
Woodrow earns $5,250 in scholarships at Bush debate | Advocate Magazine
Winner Barrett Blaker, who went to the state tournament in March with the Woodrow team, was invited to sit with George W. Bush at his table.
In January, they competed in a Houston tournament sponsored by the Texas Bar Association. In October 2011, the team participated in the Bickel & Brewer Foundation International Public Policy Forum. In April 2010 they won their division in the third annual Chase Urban Debate National Championship in New York City.
I love hearing about this stuff... thanks for posting.
The thing that i am left wondering... and i think DISD and Woodrow have got to figure out an answer to, is... how do you explain (sell) to the greater public that for many students these are great schools that give a great education. I have read countless studies that all show that if the students parents are involved in their education then they can go to most any school and do well. (This is indipendent of the students capabilities) I really think it is critical for Dallas and the school system to get that message out. Clearly even though Woodrow as a whole may not be passing the state tests at the level it needs to... Great education is going on by highly dedicated people.
And to parents in the suburbs that might be willing to move downtown... your child will still do well in urban schools because you will still be involved in your childs education.
More good news:
Woodrow Mock Trial Team advances to State
The Woodrow Wilson High School Mock Trial Team has qualified to compete in the State Texas High School Mock Trial competition to be held March 8-9 in Dallas. The Dallas ISD teams advancing to state were announced at the Mock Trial Awards Luncheon on February 12, at the Belo Mansion. Three Woodrow team members received special recognition at the awards luncheon: Stephanie Arnold and Luke Whitten were nominated for Best Advocate, and Kimberly Tepera was nominated for Best Witness. Woodrow was the only school to receive two Best Advocate nominations. The other DISD qualifying teams are from Booker T. Washington, Skyline, and Judge Barefoot Sanders Law Magnet. Out of 160 teams that began the competition in regions state-wide, Woodrow is one of 24 remaining teams that will compete at state. The Wildcats are coached by Mr. Mike Buchanan who is the parent of two Woodrow grads. Other coaches are Mr. Adam Greenfield and Mr. Ed Cloutman, both recent Woodrow alumni. The team sponsor is alumna Ms. Catherine Pate who teaches AP and IB World History and AP and IB Human Geography at Woodrow.
In 2008 the team finished second in state and the next year was invited to Harvard University for a week-long workshop and competition.
http://lakewood.advocatemag.com/2013...wing-saturday/
At noon on Saturday, March 23, the leaders of Woodrow Wilson High School and other community members will host a dedication ceremony for the new arts and science wing at Woodrow, followed by an open house.
The $14 million building, which was funded as a part of the 2008 DISD bond election, is three stories and 40,000 square feet. It includes 19 classrooms and science labs, a two story rehearsal hall, a dance studio, dressing rooms, a black box theater and all kinds of other goodies.
Woodrow alumni, this is your opportunity to take a walk down memory lane and see the changes the school has made since the good ole days when you ran the halls. But also, for those neighbors who are not of Woodrow, if you’ve ever wanted a peek inside, the open house is for you too.
There will be presentations and performances by various groups, and refreshments will be served. The ribbon cutting starts around noon and should last about 20 minutes. Afterwards, you can wander the halls until 3 p.m.
Woodrow's 56th Musical, "Anything Goes" runs from April 18 - 21
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpTxTC3ggGw
Tickets are available at Whole Foods Lakewood, Veritex Community Bank and at the door.
See: http://woodrowwildcats.org/performin...pring-musical/
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