The Washington times., 1922-03-05
YOUNG PLAYERS
ARE GIVEN
PARTS
Productions of Merit Are
Chosen to Give Scholastic
Talent the Long-Waited
Chance for Showing Their
Ability on Stage.


~ HOUGH the first breath of
spring has been dampened
by snowflakes so soon, Wash
ington high schools are starting
to prepare earnestly for their
spring plays. AS surely as warm
weather rolls around, the Dis
trict schools annually give to the
public an exhibition of student
dramatic talent.
These spring plays are always
awaited with interest, as the
pleasurable anticipation grows
from the beginning of the Lenten
season to the weeks when the
young artists are revealed, bril-
liant in the splendor of a foot
light shower, as stage curtains
are lifted.
RIVALRY is INTENSE.
Rivalry among the students IN
terested in dramatics is always
intense, and many anxious mo-
ments have been experienced by
those awaiting the assignment OF
parts during the next week.
Every District school possesses
q first class dramatic club, ana
several times this year their ef'
forts on the stage have met win
success. Christmas plays were
notably of the first order and per-
sons interested in the scholastic
productions base their assertions
that the 1922 crop OF spring
plays will be eminently success
fil on this fact. Many persons
have been taking an active IN
terest in the performances OF
Their talented children. and thls
support is bound to make FOR the
best possible plays in the future.
Trials for the parts in spring
plays have been going on IN sew
eral of the schools for the past
few weeks, with a result that the
very best the classes can otler
has been sifted from those with
dramatic tendencies. On the re-
anita NJ these trials faculty ad-
yisers have judged those capable
OF performing in public, and IN
this manner the spring play casts
have been or are being selected.
STUDENTS ACTIVE.
Those interested in dramatics al
Central are so thoroughly ao'
sorbed with the enthusiasm OF
their work they can hardly INA
time TO take part in other schooi
activities, as the numbers trying
for dramatic surpass by far those
in smaller schools. At western
A. has also been necessary 10
limit the numbers in the Ora
r,atic Club. as the proportion OF
students who like the work Is
large. At Mckinley High, West
arm BUSINESS and Eastern the
students interested in dramatics
are generally interested IN o'her
achool activities. Notable eH'
,mnles of this are Col. Oscar NJ
Shaw, commander.in.chief OF the
cadet brigade. who is star IN
ali Tech productions, and carr
woerner. basketball player eol'
tor of 1.-THE Breeze" and presi'
dent Of the dramatic club, who Is
the premier Western actor,
PLAYS SELECTED.
Much guess ne has been gong
nm among student bodies as 10
the identity OF their schooI
spr.ng plays. The matter OF Sc
lect.ng a piece has always been
a delicate one, because the PRIDE
NJ each school has been taken TO
rest on the brill ant or proper
execution OF play. So IL IS
really a task TO pick play which
vii show up each player at his
or her best, and the faculty ad'
ysers give the matter careful
thought before taking steps 10
pick plays.
For many Years operas wee
produced at Tech, nni invlr'atiy
with success. But in recent years
the time honored custom has been
abandoned for legitimate produc'
tons. II was in Monsieur Beau
csire" last year in which Col o.
NJ. Shaw showed up 80 well.
THE Seven Keys to Baldpate'
has been picked for the Central play
this year.
In a few months the hard work
Of these ambitious District young
sters will reach their climax In
production. Local scholastic ranks
have graduated many stars to the
legitimate, vaudeville and movie
stage-and the embryo Mansfields
and Bernhardts among the present
generation are only too anxious to
give the local public a chance to
Judge their merits.
n-,lo C~,1Le