Jackson advocate., 1949-12-10
Howard University
Players Give
Final Performance

KITZINGEN, Germany, Decem-
Der - The Howard University
players, on a tour of Europe since
last September, gave their last per-
formance of Dorothy and Du Bose
Heyward's "Mamba's Daughter"
here Thanksgiving Day at Kitzin-
gen Training Center, before re-
turning to the United States.
DIR. Anne Cooke, head of the De-
partment of Drama at Howard
University in Washington, D. c.,
was presented a bouquet of flowers
by Major Thomas c. Cassidy,
Rochester, N. Y. Special Services
officer, who expressed the appre-
citation of the command on the oc-
casion of the performance at KTC,
while leading lady Mary Nelson
was presented a similar bouquet
of flowers by Mr.. Owen Dodson,
associate professor of drama at
Howard and director of "Mamba's
Daughters" After the play men,
bers of the cast were presented
souvenir cigarette cases by Colo
mel Henry C. Newton, Los Angeles,
Calf, commanding officer of the
training center. On the cover of the
cigarette case is map cf the U. S.
Zone of Germany and the Euro
pean Command insignia.
The Howard troupe left the u.
S. August 81 and arrived in Oslo
September 10 for it's first perform
ance The group was invited by the
Norwegian Ambassador to the Uni
ted States to perform in Norway,
following student presentation
of "The Wild Duck" by Henrik
Ibsen, which was witnessed by the
Norwegian Ambassador. "The Wild
Duck" directed by DR.. Cooke, was
presented along with "Mamba's s
Daughters" in a successful tour
which took the players to nine
cities in Norway, Sweden and Den
mark.
The theater groups lost it's stage
manager and settings designer;
James w. Butcher Jr., Of Washing
ton, d. c., at the completion of the
Scandinavian tour when he ac-
cepted Fullbright Fellowship
which will enable him to remain
in England for one year He will be
associated with the U. S. Educa-
tional Commission for the United
Kingdom.
Stewart Street, of Pittsburgh,
Pa, who succeeded Butcher as
stage manager, last summer played
a lead role in the "Winslow Boy
at the University of Pittsburgh.
The music of Jerome Kern for
"Mamba's Daughters" was arrang-
ed by Zaida Coles of Lynchburg.
Va, a 1948 graduate of the How
ard School of Music. The lead role
of Hagar was played by Mary Mel
son from Washington, a sopho-
more. The role of Mamba in the
production was played by Roxie
Roker. A Howard University dra-
ma major, the Brooklyn student is
also sophomore. Shauneille Per-
ry of Chicago, ILL.,, played the part
of Lissa. A drama major, also, she
will graduate in June.
OTHER PLAYERS
Other players with the student
theater group included John E.
Handy, Hackensack, N. T.; Marilyn
Gaynell Thornton, New York City;
Gillian T. Bondhill, Portsmouth,
Va; Robert E. Brown, New York
City; William T. Brown, Washing
ton, d. c.; jeanette M. Conliffe,
Washington, D. c.; Herbert H
Fitzgerald, Trenton, N. j.; Geral-
dine K. Haywood, Washington, D.
c.; Ernest J. Jackson, Farrell, Pa;
Hilmer L. Jenson Trenton, N. j.;
Yvonne Terrell, Washington, D. c.;
Ronnie Wieder, New York City;
Elsie Tillar, New York City; Char
les L. White, Cincinnati, Ohio; Ed
mere G. Winfield, Portsmouth, Va;
and Edwin C. Ellick, Panama.