Specialized Indexes > Theatre Chronology

1954-1955 Academic Year

Play: Journey's End

Author: R. C. Sherriff
Director: Rev. Arthur S. Harvey, CSC, and Father Weiher
Date: September 1954
Producing Organization: Moreau Seminary
Venue: Unknown

Artistic Staff

Stage set and properties: the men of Moreau Seminary

Cast

Captain Hardy: Louis Rink
Lieut. Osborne: James Simonson
Private Mason: Eugene Miller
2nd Lieut. Raleigh: Robert Austgen
Captain Stanhope: Thomas Curtis
2nd Lieut. Trotter: Rolland Stair
Private Bert: William Melody
2nd Lieut. Hibbert: Thomas English
Company Sergeant-Major: James Stupfel
The Colonel: James Wach
German Soldier: James Blantz
British Soldier: Dennis Freemal
Note: "Grateful acknowledgement of kind services is made to Father McAvoy and the priests at Moreau Seminary; Father Riley, Superior of Holy Cross Semianry; Army R. O. T. C.; Brother Robert O'Brien; and the men of Moreau Seminary"

Source: Program, Frederic Syburg collection.

Play: Detective Story

Author: Sidney Kingsley
Director: Rev. Arthur S. Harvey, CSC
Dates: Nov. 17-21, 1954
Producing Organization: The University Theatre

Artistic Staff

Lighting and Set Design: Fred Syburg
Performance Coach: Edward L. Doyle

Cast

Joe Feinson: Gene Leyval
Detective Dakis: John C. Kent
Shoplifter: Catherine Gaffigan
Detective Gallagher: W. P. Byrne
Mrs. Farragut: Page Haizlip
Detective Callahan: Kiernan Phelan
Detective O'Brien: Phillip J. Donahue
Detective Brody: Leo J. Guibault
Endicott Sims: Gene Gorski
Detective McLeod: James F. O'Donoghue
Arthur Kindred: Reginald Bain
Patrolman Barnes: Charles Armbruster
1st Burglar (Charlie): James A. Luotto
2nd Burglar (Lewis): Joseph D. Kelly
Mrs. Bagatelle: Patricia Waechter
Dr. Schneider: Michael Kennedy
Lt. Monoghan: George T. O'Donnell
Susan Carmichael: Ann Wainwright
Patrolman Keough: Tom Forster
Willy: Gary Gates
Miss Hatch: Hildegarde Vargyas
Mrs. Feeney: Peggy Murray
Mr. Feeney: Edward J. Robinson
Crumb-Bum: Thomas Pezzuti
Mr. Gallantz: Frank Manning
Mr. Pritchett: Dick Robison
Mary McLeod: Gayle Baumer
Tami Giacoppetti: Tom P. Kiernan
Photographer: V. Bruce Junius
Lady: Barbara Geary
Gentleman: John Reynolds
Indignant Citizen: Beverly Mann

Production Staff

Stage Manager: John Noland
Assistant Stage Manager: Mary Ann Miller
Stage Carpenter: John C. Harrington
Electrician/Lighting: Ambrose J. Seitz, Jr.
Property Chairman: Patrick J. Casey
Sound: Roland F. Koontz
Costumes: John M. Steczynski
Construction: Philip C. Chinn, Gaylord P. Haas, Charles Plogman, Paul Underkofler, John D. Rock, Edward H. Sexauer
Properties: Pat Smith, John L. Bernard, Leland Croghan

Note: The article on Theatre in the 1955 Dome mentions the revitalization of theatre at Notre Dame, due to the new staff, including Fr. Arthur Harvey, Mr. Edward Doyle, and Mr. Frederic Syburg (102, 195).

Source: Program, Frederic Syburg collection; Scholastic 96:?, October 29, 1954, 14.

Play: Cyrano de Bergerac

Author: Edmond Rostand
Translated by: Brian Hooker
Dates: February 17-20, 1955
Producing Organization: The University Theatre

Artistic Staff

Director: Edward L. Doyle
Lighting Executed by: Fred Syburg
Performance Coach: Rev. Arthur S. Harvey, CSC
Set Executed by: Fred Syburg
Setting Designed by: Edward C. Garzero
Costumes Designed by: Edward C. Garzero
Costumes Executed by: Mrs. W. P. Walsh

Cast

Cyrano de Bergerac: Gene Gorski
Christian de Neuvillette: Thomas Neville
Comte de Guiche: Michael Kennedy
Ragueneau: Charles Hickman
Le Bret: Phillip J. Donahue
Carbon de Castel-Jaloux: James F. O'Donoghue
Ligniere: Reginald Bain
Vicomte de Valvert: Thomas P. Kiernan
Montfleury: James F. O'Donoghue
Bellerose: Raymond Papay
Jodelet: Joseph D. Kelly
Cuigy: V. Bruce Junius
Highwayman: Bernard Gessner
A Capuchin: Gene Leyval
The Musicians: John Meagher, Richard Rupp:
The Poets: Leland Croghan, Gene Leyval
The Pastrycooks: Bernard Gessner, John Meagher, Richard Rupp
Cadets of Gascoyne: Charles Armbruster, Robert Deeb, William Fortier
Gary Gates, Edward White
Roxane: Gayle Baumer
Her Duenna: Hildegarde Vargyas
Lise: Catherine Gaffigan
The Orange Girl: Georgia Ann Weber
Mother Marguerite de Jesus Jeannine Berner: Sister Marthe Mary Ann Miller
Court Ladies: Mary Ann Miller, Pat Smith, Teri Steinhoffer
Sister Claire: Paula Lawton:
Little Girls: Pat Smith, Georgia Ann Weber

Production Staff

Stage Manager: Thomas P. Kiernan
Assistant Stage Manager: Jeannine Berner
Stage Carpenter: John C. Harrington
Scenic Artist: Edward Sexauer
Property Chairman: Philip Chinn
Sound: Roland F. Koontz
Construction: Donald Brophy, Michael Connors, Charles Conway, David Crocco, Richard J. Filippi, William LeVison, Michael Murray, Terry Nieuwlandt, George T. O'Donnell, Larry Rex, Jerry Smith
Properties: Richard Boff, Carol Doyle, Marie Dutoi, Dorothy Lahey, Patricia Lahey
Wardrobe: Catherine Gaffigan, Paula Lawton, Mary Miles, Teri Steinhoffer

Notes:

Source(s) 1955 Dome, pp. 102 and 208; Original program courtesy Frederic Syburg.

Play Title: Lucifer at Large

Author: Frank P. Ford
Dates Performed: March 26-27, 1955
Sponsoring/Producing Organization: The University Theatre
Venue: One-act play contest in Indianaplis

Artistic Staff

Director: Frederic Syburg

Cast

Lucifer: Gene Leyval
Fats: George O'Donnel
Mr. Superbeby: Mike Kennedy
You: Phil Donahue

Notes:

Source(s) The Notre Dame Scholastic, Vol. 96, Feb. 25, 1955, p. 12.

Play Title: Seventeen

Musical Adaptation of Booth Tarkington's Seventeen
Book: Sally Benson
Lyrics: Kim Gannon
Music: Walter Kent
Dates Performed: May 4-8, 1955
Sponsoring/Producing Organization: The University Theatre

Artistic Staff

Director: Rev. Arthur S. Harvey, CSC
Lighting by: Fred Syburg
Performance Coach: Edward L. Doyle
Setting by: Fred Syburg
Choral Direction: Eugene J. Leahy
Choreography: Allan J. Powers
Costumes by: Mrs. W. P. Walsh
At the Pianos: Teri Steinhoffer, Edward Thomas
At the Organ: Charles Armbruster
Cast

Genesis: Phil Donahue
Johnnie Watson: Jerry Dodge
Willie Baxter: Jim Kinnane
Jane Baxter: Marilyn Chapleau
Bert: Frank Kittredge
Charlie: Gene Leyval
Joe Bullitt: Bob Vrancken
Dave: Dan Liddy
Lester: Pete Barrett
Don: Jim Feeney
Dan: Joe Penn
Tom: Dan Miller
Jim: Bob Ogburn
Lola Pratt: Gayle Baumer
Mrs. Baxter: Mimi Scanlon
May Parcher: Alys Lacour
Emmie Martin: Merrill Richard
Ida: Peggy Maher
Sue: Shirley O'Brian
Madge: Georgia Ann Weber
Jenny: Pat Smith
Nan: Hannah Grasberger
Cathy: Joanne Daily
Betty: Mary Carroll
Marge: Virginia Vighi
Mr. Baxter: Bernie Lyons
Mr. Parcher: Frank Manning
Mrs. Parcher: Hildegarde Vargyas
George Crooper: Dave Shanahan
Mr. Genesis: George O'Donnell
Singers: Pete Barret, Mary Carroll, Joanne Daily, Jim Feeny, Hannah Grasberger
Frank Kittredge, Gene Leyval, Dan Liddy, Peggy Maher, Dan Miller
Shirley O'Brian, Bob Ogburn, Joe Penn, Pat Smith, Virginia Vighi
Georgia Ann Weber
Dancers: Pete Barrett, Mary Carroll, Joanne Daily, Phil Donahue, Jim Feeny, Hannah Grasberger, Frank Kittredge, Gene Leyval, Dan Liddy, Peggy Maher, Shirley O'Brian, Pat Smith, Virginia Vighi, Georgia Ann Weber

Production Staff

Stage Manager: Catherine Gaffigan
Assistant Stage Manager: Dick Boff
Asst to Mr. Syburg: John Harrington
Stage Carpenter: Terry Nieuwlandt
Electrician: John Caster
Scenic Artist: Edward Sexauer
Property Chairman: Michael Kennedy
Sound: Roland F. Koontz
Construction: Tom Arnold, Reginald Bain, Paul Berrettini, Charles Conway, David Ederer, William Jackman, Mark Maley, Timothy Murphy, Larry Rex
Properties: Robert Deeb, Gene Gorski, Paula Lawton
Wardrobe: Marilyn Chapleau, Mary Miles, Mary Frances Taylor

Notes:

Source(s) 1955 Dome, pp. 102, 224; Original program courtesy Frederic Syburg