Students immersed themselves in school plays in ’88 and ’89

PHOTOGRAPHER: Jeff Wilkin

Stephen Jackett was only in the sixth grade, but he was one of the biggest stars in the Mohonasen school district during the spring of 1989.

Jackett had won the leading role in “Oliver,” which was presented by the Mohon Masque and Li’l Masque Theaters on May 5 and 6. He shared stage and story with Stephen Farmer as Fagin, Tracy Carpenter as Nancy and Mark Jackett as the Artful Dodger.

Three hundred students, teachers and parents worked on the production. “This is truly a joint effort of our students, our faculty and the community,” said Dr. Margaret Gray, who directed the show.

Roles and shows were featured at other high school auditoriums during 1988 and 1989. Linton High School teen George Rush played “old” as Grandpa in the Plaza Players’ 1988 presentation “You Can’t Take It With You.” Kellie Palmer was rough and ready as Annie Oakley at Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School in 1988.

Cassandra Levendusky and Jay Van Derwerken landed the plum roles of Julie Jordan and Billy Bigelow in Schoharie High School’s “Carousel” during the spring of ’88.

Joanna Cameron wore flowers in her hair as Titania, queen of the fairies, in Linton’s 1989 version of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Robert Hughes was less fortunate. As Bottom, the subject of Titania’s affections, he wore the head of an ass during part of the play.