Take A Bow
Advanced
drama seniors
prepare for their
final West
Bloomfield
performance.
LESLEY PEARL STAFF WRITER
Ani Atikian and Scott Isgrigg in their final production — Guys and Dolls.
S
pring break is over but
the tans linger. Guys
and Dolls, the spring
musical, has seen its fi-
nal curtain call.
The soundtrack from Sat-
urday Night Fever is blaring
through the forum and the
students are trying to disco.
None remember the Bee
Gees in their heyday.
Rob Leider kicks back to
watch. He shouts over the
music about polyester, plat-
form shoes and zodiac jewel-
rY-
He knows better than to
even hope his advanced dra-
ma students will work today
— it's sunny, 70 degrees and
senioritis has struck.
He has watched the same
scenario for years now. Se-
niors think the year ends
with spring
break. Somehow
though, the work
always gets done.
One thing is
for certain,
though — these
seniors are ready
to go.
They think.
David Paull
has for weeks
spoken of noth-
ing but getting
out of the house
and out of West
Bloomfield. He
will attend East-
ern Michigan
University in the
fall. He's going to
be a comedian.
"Drama, enter-
taining — it's
like sports. You
learn to work
with other peo-
ple; you develop
a second family;
you get into a
character and
you forget about
life," David said.
A bit of nostal-
gia creeps into
David's voice
while discussing
his time in West
Bloomfield High
School's theater de-
partment.
"Leider has been
pretty instrumen-
tal in my growing
up. High school
puts you through a
lot of changes, and
he's always been
there," David said.
"I'm ready to leave, David Paull and Beth Friedlaender stole the show in
though. I guess. Ac- Grease.
tually, I don't know
if you're ever really
ready to leave. It's secure
actually, it kept me going,"
Cary said. "So who got the
here."
Ani Atikian listens — en-
last laugh? I'm playing clubs,
making money and doing
vious.
Ani will attend General
what I love to do."
Motors Institute in the fall
Mr. Leider shakes his
where she will study man-
head.
agement. Ani said her par-
Every year he hears his
ents chose the site of her
students claim they will be
further education.
the next Prince, Madonna,
'There are no creative op-
Natalie Wood, Marlon Bran-
do. Most never even go on to
portunities at GMI," Ani
study drama.
said.
Ani was unable to secure
Emileigh Rohn hopes to
enough scholarship money to
major in pre-medicine at the
pay for another school.
University of Michigan. Nik-
"My goal is to be the next
ki Moss wants to be a lawyer.
Whitney Houston. My par-
Brian Porvin is aiming for
ents are supportive; they
sports medicine at Michigan
State University. Scott Is-
think I have talent. But they
grigg isn't sure what he will
fear I will be hurt by the en-
tertainment industry," Ani
do.
"I never encourage them to
said. "I feel like the drama
go into theater. Profession-
department prepares you for
ally, it's a horrible way to
competition in life. And when
live," Mr. Leider said. "I tell
the auditions are over, you
learn to work together."
the kids that 95 percent of
Actors Equity is unemployed.
Cary Heller is already on
"But any kid who still re-
his way.
ally wants it, and has the
In addition to spending a
support of his or her parents,
majority of hours in drama
I'll go out for."
and band classes, Cary has
Some of the students nod
been working professional-
their heads in agreement.
ly in a jazz quintet.
"What I like best about all of
Audiences at Alvin's in De-
troit and RIK's in West
this is, to an outsider, this
looks like mad chaos. But
Bloomfield have been graced
there is a lot going on here,"
by Cary's trumpet playing.
Mr. Leider said. "It's a lot of
The quintet, which has not
social work, a lot of study-
decided upon a professional
name yet, recently cut a
ing."
"The word educate means
demo tape.
Cary hopes to study music
to draw out of.' And that's
what I think it is — getting
at the Center for Creative
these kids to draw out of
Studies.
"All through middle school
themselves, so they can leave
with some knowledge, some
and early high school kids
confidence and self-es-
teased me for being in the
teem." ❑
band. I thought I'd quit, but
el