RALPH OKREPKIE (Genie)-is appearing in his first Campus Thunder show. Ralph hails from New Jersey and is studying for his master's degree in Education. JENNIE FOGEL (Cleaning Woman)-again brings her British accent to the stage. Well received in past UB productions such as the Spring Play and Wistaria Pageant. Jennie's accent from England can't be mistaken. WILLIAM BARTLETT (Melville) - is making his second appearance before Thunder's footlights. A member of Theta Sigma Fraternity, Bill spent several years on the stage crew staff before trying the "front door" to acting. GERALDINE BENNETT (Amelia Belle)-probsbly needs no introduction to you tonight if you have seen any of the Campus Production shows during the past three years. "Gerry" has been in them all and a star for the past two years. ROBERT RUGE (Zekel)-will probably be best remembered for his portrayal of Cedric in last year's Campus Thunder. Known around Bridgeport for his WNAB disc jockey show, Bob, although he's a little guy, handles a mean set of drums. DICK BOCK (The Preacher) is one of the most talented musicians on campus. A member of the music club, band, A Cappella Choir, Dick is a vet of the Christmas and Wistaria Pageants of last year. ED MORRISON (Ulyssis) - is a real veteran of Thunder shows. Appearing in the "oldies" of 1947, 1948 and 1950, Ed is also a Charter Member of the Knights of Thunder. He returns to the stage tonight to make it five out of nine editions of Campus Thunder. ALEX ZAVADSKY (Barton Shawnessy)-is back for his third Thunder show. A member of the Knights of Thunder, Al is also a member of Sigma Phi Alpha Fraternity. He has played just about every role in a Thunder show, from backstage crew, to chorus, to male lead.

CHARLES POTKAY (Life Guard)-is what can be called a veteran performer, not just of Thunder, but of TV shows on both the NBC and CBS Networks. Charlie is one of the most talented dancers around the Bridgeport area and one of the most celebrated entertainers in Fairfield County. FRANK JAWOISZ (Charlie)-is the comedian of Thunder. Although not always playing that part on stage, Frank, last year's "Fifi", does a good job of keeping the jitters away from the cast before the first curtain goes up. When asked about his campus activities, Frank stated "Boy Scouts of America," but we know better. Frank is a Scoutmaster, vice-chancellor of Alpha Delta Omega Fraternity, and a member of the Knights of Thunder. ROGER VARS (Sunshine Boy)-is a Knight of Thunder who also has a good sense of humor. Roger has appeared in the past three Thunder shows, the past three Spring Plays and Wistaria Pageants and past two Christmas Pageants. He's also superintendent of his church Sunday School. MADOLYN PUGH (The Vamp)-is a vet of last year's Thunder. A local girl, Madolyn is majoring in Education. She was also a member of the cast of the Freshman Show this September. PATRICIA CREEL (Woman of Texas) shows real ability among the many newcomers. It is seldom that a cast member spends hours at rehearsal and doesn't get tired, but even more rare when the cast member goes out to solicit advertising for the show's program. Pat did a fine job in aiding in the business end of this year's Thunder. MICHAEL DeVIVO (Singing Guest) - noi only sings songs, but writes them. In tonight's show, Mike, a member of the Class of 1957, is represented by four of his original compositions. JOE BACEVYCIUS (Soloist) - makes his second appearance in Thunder. Well received last year because of his excellent voice, Joe is back again to please music lovers.

MARCIA ROBINSON (Chorus)-is the Captain of the Girls Chorus for the second year running. Marcia is also a member of the Knights of Thunder. JUNE BARTRAM (Chorus)-has been in all Campus Productions for the past two years. She's also secretary of the Student Council, a member of the SCRIBE staff and of the Pen & Keys Club. WILLIAM BEVACQUA (Man of Company)-is old faithful when it comes to entertainment at fraternity dances. Bill's rendition of Old Black Magic has made him famous. Although he's a member of Sigma Phi Alpha Fraternity, Bill is in the stage show of almost every fraternity dance. MARGARET BROWN (Martha)-is a professional nurse, who was former head nurse at Bridgeport Hospital. She has returned to UB for her degree in nursing, and is a member of Theta Epsilon. ELIZABETH FISCH (Dancer)-is a professional model, and a member of the Freshman Queen's court. She is also the Sweetheart of Pi Omega Chi Fraternity. A recent issue of Modern Bride featured a 10-page section of Betty modeling wedding gowns. DIANE JACOBSON (Chorus)-hails from Bridgeport's Central High. While at Central, Diane was in several plays, including the Mikado. She was in the Christmas Pageant and helped in costumes in last year's show. YOLANDA DELMORE (Dancer)-has been in the past five Campus Thunder editions. Starting in the Dancing Chorus, "Yo-Yo" has worked her way up to a lead and now is taking a minor role in the show, but still shows her great dancing ability. DENNIS GRAYSTON (Garfield) - comes to us from London, England. Dennis has studied with professors of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, and has played in civic theater shows at London's famous Toynbee Hall. CARYL BLANK (Miss Hannah)-is a Bridgeport girl who comes to UB via New York University where she studied nursing. Pledgemaster of Theta Epsiion sorority, Caryl is a sophomore. ARNOLD FROST (Dudley) - has a wealth of stage experience. Having toured New England in the road show of Minoti's and the Night Visitor, he has also been on radio and TV in New York. SUSAN PORTNOY (Bubbles)-has done TV work in her home town of Schenectady. She has also sung with a band and done variety shows, as well as operettas.

MARGARET BROWN (Martha)-is a professional nurse, who was former head nurse at Bridgeport Hospital. She has returned to UB for her degree in nursing, and is a member of Theta Epsilon. ELIZABETH FISCH (Dancer)-is a professional model, and a member of the Freshman Queen's court. She is also the Sweetheart of Pi Omega Chi Fraternity. A recent issue of Modern Bride featured a 10-page section of Betty modeling wedding gowns. DIANE JACOBSON (Chorus)-hails from Bridgeport's Central High. While at Central, Diane was in several plays, including the Mikado. She was in the Christmas Pageant and helped in costumes in last year's show. MITZI VASS (Chorus)-has done Drama Workshop work in New York, including Meet Me In St. Louis. She has had extensive camp show experience. JERI SHESLOW (Chorus)-has had three years experience in high school variety shows, and was in a local show in her home town of Riverdale, Long Island. She is a secretarial major. JOSEPH MESSINEO (Chorus)-is a Central High grad, who walked off with an award at the 1954 Prize Play Contest. He is a business administration major. LUCY WISINSKI (Chorus)-is making her debut in Campus Thunder tonight. Lucy has had dancing experience with the Polish Falcons of America Dancing Group as well as teaching group dancing for the White Eagles, here in Bridgeport. GAIL FRASER (Chorus)-is a product of both Harding and Stratford High Schools. While at Harding she had the lead in one of the shows, and switched over to Stratford, where she was the leading lady on two occasions. She was also in the chorus of Campus Thunder 1955.

"Campus Thunder" (Dickason) ..............................................Pages of Thunder
"Drums of Thunder" (Neary).................................................Chorus
"Ain't It A Scream!" (Anderson)..............................................Giggles, Bubbles, Cleaning Woman
"Words Can't Get Out of My Heart" (Marzulli-McHugh)............. Dudley
Reprise "Ain't It A Scream!" (Anderson)..................................Chorus
"Dancin' Flapperette" (Martin-Ahiberg)...................................Thunderettes
"DoirV the Dungaree" (Neary)................................................. Chorus and Dancers
"Almost - But Not Quite" (Marzulli-McHugh).......................Hannah
"Ozark Preachin'" (Pjura)....................................................... Zekel, Preacher and Chorus
"It's Honey, It's Love!" (Martin-Ahiberg)................................... Dudley and Eva
"Splash Me Baby Doll" (Pjura)................................................. Thunderettes and Life Guard
"Every Month Should Be July" (Marzulli-McHugh) ....................... Barton and Amelia
"Down Along the Seaside" (Devivo) ...... Susan Portney, Bill Bevacqua and Chorus
"Ballet Slide" (Pjura)................................................. Dancers
"The Bat" (Pjura).......................................................... G. G. and Judges
"Vamping Vampires" (Neary) ..................................... .Thunderettes
"My Repartee" (Pjura) ................................................. Thunderettes and Guests
"Beware of the Bat" (Devivo)............................................ Michael Devivo, Danced by The Bat
Reprise "It's Honey, It's Love!" (Martin-Ahiberg)................. Dudley and Eva
"Gee Whiz! NuWhiz!" (Martin-Ahiberg)............................. Flavor Girls
"Like We Never Did Rag" (Martin-Ahiberg) ....................... June Bartram, Dancers

"Neutral Territory" (Anderson)............................................ .Amelia
"Would You Ouija With Me" (Anderson) ............................... Dudley, Eva, Barton, Amelia
"The Old-Fashioned Tavern on the Corner" (Neary)..................Sunshine Boys
"Pucker Up and Whistle it" (Devivo) ................................... Amelia
Reprise "The Old-Fashioned Tavern on the Corner" (Neary)
Sunshine Boys and Amelia "Baby, Baby" (Devivo) ................. Boston Men and Women
"Please Do Not Handle" (Pjura) ....................................... Hannah
"The Amelia Belle Show" (Pjura)
John H. Barlow, Joseph Messineo, Earnest W. Svab
"The Rhumba Grande Amor" (Pjura)...................................... Chorus
"Hypertension" (Devivo) . Danced by Charles Potkay and Yolanda Delmore
"The Long Stretch" (Neary)................................................. Thunderettes
"Ragtime Rondo" (Pjura) ............... ...............................Amelia and Chorus
"So Dear to Me" (Pjura) ................................................. Barton
Reprise "Ain't It A Scream!" (Anderson)............................... Chorus

Played three evening performances to S.R.O. all three nights.---

It was the age of the roaring twenties with the Bathtub gin and the razz-ma-taz - and vo-de-doo age. Billed as the show that would make mincemeat of all previous Thunder shows. And so it did. Its subtitle was "Ain't It A Scream".

Once again we accomplished two more firsts for Thunder, We set all records for sales at the box office ever before, since the Klein opened in 1938, and our Thunderettes, as Mr. "D" so plainly put it, had escorts for the first time, meaning in the show, with such distinguished men as Frankenstein, Phantom of the Opera, to name just two.

Two days prior to opening night, we had the S.R.O. sign at the Klein box office for Friday and Saturday evenings' performances. As for ' Monday, we had short of 125 persons for the sign to be up again. We had publicity galore along with full page picture coverage in both Bridgeport Sunday papers. The Bridgeport Sunday Herald was quoted as saying, "Thunder '56 was so far superior than any previous show that it made previous shows look like a kindergarten performance." Five minutes of curtain calls before the audiences left the theatre.

As for accidents, what would a Thunder show be without them? Opening night, our prop director banged her head on a door and was knocked out and rushed to the doctor. Before the show was over, she was all right.

As for the cast of Thunder '56, quoted "D", "they were the most professional group that he has recalled in many years, and the Thunderettes1 dance routines could never be outdone." More dancing this year than any previous year with Zita Carrano again handling the dancing chorus with Gerry Bennett, Sime Neary and Jonny Coy doing the specialty numbers.

Cast party again held at Eichner's, lasting into the wee hours of the morning.

What of the stars: Gerry Bennett, starting with Thunder in the chorus, this year making her swan song, had the lead with features by Arnold Frost, Francis Sorarano, Carly Blank, Bob Ruge, Charile Potkay in the dancing lead. Another Joyce Mathewson Kalm was born with the great acting of Sue Portnoy just a freshman at college.

Lavish numbers with the dress and costumes of the 1920 era brought down much of the house, remembering their youth. Top scenes were the Office of the NuWhiz Cola Company; On Tour, and Paw, Paw Kentucky. this year's show.

Songs again a major part of Thunder, hit the top of the song meter with such notables as: "Ain't It A Scream?", "Doin' the Dungaree", "It's Honey, It's Love", "Down along the Seaside", written for the UF student body, "Like We Never Did Rag", "Rhumba Grand Amor","Ragtime Rondo".

More new song writers were added to the old fold with Bob McHugh, Joe Merzulli as a team and Mike Devivo, class of 1957 writing some hits along with standbys: Sime Neary, Sam Anderson, Martin S Ahl-berg, and Bill Pjura.

"DRUMS OF THUNDER"
"AIN'T IT A SCREAM?"
"WORDS CAN'T GET OUT OF MY HEART"
"DANCIN1 FLAPPERETTE"
"DOIN* THE DUNGAREE"
"ALMOST--BUT NOT QUITE"
"OZARK PREACHIN'"
"IT'S HONEY, IT'S LOVE."'
"SPLASH ME, BABY"
"EVERY MONTH SHOULD BE JULY"
"DOWN ALONG THE SEASIDE"
"BALLET SLIDE"
"THE BAT"
"VAMPING VAMPIRES"
"MY REPARTEE"
"BEWARE OF THE BAT"
"GEE WHIZ! NUWHIZ?"
"LIKE WE NEVER DID RAG"
"NEUTRAL TERRITORY"
"WOULD YOU OUIJA WITH ME"
"THE OLD FASHION TAVERN ON THE CORNER"
"PUCKER UP AND WHISTLE IT"
"BABY, BABY"
"PLEASE DO NOT HANDLE"
"RHUMBA GRANDE AMOR"
"HYPERTENSION"
"LONG STRETCH"
"RAGTIME RONDO"
"SO DEAR TO ME"

1947	1948	1950	1951	1952	1953
1954	1955	BLANK	1957	1958	1959
1960	1961	1962	1963	1964	BLANK

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