1997 - 1998

1997-98 North Star Players club members included Doriana Baker, Brittany Owen, Mr. Orr, Carr Wheat, Heidi Hackett, Darci Blake, Bethany Mason, Alana Peck, Julie Cribbs, Cheryl Meeks, Laura Gates, Danny Bennett, Brandy Knight, Shawna Watson, Erika Knight, Mandy Gunn, Aaron Duemmel, Nick Pallitto.

Mr. Lawrence Orr

North Star Players

Director, advisor

This year's Star Players had a full schedule of three mainstage productions, Dancing at Lughnasa, The Beat Goes On Variety Show, and Run for your Wife 2.0. and two competition pieces, Romeo and Juliet and Present Tense, for which to prepare.

The North Star Players started the year with our production of
Dancing at Lughnasa

The cast for "Lughnasa" included Cheryl Meeks as Rose, Nick Pallitto as Michael, Shannon Jordan as Maggie, Carr Wheat as Jack, Ryan Orr as Gerry, Shawna Watson as Chris, Sarah Neufeld as Agnes, Mandy Gunn as Kate, and making his second pre-high school appearance with the Star Players is Peter Orr as Young Michael.

This production was the second "in-the-round" play since 1995's "Loot".
Risers were placed on the stage proper for audience members. The effect brings the actors in close proximity to the audience. This can be unnerving and it heightens the actor's level of needed concentration, but the relationship gives everyone a new way of experiencing story telling.

Michael (Nick Pallitto) remembers himself as a Young Michael (Peter Orr).

The Mundy Sisters of Ulster, Ireland listen to Uncle Jack's (Carr Wheat) stories.

Carr, Shannon, Shawna, Mandy,Sarah Neufeld fix .jpg

Chris Mundy (Shawna Watson) and Gerry Evans (Ryan Orr) would have the child, Michael.

Young Michael (Peter Orr) reacts to Maggie's (Shannon Jordan) stepping.

Mandy, Cheryl Meeks, Shannon, Shawna fix .jpg

The actors have plenty more stepping in store to keep things fun.

While the actors have fun, director Larry Orr stays serious about rehearsals.

Maggie (Shannon) teaches Young Michael (Peter) valuable domestic skills.

Click the arrow below to enjoy moments from the slideshow.

Shakespeare Festival

The North Star Players would go on to receive 3rd place at the 1997 Shakespeare Festival with our ensemble's modernized interpretation of Romeo and Juliet. The scene included the balcony scene as well as some fight scenes from the play.
Perhaps the most memorable line quoted was not Shakespeare's but Mr. Orr's retort to colleagues, "What knives?!"

The Winter Variety Show

"And The Beat Goes On"

This fun-filled show had comedy, music, acrobatics, and was hosted by our own Sonny and Cher duo, Nick Pallitto and Erika Orr. Combining all the different acts and a live orchestra was a new challenge for some of our actors.

The Flying Zambinis group was up to the task of trampoline acrobatics galore, and some comedic banter. Pictured here is Gustav (Ryan Orr) and Antonio (Carr Wheat) as two of the four Zambinis. Erika Orr and Laura Gates would fill out the cast as Schatze and Isabella.

Three Zambinis bounce one Isabella on the tramp. Antonio's job is to keep her from falling off.

His other job is to keep from dropping body hair all over the stage.

Ronnie Hargrave, Alana Peck, and Kourtney Hawkins dance in the Copacabana skit.

Julie Cribbs prepares to rehearse her song with accompaniment by Charlie Clark.

Pit musicians held tight under the direction of Mr. N. Guy Lake.

Pulling talented students from around North High to put on this show was not too difficult. We had to turn some acts away due to too much material.

Shawna Watson and Erika Orr (Cher) rehearse in their specially-made red eye-contacts.

April Adams and Laura Gates perform a Cranberries number.

Click the arrow below to enjoy moments from the show.

"Present Tense"

Click the arrow above to enjoy moments from Present Tense from our winter show at 3:50 minutes.

The CSUB Spotlight Festival of 1998 saw another fine performance from North High School. Our ensemble scene "Present Tense" received the "Outstanding Performance" award, making the third such award in as many years.

The scene is about a teen named Norm (Carr Wheat) who is troubled and confused about life, and his girlfriend (Julie Cribbs). There's a nerdy friend (Nick Pallitto) and a school jock/bully (Ryan Orr) who make an appearance, all asissted by two young friends, Alana Peck and Shawna Watson.

From Present Tense, Spotlight Outstanding Performance.jpg

Carr Wheat, Nick Pallitto, and Alana Peck in Present Tense. The award-winning scene was the featured act in the winter variety show The Beat Goes On.

North Star Players behind the scenes...

Darci Blake and Alana Peck helping the Star Players on club day.

Cheryl Meeks works the baton at the game.

Star Player Ryan Orr at the Winter formal.jpg

North Star Player Ryan Orr and friend Melissa at the Winter Formal.

Ryan Orr works at fun times with friend Laura Frampton at the first Homecoming Dance.

After fun time, Ryan would always make time for his acting studies.

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Erika Orr works with fellow ASB members during the lunchtime activities.

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Julie Cribbs enjoyed studying for her acting parts, too. Here she gets some interpretive help from Mr. Orr.

Katie Greer asks for help understanding her leading role in Jack Frakes' Final Dress Rehearsal.

Ryan Orr and Adam McCabe in the house.

1998's Spring Production

The cast of the Star Players' first production of Ray Cooney's Run for your Wife included Andy Gratt, Julie Cribbs, Ryan Orr, Nick Pallitto, Shawna Watson, Carr Wheat, Patrick McDonald, and Ronnie Hargrave.

Stage manager Aaron Duemmel testing the prop glass for ultimate transparency.

Director Lawrence Orr worked hard to keep the characters focused during post-rehearsal notes.

Stanley (Nick Pallitto) realizes the self-incriminating meaning that John (Ryan Orr) has just given to Detective Troughton (Carr Wheat).

Detective Porterhouse (Andy Gratt) volunteers to be the housemaid while John, Stanley, and Mary (Shawna Watson) sort out their troubles.

Neighbor Bobby (Ronnie Hargrave) gives neighbor Stanley an earful.

Things would get worse before they got better and the two detectives would be caught up in the misunderstandings.

Mary (Shawna Watson) and John (Ryan Orr) on a better day.

Click the arrow below to enjoy moments from the show.

1997-1998's Star Players
Awards Banquet

The annual awards banquet was held at Hodels Restaurant. Best Actor and Actress, Supporting, Newcomer, Technician, and Best Senior Awards were received by the many fine club members for the year's work.

Saying good-bye to another cast of seniors...

Senior North Star Player Ryan Orr attended North High since fifth grade, helping his family put on quality productions. He started acting on our stage in his sophomore year and joined every production from then on. His many funny characterizations made him a favorite in our mainstage plays and competitions as well as our Improv performances for the student body assemblies. Recognized by the Star Players club as this year's Best Senior, Ryan has memorably represented NHS theater and his memory as a Star Player lives on.