Update 2-19-08

Hi,

What good is sitting alone in your room?  Go hear Paul Zegler sing.  It helps if you're in Los Angeles, but if you're not, here are some pieces of several nice reviews forwarded by Paul.  They're from, among other sources, the Los Angeles Times:
        "Excellent stage and musical direction, acting and musical numbers, visuals that will take your breath away, and a reminder that you should make hay while the sun shines characterize International City Theatre’s new production of Cabaret."
        "Paul Zegler, as Herr Schultz, is so good that one can only wonder why the song for Schultz, 'Meeskite,' was cut."
        "The other romance involves boarding house landlady Fraulein Schneider (Eileen T'Kaye) and a Jewish fruit shop owner Herr Schultz (Paul Zegler).  Theirs is a much sweeter romance, but in the end, it dies for much the same reasons as the one between Cliff and Sally does -- her survival instinct and his naivete.  Zegler's Schultz is stubbornly clueless about what will befall him, as a Jew, in soon-to-be Hitlerite Germany. T'Kaye and Zegler have a nice rapport."
        International City Theatre, Long Beach Performing Arts Center, 300 East Ocean Boulevard, Long Beach.  Through March 9th.
   
    News of an East Coast performance by Joe Anfora.  This was  excerpted from the Alumni Association Bulletin:  Joe’s latest performance will be in The Sunshine Boys, from February 9th until March 9th.  Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:30.  Sunday afternoons at 3:00.  The Stage Theater, 2222 Hewlett Avenue, Merrick.  Tickets:  $18.00; $14.00 for seniors and students for Friday and Sunday performances.  Box office phone:  516-868-6400.
   
    More news of that nationally available performance mentioned previously, from Emily Kleinman Schreiber:  A really quick note to tell all of you that I saw our own Bern Cohen in 27 Dresses.  He's on at the beginning of the movie, playing the rabbi at a wedding.  I really did shout out, "I know him!"  I'm sure that those of you who know me believe that I did that.  It was exciting! 
        Bern, keep up the good work.  And have you thought of coming to South on Career Day, Wednesday, March 19th?  It would be great fun for you to tell the ninth graders about your newest career.  How about it?
   
    In non-performing news:
   
    From Larry Rugen:  Having returned a number of times to the Rhineland  -- my mother was born in Kaulbach- Kreimbach and immigrated to the United States when she was twelve-years-old, and I was in the United States Air Force stationed not far from the area -- it was time to take my brother Jim there.  We left January 31st, and after being slightly delayed for two hours at Frankfurt Airport with luggage and car problems, we were on our way.
        Our first stop was the small town mentioned above.  It was a rainy day, but we were able to find our mother's family house, still there and recognizable because the outside remained much as it had looked seventy-five years ago.  From there, we drove to Simmern, where I rented a great apartment in the countryside for less than $50 per day.  The website is:  http://www.haus-ingrid-lorenz.de/frames.html, and I share this information only because the location is so central.  It's within a twenty minute drive to the Rhein and Mosel area and about an hour to Idar Oberstein, Trier, Koblenz, and Frankfurt.  The owners have another small two bedroom house in the same town for under $75 day.
        The weekend was filled with a small town Carnival parade in Simmern, and then on Rosenmontag -- Rose Monday -- we moved off to Bonn for the main event, a very large parade.  We had six great days seeing the sites, castles, famous rivers, and cathedrals, and we enjoyed the friends, wine, beer, and, yes, the schnitzels and sauerbraten.  Here's a link to some of the photos I took.  I hope you like them. http://www2.snapfish.com/share/p=928181203339491014/l=350382504/g=75251614/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB
        Also, what is Kanola?
        And, also, if anyone has suggestions as to the best places to visit near Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks, please send them to me.  That's for our next adventure, in September.  All help would be appreciated.  Thanks.  My e-mail address is:  larry1800@aol.com
   
    From Joanne Shapiro Polner '59      I do believe that the following statement was on the blackboard in Samuel Newman's classroom at South:  "Always expect the unexpected."  Is that correct, or is that only as I remember it?  With the always.
        You could see it from the hallway.  I can see it in my mind's eye now.  I thought it was a warning.  Even we French students remarked on the chill of that statement and the fear of what could happen -- well, in Mr. Newman's class anyway.  But it was like a magnet. You sneaked a peak at that ominous statement every time you walked past the classroom door. 
          In retrospect, as I have remembered the phrase throughout my years, and as I became more self-assured and optimistic, I reconsidered that the words might be a suggestion to be open and pleased with what might come across my life.   Or the possibility that, when that awful something came, instead, it had only been a matter of time.  So, now it's here.  Deal with it.
   
    From Amy Miller:  Maybe some folks who get the weekly newsletter would be interested in this site.  The Concert Vault features vintage live concert recordings from the Bill Graham and King Biscuit Flower Hour archives, including performances from both famous and almost-forgotten bands.  The Concert Vault is brought to you by Wolfgang's Vault, the world's most exceptional collection of rock posters, vintage t-shirts, concert photos, concert tickets, and other rock memorabilia.  The link is:  concerts.wolfgangsvault.com/
   
    [Rich -- Finally, an exchange of letters between Eric Hilton and me.]
   
    From Eric:  By any chance, do you know where and when the mini-reunion in Florida is going to be held?  Robin Feit Baker said it should be going on about now, and that some people are already here.  If you know who, where, or when, and have a phone number to contact people, I would love this.

    From me:  Last Saturday.
   
    From Eric:  Damn.
   
    [Rich -- Eric also asked if anyone who went to the party was reporting and posting pictures.  Any help there?]