Festival News & Notes # 8-Individual Events & Mutual Support

Below are two hand-written schedules. If you click on them, you'll get a larger, readable version.

One shows the individual events schedule by time and location, with each student shown where they will be performing.

The other is a grid to show who is expected to show up to support each student. As discussed in our planning meetings, we want every TWPI student to have maximum support. This means that we have not left it to chance as to who is expected to support whom, but have assigned each student to attend the I.E.s of at least 3 other students, according to this schedule. The logistics of this do not make this an easy task or one where adjustments can readily be made.

Although you may think you have time to cram in watching another I.E. before ones you're assigned to watch. Please don't try--we don't want you to be late for the ones where your support is really needed.

Please see me or Mr. Easton if you have any questions about the schedules.

Break a leg!

NJFL/NFL Showcase

Each year we send some of our most talented youth to the national competitions of the National Forensic League and National Junior Forensic League. Each year the CNMI team comes back with numerous awards and students who are ranked in the nation's top 100 and even the top 10 -- an amazing testament to the success of our program and the talent of our kids when you think of the thousands of students in the US national programs.

This year the NJFL competition will be in San Antonio, Texas, and the NFL will be in Birmingham, Alabama. Those selected to go and represent the CNMI competed throughout this past year to win this honor. During this whole year of competition, only their fellow competitors and the judges have had the chance to see them perform. Now, you will have an opportunity to see their programs before they leave for the competition,

On June 9, from 6:00 to 8:30 pm, at the Multi-Purpose Center, these talented students from both the public and private schools in the CNMI, will present a SHOWCASE of their programs that they will be performing in the national competitions. Come and support their endeavors and enjoy their performances. There is no cost to attend.

Those who have attended the FOA membership meetings know how talented these students are. Come and enjoy and wish them luck.

Final Season Concert from Pacific Winds and SSHS

The Pacific Winds would like to invite everyone to their 15th season spring concerts this weekend.


This is the annual season-ending concert celebrating our 15th year of community band performances. The Saipan Pacific Winds community concert band has 30 members this year and is conducted by myself and Ms. Christine Nierras. We are thrilled to welcome some special guests to perform with us onstage at the Multi Purpose Center in Susupe this weekend. On Saturday evening, June 6 (6:30 pm) we are featuring the Saipan Southern High School Manta Band. This award winning ensemble will perform soundtrack music from the new Harry Potter film, a stirring version of the classic work, Alvamar Overture by James Barnes, and their signature piece which earned them a second straight Gold Award at the Tumon Bay Music Festival, "When Angels Weep" by David Shaffer. Of course, the Pacific Winds will perform as well, entertaining the audience with a mixture of jazz selections, marches, pop favorites, rock hits, and even an Irish Jig.

Tickets are just $5.00 general admission and $3.00 for students/seniors.


The Pacific Winds will deliver an encore matinee performance on Sunday afternoon, June 7th (3:30 pm) at the Multi Purpose Center. This time, they will be joined by homegrown singing talent Ms. Lori Mendez whose long awaited homecoming follows an extended period of musical study in Guam and now New York City. Her career and burgeoning reputation has spanned several continents, including performances with many of today's notable opera stars. She will perform a number of selections ranging from spirituals to opera, broadway to classical, in her much anticipated debut concert here in Saipan.

The Pacific Winds will perform many of their most requested pieces too, including music from the pop group Chicago, the Jazz Police, Ralph MacDonald's "Just the two of us" and many more favorites. Ticket prices are the same as Saturday.

To purchase advance tickets, please contact Will DeWitt at 235-1087 or email him at willdewitt@aol.com.

The Saipan Pacific Winds is a non-profit organization dedicated to giving all Saipan wind and percussion musicians the opportunity to collectively share their talents with the community through several yearly concerts and special performances. Since 1994, their founder and conductor, Mr. Will DeWitt has welcomed all who wish to play their flutes, saxes, clarinets, trumpets, drums, trombones, french horns, and tubas with other enthusiastic musicians of all ages.

Festival News & Notes #7-Chapter Select

Festival presents a tremendous opportunity to take in a lot of plays. Besides the productions staged on the "main stage"--which are generally high tech, costume and set intensive, and full-length plays and musicals, there are shorter, "easier" plays produced in the Chapter Select Showcase. These are also staged by various Thespian troupes and chapters, and generally achieve a wholly-satisfactory degree of stage-craft and interest. They are also shorter and, because of the limitations on set and tech intensity, use more imagination and innovation in the presentations.

This year, the Chapter Select Showcase (based on the tentative schedule) will include:

SEASCAPE WITH SHARKS AND DANCER, by Don Nigro (Troupe 1849, Iowa)
THE SQUARE, by Mark Wallace (Troupe 5084, Arizona)
THE SEUSSIFICATION OF ROMEO AND JULIET, by Peter Bloedel (Troupe 2290, Colorado)
BETWEEN DAYLIGHT AND BOONVILLE, by Matt Williams (Troupe 5623, Indiana)
TWO ROOMS, by Lee Blessing (Troupe 7261, Mississippi)
PIZZA WITH SHRIMP ON TOP, by Aaron Levy (Troup 7260, Arkansas)
THE MARVELOUS PLAYBILL, adated from Miguel Cervante by Tim Kelly (Troup 5374+, CNMI)
IMAGINARY HARRY, by Bradley Hayward, (Troup 264, West Virginia)
THIS IS A TEST, by Stephen Gregg (Troupe 6215, Nevada)
ALL IN THE TIMING, by David Ives (Troupe 1539, Minnesota)
ART, by Yasmina Reza (Troupe 6763, Texas)
THE AUDITIONERS, by Doug Rand (Troupe 4151, Kansas)
ON THE DAY AND THE DAYS THAT FOLLOWED, by Dan McCormick (Troupe 88079, Pennsylvania)
SURE THING, by David Ives (Troupe 7093, North Carolina)
THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED), by Adam Long, Daniel Singer, and Jess Winfield (Troupe 6185, New Jersey)
DRUGS ARE BAD, by Jonathan Rand (Troupe 1732, Oregon).

Festival News & Notes #6-Emergency Calls

This is information to share with your parents and guardians here in Saipan. If there is an emergency incoming telephone call, it should be made to the UNL 24-hour desk at
(402) 472-1010.

Festival News & Notes #5-Rehearsal Schedule

Festival News & Notes #4-Team CNMI

Yay, Thespians of the Western Pacific Islands!

Here's the team for 2009.
This includes students who won their tickets with first place overall performances, students who won their places as alternates (where a top finisher couldn't go or won other paid arrangements from NFL), and students who are, on their own, joining the group having accomplished a top-three finish at regionals.

Name, School, Category, Type

Baik, Sung Yul (Tommy), MHS, Mime (duet), Performance,
Lee, Moon Hyo, MHS, Mime (duet), Performance
Tiples, Liezel, MHS, Monologue, Performance
Joyner, Aisha, KHS, Duet Acting, Performance
Dela Cruz, Akeiko, KHS, Duet Acting, Performance
Dela Cruz, Miki Nadia, KHS, Solo Musical, Performance
Deleon Guerrero, Anna Rose, SSHS, Solo Musical, Performance
Martin, Joseph, MHS, Solo Musical, Performance
Mojica, Adeleyah, MHS, Film, Technical
Wheat, Matthew, MHS, Film, Technical
Park, Kyoung Min (Kay), MHS, Set Design, Technical
David, Jackie, SSHS, Costume Design, Technical

Denora, Ray Mark, HJHS, Mime (duet), Performance
Bai, Tony, HJHS, Mime (duet), Performance
Joyner, Zalika, CCOV-JHS, Monologue, Performance
Flores, Dayanara, HJHS, Duet Acting, Performance
Banados, Royze, HJHS, Duet Acting, Performance
Brown, Reece, SAEF, Solo Musical, Performance

Chapter Director: Harold Easton
Advisor: Wesley Foster
Chaperones: Dora Miura, Hilda Joyner, Amy Babauta, Catherine Barja, Jojo Alepuyo, Jane Mack