In 1971, MSU was once again chosen to perform for U.S. troops overseas with the USO. They were one of ten schools selected that year.  The show this time was an updated, 1962-version of Anything Goes by Cole Porter. Auditions were open to anyone at the university; the only requirements were "the ability to act, sing, and dance; good health; and a congenial personality."

AETO, the USO, and the U.S. Department of Defense again sponsored the tour and paid for all of the group’s necessary expenses. The tour lasted a total of nine weeks, beginning in April of 1972 and ending in early June. The troupe spent their first week in the Azores, then approximately the next seven weeks in Germany, performing in places like Frankfurt, Heidelberg, Nuremburg, Munich, and Stuttgart. A few days were also spent in Holland, and the last ten days of the trip were spent sightseeing in Paris and London.

The troupe also performed a variety show entitled “American Pie." To raise additional funds for the trip, the group performed both Anything Goes at Missouri State University March 21-25, 1972, and the “American Pie” variety show on March 26. The variety show was performed overseas in places where there was not enough room to stage the main show, such as in hospital wards. The troupe was also invited to perform the variety show to kick off the “Festival of the Arts” at Kreuzberg, Germany, on May 15.  While overseas, the troupe performed Anything Goes a total of twenty-eight times and “American Pie” thirty-four times.

Before leaving, Dr. Irene Coger asked for anyone with friends or relatives stationed in the Azores or Germany to give names and addresses to her, in order to contact them if possible while overseas. In an interview for the school paper, Dr. Coger said, “On previous trips, and especially in 1961 when we were stationed in Europe, the list of servicemen was very popular. … Wherever we went the servicemen would eagerly check our list to see if any of their friends or buddies were stationed in Europe.”

To be given course credit for the tour, the students in the cast had to keep a journal of their experiences overseas.  The university also allowed the students to take block courses as well as special courses set up specifically for the cast. In doing so, the students were able to take a full course load even with their nine-week absence from the university. 

Photos

Documents

Director:
Dr. Leslie Irene Coger
Scene Designer and Technical Director:
Dr. Byrne Blackwood
Choreographer and Assistant Director:
Margaret Palmer, Springfield
Pianist:
Terry Moore, Ash Grove

CAST
Sailor:
David Baird, Ozark
Mr. Whitney:
Dr. Byrne Blackwood, Springfield
Purity:
Susan Borneman, Springfield
Chastity:
Sheila Bouie, St. Louis
Mrs. Harcourt:
Julie Gilmore, Springfield
The Captain:
John Kuhn, St. Louis
Moonface:
Monte Kuklenski, Springfield
Bishop Henry Dobson:
Tim Murphy, Warrenton
Reno Sweeney:
Margaret Palmer, Springfield
Billy Crocker:
Gary Root, Nevada
Bonnie:
Sidney Russell, California (state)
Hope Harcourt:
Sandy Sewell, Centralia
Sir Evelyn Oakleigh:
Dennis Warning, Willow Springs

(alternate: Sharon Sackewitz, Independence)

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