In the fall of 1960, Missouri State University (then Southwest Missouri State College) was chosen for the first time to perform for United States servicemen stationed overseas. The show the Theatre Department chose to perform was Finian’s Rainbow, a musical comedy first performed at the university in the spring of 1960. During their seven-week tour, from March until May of 1961, the troupe performed thirty-five times at U.S. military bases in Germany and France.  They also performed at the American Student and Artist’s Center in Paris for the International Cultural Exchange Program, sponsored by the American Embassy in Paris.

The original version of Finian's Rainbow, which was two hours and thirty minutes long, was cut down to one hour and forty-five minutes to comply with Army regulations. The orchestra was eliminated and replaced with a portable celesta (a type of small piano) and a tape recorder, and the cast was reduced from forty to fifteen. The scenery also had to be made portable and able to be broken down into segments to fit into Army footlockers. 

Prior to the overseas tour, on March 8, 1961, the troupe performed Finian’s Rainbow at the State Capitol Building’s rotunda in Jefferson City. The audience was made up of the Missouri General Assembly, the State Supreme Court, and other elected officials. This performance included the original full cast of forty as well as the orchestra. They also performed at Fort Leonard Wood on March 9.

On March 11, the troupe gave a private showing to honor both the cast and the university’s new president, Dr. Leland Traywick. Guests included families of the cast members, USO officials, AETA personnel, Springfield city officials, distinguished military personnel, presidents and representatives from other Missouri colleges and universities, state senators and representatives in the university’s district as well as other elected officials from Jefferson City, and news media representatives. Before the show, George Fox, president of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce, gave the show’s director, Dr. Irene Coger, a certificate of merit. Springfield Mayor David Scott also gave each cast member a card designating him or her as a Good Will Ambassador from Springfield. After the show, a buffet dinner at the Student Center (now Plaster Student Union) was served by members of the Kappa Omicron Phi honorary home economics fraternity.

Shows for the general public were held at the university on March 13-15 as well as on March 10 (which was added due to nearly selling out of advance tickets for the later performances). Admission was $1. Funds raised by the performances were used by cast members to visit art galleries, museums, theaters, and operas while in Europe. 

While overseas, the troupe met with several MSU alums and other servicemen from the Springfield area and let them know what was going on at home. Upon returning, the students were required to write two papers about their experience overseas and received five credit hours for the tour.

Duane Hunt and David Fly, two of the troupe’s cast members, wrote a joint report on the trip, which was printed in the school newspaper, the Southwest Standard, on May 21, 1961: 

"…Of course there were the funny things that happened. The fuses which blew and left us all in darkness, the well rope that caught on fire in performance, and the stage that had no wing or back stage space; but the problems were surmounted. Adaptability became the keyword. If the show did not fit the stage, we changed the show.

"We did not always have stages to play on, however. Many times the best facilities consisted of the bare floor of the Service Club. The whole show had to be done standing up. If we sat down we couldn't be seen.

"There were the cities - all flashing by in a whirlwind of activity. We worked six days a week, and seldom stayed in one place longer than three days. Frankfurt, Heidelberg, Munich, Verdun, Bordeau [sic], and at last ... Paris! We spent one whole week in Paris before flying home. It is a magnificent city; the city of light and culture.

"April and May were the 'sunny days' for eighteen American actors. There may have been shadows across Europe - the intended Algerian bombing of Paris for one - but we didn't really see the darkness. We had a job to do and it was all too wonderful and beautiful to do anything but enjoy the tour."

Photos

Documents

Director:
Dr. Leslie Irene Coger

Technical Director:
Byrne Blackwood

Musical Director:
Elton Burgstahler

Choreographer:
Joe Bowman

CAST
Mr. Shears-Robust:
Byrne Blackwood

First Sharecropper,
Geologist, John (the Preacher),
and Second Gospeleer:
Dean Compton, Springfield

Sunny:
Patrick Connor, Neosho

Third Sharecropper and First
Passion Pilgrim Gospeleer:
Bob Elliott, Kansas City

Buzz Collins:
Richard Ellis, Purdy

Malindy:
Linda Fay, Ozark

Senator Billboard Rawkins:
Larry Fitzhugh, Springfield

Og (a Leprechaun):
David Fly, Monett

Second Sharecropper:
Kay Fraker, Springfield

Finian McLonergan:
Duane Hunt, Joplin

Howard and Third Gospeleer:
Arvil Krueger, Mt. Sterling

Sheriff:
Bruce Morrow, Springfield

Woody Mahoney:
Jarrett Robertson, Gainesville

Fourth Sharecropper and Sis:
Jane Simmons, Marionville

Sharon McLonergan:
June Lynn Skaggs, Monett

Susan Mahoney:
Gwen Theis, Joplin

Missouri State University • © 2006 Board of Governors, Missouri State University • Disclaimer • Accessibility
Maintained by: Library Systems Office • Last Modified: September 11, 2006