2VIKING VETERANS

Darron Daniels, Jr.

Mr. Rick Foreman (right) on the cover of Life magazine in

August 1967.

http

://w

ww.

life.

com

/imag

e/50

7046

56

Former North Forsyth student Aaron Barth (second from left) at

his promotion ceremony.

On April 15-17, the North Forsyth Performing and Fine Arts Department presented their rendition of Lionel Bart’s play Oliver! With a talented cast, intricate scenery, and beautiful costumes, Oliver! was a treat for audiences. The play Oliver! is based on the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. The play opens in a workhouse in Britain where the orphans perform the play’s first m u s i c a l number, “Food Glorious Food.” The orphans live in squalor and hunger, but one orphan, Oliver Twist (played by Jimmie “JJ” Jeter, Jr.), dares to ask for more. He is thrown out of the workhouse by the greedy caretakers Mr. Bumble and Widow Corney (Mason Norwood and Matrisha Stafford.) Oliver is sold to the undertaker Mr. Sowerberry and his wife (Clay Reese and Ashley Harris) but runs away after a commotion. Then, he is picked up by the Artful Dodger

(Eliza Albritton) and brought to the lair of Fagin (Mr. Tim Cook, the chorus teacher at Northwest Middle School), a criminal who teaches young boys to pickpocket. Oliver also meets Nancy (Lyndsey Dunston), the girlfriend of evil Bill

Sykes, who immed ia te l y s h o w s m o t h e r l y a f f e c t i o n towards Oliver. Oliver is then taken in by the kind Mr. B r o w n l o w (Kevin Bryan) but once again is brought back to Fagin’s den by Nancy and

Bill. Nancy attempts to return Oliver to Mr.

Brownlow, regretting her decision to return him to a life of crime, but she is murdered by Bill. Justice is finally served, though, and Bill is killed by a police officer, and Oliver is returned to safety. The cast was full of talented vocalists who made each song pleasant. One beautiful song was “Who Will Buy,” which featured six soloists including Se’Naia Simpson, LaTasha Spruill, Matrisha Stafford, Callie Yohn,

and Sheila Young. The play also benefited from the talents of many North Forsyth teachers– Ms. Beadle as director, Ms. Troy as music director, Ms. Rodriguez as choreographer, and Mr. Sigler as bassoon player. Many students were also behind the scenes, i n c l u d i n g E b o n i e M i t c h e l l and Gabby S c h i l l e r as Stage Manager and A s s i s t a n t S t a g e M a n a g e r , C h a d Cartwright as sound board o p e r a t o r , A s h l e y Caulfield as light board operator, Rudea Coles and Becca Marion as follow spot operators, and Sequoia Pettigrew, Matt Tuttle, and Amy Whitman as backstage running crew. Despite being an ambitious undertaking, those involved in the production of the play remained calm. “I wasn’t nervous,” said Matrisha Stafford. “I had a lot of fun. I enjoy singing and dancing

North Forsyth’s current Teacher of the Year, Mr. Scott Armstrong,

served in the Marine Corps.

Sgt. James Feimster served in the Air Force for twenty-four years.

Everyday, thousands of men and women fight for the country they love. It is only fitting that they receive the proper recognition and praise for their hard work and dedication to the country. Veterans are among a special elite group of people who fought for the freedoms that Americans have today.

North Forsyth is very fortunate to have several Vikings (both past and present) that have so rightfully earned the title of “Veteran.”

Aaron Barth, who graduated from North in 2002, has served in the US Air Force for two and a half years and plans on serving at least twenty more. He is currently stationed at Offutt AFB in Nebraska where he works in Medical

Logistics. This job requires him to order, receive, and deliver supplies for the base hospital. His title is Senior Airman.

Aaron deployed to Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan from January 2009 to July 2009. “I not only consider serving my country as my duty, but one of my biggest honors. Veterans are a BIG part of this country’s history and the reason for the freedoms (we) enjoy today,” he declared.

North Forsyth’s current Teacher of the Year, Mr. Scott Armstrong, served in the Marine Corps for four years and has also been a teacher at North for four years. Having the opportunity to spend five months on a boat in the Mediterranean Sea along with going to Spain, Italy, Bosnia, Greece, Turkey, Romania,

Malta, and Tunisia were among Mr. Armstrong’s most memorable experiences in the Marine Corps. “Joining the Marines was the second best decision I’ve ever made, after getting married,” he avowed.

ESL assistant Mr. Rick Foreman served in the Marine Corps for an astonishing twenty-six years and has been at North for six. He stated, “Meeting and marrying my wife and the birth of my two sons,” were the highlights of his experience in the Marine Corps. “The Marine Corps motto is ‘Semper Fi’ which means ‘Always Faithful’. I have tried to apply this in everything I’ve done in life and it has served me well,” he affirmed.

JROTC teacher Sgt. James Feimster, who has been at North for five and a half years, served in the Air Force for twenty-four years. He said that he had so many memorable experiences, “but in general (to) be able to travel around the world and see how others live” was the best experience.

One of the definitions of a veteran is someone who is seasoned or rendered competent through trial and experience. All of North Forsyth’s very special veterans perfectly fit this description. North Forsyth is truly grateful for the work that they have done for the country and all that they continue to do to serve us now.

so it was great to just get up on stage.” Chad Cartwright, who played Dr. Grimwig and who operated the sound board, also felt positive about his experience in the production of Oliver!, stating, “This was the first

time I’ve run sound and acted and while doing both was stressful, I’m glad I did it because it was really fun. The entire theater d e p a r t m e n t has grown exponentially and I’m proud to be a part of the family.” O l i v e r ! was a

fantastic production and a true testament to the strides that Ms. Beadle has made to expand the Performing Arts Department in her time at North Forsyth. Those who missed the play missed an hour of incredible music, talented acting, and a great time.

Emily Kincaid

The soloists belt a song out in North’s production of Oliver.

The orphans of Oliver sing about their hunger in “Food, Glorious Food.”

Nor t h F orsyt h ’ s F i nest