European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 16, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Edward Wood of Frankfurt in a Solo performance of a Only 17�?� during the Dodds drama festival in Augsburg West Germany. W amp i getting into the act by Steve Taylor Munich Bureau be held a boy As his life bled out. I turn out my lights at night and i see their faces their voices. I recognize them and everyone that i see. Softly Ever so softly with an intensity that grabs your attention the Story of a Young woman s horror of War unravels. She reveals her deepest feelings about the blood and death of american boys at War. The Young performer is a senior from Frankfurt american High school and the audience younger yet is comprised of american High school students. In a performance that a drama coach and judge termed a hear full a Laurel Posey alone in front of the class recites the lines she compiled and Calls scenes from China Beach. She and More than 200 other Young performers were in Augsburg West Germany recently for the department of defense dependents schools 10th annual drama festival hosted this year by Augsburg High school. The students and some 40 adults a mostly drama teachers from 26 High schools turned the already crowded corridors into scenes probably common when thespians gathered in the streets performing for anyone who would watch and listen. Quot its a carnival atmosphere. Not a usual Day of school Quot says Gene Knudsen Augsburg a principal on the first full Day of the four Day festival. The usual 600 students at Augsburg had multiplied by a third overnight. Young dramatic artists lined hallways some rehearsing some resting some waiting to go on stage. Shakespeare s a fall the world s a stage Quot described it All. The stage was everywhere a classrooms cafeterias gymnasiums. In the cafeteria six students from Heidelberg not a usual Day of school american students were both on stage and in the audience Durn drama festival in Augsburg High school perform a one act skit called Rimers of Eldrige adapted and directed by the actors themselves. Every line is a cliche. Frankfurt a Edward Wood on his Knees in room 116, pleads to god to return him to life in a Solo performance of Only 17. In room 134, Jennifer Carey of Ramstein a West Germany acts out a Young girls anguish Over her past. Back in the cafeteria other students from Ramstein turn the gunfight at the . Corral into a fight Over a dirty Fork student written and directed. In room 125, another Young girl Patch High school s Michele Wothe metaphorically attempts to explain her sorrow Over an unwanted pregnancy and abortion. Over in room 118, in a duet with Ramstein a Jason Cox and Jeremy Mcalister Charlie Babbit discovers his brother Raymond in rain Man. Quot drama is like so Cool Quot says Mcalister who had the role of Raymond in the play. Quot you can make them cry make them  Mcalister and Cox have been performing for two years and have become Best friends. The scene from rain Man was the first time they be attempted serious drama a move away from the comedy routines of the past. Quot we wanted to pick a piece to show our capabilities a something serious Quot Cox says. But just getting to Augsburg took a certain capability above average skills. American High school students All Over West Germany competed for the privilege. Ramstein held drama tryouts and Only eight of about 30 students qualified. The drama students came not Only to polish their acting skills but to Quot be exposed to the imagination of everyone else Quot says Michael Mcdowell a drama teacher from Stuttgart. Quot theater feeds on  Mcdowell says that drama has benefits that May not at first be obvious. Quot imagination concentration research the study of people and communicative skills Quot All go into acting out scenes he says. But reporting the benefits of drama is difficult. Quot drama is not accountable like math. Getting this across to administrators is  not Only do the students play All the roles set up the scenes and direct some of the acts they also put the festival into action. Quot without the students there would t be a festival a said Dave Dynak a drama teacher at Augsburg and the Overall coordinator for the event. About 25 students from Augsburg worked for months on weekends and after school to put the event together. Aimee Monette was one of those students. Scheduling was a Nightmare she said since each of the 200 participants had three rounds of each performance with Many of the students performing in solos duets and larger ensembles. Getting housing took time As Well. Monette and fellow students matched visiting actors and actresses with residents of the Augsburg Community who opened their Homes to them. Dodds provided transportation. Some immediate friendships formed. Carey and Wothe met at the train station when they arrived in Augsburg. When they talked about acting they Quot automatically had a  Carey has been acting since seventh Grade but Wothe Only caught the Bug about a year ago. She says that acting is a Way for her to express her inner self to get feedback from an audience Quot a natural  but educators say drama is More than a Cool or a Quot natural  it s part of a balanced curriculum and like sports the students learn teamwork and How to interact with one another. Says Mcdowell Quot we re not training these students to be professional actors a though maybe some of them will become actors a we re teaching them to express  Page 14 a a a the stars and stripes amp % a u festival with Over 200 Young performers. Jason Cox left and Jeremy Mcalister of Ramstein acting a scene from a brain Man. Is amps photos by Steve Taylor h cumin Baum older. Jennifer Cere of Ramstein american High school Hes been acting since she was in the seventh Grade. M16,1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 15