The class of 1963 of Coaldale High School presented the 61st annual Class Night Exercises to a capacity audience last evening in the school auditorium. The two-part presentation, a musical variety show entitled “Themes for ‘63” was written and arranged by George Matrician, director of music in the Coaldale Public Schools, who also served as piano accompanist for the program.

All 31 members of the graduating class, one of the smallest in the school’s history, participated, with each member featured in a dialogue part as well as in one or more of the various song, dance, and instrumental numbers.

The first part of the program, “Class Themes,” had as its setting the CHS Auditorium; the time, the day before commencement; the scene, the final rehearsal before Commencement. Norman Nesterak was The Presenter as he introduced, individually, the members of the Class of 1963.

As each name was announced, the graduate elect entered through an arch set against a royal blue backdrop and flanked by Roman columns decked with flowers and trailing greens. After the presentation, the Class rendered the musical plea, “Get Us to the School on Time.”

Judy Trubilla was The Greeter as she gave the address of welcome and Anthony Matula was The Dedicator as he dedicated this year’s edition of the yearbook, “The Stentor,” to Randolph B. Harvey, supervising principal of the Coaldale Public Schools.

Immediately following the conclusion of these traditional Class Night activities, the program changed to a play format, with James McLaughlin as The Lamenter, Georgia Lee Mackay as The Questioner, Ann Marie Burns as The Consoler, Robert Cipko as The Bearer of Glad Tidings, and Beverly Roncek as The Impatient One. Their dialogue established the theme for the second part of the program. The first part ended with the class singing, “Classmate, Will You Dance with Me?” and a polka dance by Ann Marie Burns, Edward Kassak, Judy Trubilla, and John Jupin.

The second part, “Gypsy Themes,” has as its time, Commencement eve; the place, the Coaldale Victory Grove; the scene, a Gypsy medicine show, complete with Gypsy wagon and campfire in a woodland setting.

It opened with “The Happy Wanderer” by Michael Panchura, Richard Domin, John Jupin, Edward Kassak, Thomas Moyer and Thomas Zak. Other musical numbers included a solo, “The Gypsy,” by Joseph Popik; a boy-girl duet, “In a Little Gypsy Tea Room,” by Mary Ann Taras and James Mock; a male quartet, “Gonna Build a Mountain,” by Robert Cipko, William Edwards, Richard Miller and Norman Nesterak; a girls’trio, “Show Him the Way to Go Home,” by Beverly Roncek, Ann Marie Burns and Mary Ann Taras; “Lida Rose” by the boys’ chorus; musical narrations “The Gypsy’s Warning” by Edward Kassak and “Golden Earrings” by Marianne Smith; “Que Sera, Sera” by the girls’ chorus, and a solo, “Gypsy Love Song” by William Edwards.

Humorous skits were “The Music Goes ‘Round and ‘Round” with Richard Miller and Jack Miller, the latter featured on the bass horn, “The Analyst and The Patient” with Charles Barron and Robert Brunda, and “The Doctors,” written and portrayed by Norman Nesterak and Anthony Matula.

Additional instrumental numbers were an accordion solo, “Hungarian Czardas” by Theresa Kachurak who also accompanied czardas dancers Marianne Smith and Edward Kassak, and a tenor saxophone solo, “Caravan” by Dorothy Sicenavage who accompanied Judy Trubilla, Georgia Lee Mackay and Patricia Heins who, in colorful Egyptian costumes, performed an exotic dance as The Gypsies of the Nile.

The cast of characters included Marianne Smith and Theresa Kachurak as the Gypsy palm reader and the Gypsy crystal ball gazer, respectively; Richard Domin, the Gypsy vendor; John Jupin, the Gypsy peddler; Michael Panchura, the Gypsy medicine man; Thomas Moyer, the Gypsy barker; and, Thomas Zak as the translator of the Gypsy curse.

Others were Richard Horos and Walter Fedora as The Early Arrivers; William Edwards as The Scoffer; Stephen Orach as The Haggler; Walter Fedora as The Would-be Traveler; Dorothy Sicenavage as The Smitten One; Thomas Sabol as The Doubting Thomas; Mary Ann Taras and James Mock as The Interceders; Gene Keenly as the Law Enforcer; and, Norman Nesterak as The Optimist.

The finale was listed as The Promise and featured the class singing “Side by Side.”

The program was directed by Miss Adele Laigon, Michael Polansky, Leonard Melley, and George Matrician, all of the high school faculty.

Class officers are Michael Panchura, president; Thomas Zak, vice president; Theresa Kachurak, secretary, and Richard Miller, treasurer. The class motto is “Not Finished, Just Begun”; the class colors, black and gold; and the class flower, gold baby orchid.