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                         March 5, 2004

Satirical show marks the final 100 days for Firsties

Story and photos by Spc. Benjamin Gruver
Staff Writer 

With winter winding down and spring around the corner, thoughts of graduation are floating through the minds of many West Point seniors.

Those thoughts were obvious Feb. 27 and 28 during the annual 100th Night Show at Eisenhower Hall.

The 100th Night tradition started when members of the U.S. Military Academy Class of 1871 announced there were 100 days until graduation.

The tradition has gone from cadets performing a collection of skits in the mess hall to the full-scale musical comedy cadets produce today.

This year’s show began with cadet candidates arriving at a picnic in Highland Falls and ends the day before graduation, explained Cadet 1st Class Mary Byrne, director of the show.

The show’s producer, Cadet 1st Class Nick Tackaberry, said the story line includes four main characters, played by Cadets 1st Class Andrew Betson, Adam Snyder, Ann Millen and Christine Jette.

Each character is trying to date one of the others, but each likes the person he or she is not compatible with.

For example, he said, the “Tool,” who is perfect and squared away likes the “Dirt Bag,” who is not and doesn’t always follow the rules. 

Conflicts arise when the character James Yossarian, a “Dirt Bag,” finds himself in trouble with the head of the “Professional Revolution” at West Point (played by Cadet 1st Class John James) who is under control of the “evil ring.”

The story ends when the other characters come together to save their friend by destroying the evil ring and tossing it into Crandall Pool.

The parody of the popular film “The Lord of the Rings” is just one of many things tied into the show. 

“Another part of the 100 Night Show is the use of movie lines, recent films, popular songs and popular sound tracks that are tied in with the stuff that came up during our four years,” Byrne said.

Much work and preparation went in to this year’s show explained both Tackaberry and Byrne.

“Before we had the script finished we held auditions and had our cast set early on,” Byrne said.

Byrne said she gave out the first copy of the script just before Christmas break so cast members could learn their parts.

After the break they started blocking scenes right away. 

“I have never seen a cast so dedicated,” Byrne said. “Usually you’ve got cast members that don’t show up or skip a practice, but this cast has rehearsed every single weekend, every Saturday, every afternoon and every evening. They have given up a lot.”

“They should be proud of themselves,” said Beth Flowers, choreographer of the show. “They have worked so hard and put in so much time. I can’t help think it is going to be the best 100th Night show ever.”

Flowers, a theater major from the University of Oklahoma, has worked in theater for years and helped with the musical numbers.

“I got a call from the director,” Flowers said. “She knew I had a theater background and thought maybe I could help them out.

“I was so glad to do it because I enjoy working with cadets so much,” she added.

Many of the songs in the show are from other major musical productions like Rent, Godspell, Chicago and Cabaret, Flowers said.

“We wanted to bring in music that all ages would enjoy,” she explained. “The cadets rewrote all the lyrics to fit the story.”

Flowers said this was a show that West Point should be proud of and that she was impressed with how much talent the cadets have shown.

 “I felt honored to share the stage with such gifted and talented people as my classmates,” said James who played “The Comm” in the show. “I credit Mary Byrne, our director, for showing so much faith in me.”

James said he has never missed a 100th Night Show during his four years and considers it a honor to be part of it.