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In this episode, Sgt. Fred describes his first experience as a Renaissance Man — that is, from being a young academic scholar and student worker to a highly successful public speaker and actor in dramatics. And for this, Sgt. Fred will discuss his challenges, tasks, motivation and drive to be the very best in those areas to his graduation date.
And here are the key milestones for this experience to make of himself a renewed challenger as a Renaissance Man:
- The environment: top high school in the area known for academics and preparation;
- The scene: volunteered to go into public speaking — including the awards (called “gold medals”) in the areas of oratorical interpretation, dramatic interpretation, humorous interpretation and competitive speech conferences;
- The drive: to become the representative of the local chapter of the Optimist Club in winning the contests among other speakers with first place and then going to the finals in San Diego, California, and receiving the third place trophy;
- The acting experience: from a minor part in a theatre-in-the-round to the leading roles that would define my flair for acting, dancing and even musical numbers in the following dramas and plays:
- THE ANDERSONVILLE TRIAL — playing the lead of Nathan Chipman, prosecuting attorney (as was played on Broadway by William Shatner with George C. Scott directing);
- THE ROMANCERS — a local television production at UCLA, where Sgt. Fred was one of the suitors of the heroine;
- STARDUST — a comedy by Mr. Kerr, where Sgt. Fred played the mad-Russian professor, Craig Kendal Bach;
- RICHELIEU — a play based on the challenges of Louis XIII of France with Cardinal Richelieu, where Sgt. Fred played the villain, the Count de Baradas (even including a two-minute sword fight with the hero);
- OKLAHOMA — the musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein, where Sgt. Fred played the part Jud Fry, the villain, in the dream sequence dance, as well as being the backup for the performer as Jud Fry in the death sequence;
- OUR HEARTS WERE YOUNG AND GAY — a comedy where Sgt. Fred played 2 roles: (1) the purser on the cruise liner, and (2) Monsieur De La Croix, the comic relief with the lead actress;
- I REMEMBER MAMA — the play by John Van Druten about the Nordic family, where Sgt. Fred played the light villain, UNCLE CHRIS, opposite Lucie Arnaz as Aunt Jenny (with a surprise thankful praise for the death scene of Uncle Chris) from an audience member, Lucille Ball;
- CINDERELLA — the musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein, directed by Burch Mann Dance Studios, where Sgt. Fred played THE KING (i.e., also known as King Maximilian Godfrey Ladislaus Leopold Sydney), where praise came from a review for his “flair for singing and dancing” — especially for the number Keep it Gay);
- MISTER ROBERTS — the comedy directed by Mr. Kaufman at the University, where Sgt. Fred played Mannion;
- ADVISE AND CONSENT — the drama directed by Mr. Kaufman at the University, where Sgt. Fred played the villain, Senator Fred Van Ackerman.
By the way, for your information, Sgt. Fred also won at his graduation the CROSBY AWARD FOR DRAMATICS. This was the one award given at graduation to the student who excelled for most of his years at the school for excelling in dramatics, both plays and musicals. This was named as an award in honor of BING CROSBY, the actor and singer who had his son attend the school before, and who also donated the library in his name.
Before my second year in University in which I did drama and acting, I had my very quick introduction to fraternity life in college. And so, the rebirth as an actor and public speaker had quietly been put on hold indefinitely.
For the next experience as a Renaissance Man, Sgt Fred can then discuss the next phase in The Real Academy of Life. In the meantime, we would like to thank you for listening, and we shall see you next time when we deliver the upcoming experience of Renaissance.
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