tony montanaro mime memories

It was while I was a sophomore at Concordia High School in Seward, Nebraska that Tony Montanaro came and did a performance. It was at the new drama stage in the basement of the new Music building on the campus of then Concordia Teacher College, now Concordia University. Tony did a mime tug of war and created the illusion of an invisible wall. His name came to my mind today.


Tug of War from Karen Montanaro on Vimeo.(accessed Nov 22, 2013)

I remember doing a mime for a drama class or an English class in Becker Hall, where our high school classes took place. Hal Whelply was the librarian and also taught drama. My sketch involved pretending to open a door, close a window, and open screw lid jars. I think it was in an upstairs classroom in 1969.

The Wall Mime from Karen Montanaro on Vimeo (accessed Nov 22, 2013)

More on Montanaro,

http://vimeo.com/2373884, accessed Nov 19, 2013)

My freshman year began in the fall of 1968, after I graduated from St. John's Lutheran School. (My fifth grade classmates, courtesy of mike sylwester, http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikesylwester/sets/72157619123660048/).

In 1969 I was a sophomore. And, in 1970 to 1971, when I was a junior abstentia, my parents took our family on the road for a one year excursion around the United States. My father was booked to do art workshops at schools and churches. That trip was sponsored by Aid Association for Lutherans and Concordia Teachers College. It was during his sabbatical leave. We lived in a Winnebago mobile home for one year, making four loops of the U.S., coming home for a two week break between touring. We travelled to every state, with the exception of Maine, Alaska, and Hawaii.