The Pride - Archbishop Rummel High School

Genesian Players
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by being a Genesian Player. Today she
is director of systems for The Historic
New Orleans Collection.
One more alumnus whose experiences
with the Genesian Players led to a
lifetime career is Edward Jemison, ’81.
He said his sister attended Archbishop
Chapelle and was a Genesian back in
the late 1960s when he was just six
Eddie Jemison, ’81, and his daughter Daisy by his
personal billboard for “Ocean’s Thirteen” at the Cannes
Film Festival in France
years old. He said that he followed her
example ten years later and became a
Genesian Player.
Now a professional actor with film
credits in some of the biggest movies
made, Eddie Jemison’s most recent
films include “Ocean’s Eleven,”
“Ocean’s Twelve,” and “Ocean’s
Thirteen,” where he was the computer
person in the heists. He has also
performed in numerous other movies
and television shows.
Jemison gives much credit for his
acting successes to the Genesian
Players and his directors, Mr. G and
former assistant director Mr. Bob
Roso, who were such influences
on him. “These men taught me all
the basics of theatre, from acting to
directing to stage lighting, but more
than that, they demystified it for me
and, even more than that, they made
everything fun.
“Fun is often forgotten as a teaching
device but Mr. G never forgot.
Everything he did was fun. He took
us to New York every year, and I saw
nearly 30 Broadway plays thanks
to him. He opened up the world to
me. Before I joined The Genesians, I
would just go to class, say as little as
possible to anyone, and then go home.
After I joined, I met girls, opened up,
and found a craft I loved,” Jemison
said.
Still another professional actor today
and Genesian Player yesterday is
Brandt Blocker, ’90, currently the
artistic director and general manager
of the Atlanta Lyric Theater for the
past two years.
“I probably got a jump start on the
Genesian Players because I was in
seventh grade at St. Benilde School
when I first heard of the Players and
Mr. G,” said Blocker.
He said that Mr. G’s two daughters
also attended school there and he
was assisting the school in their
production of “The Sound of Music.”
Blocker said he played Rolf, one of the
children in the musical, and Mr. G was
heavily involved in the production.
“Two years later I attended Archbishop
Rummel, joined the Genesians and
played Snoopy in my first production,
‘You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown’.”
Blocker said he thoroughly loved the
Genesian Players because it instilled in
him discipline, an appreciation of all
aspects of theater…not just acting, but
all of it.
“Even today I remember some of the
things I learned as a Genesian Player
and bring them to my theater in
Atlanta. The Genesian Players gave
me my career and I will be forever
grateful,” he said.
As the Genesian Players approaches
its fiftieth anniversary, hundreds
and hundreds of former students are
better persons today because of their
involvement with the Genesian Players
in general and Mr. G in particular.
Now a financial advisor with Morgan
Stanley, Spencer Harris, ’67, said that
he is still in awe of what the Players
and Chuck Guajardo have done for
so many generations of young people
over the years.
“Mr. G embodies the Genesian Players
and all of us are better persons today
because of our work as Genesian
Players and our friendship with and
dedication to Mr. Chuck Guajardo,”
Harris said.
Mr. G and cast of “Picnic”
Brother Michael Livaudais, ’66, added,
“Looking back at the story of the
Genesians and Mr. G, it is hard not to
notice a great metaphor that the title
“Minor Miracle” is. Not only was that
the title of our first play performed in
the early 1960’s in the Rummel gym,
but also it can be said to aptly name
the major miracle the Archbishop
Rummel theatre program became for
hundreds and hundreds of students
under Chuck Guajardo’s direction.”
The first “Meet the Coaches” at Archbishop Rummel High
School was held Thursday, September 18th in the Raider
Room. Sponsored by the Alumni Association and the Saints
Hall of Fame, the evening included introductions of all Raider
coaches by Athletic Director Phil Greco, plus closing comments
by Principal Thomas Moran. The evening included much
anticipation of the upcoming athletic programs.
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Archbishop Rummel High School Marching Band
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Last year eight classes celebrated their reunions with the help
of the Alumni Office. We would like to thank all of those who
helped with their class reunions. In January, with the help of
class representatives, we will begin planning the reunions for
this year.
Travelling to Lafayette and the
campus of the University of
Louisiana, the band participated in
the 19th annual Louisiana Showcase
of Marching Bands competition
with 36 other high school bands
from across the state. In the AAA
division, the school’s Drum Section
scored an Excellent Rating, while
the Chapellete Dance Team, the
Drum Major, and band scored
Superior Ratings. Additionally, the
overall ensemble placed second of
ten bands in the AAA division.
In the LMEA (Louisiana Music
Educator Association) District VI
Band Festival at East Jefferson High
School, the Raider band’s Drum
Section, Drum Major, Chapellete
Dance Team, and overall band
received Superior Ratings from the
judges.
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