Read about Diane Keaton's 1964 community college stage debut

Santa Ana College alum and award-winning actress Diane Keaton passed away on Saturday. In memoriam, fellow SAC alum and award-winning comedian Steve Martin posted on Instagram a playbill from 1964 of the production that the two of them worked on at SAC called Carousel.

An el Don issue from May 15, 1964 showcased a rehearsal of the play, which included a photo of Keaton, who went by Diane Hall at the time. Keaton graduated from Santa Ana High School, where she performed in school plays, before coming to SAC. And while she wasn’t here for very long, she certainly made an impression.

“Diane, who was known then as Diane Hall, (thus her autobiographical role in Annie Hall) had a lot of talent,” said Lee Ford, a faculty member for 30 years, who taught drama during the production of Carousel. He was interviewed by el Don when he retired in 1980 and remembered the famous actress well.

“She also had the drive to succeed as a professional. I’ve seen people with the same talent who were not willing to pay the price.”

The 1964 article can be read below or by clicking here.

**Eye-Catching Carousel Awes Crowd In Musical Tonight At 8 p.m.**

“Every man give a hand with those sets,” yells drama director Robert Blaustone from backstage.

In the pit, under the direction of music instructor Elmer Ramsey, SAC’s orchestra warms up with songs from Carousel, opening tonight at 8 p.m. in Phillips Hall.

Lights dim and the curtain goes up. The setting is a typical small town carnival in 1875. A crowd of dreamy-eyed couples and wide eyed children wander aimlessly around taking in the colorful sights of the balloon lady, hootchie-kootchie dancers, the juggler and ticket barkers.

Two of the young loom workers from the mill factory are attracted by the eye-catching carousel. Carrie Pipperidge, played by Diane Hall, is awed by the delightful horses. Julie Jordan, Sherry Senne, is hypnotized by the handsome ticket barker Billy Bigelow, portrayed by Tim Mills. Could this be the start of a romance?

Minutes pass and scene after scene is presented until the cast gives a sigh of relief as the final curtain comes down.

All is still. No applause! Naturally not; for this has only been another trying rehearsal for the 80 cast members involved in SAC’s musical playing tonight, Saturday night and May 22-23.

Tickets will remain on sale at the Don bookstore until 2 p.m. this afternoon for tonight’s performance. Student body card holders will be admitted free tonight. Prices on May 16, 22 and 23 will be fifty cents. Admission for all guests will be $1.

Blaustone stated he “is very discouraged by the lack of student interest in this year’s musical.” Ticket sales are reportedly the lowest they have ever been in recent years. More than $3,000 has been spent by the drama department. More than 8,000 rehearsing hours have been put out by the cast to produce “Carousel,” Blaustone said.

Many long hours have also been spent at the sewing machines by the costuming class, under the watchful eye of instructor Lee Ford.

Freshman Ginnie Odenath has taken over the entire choreography for the musical. The dancing role of Louise has been given to sophomore Nadine Montoya.

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