Article

MUSIC MAN

FEBRUARY 1964
Article
MUSIC MAN
FEBRUARY 1964

John Coe '62 wowed them in Addis Ababa!

In the wowing, he added new laurels to the Peace Corps' growing record of achievements, and in producing what is believed to be Ethiopia's first musical show John also introduced that ancient land to George Bernard Shaw in song. John and two Peace Corps associates not only translated Shaw's Androcles and the Lion into Amharic, the national language of Ethiopia; they also put it to music.

The musical which contained fourteen songs composed by John, a music major at Dartmouth, was presented by Ethiopian students in Addis Ababa, the nation's capital. It was a fundraising project to support an Ethiopian exchange student to the United States, and it had rave reviews. The Ethiopian press (Taubman of TheTimes couldn't make it) said it was the most creative production ever presented in the capital. John's parents, Mr. and Mrs. William G. Coe of Westfield, N. J., saw a performance and are quoted as saying "marvelous."

John's main base with the Peace Corps is in Jima, Ethiopia, where he teaches French, English, and, of course, music.