Woman Behind Bugs Bunny Mask

By DAVID HALE

Bee Arts Writer

Donna Tchapraste divides a career in dance between one of New York's
important new modern dance groups and "Bugs Bunny Follies," the touring
stage classic Warner Bros. cartoons.

Some people may find the combination incongruous, but not Miss Tchapraste:

"I approach them in the same way," she said. "They are both very challenging
to the performers, and they are both art forms."

"Bugs Bunny Follies" will play Fresno's Convention Center Theater Thursday
at 7:30 p.m. and Friday at 4:30 and 8. The Bee, KMJ and KMJ- TV are
sponsoring the attraction.

Miss Tchapraste, in fact, knows the cartoon show from the inside out. She
started with Roger Hess Production disguised as Bugs Bunny himself (or
herself). Now she is the director-choreographer, interspersing performances
with the May O'Donnell Concert Dance Company of New York with flights around
the Western Hemisphere to check up on various touring versions of "Bugs
Bunny Follies."