More Fog, Please!
Yesterday I attended a very impressive ceremony at ESHS
South, the school for which I directed shows beginning in 1991 and continuing through
2015. The school was originally East Stroudsburg High School, but when the East
Stroudsburg Area School District was divided into two geographic sections in
2000, the “old high school” became South and the new, spiffy campus became
North (I like to refer to it as “the Civil War” but perhaps I should stop doing
that).
This was a massive undertaking. A committee of alumni and friends honors people who contribute to the high schools in athletics, academic
achievement, and music, and these people did an amazing job. The ceremony
itself was well done and moved quickly, even though many names were read and
many people were handed plaques. This committee operates independently, and no
school funds are used in their endeavors. Private donations pay for everything.
For me, it was an especially enjoyable event, because I was
able to talk with some students who had participated in musical theater
productions during the many years I worked in first ESHS, and then ESHS South.
Some of the people who were there have become Facebook friends … a definite
plus for being on the site … but I had not seen them in person for decades.
Girls who had been pretty high school students have become
beautiful and accomplished women. Their accomplishments are many, not the least
of which is being mothers. Boys who had been struggling in high school because
they were primarily music geeks are confident and successful men. More recent
graduates are just beginning their college careers. It was such a treat to see
all of them, and have a chance to reminisce with some.
One man in particular, Kurt Moucha, had graduated from ESHS in 1994 and my
history with him I think speaks to what being part of a creative art can do for
someone. He was honored because of his participation in honors choruses, in
particular Pennsylvania All State Chorus the year he was a senior. He had a
naturally beautiful tenor voice and a wonderful dramatic flair which became
more evident as he went through high school. He played the little brother,
Randolph, in the first show I directed at the school, Bye Bye Birdie; and was an outstanding Enoch Snow in the 1994
production of a show very dear to my heart, Carousel.
In 1993 we presented Oklahoma!
and I think Kurt very much wanted the role of Will Parker. It was a logical
casting choice. Will’s music is high. It’s a comic role and Kurt has a great
natural sense of comedic timing. Will has to dance, and Kurt moves well and
learns quickly. (He eventually performed professionally.) But there’s another
great comic role in the show, Ali Hakim, the “flim-flam” man who bursts into
town and creates havoc. It’s not really a singing role, but the role definitely
works best if the actor can use an accent.
Kurt had an amazing accent, and he was incredibly funny in
the role. So we cast him as Ali Hakim, much to his surprise.
When I announced this past April that I had directed my final production, a number of my “kids”
from over the years posted comments on my Facebook timeline. Kurt’s read:
Thinking outside the box and casting a singer in a non-singing
role. I thought for sure I was going to be Will Parker in "Oklahoma!"
back in '93. But being cast as Ali Hakim was one of my most thrilling onstage
experiences. And it propelled me on a path to pursue a life in music theater.
Of course, you ended up having me sing a reprise of a song. Great memories!
Great memories, indeed. He mentioned this again yesterday when
we had a chance to talk. It’s nice to have affirmation that you got it right.
Carousel, 1994
East Stroudsburg High School
The Snow Family
Kurt Moucha, seated center
It's great to get it right, and to be appreciated when you do. Great post!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Roz! There are a number of stories similar to this in "More Fog, Please!" I worked with some amazing young people over those 31 years, many of whom continue to use their talent in varying ways.
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