Miss Adelaide, Sky Masterson, Nicely-Nicely Johnson, the Hot Box dancers, Nathan Detroit, the Crapshooters.

These roles are all important components of the musical “Guys and Dolls”—the show that opened the third consecutive decade of theatre at Bridgeport High School. But just as all of these characters are memorable, the way they mesh together to create a striking story is most pivotal.

 

This idea was at the center of the BHS theatre program from 1995 to 2004. Ryan Nicewarner, who played the lead role of Tommy Albright in the 2000 production of “Brigadoon,” recalled the importance.

 

“Senior plays are awesome. They provide a senior class to participate in one last ‘project’ together. It is most definitely the most diverse group of people in one class coming together collectively with the same goal in mind and that's to put on the best show,” said Nicewarner.

 

Suzanne Pomeroy Randolph also reflected on this component of theatre when she described her work with “Fiddler on the Roof” in 1997 as “a wonderful experience” because “so many in the senior class did it. Our differences set a side; we learned how to better appreciate each other.”

 

The third decade proved to also be a decade of many firsts in the program’s history. In 1996, shows found a new home in the addition of a 500-seat auditorium to the high school. This allowed the program to have its own space. The first show performed in this auditorium was “The Unsinkable Molly Brown.”

 

In 1999, the show director Gregg Brown described as the “hardest I ever directed”—“Peter Pan”—was performed.

 

“Not only was there coaching of all of the different characters, but the show is also a technical nightmare. However, our wonderful staff comprised of many from around the community did an amazing job,” Brown said.

 

Playing the title role in the first flying show ever produced was Christina Grisso Woods.

 

“It was a once in a lifetime experience. The part ended up fitting me very well. At first I wondered how I could play an 11-year-old boy. But when I started to learn the music, I loved the energy level and excitement of the character,” said Woods. “Flying was difficult, but training I had from cheerleading and dance really helped. And one of my favorite memories is definitely how my dad got to help with flying by handling the ropes. I’m glad that he got to be a part of it with me.”

 

As with so many shows before, this show was no exception to being a unique bonding experience.

 

“The show brought our class together with students from different groups, clubs, and sports. We had a huge turnout with lots of pirates, Indians, and people working on the set,” said Woods.

 

Jenny Starkey Reed, who appeared as an Indian, also commented on how shows help the actors to grow. “

 

I think being in theatre helps you to be more outspoken and confident in yourself,” Reed said. “Our show brought everyone together while bringing us out of our shells.”

 

One of the show’s pirates, Steve Reed, said, “I had never seen Peter Pan, so I was seeing the show for the first time from back stage. Watching where everyone had to go so they could get on stage was fun to see.”

 

These three participants all talked about how shows were added because of continuing interest from the community.

 

“I loved the way the community reacted,” said Woods. “I felt like a Disney character, getting to meet with and take pictures with kids after the shows. It was great to bring that story to them.”

 

In 2000, Nicewarner almost didn’t get to present a new story to the community of Bridgeport.

 

“It was a difficult decision for me — whether to play my senior season in basketball or try out for [“Brigadoon”]. I knew of the time and energy that had to go into a show and knew that I wouldn't be able to do both; but with some helpful guidance from Mrs. Alice Rowe and my family, I decided to do the play,” said Nicewarner. “All in all, I wouldn't trade my experience for anything in the world.”

Commenting on the backstage aspect of the show, Nicewarner said, “I remember the countless hours Mrs. Letitia Yeater and crew put into making each and every costume.”

 

Since the setting of “Brigadoon” is in the Scottish Highlands, he said “they had to hand-make each and every kilt and dress for the entire class minus myself and Nate Testman.”

 

It was decided in 2001 to add an all-school play to the theatre season. This offered all students the opportunity to become involved with the performing arts prior to senior year. BHS theatre alumnus Cindy Pulice was able to make this chance available by directing “Grease.” Jason Young was one of the students involved.

“I had the time of my life. It was my first time on-stage in a musical… it was beautiful,” said Young.

 

Young said that he helped behind the scenes with several BHS shows but “it wasn't until my senior year that I got on stage in ‘Grease’ and ‘Once Upon A Mattress’ that I realized that theatre was the only thing I had ever tried that felt right to me. It was the only thing I had done, up until that point in life, that I felt like I could do for the rest of my life.”

 

One of the underclassman that took advantage of the new opportunity “Grease” offered was C.R. Rohrbough. He then went on to play Pharaoh in the second all-school show “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” and Billy Crocker in his senior production of “Anything Goes.”  And he enjoyed it.

 

“I loved it. I enjoyed the opportunity to be on stage in a different genre than the football field or basketball court. Theatre is intense in its own way that’s different than sports,” Rohrbough said.

 

Rohrbough, along with many other students had to juggle multiple activities in addition to their rehearsal schedules.

 

“When I was in ‘Grease,’ it was during football season. I had to go from school to football practice to rehearsals. I had to do many football interviews with stage makeup on. It was funny to watch myself on the news like that,” Rohrbough said.

 

So many students continued to benefit from the unique offerings theatre brought to Bridgeport.

 

“Not all communities have a program with the same type of professionalism; many don’t have the opportunity,” Woods said.

 

These experiences helped to make Rohrbough “a more well- rounded person. Being able to do something in multiple avenues was right up my alley, and it was really cool to make a new group of friends.”

 

Throughout the third decade, and the multiple shows produced, the collaborations of new friends—whether football players, dancers, cheerleaders, band members, basketball players, and more—created stories greater than anything their individual journeys could have ever expressed.  

 

“Theatre is such a good outlet for people to figure out who they are and learn something new about themselves,” said Rohrbough.

 

Click HERE for Part I. Click HERE for Part II.

 

Editor’s Note: Maggie Lohmann is a student in Mrs. Alice Rowe’s journalism class and submitted this story to Connect-Bridgeport.com. The photos were also submitted courtesy of the journalism department at the school. Top photo shows Steven Turner, left, and Michael Powelson from Bye Bye Biride, while Christina Grisso Woods is shown in Peter Pan in the second photo. Jeremy Thompson portrays Tevye in Fiddler on the roof in the third photo, while Ryan Nicewarner, right is Tommy Albright and Nathan Testman is Jeff Douglas in Brigadoon in the fourth photo. In the bottom photo, C.R. Rohrbough is "Pharaoh" in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.