EDITOR’S NOTE I: This is the first in a four-part series on the history of Bridgeport High School theatre.

 

BY MAGGIE LOHMANN

 

Recently, what many consider to be one of television’s greatest shows—“Saturday Night Live”—celebrated its 40th anniversary. Although on a smaller scale, a program that has been a large part of Bridgeport and surrounding communities also recognizes its same anniversary this year. The 2014-2015 school year marks a total of 40 years of theatre at Bridgeport High School.

 

The age of theatre began at BHS, according to director Gregg Brown, on “one quiet January evening” in 1974.

 

“I was contacted by class president Phil Stevens to see if I would be interested in directing their senior class play,” said Brown. “After holding a meeting about the show, I saw genuine enthusiasm among the students. Then Mrs. Alice Rowe stepped onto the scene, and we became steadfast friends.”

 

The students’ enthusiasm was converted into “The Matchmaker” which, according to Brown, was “a lick and a promise. We had no lighting… nothing. But we had help from people involved in theatre around the community and groups such as the Stage Crafters. They held productions in the summer at the Civic Center. We borrowed some of their scenery and lighting equipment and also had help from some of their technical staff.”

 

For the first two years, comedies were produced. But in 1976, “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” was the first musical performed at BHS.

 

“The students in the show had never sung before, but they worked hard,“  Brown said. “They were really ambitious. The show paid for itself. We didn’t have shows during the school day, as they do now, but we entertained moderate crowds over the three-day period of performance.”

 

The program started in the gym, but Brown said “we did what we had to make it look like a theatre.” He also explained that due to other events, weekends were usually the only time available to practice. “We set everything up and tore it all back down each time.”

 

In 1977, “Bye Bye Birdie” was produced.

 

“Over the next few years, we continued to branch out and produce bigger shows,” Brown said.

               

 

This goal was achieved, despite interruptions such as weather. While working on the “Pajama Game,” “school was canceled for days on end, so we had to rehearse in the Presbyterian Church,” Brown said. “But it was wonderful. We had help from many including Mrs. Pat Perkins as the music teacher, Mrs. Alice Jo Hess and Mrs. Mary Ellen Depue on costumes, and Mrs. Annabel Timms—who did some stupendous choreography.”

 

Timms said that her favorite part of being involved in the program was “working with Brown and so many wonderful kids through the years.”

 

The goal to produce bigger shows continued with “My Fair Lady” in 1980.

 

“The story of the show was set in turn-of-the-century England. I remember that we had to make many of the costumes as well as rent them so that they would fit the time period,” Brown said.  “We had an amazing group of students to work with on the production, and they did an amazing job.

 

For many that were involved in the theatre program, the memories created while working with their peers are special. 

 

“One of my favorite parts of the experience was the fact that we were around each other as classmates and friends while we were putting together the show and learning our parts. Mrs. (Alice) Rowe tried to involve as many seniors as possible, whether on or back stage to help expose us to theatre,” said Robert Marra, who performed in “My Fair Lady.”

 

Students also appreciated the actions the department took to present more elaborate productions. Tom Steele, a student who participated in “South Pacific” in 1981 “felt like [they] were part of an era of theatre doing big, well-known Broadway shows. Many people were familiar with them.

 

“I thought it was exciting that BHS was putting on musicals when there weren’t many other schools locally that were doing the same,” Steele continued. “We were able to have a live orchestra with students and others from the community.”

 

One of the other performers in “South Pacific” had the opportunity to play in these live orchestras for several shows before his time on the stage as a senior. Mike Hess played in the orchestra pit in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s.

 

“I really appreciated being able to participate because it was such a great opportunity and experience. Mr. Eric Stoneking and I played in two or three shows for the school and several more in the community. To have that chance as a student was very challenging and rewarding,” said Hess.               

 

Marcy Mossburg, who performed in the 1983 production of “Oklahoma,” echoed Marra’s comments.

 

“The senior play was one of the final bondings for our class. It was also one of the only times that I was really able to spend so much time with my class,” she said. 

 

There are also specific memories that each student who was a part of the program can share.

 

“For the part that I played, I had to wear a beard. They wanted me to try and grow one, but I couldn’t because I was playing basketball at the time. So we had to tape a beard on every night for the performances,” Marra said.

 

The theatre program also allowed multiple family members to become involved together, as was the case with Timms and her daughters and Hess and his mother, Alice Jo. She is actually a part of one of the favorite memories Hess shared.

 

“There was a scene I was in with Randy Lucas, and Mrs. Timms had us jumping in the air and then touching our toes together in time with the music. I would do one, then Randy would do one- me, him, etc,” Hess said. “During one performance, I jumped and then Randy. When he did, he split his pants. I continued while he ran off stage so my mother could pull his pants off and sew them up so he could go back out.

 

“My mom helped for years as a seamstress. She started when my brother was involved in theatre and continued as much as she could up until a few years before she passed,” Hess continued. “She really enjoyed helping out the high school.”

 

In just its first decade of existence, the impact of the theatre program on the people of Bridgeport was already evident.

 

“For some people, they became comfortable playing another character and that in turn helped make them more comfortable in their own skin,” said Steele.

 

Marra also said that another one great aspect of the program is “all of the great memories there are when you think back to high school. They are memories that last forever. Everyone looked forward to the shows whether they were musically and theatrically inclined or not.”

 

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. Cover photo, Tom Steele was in “South Pacific” pictured with him is Sandy Vincent. First photo, First musical in the history of BHS “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown” cast picture. Second photo, Phil Stevens in the first play directed by Gregg Brown (non-musical) “The Matchmaker.” Third photo, Bob Marra was in “My Fair Lady” (Gregg Brown and Alice Rowe also pictured.)Last photo, First picture from production of “My Fair Lady” with Becky Timms playing Liza Doolittle.