Fremd teacher started 'Teachers' star's performing career
Rolling Meadows native and “Teachers” series star Caitlin Barlow knows exactly who sparked her interest in the performing arts and opened the door to the world of comedy: Fremd High School drama teacher Judy Klingner.
“She always picked projects that respected our intelligence and then raised the bar for us,” Barlow said of Klingner, who directed the school shows at Fremd. “She always assumed that the high school students were intelligent and had high expectations for us to grow into our roles.”
At 5 feet, 1 inch tall, Barlow said she was a typical “girl next door” type. Yet, Klingner cast her as the conniving queen in the musical “Once Upon a Mattress.”
“There I was playing an evil queen,” Barlow reflected. “And I learned I could do comedy. And it was cool to be given a chance to play against type.”
— Dann Gire