BHS theater reunion to be fabulous event

Many years ago I had the privilege of teaching high school theater and directing plays and musicals. Just recently, one of my former students took me out to lunch and told me once again how this program had "saved his life."

At that time, he was a youngster well on his way to serious problems and even illegal drug usage, when he was encouraged to come to tryouts for an upcoming play. He was cast and his life was forever changed for the better.

Then my husband and I had the honor of being the parents of two boys who also discovered their place in performing arts at Barrington High School. They were both active during the '90s, and this program at BHS gave them focus, purpose, and skills for their lives.

All of this is to say how important the performing arts are to young people as they try to cope with the myriad problems of growing up. I will be forever grateful as a parent to the performing arts programs offered at Barrington High School. As a community, we have an opportunity to recognize this outstanding program and what it has done for our children.

The time has come to celebrate 60 years of achievement with a reunion celebrating the performing arts to be held on July 9th and 10th at the Richard C. Johnson Auditorium at BHS.

Their goal is to raise $50,000 in one night creating the first Richard C. Johnson Award for Excellence in the Performing Arts. The scholarship will be announced to the first recipient in 2011.

I hope that you will indeed support this wonderful activity celebrating this outstanding and historic program at BHS. For more information, please see www.bhstheater.com.

My husband and I salute Marc Parker and the reunion committee for their efforts to honor the past and to support the future of performing arts at BHS! We look forward to seeing you there.

Beth and Michael Galfer

Evanston