Clark High cast to reunite after 30 years at Whiting revival of "Godspell"

The beloved musical "Godspell" will be presented at Whiting High School, running at 7 p.m. March 9, 10, 16 and 17 in the school auditorium. There's a connection this production has with a production done 30 years ago that makes it even more interesting.

It's a wonderful show, especially from an actor's point of view, because it's virtually a communal show. . .all the actors are on stage all of the time. There always seems to be a lasting connection among cast members. Besides their abilities to act and sing, "Godspell" often calls upon the actors' talents for improvisation, too. All these factors help form a bond among the actors.

And so it was in 1982, when Clark High School did their first production of "Godspell" under the talented direction of Steve Shepard. Steve has retired, but keeps in touch with his former students via Facebook. And that's where this story continues.

Evidently, Steve had written to remind his "kids" that they should do something special for the 30th anniversary of their production.

Mary Ann Pieters Bibat was a junior in that production. "At the time Mr. Shepard wrote, it was unbenownst to us that Whiting was putting on the show," said Mary Ann.

Just a few days later, Mary Ann found out that her talented son Elliot would be cast as Jesus in Whiting's production. Not only was her son cast in the show, but the daughter of another Clark cast member, Debbie Dado, is in this year's cast as well. And just like her mom, who was cast while in middle school, Stella is also in middle school.

As an adult. I remember going to see that production at Clark. I knew cast members Dado, Larry Colgan, and Sally Selwyn among others, having worked on community theater productions with them.

Larry told me that he had told Elliot how he, Larry, at 16, used to sit on the floor next to me at the theater while I was directing, picking up ideas and learning his trade. He has become an award-winning actor and director and graciously did the choreography for my Pennsylvania Avenue Players group for years.

Dado became an equity actor and director and many others from that original cast are still involved in some way "on the boards."

Mary Ann said those still in the region are now planning to reunite for Whiting's production.

Elliot has been doing theater since second grade and comes by his talent naturally. His grandfather, George Pieters, was an actor as well as head electrician for the Marian Theatre Guild for many years. I remember seeing him perform when I was just a kid and my parents would take me to Whiting to see plays.

In the midst of it all is one of my favorite actors, Whiting's own Scott Allen, who is directing "Godspell."

How nice for the original community of actors from Clark to share the musical evening as Whiting's community of actors take the stage. It will really be a homecoming of talent shared in our hometown.

The opinions are solely those of the writer. She can be reached at puccini99@aol.com.