Brigadoon Reappears
The magic of Brigadoon transcended the misty village in Scotland and landed at Torrington High School on May 4, 2024 for a truly memorable occasion. In order to pay homage to the Little Theater before it gets torn down later this year, THS alumniattended a performance of Brigadoon, the first Broadway-style musical staged there in 1970, and now the last. The specially designated “Alumni Night” drew locals and alums from across the country who came to celebrate the occasion and renew friendships—some from over fifty years ago.
The evening began at 5:30 with a reception for original Brigadooners from the classes of 1970-1973 in a teachers lounge converted to “MacConnachy Square.” Guests were greeted by a lifesize cardboard bagpiper named Angus and received a Brigadoon badge of recognition to wear to the show. The room was filled with Scottish images, plaids, beverages, and homemade desserts: shortbread, macaroons, cookies, tassies, tablet, and tarts. On display were copies of the original programand 1970 Torrington Register newspaper articles, including an original full-page press release complete with photos. There was also a board with thought-bubble memories— both sentimental and funny—submitted ahead of time by cast, crew, and orchestra members.
Eight original cast members were there: Kathi Arman Boratko (’73), Jim Boratko (’72), Carole Yanok Zemliauskas (’72), Dan Ashmead (’71), Henry Waldron (’71), Dave Pastorello (’71), Sally Cuatto (’71), and Pam Southworth Benjamin (’70). John Massameno (’70) came to the opening-night performance. In addition there were nearly twenty members of the crew and orchestra, plus an appearance from Bruce Fox, (properties manager) and his wife, Eleanor, and Mary McVerry, a THS theater icon. Camaraderie and merriment filled the room until it was time to retreat to the Little Theater, where there was a poster in the lobby listing all the musicals done at THS in the past sixty years. The printed program opened with a congratulatory ad from the Brigadoon cast of 1970 to the cast of 2024.
Before the curtain parted, Director Veronica Gelorino asked each of the original cast members in the audience to rise. When Bruce Fox and Mary McVerry were called, the room burst into cheering and loud applause. Then in a very emotion-filled moment during intermission she asked anyone who had acted or worked on the Little Theater stage to stand up—and well over the half the audience did! There was many a teary eye in the room to think how this occasion marked such a special and formative time for them in this high school auditorium. In fact, based on the success of the evening, the idea of having an “Alumni Night” for all future musicals was submitted for consideration. More to come on that!
The musical was terrific with the high schoolers putting forth their best efforts in song and dance. Several of the actors were standouts, providing the audience members with great memories of when WE were the ones up on stage wowing parents, students, teachers, and friends. When the show ended, some Brigadooners took the opportunity to meet their 2024 counterparts in the lobby.
After the performance, the celebration continued at Salt 2.0, a restaurant and bar near the Warner Theater. Any THS alum was invited to attend and toast our legacy. The happy gathering, complete with a complimentary light buffet from a THS alum, lasted until after midnight when it was finally time to say goodbye to new and old friends alike.
Thanks are in order for members of the planning committee who posted fliers in town, baked, and set up our reception: Len Meyer, Marie Paganini, and Sharon Minnerly. And for the class admins and social media posters who spent a good deal of time getting the word out to everyone: Leo Brennan and Ed Killingbeck, class of ’70; Margie Petterson and Henry Waldron, class of ’71; Kate Fasulo and Len Meyer, class of ’72; Barbara Weingart and Kathi Boratko, class of ’73. Their publicity was enhanced by articles and photos in the Register-Citizen and Republican-American. Lastly thanks to the THS staff who supported us in our efforts to make Brigadoon the bookend show for Little Theater musicals: Cindy Zwart, Veronica Gelormino, Connor Sullivan, Steve Zwart, and Sybil Chamberlin.
The THS Little Theater will continue to inspire and develop youngsters—even in a new location. We salute those efforts with wonderful memories and our own evidence of the lifetime benefits from the magical world of theater—like Brigadoon!
—Cathy Revaz Dobos and Sue Palmer Pelchat
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