April 22, 2004

“All hands on deck” as parents, students, staff pitch in

The rebirth of Pioneer High School's Drama Department

By Lorraine Gabbert
Staff Writer

Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, an outdoor theater is taking wing at Pioneer High School, due to the efforts of dedicated parents and students. Undaunted by the rain, and full of determination, renewed spirit, and fresh hope, they joined together on Saturday to construct a temporary home for their drama department. For the next two years, their plays will take place outside, under a billowing white canvas, while their Performing Arts Center, which was consumed by an arson-related blaze on Nov. 30, is rebuilt.

“It's amazing to see these parents go this far to get a production out for the kids,” comments volunteer Cathy McFall, “and not allow the fire to let the program die.”

“I love the kids,” asserts drama teacher and director Steve Dini. ”That's who I do it for—it's why I'm here. When we began in 1991, we started from the ground up, and after 13 years of raising money—and accumulating scripts, costumes, props, curtains, padded chairs, lighting, and sound equipment—in two hours it was all gone, and that's why the fire was so devastating.” Replacing what was lost will take time, money, and effort, but Dini and the rest of the cast and crew are ready to begin. “Now we're more determined than ever not to let this get us down,” he states. “We're going to be back!”

Dini deeply values the outpouring of community support following the conflagration. “We received donations from alumni and businesses that wanted to help, and heard from the community how much they appreciated the program and didn't want to see it go away,” comments Dini, “and it's not going to.”

Various local high schools as well as San Jose State University offered the use of their theaters to Pioneer High School's drama department. “It was really nice of them to offer, and gratefully received, but we wanted to keep it on campus so everyone felt at home,” he says.

In January, they held rehearsals for their new show, “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” and started assembling a stage. This is going to be their first big production since the fire; luckily, they had just finished their fall play, Agatha Christie's “Mousetrap.” In the meantime, they have tried their best to carry on. In fact, the Tuesday following the fire, the advanced drama class, which brings a touring show to district elementary schools, kept their date with Simonds Elementary School, after parents attempted to wash the smoky smell from the costumes. Since then, preparations have continued for the upcoming performance.

“We're going to do this. We're going to put this show on,” contends Dini. Although most of their costumes were lost in the fire, this particular show only calls for suits and dresses, so they've been hitting the thrift shops. “It's definitely going to be a fantastic comeback, to show everybody that we're still here,” says Dini.

McFall considers the theater program essential to the students. “Participating in these productions absolutely boosts their self-confidence,” she states. “Including the cast, band, and chorus, there are over 160 kids involved in this production, and that says a lot. There are a lot of parents, too, who are involved in the “Glue Factory” (productions featuring parents and faculty), who don't have kids here any longer, but still contribute to the program. It's pretty amazing.”

Pioneer High School's current drama department began in 1991, under the tutelage of drama teacher and director Steve Dini and choreographer Sue Dini (Steve's wife). At that time, Principal Sal Cesario, knowing they had a theatrical background, requested that they produce a musical for the school. Their first production was “Bye, Bye, Birdie” with a cast of 23. Thirteen years later, the cast has grown to 145, and they're still going strong.

“I love to see the kids succeed and do things they didn't think they were capable of,” says Steve. “It's a real positive thing in their lives to work so hard towards a common goal, which brings so much pleasure to so many people. For me, there's no better job than that in the world.”

Sue believes that the theater is a unifying force, and especially important in high school. “Theater is one of those special places where differences don't matter, and everyone's equal,” she affirms. “Kids who would never hang out with each other put on a production together, and they all feel good about themselves. One year, we had the valedictorian of the class in the cast as well as a girl from special ed, who said that for once in her life, she felt like she was the same as everyone else. It's a support network; you pull for each other, you root each other on, you hug somebody if they're having a bad time. It's what keeps them going, keeps their grade up, and keeps some of them in school.”

Sue also shared the story of Bryan Benjamin Ringsted, a boy with a heart condition that kept him from participating in sports, who found a way to make his mark through theater. In his senior year, to thank Steve Dini for providing this outlet, he presented him with an artistic collage, complete with production ticket stubs, and photographs framing a personal poem entitled “You Believed in Me.”

Freshman Year: I walked in the room, wide-eyed and amazed, my first play with a real director. Confused and dazed, I approached the stage, sweating bullets for my first audition. I never thought I would get anything at all, but for some reason you believed in me. Sophomore Year: Comedy, I nailed. Make ‘em laugh, Make ‘em laugh. A drama I was yet to perform. You trusted me to wrench hearts and rouse tempers, to give a speech that moves souls. You believed in me to perform dramatically. Junior Year: It seems now I can act. Drama, comedy, I've got it all. But can the man sing? Well no, but he can certainly try. You allowed me the attempt to make music. Thanks, Mr. Dini. You believed in me. My final year, you've stood by my side; it's been fun, educational, and downright shocking at times, and I look back on four years of theater full of laughs, tears, and conquered fears. I've finally been bestowed with the courage to say, that I was able to believe in myself, because you believed in me.

Jon Donovan, ‘GBL,' Lead Brush, has been acting with the adult productions since 1998 when he did “Guys and Dolls,” and assists with both the adult and student sets. This fall, he will portray the role of Chief Sitting Bull in “Annie Get Your Gun.”

“We have an obligation to give back to the community, and Steve runs a super program that's fun,” Donovan asserts. “One of his rules is that you have to leave your ego at the door, so it's pleasant. Besides, being around kids keeps you young. Over the years, I've seen that the programs that work well, whether soccer, Little League, academics, or drama, are the programs in which the parents are involved,” he adds.

Judging from the turnout on Saturday, and the parents' commitment to the productions over the years, Donovan believes that this is definitely one of those that work well.

Master carpenter, photographer and videographer Dean Grometer is “a godsend” to the program, according to Steve Dini. “I don't know where we'd be today if it wasn't for Dean,” he says.

Grometer, who has been involved in the program for eight years, trains parent-volunteers in carpentry. “What I try to do is make things simple,” he says. Grometer also works with Dini and Donovan formulating production design. Together they make a fine team.

“Like Jon says, ‘if I can build it, he'll paint it,'” says Grometer. His wife, Mary, helps out with concessions, painting sets, selling bouquets for the plays' stars, and also acts in the adult productions. “It's been a lot of fun,” Grometer says. “I told Steve that as long as he's here, I'll be here with him.” Grometer believes that the theater program teaches life skills like teamwork to the students, and prepares them for a successful future. “Some of these kids have gone on to perform in plays in college, which they might not otherwise have done,” he states, “and two girls went on to compete on ‘American Idol.'” His daughter, Lauren, is in the program now, and his daughter, Lisa, enjoyed playing a pickpocket in “Oliver.” “It's like my dad always said,” adds Grometer, “‘before you know it, your girls will be up and out, and they'll have their own lives, and time will pass you by.'” Therefore, he's taking the time to be involved in their lives now.

Carmen Kubo has been involved in the theater program for five years. She has a son who graduated last year, and one who is currently a senior. “They both love this program,” she states. “One is carrying a double major in college in languages and theatre, and my younger one wants to go to Foothill and do theatre there. I think it saves some kids, and gives them a focus, as well as a big confidence boost,” she contends. “It takes a lot of courage to get up and perform.” Carmen plans on continuing with the theater even after her younger son graduates.

In 2006, Pioneer High School's Performing Arts Center will be fully renovated and ready for use by its drama department. Work is slated to begin this summer. “We're very excited about it,” says Sue Dini. “In two years, the theatre will be beautiful and everything will be new. We just have to get through these couple of years. We'll just show how strong we are by rising above it.”

Sue also appreciates the spirit the students have shown in their determination to start anew, following the fire. “The kids have been amazing,” she says. “At first they were in shock, and crying, and then they were like, ‘We're not going to let this stop us! Will we give up? No, never!'”

Their show, “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Pioneer High School on April 29, 30, and May 1, 5, 6, 7,8. Cost is $12 for adults and $6 for students and seniors. Tickets are on sale at the school, or by calling Carmen Kubo at (408) 995-6244.