From the Archives – “School Alley”

Directed by Augustine Ripa, written by Gary Webster (Touchstone’s Managing  Director at the time), and featuring Touchstone’s ensemble (a shout-out to Billie Lindo who later moved back to the Chicago area, we miss her). I won’t list names as I don’t have everyone’s, but it was a memorable production for a number of different reasons. For one, it was a play! No ands, ifs, or buts. It felt like a play, read like a play; straight up acting, character work. It felt quite strange to me, but that was what Gary had wanted to do, and he wrote a terrific script. May 1992. I did my best to remember how naturalistic acting worked. Looking at the video footage now I think I should have sported a Pennsylvania Dutch accent along with my moustache, but things are always clearer in hindsight. I recently told Gus (Augustine Ripa) I thought the opening of this production was one of the cleanest and sweetest little pieces of stage work we’ve ever done. I love the opening sound tapestry.

Lehigh University President Peter Likins came to the production with his family.  Said his favorite thing was Billie Lindo’s performance. Of course I was jealous.

— Bill George