Slideshow: The Director

Tuesday, May 09, 2006

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Multimedia presentation by
Alyssa Cwanger, Christopher Rawson and Marylynne Pitz
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A chapter in Western Pennsylvania high school musical history came to a close last week as the curtain fell on the final performance of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" at Schenley High School. After 35 years in the director's chair, Roger Babusci took his final bow.

He landed his best role when Schenley students asked him to produce a play in 1972. The comedy, "Five on the Blackhand Side," lost a few bucks but students learned how to build sets.

"Mr. B" went on to become one of two local high school directors to stage "A Chorus Line" with 17 students. Eight members of that cast went on to perform professionally. In 1983, Schenley's cast presented "Ain't Misbehavin'" at the governor's mansion when Mr. Babusci was named Pennsylvania's Teacher of the Year.

After 40 years in the Pittsburgh public schools, Mr. B is retiring.

Multimedia Index

First published on May 9, 2006 at 12:00 am

Curt Chandler produced the slideshow. Alyssa Cwanger can be contacted at acwanger@post-gazette.com. Post-Gazette theater critic Christopher Rawson can be reached at crawson@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1666. Marylynne Pitz can be reached at mpitz@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1648.