“CURTAIN GOING UP – IT’S SHOW TIME”

In June of 1961, “Louie” Mattachione graduated from Bowling Green State University with an education degree majoring in Theatre/Dramatic Arts & Speech/Communication with a minor in Social Studies. An interview was scheduled with Perry Local Schools Superintendent, Paul F. Pfeiffer for an open position of a Government Teacher at Perry HS. In the course of the interview and while reviewing my credentials, Superintendent Pfeiffer said that Perry did not have a Speech and Theatre Program and that he would be interested in starting such a program at the new Perry High School. If the teaching position was offered to me, would I be interested in accepting the challenge of building a speech and Theatre department? My heart skipped a beat, I swallowed real hard and “shouted YES” and so the seed was planted. Perry High School was to have a speech and theatre program. Mr. Pfeiffer took me on a tour of the auditorium and I was ecstatic. It had a beautiful stage, with “colorful paisley” drapes (remember this was 1961), “raked” seating with 800 hard wooden seats, minimal stage lighting and even less minimal “wing space”. – In my eyes…. It was beautiful.

September, 1961 and school began. The first order of business was to get students interested in our new theatre program. To that end, we began an intensive PR plan and called for an after school meeting of interested students. We were overwhelmed with the turnout. Our first theatre student officers were elected establishing the PERRY PLAYERS. We met and wrote a constitution and set membership dues of .50 cents a semester. (Seed money was needed - the Board of Education offered no financial help for the new program).

The first production was a play - ON BORROWED TIME. It was a one set, three act show with a decent sized cast. Set for a Friday and Saturday run, tickets were .75 cents each. Friday night saw a decent crowd – positive word got out and ticket sales for the Saturday night crowd was amazing. We were all ecstatic.

In May of that first year, we produced our first Children’s Theatre Production – HANSEL AND GRETEL. A Saturday 12 noon performance was scheduled. With good PR for a new program…community children were anxious to attend. Perry Players Clowns greeted the kids as they arrived for the show….the atmosphere was enchanting and the kids were ready for the show. Ticket price was 50 cents. Within two years we had to add a second Saturday performance. Our schedule was set for 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM. Following one of our performances, Elementary School Principal, Irene Splittorf approached me to say that she loved the show but was disappointed that many of her elementary “kiddies” were not able to attend a Saturday performance and would I be willing to establish a “theatre field trip experience” for the elementary schools. If I were to agree, she would do the footwork and discuss the idea/ plan with Superintendent Pfeiffer. She was successful with her plea and thus our Perry Elementary School Theatre Field Trip program was set. First, second and third grade students from Perry elementary buildings were to be bussed in for the show. To accommodate all of the students, we scheduled show times for 9:00 AM, 10:45 AM and 12:45 PM. As the student-filled buses rolled in, they were greeted by our clowns. It was a happy experience. Before long elementary principals from St. Joan of Arc, St. Clement, & Canton Country Day schools requested involvement. We accommodated them all. (It was a tight fit but fun). And thus the Perry Children’s Theatre Program was established.

With dedicated students on board, we established a Theatre honor Society, PERRY THESPIANS. To be eligible, involvement points had to be earned. The membership was small but talented, enthusiastic and persuasive. In an effort to create a bonding force for our Troup, I registered 6 of our students to join me as we would attend the National Thespian Convention to be held for five days in June on the campus of Ball State University in Indiana. Approval from administration and parents was granted and we were off. (Imagine me driving an oversized van with 6 kids, luggage and snacks – I was a “gutsy” young 23 year old teacher). Living and dining in Ball State Dormitories, our days were filled with classes & workshops. The surprise on the last evening was to be the presentation of a brand new Broadway Musical that was set to be released for High School Licensing. The show – BYE BYE BIRDIE! Following the production the audience went wild. Our Perry Thespians were on cloud nine so much so that all the way home in that oversized van…..the topic was constant: “Louie, we have to do that show!” My response was – we are a new program – not sure if we would be granted the rights. Writing to the licensing agency in New York…..low and behold our request was granted. We were to be the first High School in Ohio to produce BYE BYE BIRDIE! Our kids were…..well, I don’t have to tell you the reaction – use your wildest imagination! We did however hit a roadblock. In September, I attended a Board of Education meeting to request payment for the licensing fee for the show. My request was denied. The fee was $350.00. (Please realize this was all new to the Board and they were hesitant to grant that sum of money to a new program). I was devastated to have to inform my students. The very next morning there was a knock at my classroom door. When I opened the door, there stood Superintendent Paul Pfeiffer. “Mr. Mattachione (he never called me Louie) step into the hall, I have something to say to you.” (I was petrified – What now?) I shall never forget our conversation: “I know how disappointed you were last evening” He reached into his pocket and presented me with his personal check to the amount of $350.00. “This is for your show licensing fee.” I was flabbergasted…..in my own Italian manner, I wrapped my arms around him and kissed him on the cheek (probably the only faculty member who ever hugged and kissed Paul Pfeiffer). I thanked him and said…..”Mr. Pfeiffer, you are wonderful and believe me, I promise that after the show I will repay this $350.00 along with any interest amount due.” His response: “Pay me interest…and I will FIRE YOU!” I never paid him the interest and continued to teach and direct. We produced the show!

Bye Bye Birdie would be the first Theatre Department Broadway Musical for Perry. Show dates were set for Friday & Saturday November 16, 17, 1962. Ticket prices were $1.00 in advance or at the door. The Friday night performance was a hit. Word got out about the show and Saturday night was a mad-house. Audience members kept filing in and before long our 800 seat auditorium was packed. What to do? Well, being a, young inexperienced theatre director, I scrambled to find folding chairs and placed a chair at the end of each row, thus creating a very narrow aisle. But hey, I created seats for 104 more people. At the end of the show, waiting for me in the lobby, was none other than the Perry Fire Chief. He read me the riot act saying that I better never do that again as it was a drastic fire hazard. As he left, he said…. “By the way – a great show!” This episode scared the hell out of me. Guess what? From that show on…our Perry Auditorium became a “reserved seating” house. I learned a lesson.

As a rule….I made certain that I was always aware of the events that were planned before and after each of our theatre performance. BUT……on April 19, 1986, I experienced a shock of a lifetime. Following the final curtain and bows of our production of our Broadway Musical - “BARNUM”, to my shock, the president of the Perry Board of Education suddenly appeared on stage to address the audience. He announced that… in recognition of 25 years of exceptional theatre productions, the Perry Board of Education had unanimously resolved that the Perry High School auditorium was to be DEDICATED and would hereafter be known as…. THE “LOUIE” MATTACHIONE THEATRE. My heart skipped a beat or maybe it was two or three beats. I was in shock, deeply humbled and honored at the gesture. I will be forever grateful and appreciative.

Looking back at the building blocks that were required to achieve the vision of Superintendent Paul Pfeiffer when he offered the challenge: “Establish a successful Perry Theatre Program”…. I must give credit and appreciation to the thousands of students who, over the years, believed in our mission and offered their time and talents to our program. A huge applause must be given to the many individuals who played a part and assisted me in reaching our goal. Success was NOT a one person achievement. Over the years a host of colleagues and friends joined our effort: Long time Perry Theatre-goers will certainly recognize such names as: Teddy Wenger, Al Lucas, Heather Frank, Harry Hall, Bruce Shelly, Roger Hall, Chris Smith, Greg Wright, Bill Kendrick, Chris Hall, Alene Sirak, Kim Karam, Donna Blend, Jack Everetts, Bill Schnierle, Frank Trace and Beth Polen. These colleagues added their talents, work ethic, time and love of the theatre arts to join me as we worked to build the excellence, tradition and reputation that we now call THE PERRY THEATRE.

In June, 2017….after 56 years of directing the Perry Theatre…the time had come for me to retire and turn the theatre reigns over to a new director. The new director, JOHN WEAVER is one of my former Students, a Perry Thespian as well as a Perry faculty member. John has demonstrated a true appreciation of theatre and specifically the tradition and reputation of the program that he has inherited. I have no doubt that the lights of the MATTACHIONE THEATRE will continue to glow as brightly as ever. John will make certain that at the end of every show and after the final bow at each performance Perry Audiences will continue to say……

“THE TRADITION & REPUTATION OF THE MATTACHIONE PERRY THEATRE CONTINUES”