ALUMNI REUNION: RETURN TO ASHLAND, 35 YEARS LATER

By Graham Rutherford, Alumni Director

In 1987, after visiting the Oregon Shakespeare Festival the summer before, I thought if a trip for students could be organized, they would be mesmerized by the quality of theatre and the quaint town of Ashland. Having a school family, the Coopers, who still owned a house in town, it would be possible to have the water and electricity turned on for the week.

Those who went enjoyed it tremendously, having time with friends and discovering the magic of live shows. I always found it satisfying and an adventure, disappointed to have to stop as my school role and family needs changed, but a memory I treasured.

Out of the blue, on November 22nd last year, I received an email from Tim Halbur, ‘87: “I hope you’re well! Brian Griffiths (‘87) and I had a crazy idea of reuniting the groups you took to Ashland way back in 86/87 and going back. What do you think? Want to join us?” In forty years of teaching, I never imagined such a scenario. Immediately, I replied yes. My wife Lyn, who I had begun dating back then, came on the first trip too, with her mother visiting from England when there was a last minute change for two people. She was thrilled to go back also. In June, we arranged to meet in Ashland, staying together in a house rental, organizing the shared cooking like before, and catching up on 35 years of life changes. Tim and his fiancee Mo, came up from Los Angeles. Brian left Healdsburg, meeting Betsy Belding, ‘87, in Oakland, driving up together. Nanci Carollo, ‘88, flew from Denver to Medford to join us. Patty Dunn Dooley, ‘89, came from Sacramento with her friend Jody when her husband was unable to come last minute. While some others could not make it work this time, there is hope for future trips. The only drawback we faced was the stubborn cases of Covid that popped up amongst the cast members of some plays.

When we received the email that the Tempest would have to be canceled for the week we were there, we substituted doing our own performance together, sharing out the parts and reading from the script. This produced some remarkable faux pas lines and laughter. We adjusted the plans and were able to see two very good shows. Walking around, seeing businesses that were still operating brought good memories. Lithia Park remains as beautiful and several outdoor art shows were enjoyed. Fortunately, a large wildfire in 2020 was stopped just north of the town, another connection for us in shared experience. Mainly, it was good to have time together, hear each other, and reflect on how fortunate we were to have gone on an adventure in 1987, being brought back to a special place in 2022 by common bonds and care. I have always felt I learn from my students; this trip showed what good teachers they are.

I pitched it to my English class students and organized a group ticket plan, which allowed us to see multiple shows and take the Backstage Tour. The week after school was out, 12 of us headed north in a school van. It was tremendous, the first of 10 trips from ‘87 to ‘96, later ones camping, providing outstanding performances with small town strolls.