By JUDY RATTNER
About a year ago, Bryan Nesdill, a South Side High School junior in the school's CORE special education classes shared a one-act play he had written, "Titanic, The Voyage Home" with his teachers, Gina Peck and Ann Becker. They were so impressed that they suggested it be performed on the South Side stage. Bryan was no stranger to that stage, having performed in productions for the past six years as part of Time to Shine, and as a cast member in several productions at Our Lady of Peace Roman Catholic church in Lynbrook.
"Titanic," The Voyage Home" was performed by Bryan, with a few classmates, the teaching assistants in his class, a skeleton crew and a simple set design crafted during the school day. Following the performance, Bryan's mother wondered aloud about the possibility of forming a club for students of all abilities to join in a performance. Peck enthusiastically agreed and the Centre Stage players was conceived.
According to assistant principal Noreen Leahy, what followed in the next several months "defied description." In September, Bryan turned to Cathy Mackey, an old friend from their days together at Wilson Elementary School, who is the junior class president and is involved in numerous activities, to work with him on writing a play. They selected "High School Musical," said Cathy, a fun and popular show with a good message - we're all in this together - that they thought everyone could relate to. They introduced two new main characters, Zach and Jimmy, that Bryan said were inspired by "Saved by the Bell" and one of his cousins. By changing the order of songs, deleting others and renaming characters' last names with those of teachers, administrators and Rockville Centre schools and landmarks, the pair avoided copyright issues and linked the story to South Side High School and the village.
Bryan and Mrs. Peck recruited his fellow students from CORE, while Cathy asked her theater and non theater-related friends to participate. She said they were enthusiastic. About 40 students eventually became involved in the production. Once-a week rehearsals started in late October and continued through April when the cast and crew rehearsed every day during the week preceding the April 29 performance, which was recorded and will be aired on the school district's television channel.
"I wouldn't say it wasn't so much the production that was the best part of it," said Cathy, "it was the journey and the friendships that came out of it. Alot of the general education students went into this expecting to help the CORE students, but in reality, it was the CORE students that helped us."
Bryan said everyone has asked him if he'll write another play. "I told them maybe, " he said. "Maybe next summer."
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