Hundreds turn out to honor Saugus High drama teacher

SAUGUS – More than 30 years worth of Saugus High School Drama Club alumni took to the stage Friday night at the high school auditorium to honor drama teacher Nancy Lemoine, who has been on medical leave since the summer with a rare form of cancer.The show, called “Nan Through the Years,” featured more than two dozen scenes and musical numbers from shows Lemoine had directed throughout her 20-plus year career.The first act of the revue started with an introduction by Christopher Sicuranza (class of ’02) followed by a reunion of close to 10 years of members of the Needs Improvment improvisation troupe. Musical numbers included “We Go Together” from “Grease” and “Light of the World” from “Godspell.””She would always make sure I was known to people, I was a little shy at the time,” Sicuranza told the audience. “She made sure to bring out the best in everybody. That’s what we’re celebrating tonight. The fact that somebody meant so much to so many people and we’re here to pay homage to her.”Alumni from as far back as 1975 participated in the show, as John Macero (class of ’81), teamed up with David Picariello (class of ’13), Peter DiMauro (class of ’06) and Brittany Daley (class of ’07) to sing “Put on a Happy Face” from “Bye, Bye Birdie.”In act two, the cast sang numbers from “Chicago,” “Fiddler on the Roof” and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat,” and performed a scene from a “Midsummer Night’s Dream.”Bobby Imperato (class of ’01) and Priscilla Swain (class of ’05) co-directed “Nan Through the Years,” and Swain said when they found out Lemoine was sick, they wanted to “give back.””She was born and raised in Saugus and made this a great program here,” said Swain. “Nan taught us a lot about using your talent to give back to the community, and she brought a lot of us out to sing for homeless people and the elderly. She does all of this selflessly. She’s a wonderful lady.”Tricia Savage’s son Robert, who was featured in Friday’s show, graduated from Saugus High in 2000. She said Lemoine played a “huge” role in her son’s life.”She was just very helpful and encouraging to him, and just a wonderful person,” said Savage. “We just wanted to come to show our support.”Joanne Fafard of the Theater Company of Saugus helped organize the event and said more than 400 tickets were sold online before the doors even opened. While the show started at 7:30 p.m., the high school parking lot was filled to capacity as a line of people overflowed out of the high school waiting to get in.”It’s jammed,” said Fafard, who’s son and daughter are both members of the Theater Company of Saugus. “It’s phenomenal. I’m overwhelmed. I knew it was going to be a good turnout, but, what love for this woman.”Brian Liberge, 29, graduated in 2003 and was in the Drama Club, chorus and just about every other club that required a stage. He said Lemoine helped make going to school bearable when he was younger.”You didn’t have a choice,” said Liberge, who’s sister Laura (class of ’06) was in the show. “If you were a guy and did theater she pulled you into the chorus. She was huge for me. I didn’t like high school, but I liked drama. It gave me a reason to go to school.”Anyone unable to attend can still send greetings, mementos or contributions. Make checks payable to “Nan Through The Years” and send to Nan Through The Years, 31 Pearson St., Saugus, MA 01906.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].