To the editor:

I was privileged to attend the final performance of “Thoroughly Modern Millie” several weeks ago, and felt the same pride I did when my first grandchild arrived — a new generation of SWHS musicals was born!

Everything about the show was first-class; the acting, the singing, the sound, lights, sets, costumes, and most especially, the great collaboration with students from Coupeville as well as South Whidbey, middle school age and high school, and between Whidbey Children’s Theater and South Whidbey High School. The end results were as professional and polished as the shows that Michael McInerney, Diana Lindsay, Charlene Brown and Whidbey Dance, myself, and the SWHS art, tech and music departments created in our glory days of the 1990s and early 2000 years.

Thank you, all of you, including South Whidbey Schools Foundation, which gave a grant to the high school drama department to further bolster the cause of theater arts in the schools.

Thank you, WCT, for spearheading the drive to return SWHS student musicals to their rightful place as a continuing highlight in our lives on Whidbey.

Thank you, Don Wodjenski, for reviving the drama program last year, fixing up the Little Theatre as an excellent venue for smaller theater, choir, band and visual-arts productions.

I hope with the next musical we can continue to rebuild, adding a live band, and making full use of the choir, graphic design, tech, carpentry and other related departments in the school, with the continued participation, as well, from our amazingly talented greater community.

Jean Shaw

Langley