Barbara Lawlor, Nederland.

Friends made during a high school theater production resemble relationships that are formed at camp, in the military, on a basketball team or during any ambitious project that involves a group of people. These friends will go on to lives that don’t involve each other, but there will always be a deep-seated connection that can be called on later in life.

Last Saturday, April 14, 2018, after the Nederland Middle Senior High School matinee production of Once Upon a Mattress, a group of theater alumni gathered at the school to raise money to benefit the theater program. They brought in products they sell, donated items for a silent auction and have become directors and choreographers, volunteering their time to support current musicals and plays.

For a few of them it was like the good old days when they were on the same stage, performing “Mattress”, 20 years ago.

Arianne (Harvey) graduated in 1997 and is now a distributor of Open Mind Oils out of Denver. She played Aggravain, the arrogant queen in “Mattress” and said she loved coming back to see the show. Arianne was also in Lil Abner in 1994, Bye Bye Birdie in 1995 and Music Man in 1996. She loved every minute of being in the NMSHS theater and says being a part of the thespians helped her through rough times.

Another 1997 alumni, Jessica Green, played Larkin back in her day and now lives on Magnolia Road and is a consultant and representative for USBORNE Books & More, with Alice Miller. Jessica says all the alumni went out to dinner before the fundraiser and had a great time, conjuring up memories.

Mallory Gaeddert, a 2003 graduate, had a line of cool clothes for sale, which she sells online. Her last Ned show was Grease.

Casey Erdman graduated in 2008 and has not been on the Ned stage since she was in sixth grade. She played a Lady in Waiting in “Mattress,” and was in Steel Pier, Grease, Honk, Just So and Guys and Dolls. Casey sells Premier Design jewelry and says she hasn’t been back to Ned in 10 years, but she plans to attend the NHS class of 2008 reunion this summer.

Then there are the alumni who never really left and who have found their way back home to the NMSHS theater.

Ki Goodman was on stage with Peter Pan, Honk, Grease, Little Mary Sunshine and then returned to Ned to work as the choreography director for the past 11 years. She has been there for every Two-Step, Can- Can kick or big dance number and will probably stick around for a while. She says the Ned stage is her home away from home.

Josh Lake was Harold Hill in the Music Man, he was in Lil Abner, Anne of Green Gables and was a techie for Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and this is his seventh year as the technical director.

“Liz Evans gave us a safe place to grow while we were in high school and this is my way of giving back. That’s why I’m here.”

The fundraiser will help the NMSHS Theater Department with the support it needs to keep turning out the high quality shows it is known for and the opportunities it gives students who haven’t yet found their voice.