After 35 years in the theater spotlight, a Farrell High School play director has decided to hang up his show hat.

Ronald F. Reed, 57, has resigned from his post as school play director, effective at the end of this school year. Farrell area school directors regretfully accepted the resignation Monday night.

Though resigning, Reed will remain at Farrell High School as the fine arts coordinator. He also teaches advanced preparatory English courses for juniors and seniors.

Reed said his experiences in Farrell and with the district have always been good. While the district does a great deal as far as encouraging sports participation, the arts don't fall too far behind, he said.

"Although people think they don't promote anything but sports here, they do promote the arts and encourage students to participate," he said. "In most cases the athletes are the ones in the plays."

Many of the talented students he gets to work with embody "raw talent," he said, noting they haven't had the dance lessons or voice lessons that other good performers may have.

"They have the enthusiasm and the drive, which encourages them to succeed."

He said students who do participate walk away with a wonderful experience. Being involved in theater helps elevate self-esteem and confidence, perhaps moreso than sports because students put themselves more into the spotlight and farther out on the line in terms of an individual setting as opposed to team play, he said.

Reed said he decided to give up the position after recently relocating to the Cranberry Township, Butler County, area.

He was hired in 1969 after studying speech and theater at Clarion University. Throughout his career he has directed nearly 200 plays, not only in Farrell but for other theater companies such as Youngstown Playhouse.

He said he always has been involved in theater in some aspect or another. He and his former wife, also a theater major, wrote and produced murder mysteries for the former Shenango Inn dinner theater. The couple also ran a community theater in Farrell incorporating 500 members from around the county and invited people from across the state to attend the plays. Reed also directed a local children's theater that toured various schools.

"David and Lisa" was the first play he directed for Farrell schools. It was performed at the old high school on an old- fashioned, tiny stage, he said. The next performance, a musical titled "Apple Tree," was moved to the high school gymnasium.

The first play at the new school was "Can-Can."

School board member Jerome Flint was not only involved in the musical that year, he also was a very active sport enthusiast, Reed said. Always having to battle between playoffs and showtime, he remembers Flint broke his arm in a playoff game two days before the play was to go on.

During the board meeting, Flint commented on Reed's legacy, stressing that he will be missed as director by everyone.

"He has really dedicated himself and made the program a first-class, quality program. He will definitely be missed."

Reed said he likes coming to school everyday. "I like everybody here. Most people wouldn't be so lucky to have a job like this."

Superintendent Richard R. Rubano Jr. said it's going to be difficult to find someone that can replace Reed. "We know it's a very involved job," he said, noting that, so far, no one has come forth to apply for the position.

Reed obviously hopes someone will step forward to fill his shoes.

"We need to build up the audiences," he said. "The program is too valuable and the kids look forward to it."

030401