It so happens that Tim McNamara ’69, who now lives in Charlottesville, Virginia and is active in the area’s regional theatre, was asked to attend The Fringe Festival in Scotland as a technical advisor to the American High School Theatre Festival during The Fringe.  It also so happens that he went to see his former school’s thespian troupe perform Songs for a New World at the festival.  It also so happens that he wrote a letter to La Salle Academy President Brother Michael Mc Kenery about that experience.  That letter follows.   

Dear Brother Michael,

As you are well aware from our frequent chats at alumni gatherings in South Florida, I left for college and a theatre degree in Miami after graduation from La Salle. 

I then had the good fortune of teaching at a performing arts school with the Miami-Dade School System for the next 34 years.  After retiring 2 years ago I moved part time to the Blue Ridge Mountains in Charlottesville, Va.  There I became active with Live Arts, the local regional theatre.  Through my association with them I was asked to come here to Edinburgh, Scotland to work as a technical advisor for the American High School Theatre Festival during the Fringe.

I was thrilled to learn a few months ago that ironically, but not surprisingly, that La Salle was among the relatively few schools across the U.S. and Canada to have been selected for the high honor of taking part in this festival. 

What a joyous "it's a small world" occurrence.  At the moment of this writing I am sitting in my 4th floor walk-up flat overlooking Edinburgh Castle. Shortly I will be walking over to the Church Hill Theatre to see the La Salle Players present "Songs for a New World".  It will be my 4th time seeing it!... (almost as many times as you've seen Billy Elliot!).

I just wanted to share some thoughts.  Firstly, the production is exquisite and very moving.  The cast is extremely talented and quite polished.  Everyone on my team here have been extremely cognizant of the sense of professionalism, dedication and focus displayed by "the Rhode Island group".  I just wanted to let you know first hand that you can and should be very proud of them.  I know that you are.

I've also had the pleasure of getting to know and befriend Mr.Tom Haynes and Ms. Elisa-Pensa Cerros.  How fortunate you and the students are to have these gifted and passionate educators in your performing arts department.  I'm actually a little jealous.  During my years at La Salle we did not have a theatre program at all and had to wait for the girls at St. Mary of the Visitation to call looking for guys for their plays (although it has afforded me the right to say that I started my acting career on Broadway...even though it's the Broadway leading towards Olneyville).

The icing on the cake here in Scotland has been meeting cast member Luke Doyle.  Luke is the 1st recipient of a scholarship that I began this year in memory of my late wife and best friend, Robbie.  Luke, who is heading off next week to NYU to study Theatre Education is a fine young man, a truly gifted performer and a most deserving awardee.  I know that we all wish him nothing but success.

In closing,  I hope that you have a wonderful school year and I thank you for all that you do to keep the spirit and tradition of the maroon and white vibrant...on both sides of the Atlantic.

Go Rams,

Tim McNamara '69