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END OF A JOURNEY: Ron Murray, who has been Hemet High School’s theater instructor since 1994, retired this year from the position. photo by File Photos. | ||
June 10, 2013
For nearly 20 years, one man has been the head of the Hemet High School theater department.Mr. Ron Murray, who himself attended Hemet High School starting in 1966, began teaching theater at Hemet High in 1994. This year, Murray has decided to hand over his director's chair and retire alongside his wife and fellow Hemet theater instructor Diana.
Murray's career began in 1985 in the Colton Unified School District at Bloomington High School where he taught English, vocal music, and worked some with the theater teacher on the school's musicals. He then moved on to Moore Junior High School where for seven years he taught theater and vocal music. Murray then spent one year at Redland High School's freshman only campus before he received a call from Hemet High School's principal about a potential opening in the theater department.
"I called and procured an interview with the principal. I went through all the necessary steps and got the job that same day," Murray said. "It felt like I had come full circle in my theater career – I was coming back home."
Murray said when he entered in as the head of the theater program it was already strong and was already putting on five main stage shows a year.
"All I had to do was put my own touch on it," Murray said.
Out of the over 100 shows Murray put on as director of the Hemet department, he said his favorites were always the most challenging productions. The one that stands out most to Murray was the 2004 production of "Les Miserables."
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INVOLVED: Murray performs alongside Danielle Reese during this year’s Hemet High production of “Beauty and the Beast” in which he played Belle’s father. | ||
"We happened to have a lot of strong vocal talent that year," he said.
The Murray couple, who worked together on most of the productions throughout Murray's time at Hemet, chose what shows to put on based on several different criteria including the talent level of the students and the appeal of the show.
"I was certainly drawn to stories of redemption," Murray said.
Murray's love for theater began when he was at Hemet High School as a sophomore and earned the leading roll of Harold Hill in "The Music Man." He continued acting throughout high school and college and at the age of 23 was the first local young man to earn the role of Alessandro in the Ramona outdoor play.
Soon after his role in Ramona, the Murrays moved to Redlands and had two children, Ryan and Kathleen. Murray continued to be involved with community theater while he began his teaching career.
Some of his highlights included singing the national anthem at a Los Angeles Dodger's game and performing on stage with Martha Rae in San Bernardino's California Theater.
But teaching the theater was Murray's true passion.
"It is with humble gratitude that I look back on my career as an educator. I entered a profession dedicated to assisting young people achieve their potential and, through the teaching and exploration of theatre arts, to reveal and find their best selves," Murray said. "As I leave this profession, I am taking many of my students with me."
Murray said the best part of being a theater instructor the last 20 years was the many opening nights he got to witness.
"I will miss opening night," he said. "I will miss being totally surprised by the magic that happens. I have been doing this for 45 years, and I am still surprised by it."
Murray said the excitement of the students, especially during their first on-stage experience, was electric.
"The first time you see a student receive applause on stage – that is a natural high," he said.
After last year, when Diana retired from her theater instructor role, Murray began to aid in the search for a replacement. Taking the reins of the theater department will be Bret Cherland, who is a former student of Murray's and has strong connections within the valley. This year, Cherland did a great job directing his first production of "Beauty and the Beast," according to Murray.
Among Murray's accomplishments at Hemet High was the design of the new theater which has been named the Ron Murray Performing Arts Center.
In his retirement, Murray and his wife plan to travel and visit with their family, especially their 3-year-old granddaughter.
But, after the hundreds of hours the Murrays dedicated to the Hemet High theater program over the years, their main plan for retirement is to not have a plan at all.
"It will be nice to just go with the flow," Murray said.
He said he may also get back into community theater. In the past, Murray has been a part of the Ramona Pageant, the Ramona Hillside Players, and the theater department at Mt. San Jacinto College.
Perhaps Murray's Hemet High career can be wrapped up best by the words of his wife, Diana:
"Ron instilled in every student that it is not the play, but the journey and how you grow along the way that counts," she said. "It is not only about building sets and characters for the stage, but about building one's character for life. He was that example of integrity for all the lives he touched."
http://www.thevalleychronicle.com/Articles-News-c-2013-06-10-84079.113122-Longtime-Hemet-theater-instructor-retires.html
Source: www.thevalleychronicle.com