OK, so perhaps the headline is a bit misleading—because you don’t have to do it TODAY—but I thought that, with much of the high-school-musical season behind us, I’d offer seniors an opportunity to share their fondest memories, either of their most recent show or any other theater memory. What has theater taught you? What memories will stay with you for awhile? What will you miss most?

Just one rule: You have to identify yourself, your school and the shows you’ve done. OK?

Have fun.

Yorktown Stage presents “Disney’s High School Musical 2” April 11 through 19.

During the summer vacation, a talent show is organized in a local country club and Troy, Gabriella, Sharpay, Ryan, Chad and Taylor take part in it. This sequel to Disney’s most successful TV movie incorporates a wonderful musical score and a view of today’s teenage issues!

Here’s an audition notice from Brewster Theater Company.

The Brewster Theater Company, Inc. announces April 18 auditions for its annual ‘Evening of One-Acts’ scheduled for June 2009.

“Affairs of the Heart” will be the subject of several one-act plays and teen monologues, some by local playwrights, to be presented at The Brewster Theater Company’s sixth annual Evening of One-Acts.

Tony Howarth, who has directed plays and taught playwriting seminars at Howard Meyer’s Axial Theatre in Pleasantville, is working closer to his Patterson home these days.

Tonight, he opens a weekend run of “Shorts on the Lake” — six one-act plays he directed — at Kent’s Arts on the Lake. With performances tonight and tomorrow at 8 and Sunday at 3, “Shorts on the Lake” includes 11 actors, six one-acts and one director: Howarth.

I’ve been hearing from people telling me I missed the boat by not interviewing Samantha Cassano, who played Dolly in North Salem High School’s production of “Hello, Dolly!” last weekend. Sounds like she’s incredibly talented and we’ll be hearing from her soon. (I hope she’ll talk to me when she’s famous.) Anyway, it got me to thinking this blog could be a place to talk about great performances you’ve seen.

Live theater is great because of its capacity to electrify, but it’s also terribly fleeting, gone in an instant.

What performance did you see that will stay with you for awhile?

Stony Point’s Penguin Rep Theatre has set its 32nd season, with two world premieres and a subscription plan that includes a price freeze.

The Harrison Players present “Last of the Red Hot Lovers” by Neil Simon April 17 and 18 at 8 and April 19 at 3 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Building, 210 Halstead Ave., Harrison.

Tickets are $18 in advance or $20 at the door. Call 914-937-8427 or purchase tickets online at www.harrisonplayers.org.

The past few days have been rough on some folks because of things that were posted on this blog and then commented on. Unnecessarily rough. In trying to get a discussion going about how people perceived art—in this case, “Cabaret”—I made some poor choices.

Got this note from a friend of a friend of Chris Arena, from Arena, who’s trying to get a performance space in New Rochelle:

“To all my Westchester theatre friends and colleagues. Sorry for the group e-mail but I’m a little pressed for time here.

As many of you know, I’m attempting to create a performance art center in New Rochelle. I’ve been working toward this for several years now and will be making a formal proposal to City Council in early to mid April.

My colleague, D. Scott Faubel, dropped by my desk yesterday, with the biggest grin I’d ever seen.

I knew why he was smiling.

I’d already received this note:

“The Darien Players were taken by surprise this past weekend during the Saturday performance of “Getting Away With Murder” at the Darien Arts Center when they discovered that in the audience was none other than the great composer and co-author of the play, Stephen Sondheim.

If all of these musicals have you yearning to do a little singing of your own, perhaps you’ll be interested in the not I received from the Westchester Choral Society:

The Westchester Choral Society will present an afternoon sing-along of show tunes and standards on Sunday, March 29, at 3 p.m. at the Music Conservatory of Westchester, 216 Central Ave., White Plains.

Returning by popular demand, singer/cabaret performer Jim Fredericks will lead the audience in singing popular show tunes and standards in an informal setting. All singers and listeners are welcome!  No previous singing experience is necessary, and song sheets will be provided.

Got a note from Gary Batson, one of the men behind an ambitious theater program in Mount Vernon:

“The Mount Vernon Theater Company has moved its children’s theater division to The Dole Center on 250 South Sixth Ave. in Mount Vernon, New York.  Theater workshop for children run from 10am to 12pm on Saturday mornings. The Mount Vernon Theater Company is planning on producing five children’s plays between now and Fall 2009. All workshops are free. For further info contact 914-371-7589 or 914-964-8232.”

Got a note from Adrienne Meyer at Scarsdale High.

“Scarsdale High School presents “The Crucible”, by Arthur Miller, March 27-28 at 7:30 p.m.  This American classic is as timely today as it was 50 years ago—with American themes of greed, betrayal, and scandal.  A passionate play about the destruction of an actual community during the Salem witch trials, Miller was also responding  to Senator McCarthy’s communist “witch hunt” in the 1950’s.  Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors and can be purchased at the door on the evening of performance at the Scarsdale Theatre, 2 Brewster Road Scarsdale.  Call 914-721-2484 for information.”

Good morning, Harrison, Hastings, Irvington, Nyack, North Rockland, Kennedy, Clarkstown North, Hendrick Hudson, Nanuet, Pleasantville and Somers!

How’d your shows go this weekend?

I dropped in on two — Kennedy’s “How to Succeed,” with a standout performance by Mickey Connolly, and a ground-shaking, high-octane, off-the hook “Rent” at Hastings that still has me shaking my head wondering if those were really high-school kids and not seasoned pros.

For some, their shows are over. If that describes you, what are you feeling today? I remember well that post-show letdown: After the flurry of Hell Week and the run, you’ve got nowhere to go this afternoon. Leave a comment below and let’s talk about it.

There are still many shows to come in this high-school season. I’ll be in Carmel and Pelham today, checking out Seussical and Blood Brothers. Holy both ends of the spectrum, Batman!

Got a nice note from Matt Vanacoro at Fox Lane Middle School.

“I just wanted to write you about our production of ‘The Wiz’ here at  Fox Lane Middle School in Bedford.  We have a completely new  production team this year with Mike Piescki producing, Jessica Vanacoro choreographing, Sarah Matthews co-musical director and myself directing and co-musical director.

“The kids are having a great time, the show goes up on April 24 and so far the experience of doing a show with some really different music has been a great one.

“We have quite a few children participating this year for the first time. (We’ve made it a priority to attract some
students outside of your standard chorus student for this show) both in chorus and lead roles and the kids are learning a lot.”