Payton On Bench Is Mark Against K.C.

When Highline School District first proposed replacing the Highline High School auditorium with a new performing-arts center, former students and teachers rallied in opposition.

Now, some of the people who fought hard against tearing down the 60-year-old stage will be singing and dancing on the new one next week as part of the center's opening celebration.

Opponents originally didn't want the auditorium demolished for nostalgic reasons.

Highline was the first high school in the district when the district was formed in 1941. It's also where more than 400 students performed between 1966 and 1988 as part of the Hi-Liners, a prestigious, districtwide student variety group.

"It's a landmark school," said Mary Cruikshank, an original Hi-Liner who opposed tearing down the auditorium.

But after seeing the new 806-seat center complete with computerized lighting and sound systems, Cruikshank and others were convinced the district made the right decision. The opening of the center coincides with the celebration this year of the district's 50th anniversary, which will be observed in November.

The former auditorium was "old and decrepit and probably would've cost too much to fix up," said Cruikshank, who graduated as Mary Pramuk in 1968 from another Highline district school, the now-closed Glacier High School.

The new center cost $2.7 million. Officials estimated renovating the auditorium would have cost about $1.7 million more.

Instead of destroying memories, as some had feared, the opening of the new Highline Performing Arts Center has revived history.

The Hi-Liners, 75 of them, have reunited to perform their song-and-dance routines April 18 and April 21.

They are just one of dozens of acts and events scheduled for an 11-day celebration beginning Friday.

Hi-Liners, now in their early 20s to early 40s, have been rehearsing every Saturday and some weekdays since January. Between learning new steps and remembering old ones, they reminisce about the good old days.

Bill Moeller, then a teacher at Highline High School, formed the group in the summer of 1966 to give teen-agers who couldn't find jobs something to do. Marilyn Culton, a local dance instructor, choreographed the show and Moeller handled the rest.

What started out as summer stock turned into full-scale productions with sets and costumes.

The district eventually took over the project and assigned it a citizens advisory board. Students tried out annually for 60 positions during the school year. Those were trimmed to 40 when the show hit the road in the summer.

They performed at Expo '74 in Spokane, a Wenatchee Apple Blossom Festival and a National Governor's Conference in Seattle. They even had a command performance in the home of William Boeing, founder of The Boeing Co., for the International Bankers Association.

Some students went on to become professional performers.

Sue Buckner, 1969 Glacier grad, appeared in the Nancy Drew television series and played a cheerleader in the movie "Grease." Dirk Lombard, 1971 Glacier grad, is now a dancer on Broadway and Paul Galvan, a 1969 graduate of Highline, is a Las Vegas entertainer. Jim Engelhart, a 1968 graduate of Highline, is a playwright in Los Angeles.

None of these former students are expected to return for the upcoming performances, however.

Many of those most eager to get back on stage are ex-Hi-Liners whose careers haven't allowed much high kicking and harmonizing.

Patricia Johnson, an administrative-law judge for the state Department of Revenue, said she hasn't danced since high school, although "I've been tempted to dance around a tough point of law."

Johnson, a 1970 graduate of Mount Rainier High School, said she begged to be let in when she heard about the Hi-Liner revival because she wanted to work with Culton once again. "She's a great dancer and a great teacher."

Just as before, Moeller, 67, and Culton, 77, are running the show. Joining them is Donna Cheever, 67, an assistant costume designer who worked with the Hi-Liners in 1966.

"I've been bawling them out for not learning all the words. I copied all the music for them and told them to learn it and then tear it up. Burn it. Get rid of it," Moeller said.

Although some don't quite fit into their costumes as well or kick as high as they used to, Culton said she thinks the former students are better than ever.

"It's nice to know things you learned long ago you can still dredge up," said Doug Gibson, a 1968 Mount Rainier graduate who now works for KING television as a cameraman.

Putting 56 routines together with 75 students hasn't been easy however.

"It's like having 75 egos and 75 producers," Culton said. "Actually, everyone is quite cooperative. They even help me remember the dance steps I originated." ------------------------------------------------------------ APPEARING ON STAGE

A number of events are scheduled for the grand opening of the Highline School District's Performing Arts Center, 401 S. 152nd St. The 11-day celebration, which also commemorates the district's 50th anniversary, includes:

Date / time Event

April 12, NW Spirit barbershop quartet; 8 p.m. Teresa Stadler, dancer; LaNae

Williams, Miss Washington;

Leslie McMichael, harpist April 13, Miss Southwest King 7:30 p.m. County Pageant April 14, Community Performing Arts 1-6 p.m. Festival, include singers from

Highline C.C. and actors from

Burien Little Theater April 15, The Many Cultures in Highline 7:30 p.m. Local artists perform music and

dances from around the world April 16, High school bands and choirs 7 p.m. (Tickets available at high schools) April 17, Evening of Dance. 7:30 p.m. Performances include ballet, jazz,

tap and modern dance. April 18, Hi-Liners Revue 7:30 p.m. Reunion of student

variety group (1966-1988) April 19, Crimson Company, showcase of 8 p.m. WSU's music department. April 20, Tim Noah, energetic, local 10 a.m., 2 p.m. children's entertainer April 20, Carmina Burana, by Choral 8 p.m. Sounds Northwest, Rainier Chorale. April 21, Hi-Liners Revue 2 and 7:30 p.m. April 25, Middle school band 7 p.m. and choirs

For ticket and other information, call 433-2383. For many events, seniors 60 and older, and students, 18 and under, are admitted at a reduced price.