Laurie Wellman, producer, in her 24th year as choral director at Scotch Plains Fanwood High School, has led musical theater at SPFHS Rep to progressively greater challenges and achievements during the past decade. Ms. Wellman is chair of the Choral Procedures Committee and a board member with the New Jersey Music Educators Association. Regularly part of the scene at regional and all-state choral events, Ms. Wellman conducted the Region II choir in 1992.

Tom Pedas, director, teaches music Hillside Avenue School in Cranford. He was named "Master Music Teacher" by the New Jersey Music Educators Association. Tom was guest conductor for the Region II Choir, as well as director of the Celebration Singers. He founded the Celebration Children's Choir and the Linden Summer Playhouse, where he has directed for seven years. Tom has also directed musicals for the Scotch Plains Players, Mystic Vision Players, Cranford Dramatic Club and Hillside Avenue School, as well as the Cranford Repertory Theater shows, "Fiddler on the Roof" and "The Music Man" (2003).

Durand Thomas is currently a co-director of instrumental music at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School. Special kudos to him for training a mostly student orchestra to play a musical that is nonstop music.

Cindy Lahiff never imagined that childhood years spent in Indiana, sewing a fab wardrobe for her Barbie dolls, could lead to the work to come later (much later!) in life. In addition to costume design and construction for more than forty plays and musicals, Cindy has had the incredible experience of key-costuming two full-length independent movies filmed in New York and New Jersey, as well as various shorts. In professional theater, she dresses Off-Broadway's favotite newlyweds in Tony n' Tina's Wedding but thankfully, refrained from using the same "flair" for Cosette and Marius!

Cindy produced over 300 costumes for this all-student production of Les Misérables. She is remarkable to watch in action. A lace tablecloth can become a dress and she makes all her period hats. Thank you Cindy!

Ellen Pease credits her painting sets start to Tom Pedas' Junior High School production of Oliver. Highlights of her work designing and painting sets have been productions of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Coat, Celebration Singers' Amahl and the Night Visitor and now Les Misérables. In her "other life", she teaches art and does custom artwork.

After Mr. Pedas designed the sets and they were built, Ellen's magic took root. Her artistic talents and calm demeanor was responsible for all the art on stage and in the Lobby. With assistance from parent volunteers and in particular student Manny Gonzalez, Ellen's talents transported the musical and the school to a new dimension.

Bill Bonstein, John Deluca and Doug Prefach were our "Crafty Carpenters Three". When Tom Pedas handed them plans for the stage last summer at a parent introductory gathering they went to work hammering out a barricade and sets. These gentlemen were part of a hardworking and enthusiastic group of talented men and we applaud them all for our magnificent sets.