The News of Delaware County: “SHS theater family remembers beloved actress”

By Amy A. Winnemore
LIFE EDITOR

Published December 16, 2009

Joel Feldman (right) speaks at the special "Pink Performance" of 'The Laramie Project' while SHS Theatre Director John Guildea and Dianne Anderson look on. The Springfield Theatre Workshop created a plaque in honor of Casey.

With smiles and tears, the Springfield High School theater family paid tribute to the memory of one of their brightest stars.

Casey Feldman, a 2006 graduate of Springfield High School, was walking to her job July 16 on the Ocean City boardwalk when she was struck and killed by a motorist.

“With Casey’s passing, our theater family lost one of its brightest stars. She was a beloved alumnus who radiated warmth, love and compassion for everyone around her. Casey was a star in life and she is now a star in heaven. She will always be there for us as our guiding light,” said SHS English teacher and theater director John Gildea.

L to R: Brooke Burdge, Marie Larson, Kelsey Butler, Dianne Anderson, Jamie Gallagher and Janine Repka at the reception before the performance

The Springfield Theatre Workshop (STW) season has been dedicated to Feldman’s memory. They recently finished a four-night run of “The Laramie Project,” the first show in which Casey performed in 2004 when she was a sophomore.

One of the shows, for only Feldman’s friends and family, was a special memorial performance in her honor.

“It was a beautiful tribute,” said Feldman’s mother Dianne Anderson.

STW has created a plaque to honor all of Feldman’s accomplishments, which will be hung on the Knorr Theatre wall, “so that she will always be guiding us throughout our rehearsals and performances,” said Gildea.

Throughout her high school acting career, Feldman appeared in every theater production including “Our Town” as Professor Willard, “Arsenic and Old Lace as Elaine Harper, “The Odd Couple” as Gwendolyn Pigeon and “The Mousetrap” as Mollie Ralston. Friends say Feldman brought leadership and experience to the theater department. She was a STW officer her senior year, served as the 2006 Cappies Team Lead Critic and was voted “Best Actress” that year.

Casey as Gwendolyn Pigeon in The Odd Couple

“She also brought kindness and compassion for everyone around her,” said Gildea.

To continue her spirit, her family has created The Casey Feldman Network and the Casey Feldman Memorial Foundation. The foundation was set up to provide financial support to individuals, groups and institutions that share Feldman’s interests, qualities and goals. The Foundation will also be sponsoring a scholarship in her name to give to a Springfield High School graduating senior. The recipient will showcase all the qualities that Casey possessed.

“When it came to acting, Casey was a perfectionist. She always made sure her lines were memorized quickly. She was always prepared for each rehearsal, and she also asked a lot of questions when she was unsure about her particular movements or how to say a particular line. Casey simply shined when she took the stage. She worked endlessly to make each of her roles memorable for the audiences,” said Gildea.

[Note: Click here to view photos and videos from the reception, plaque dedication and performance. Click here to view the High School Theater Galleries on the Casey Feldman Memories site.]