School board VP plays musical role

Richard Tedesco

Herricks School Board vice president Richard Buckley will assume another, more whimsical role for the next two weekends, appearing as Sky Masterson in a local community theater production of “Guys and Dolls.”

It’s the second production in as many years that Buckley has appeared in at the Sid Jacobson Community Center in East Hills. He’s also appeared in two musicals at the Herricks Community Theater in recent years, starring as Harold Hill in “The Music Man” and as Sid Sirok in “The Pajama Game.”

Performing in musical theater is a natural counterpoint to Buckley’s regular job as drama and chorus teacher in Lawrence High School for the past 26 years.

“I direct and teach drama. It’s really great to be on stage performing theater,” Buckley said. “It gives you authenticity to teaching the kids since you’re on stage. And I just love it. I enjoy theater.”

Buckley is back on the community theater stage for the past seven years after taking a hiatus of 15 years from moonlighting as a singer for various bands.

“I was the wedding singer,” he said. “Then I was raising my family.”

Buckley passed on his dramatic and musical impulses to his three daughters. His eldest daughter, Sarabeth, now a junior at Tufts University, acted in high school productions. HIs daughter Emily, 17, is playing the lead role in the Herricks High School production of “Our Town.” His youngest daughter, Julia, 16, plays a musical instrument, as do her two siblings.

Buckley is also deeply involved in community service. A resident of Williston Park, he is in his eighth year as a member of the Herricks School Board.

An avid theater-goer, his passion is treading the boards to express himself with his tenor voice in a venue that he thoroughly enjoys.

“The nice thing about community theater is that everyone is there for the love of theater,” Buckley said. “I only do musical theater. I like to sing and dance.”

He directs two shows each year at Lawrence, and he said that performing helps him in that role, and in teaching drama. He said the experience of being on stage helps “to deal with things like nervousness and how to work in ensemble with other actors.”

In the artistic vein, Buckley is a photography buff. And he’s also a fan of that often dramatic American pastime of baseball, as avid New York Yankees supporter.

Performances of “Guys and Dolls” at the Sid Jacobson Center are scheduled for Jan. 22, 23, 29 and 30. For information, call 516-484-1545, ex. 110.

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