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 In
November 2023, Peterson Quinn directed her 27th and final Madrigal
at LCHS and those who had participated in past madrigals were
encouraged to attend as special guests. The number of former
students in attendance showed the impact she had on her students
over the years.
Though Peterson Quinn had many students over the years, a group of
juniors made up of Presley Coale, Charlie McFadden, Emma Adams, and
Kristina Morrow were in musicals Peterson Quinn directed the last
few years grew especially close to Peterson Quinn and to one
another.
These students recently reflected on acting in Little Women, since
it was the last one Peterson Quinn directed at LCHS. Having acted
together so many times, the group felt like a family.
Before playing Beth March in the recent production of
Little Women, Presley Coale said, “It is definitely sad to think
about the fact that this is PQ's last production and that we will
not have her next year, as she has always been an amazing director
to work with.”
Besides the fond memories Coale has of being in choir and musicals
directed by Peterson Quinn, she felt like the cast could talk to her
about almost anything. As Coale said, “I will definitely miss all
the chats about random things that the cast often has with her, and
overall, I hope that we can make this show worthy of being her last
one. I do think it was pretty easy to play the part of a tight-knit
family because I have been acting with the other girls for quite a
bit and I am friends with them, so a lot of the chemistry was
already there.”
Charlie McFadden played the role of Jo March and said It is really
special being able to act with such an amazing cast that is so
close. Many of the people have been in the musical the past couple
of years and we have been able to grow and learn together. She said,
“This being PQ's last production is definitely bittersweet. It's
going to be very sad without her, but she has been so amazing and
helped give us so many great memories.”
Emma Adams, who played Amy March, said, I have played
in many productions with this same cast, so acting the part of a
tight knit family is more real than it is acting.
Adams also said, “It’s second nature to work as a family, especially
one as close as this one and it’s been an amazing experience
navigating this with these people. Being able to play Amy has been a
new and exciting experience for me, she is unique and has a lot of
emotions, emotions I have yet to experience so trying to figure her
out has been a fun yet engaging experience.” This being PQ’s last
production has made this whole experience more moving and drives us
to do the best we can. One of my most favorite memories with her is
being able to talk to her during our downtime and her providing us
with life advice. She’s been a strict teacher but also a great
mentor and I will always cherish the moments where she took the time
to connect and talk with us.
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Kristina Morrow said, “wonderful ladies I get to be
on stage with as sisters and daughter, I have known since at least
freshman year. Even off the stage we act like a family as we plan,
laugh, and bicker with one another in class or other activities. So
already going into the audition and especially now, we already have
that organic chemistry to our group. Then the story we tell becomes
a remix of our own as we have all felt the emotions of anger, joy,
and sadness that the March family have.”
As for PQ, Morrow said, “I will definitely miss her. I have known
her for around four years now and in that time, we have grown very
close. She has told me several times of how I remind her of herself
in high school as well as how we are both practically perfect in
every way (an inside joke that relates to a song in Mary Poppins).
It will be very hard walking into choir next year and not see her
face. Despite this, I know I will see her elsewhere as she will come
to support at future events.”
LCHS senior Lacy Buss, who was in both choir and
acted in many productions, played Marmee March in Little Women and
also felt a kinship with the others and Peterson Quinn. Buss said,
“It’s sad that this is PQ’s last one, but I know she’ll continue to
support us and help us with anything we may need. That’s one of my
favorite things about her. I was very shy and rarely said anything
my freshman year, but she saw something in me that I couldn’t, and
here I am today! I truly wouldn’t be who I am today if she hadn’t
put that little bit of pressure on me to audition for my first
show.”
When asked about a favorite memory of Peterson Quinn, Buss said, “My
favorite memory is hard to decide, but a great one is how excited
she was to tell me I was singing the national anthem at a state
basketball game. She was so genuinely excited and proud of me, and I
could really feel it. She makes all of us feel known, appreciated,
and special. Whoever takes over for her next year has some really
big shoes to fill!”
Though Peterson Quinn retired from teaching at the end of May, the
impact she had on the hundreds of students she taught over the years
is likely to continue for many years.
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