This weekend we celebrated our students' artistic talents through Anna High School's 56th Broadway Musical production and our second annual art show. This year our students entertained our school and community with Roald Dahl’s musical production of Willy Wonka. Little did we know, last year when Mr. Sam Brautigam announced the production that the students of Anna High School would be performing, he planned to give away much more than a chocolate empire.
For the past thirty-one years, Mr. Brautigam has spent many winter evenings with the students of the Anna Local Schools preparing them to perform at their highest level possible. When you are a musical director in a small town you wear many hats. You are the resident expert on all aspects of directing, sound, lighting, set building, facilitating a pit orchestra, stage crew, programs, hiring accompanists, and of course selecting a musical that fits the strengths of the students. Mr. Brautigam is always quick to compliment others and would say that he has had exceptional help over the years and great supporters among our community. None stronger than his wife Katie who, too, has dedicated much time and energy in bringing Sam’s musical visions to life.
To the untrained eye, the months preceding a musical production looks like pure chaos. As for Sam, it's just another day in the office. As mentioned earlier, Sam has been a part of the musical productions at Anna High School for the past 31 years. The first five years he worked under director Larry Gratz, a 31 year veteran. For the past 26 years, Sam sat in the director's chair and has brought an energy and passion to the stage, not for his own accolades, but so the students of Anna High School could be proud of what they produced. And they have certainly delivered year in and year out!
Alumni return to Milliette Auditorium annually to revisit that emotion they had when it was their time to shine. Moreso, you see the former students embrace Mr. Brautigam with genuine reverence and a gratefulness for having that theatrical experience that Sam provided. But this past Sunday, in true theater form, just after Mr. Wonka gave away his chocolate factory, Mr. Sam Brautigam announced his retirement from being the Anna High School musical director.
A wise man once told me there were three types of people in this world: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who ask what happened? Those who make things happen are the ones who make the world a better place to live. Undoubtedly, Mr. Brautigam has been making things happen, and it makes us so very proud to witness his true greatness and positive impact on our students and our community.
Just as the final lines from Wonka say:
Mr. Wonka: "Don't forget what happened to the man who suddenly got everything he wanted."
Charlie Bucket: "What happened?"
Mr. Wonka: "He lived happily ever after.”
We thank you Mr. Brautigam, and happily ever after is exactly what you deserve!