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Mr. and Mrs. Kucan
By Steven Fales | July 14, 2010
I was recently performing Confessions of a Mormon Boy in Las Vegas where I went to Junior High and High School. My ninth grade English teacher was Mrs. Kucan. She was the first person in my life to suggest that I might have a natural affinity/propensity for the stage. She suggested I might like to be part of a local community theatre group called The Rainbow Company. It is still thriving today. But I declined. My parents would not support it. What a kind and beautiful soul. And she’s always had the same short white pixy haircut. (Hmmmm. I wonder who that might remind me of later?)
Then when I was in eleventh grade I had a dynamic, rabble-rouser English teacher named Mr. Kucan. I still have the papers I wrote in his class. Such great controversial topics he’d give us to write on. He introduced me to Hamlet.
I had some surprisingly exceptional teachers in High School. I was blessed. Clark High School and my honors classes were an oasis of culture in culturally bankrupt (but exciting) Las Vegas.
When I was doing Mormon Boy, I got a note from Mr. and Mrs. Kucan. They were in the audience cheering me on. They had been following my career. I was so delighted when we all went to breakfast one morning. And they had a spare care they generously allowed me to use. A convertable.
I love you Mr. and Mrs. Kucan for teaching me and loving me and giving me the approbation that I missed growing up. My parents did not know how to support what I was doing in the ways I would have preferred. But you two — and other teachers like Mrs. Neel, Mr. Hale, Mrs. Harrington, Mrs. Wali (Shireen). Gosh I was blessed.
I loved school. And someday I hope to make a difference in the lives of youth the way you did for me. I guess I can start with my kids.
Mr. and Mrs. Kucan in their home
Topics: Confessions of a Mormon Boy | No Comments »