Now semi-retired, Larry Zeiger, for whom Point Loma High School’s Performing Arts Center on campus is named, taught English, cinema, and theater at Point Loma High School from 1975 until 2007.

“I initially started cinema film study of classic and current international films,” noted Zeiger adding, “Then I started music theater as a literature class studying Broadway and film musicals.”

Ultimately, that led to the somewhat inauspicious opening of the high school’s theater in the 1970s. “They had torn down the original theater, so the principal said I was going to do a musical review in the cafeteria, saying we needed a grand opening for the theater,” said Zeiger. “But there was no money for sets or anything. So my students got creative and made sets out of boxes we got from a refrigerator store.”

Despite humble beginnings, PLHS’ Theater sets – and programming – grew. “That first year we ran shows for three or four weeks with five sold-out performances that became extremely popular and the sets became more lavish,” Zeiger said. “Students and I would write original songs that we created using pop songs and jazz music.”

The “break-out” play for PLHS Theater came in 2003 with their production of “Sticky Fingers: A Tale of Saks, Lies and Videotape,” an all-singing, all-dancing production by PLHS students. The play spoofed the Winona Ryder shoplifting case, satirizing Hollywood, Valley Girls, the media, psychics, TV lawyers, Richard Simmons, the star-crazed public, etc.

“Winona liked it so much she included the last five minutes of our show in her biography,” noted Zeiger, who played the piano in the show and also did a turn as radio and TV host Larry King. “The program won the award from the California Department of Education in the 1990s and was recognized by CNN, the LA Times, New York Times, and Old Globe Theater, as well as by the San Diego City Council. An article even appeared in People Magazine.”

PLHS’ Theater was showing its age, so Zeiger directed students to call alumni soliciting donations. “We raised about $150,000 and we replaced all the seating in the theater and bought a baby grand piano,” he said.

What does Zeiger recall most fondly about starting PLHS Theater?

“I had so many students tell me they hated school, and weren’t doing well, but when they took my classes in music, theater, and film – they got As,” he said.

Zeiger brought in Hollywood actors like Janet Leigh of “Psycho” movie fame and Marion Ross of TV sitcom “Happy Days” to inspire his students. And it worked.

“A lot of my students have become successful filmmakers and actors in New York and have won Oscars,” said Zeiger concluding, “It was such a pleasure to see their success. I’m thrilled that they are developing more theater at Point Loma High. It’s so important to the lives of students and the community.”