Page 17 - Spring 2024

Spotlight on Alumni, continued...
Lewis Cleale ’85, has
been an actor and
singer for 34 years,
working primarily in
musical comedies
on Broadway, off-
Broadway and
touring productions.
He has also done
a great deal of
concert work from
intimate settings to performing with the country’s best
orchestras.
He recalls a particular moment that was pivotal for
him. “There was a day we were rehearsing our solos
for a spring high school concert. I was singing Lionel
Ritchie’s Hello. As I was rehearsing on stage, a couple of
people stopped what they were doing to listen to me
as if I were doing something unusual. One of them was
Mr. McGillicuddy. He took the time to tell me that it was
good. That made an impression.
In my professional life, I have really had to, at various
times, do two things: sing pretty or be funny, absurd
and get laughs. Senior year, Bob Bahr cast me as the
Major General in Pirates. I wanted to be Fredric, but I
made do. I studied George Rose who was on Broadway
doing it and I mimicked as much of what he did as I
could. It worked and I got laughs, which it turns out
are addictive. I have spent many a year in either the
original production of Spamalot on Broadway working
in wigs and voices for the Monty Pythons or working
in similar capacity for the South Park boys at Book of
Mormon being absurd and getting laughs. I trace that
directly to my experience being a clown at HHS.”
Cleale was quick to point out that former HHS choral
director Bob Bahr brought a new level of performance
professionalism to Houlton and was a major influence
in his career choice.
www.houltonalumni.com
“I think Bob Bahr, who for some reason at age 30 left
New York City and decided to take a job teaching
in Houlton, had the biggest impact. He brought
knowledge of the outside world of show business.
He knew what was current on Broadway. He saw
possibilities with us uncultured kids. He brought in
outside folks to work with us and teach us dance,
for instance. He upped the game on the sets for the
musicals. Production values became better. Although
at that point I had absolutely no idea that I would
pursue acting and singing as a career, he brought a
level of striving for excellence and musical excellence
to us that was important. I was a well-trained musician
when I left for college. When I started at University
of Miami Fall ‘85, I was a finance major. Later, when I
added a music major, I realized how well-trained I was
and how, though I grew up in rural Northern Maine, I
was prepared and ready to hit the ground running. I
could compete with others no problem.” Cleale went
on to say that he was incredibly grateful for the musical
education he received while in Houlton. Starting with
Larry Hutchinson and Paul LaPointe and then Dave
McGill and Mr. Bahr. “Eccentric, accomplished, fun and
smart. How lucky were we all?”
Without question, one of the most influential
educators at Houlton High School was home-grown
musician, David McGillicuddy ’62. After graduation,
he attended Fryeburg Academy before heading to
St. Ambrose University on Davenport, Iowa where he
received his bachelor’s degree in music education.
He received a master’s in music education from the
University of Maine in 1976.“My lifetime interest in all
types of music seemed to beckon me to remain in that
field.
I think the best musical memories in high school were
the weekly band practices, choral practices, playing in
parades, basketball games, and All Aroostook and All
State events. It seemed that if there were any activities
that included music, I was involved with it.”
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