After Nearly 30 Years Teaching at AHS, Drama Teacher to Retire

After 35 years teaching — 29 at Alameda High School — drama teacher Fred Chacon will step down from the AHS stage at the end of the school year to enjoy his retirement.

"I will miss the students, and the their accomplishments in plays and musicals," Chacon said.

His most recent production of All Shook Up has been nominated for nine awards in the 2013 Stage Top Honors. The awards program encourages and rewards exceptional accomplishments in the production of high school musical theatre across the Bay Area, according to its website.

"There have been many memorable moments over the years," Chacon said. "I tried to make all the plays a special event for the kids, musicals as well as non-musicals."

Some of his favorite musical productions in the AHS Kofman Auditorium range from Grease, Fiddler of the Roof, Peter Pan, The Music Man, Hello Dolly to Urinetown and this year's All Shook Up.

Over the course of his professional career, Chacon estimates that he directed around 100 plays and musicals at AHS, 25 musicals with Alameda Civic Light Opera — which he founded in 1997 — and about 40 shows with Altarena Playhouse.

After retiring, he plans to continue to direct at Altarena Playhouse where he is an Artistic Director. He also plans to travel with his wife and enjoy "not having to go to work everyday."

"All the good things that have ever happened to me in my life has been associated with either acting, directing or teaching theatre," Chacon said. "It was in theatre that I met my wife of 30 years and it was theatre that my son studied in college and was awarded his MFA in drama."