A memorial service for much-admired Staples art teacher Joe Ziegahn will be held this Saturday, January 16, at 2 p.m. The site is St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in New Canaan.
In addition, Staples Players will honor Joe — their beloved technical director — at the March 20 performance of “Little Shop of Horrors.” In a tribute to his fondness for reusing scenery, Players will use a large “recycled” set.
Following the performance, cast and audience members are invited to the backstage workroom — Joe’s home for many years — to hang a sign memorializing him, and exchange “Joe stories.”
Players director David Roth said: “Those of us who attended Players’ 50th anniversary celebration last May saw Joe emotionally moved. Many, many people — Jim Wheeler, Judy Luster, Jon Blackburn, Will Adams and others — honored him by their words, and he was given a standing ovation by the entire audience.”
(To purchase a DVD of the evening, email david_roth@westport.k12.ct.us)
In June, Players will introduce the Joe Ziegahn Award for Craftsmanship, Artistry and Ingenuity in Technical Theater. Each year the troupe will honor a graduating senior who embodies the traits that made Joe such a genius.
I knew Joe through Junior High and High School. We both went to Wesley Methodist Church together where we went to MYF. We also went to MYF church camp and always had a great time together. I just recently found out that Joe had passed away. It makes me sad to not have known about it. Joe and I had always kept in touch but there was always a lot of time that went by bteween metings and conversations. Joe was always extreemly talented and a good friend. Iprobably am a part of the stories that he told of his days growing up in Sioux Falls. I will miss Joe a great deal as I’m sure you all do.
Skip Engle