Greene Room has dedication

Suzie Harrison

More than 120 friends, family and community members gathered Saturday

for the renaming dedication of the Laguna Beach High School’s Black

Box Theater to the Greene Room in honor of Corinne Greene, a

dedicated supporter of the high school drama department. Greene died

last year, after losing her long battle with cancer.

A drama festival followed the ribbon cutting ceremony, with her

daughter Char, 24 serving as one of the directors.

Char was the original reason Greene got involved with the drama

department. Both Char and her brother, Nathan, 19, went through the

drama program.

“The dedication came as kind of a surprise, nothing my mom ever

expected,” Char said. “This is an emotional moment, I’m really

moved.”

Mark Dressler, who is the high school and middle school drama

teacher and department director, came up with the idea to rename the

theater.

“I had quite a relationship with the family; Char was one of my

first drama students beginning in sixth grade through her senior

year,” Dressler said. “The family was strongly involved. Corinne

would be backstage to help. She loved being backstage.”

Corinne helped with costuming, hair and makeup. Anything needed,

she would do, Dressler said.

“She would loan us things; she donated practically all the

furniture in her home for a production,” Dressler said. “She didn’t

think twice, she didn’t worry.”

Dressler said she set a great example for the students, all of

whom knew she had cancer.

“All the kids loved her; she had a special, gentle personality and

a huge effect on the program,” Dressler said. “She so bravely faced

this horrible disease.”

Char said her mom loved any environment in which young people were

able to create and express freely.

“This is exactly what she would have wanted to see,” Nathan said.

“I feel honored for her to be commemorated this way, so pleased so

many are here to show support.”

Char said it has been a moving experience for her family. Her

father, Gary, is also involved in local theater and was given many

hugs at the dedication.

“It’s been an amazing experience, evidence of the amazing

community we live in,” Char said. “The way the community has come

together and support my family has been an amazing blessing.”