playbill vip

Ray Palasz

Ray has served in educational theatre for 19 years.  He rechartered the International Thespian Society at Lake Central High School in 2023, and at Munster High School in 2016. 

If he has done his math correctly (which woudl be a miracle!), he has nearly 50 directing credits to his name.  Highlights include Tartuffe, It's a Wonderful Life, Don Quixote, Drum Taps, Tarzan, Hairspray, Peter and the Starcatcher, and Harvey. Honors include Refugee Women (2nd at Regionals, 7th at State), Fire Exit (1st at Regionals, 8th at State), and Wit (1st at Regionals, 2nd at State).  He directed Drum Taps in 2013, earning it a performance slot at the 2014 International Thespian Festival in Lincoln, Nebraska, and has coached over 100 students in the International Thespian Excellence Awards program.

Peggy Matanic

Peggy Matanic got her start in theatre when she played Toto in The Wizard of Oz in elementary school.  She has been in educational theatre since 1991, having started the theatre programs at Roosevelt Junior High School in Dolton and Taft Junior High School in Crown Point.  She earned her MA in Theatre Production from Roosevelt University in 1999.