SAN CLEMENTE : Reunion to Honor Ex-Drama Teacher

Former San Clemente High School students and faculty from 1965 through 1980 will unite for the first time Saturday to honor drama teacher Marion Sykes, a local theater legend.

Known affectionately to her students as “Mama Sykes,” the veteran drama teacher produced and directed 60 high school plays and became well-known throughout Orange County by touring her award-winning productions.

Sykes, 82, founded the drama department at the high school and worked with more than 3,000 students during her teaching career.

At the reunion, she will meet with students and colleagues, many of whom she has not seen in 30 years.

The event will also feature a step back in time via a three-dimensional, head-mounted video display, thanks to an alumnus who works with the expanding technology, according to reunion planners.

For the reunion, the alumnus converted old school films he shot into a “virtual reality” format, said Mark Manning, a former student organizing the tribute.

Friends, colleagues and former drama students from the school are asked to call the Thespian Alumni Committee at (213) 933-3662 for information on the reunion.