HHS Graduation 1962 and from Ithaca College 1966
Hello All,
It's been too many years since I set foot in Hicksville let alone the High School itself. I graduated in 1962 and entered Ithaca College that Fall.
My website, www.salmistretta.com, although not as current as I wish, tells the tale of my career in Theatre. This is pertinent because a marvelous teacher named Kay "Mama" Fletcher at HHS saw my potential as an artist and pointed me and guided me into what was, unbeknownst to me at the time, a pretty terrific future.
I have done many Broadway shows and National tours and am immortalized as Pirelli (I modestly add) in the DVD of SWEENEY TODD with Angela Lansbury! 
I have had an incredible time in the theatre arts and in music as well. I was elated to get the part as Magaldi in the 1st National Tour of Evita in 1980.
Original Cast:
• Eva Perón: Loni Ackerman
• Ch�: Scott Holmes
• Juan Perón: Jon Cypher
• Magaldi: Sal Mistretta
• Perón's Mistress: Kelli James
• People of Argentina: Craig Taro Gold
Equally thrilling was performing as Max in Sunset Boulevard at the Ogunquit Playhouse in 2010 opposite Stefanie Powers who played a superb Norma Desmond.
Take a peek at the Website. I semi retired to Palm Springs in 2009/2010 while maintaining our NY apartment. My partner Jeff and I recently in January gave up the apartment and committed to being here full time. It was the best option and best decision.
Since then I have been performing in concerts and benefits as well as doing actual productions.
I even had the fun and joy of playing Wilbur in HAIRSPRAY opposite the indomitable Bruce Vilanch who played the lead in the Broadway production. I tell all this not to toot my own horn but to connect Art to Education. On the merits of my performance in a FOLLIES (Sondheim) concert at the Galen PAC here, I was asked to do a Master Class with students. As a result of all that and a few other performing outings I was asked to be a part of the teaching staff for a very amazing theatre program called MUSICAL THEATRE UNIVERSITY at the Galen Theatre. A program designed for aspiring High School students interested in Theatre Arts. David W Green designed and initiated an after School theatre program from 3:30 to 6PM. Students have to audition and the program is FREE.
The great thing about it is that ALL the staff are Professionals in their fields; Dancing, Acting, Singing.
And all of us have major Broadway and Touring credits. After the first year, and on the merits of the fine work done by all, including the students, the Palm Springs Unified School District or PSUSD decided to fund not only the program but the Productions as well. I was thrilled to hear that a School District was supporting the arts. We did, a few months ago, a production of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS and I got to play Mr Mushnik, and we all got to play on the actual Broadway set! That is the caliber of the set up here.
It is a terrific thing to be instructing and sharing my knowledge of professional theatre with these talented and dedicated youngsters. I never thought I would ever be in this configuration and am so glad I was asked. I emphasize to them that in my High School in Hicksville I was put into the Art and have loved it ever since. So when I teach I make sure they know that I sat years ago where they are sitting, in a terrific school on Long Island in NY.
Luckily Palm Springs is a mecca for entertainers. There are many concerts and events that involve performers from Broadway and LA and all over. So I actually get to see more of my NY colleagues and friends form the theatre here than I did in New York. And the students performed this year in a very prestigious charity concert called ONE NIGHT ONLY. It is a yearly event which offers major name stars and Broadway performers and benefits the Jewish Family Service charity. It is held in the McCallum Theare in Palm Desert. It is a full size Broadway house holding 1100 seats. It is always SOLD OUT!
HHS did three productions a year at the time I was there as well as a Summer theatre program. I involved myself in all of it thanks to the prompting of Kay Fletcher and her foresight. She taught Speech and Drama and came to me to replace someone who fell ill in the Fall Variety Show. She had me in class and knew I sang in Mr Goleke's Chorus. I accepted her invitation with reservation. It all worked out even to the fact that she sponsored my entrance into Ithaca College where she had studied theatre. It was a Perfect Fit!
I hope they now have a Kay Fletcher-like teacher in the Arts department at HHS. Thanks for listening and I hope the Arts are thriving in my ole home town.
PS: As a side perk I have worked with local theatre companies and have also taken photographs for their shows and events. That is such fun.His home was in New York whe he enjoyed working with the team on Law & Order and with Spike Lee on a New York Knicks commercial. Rob Marshall and Sam Mendes' innovative production of Cabaret took him all over the country twice and then to Tokyo and Broadway. He was born in Brooklyn, New York and has spent most of his professional life between there and Los Angeles. He holds a BFA in Theatre and a BS in Radio/ TV from Ithaca College. His Lecture/Master Class series was lauded throughout the country and he enjoys coaching acting in New York. His journey in the Arts has placed him onstage opposite such major names as Lauren Bacall, Madeline Kahn, Kevin Kline, Mandy Patinkin. Patti LuPone, Bob Gunton, Glenn Close, George Hearn, Dyan Cannon, Audra Macdonald, Mary Louise Parker, Mareitte Hartley, Faith Prince, the incomparable Angela Lansbury and others.
Among the illustrious directors he has worked with...Chris Columbus, Edward Zwick, Dick Wolf, Spike Lee, Terry Hughes, Trevor Nunn, Rob Marshall, Sam Mendes and Hal Prince.
A shot of Glenn Close 
and me opening night at Sunset Blvd party
Me & Audra MacDonald after her
concert at McCallum 
And my pal Christine
after her Annenberg 
Ebersole
Theatre Concert
A photo of Hal Linden and me at the CVRep Theatre's Luminary Luncheon event.
Hal was the Luminary!
Me and Shirley Jones
Me as Gus/Growltiger in the
First National Tour of CATS
(my first Helen Hayes nomination)
I actually was honored to win the Helen Hayes award in 1998 for THE FIX.
Photos of Sal over the years...
