By Gillian McGoldrick
Entertainment Editor

“The fault dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings.” This quote from Julius Caesar would be read one hundred times over at the start of each Summer Stock session, different words being emphasized by different actors. As head of this acting group, the phenomenal man who not only created the Summer Stock tradition and program, but has helped steer many kids from our area to reach for their dreams, died last Wednesday after an unceasing battle with Parkinson’s disease for many year.

Theodore “Ted” Kloos, whom Neshaminy’s auditorium is named after for all of his contributions, has always been a huge believer and supporter in the musical theater arts at Neshaminy. He became the choral director at Neshaminy in 1963, and was succeeded by his student Roy Nelson. According to Christian Menno of the Courier Times, Nelson said “When Ted came to Neshaminy in 1963, he really put the music program on the map. Before that, we had an adequate program, but it really exploded when he came along as far as the choir and performing the Broadway shows.” His teachings did not end just prior to his retirement in 1993, he insisted on passing on his wisdom to students up until 2008. The almost 50 yearlong running program of summer stock was not only started by him, but he taught and directed for many years. In his later years as his disease progressed, it became very hard for him to speak very loud. But when Kloos spoke, all people around him stopped to listen to his wisdom of the theater and arts.

There are many phrases that students will remember from Kloos, including the phrase by Caesar above. Neshaminy class of ’12 student, Hayley Buxton, has worked with Kloos since her first production of “The Music Man” in 2004. “No matter how shy, quiet, or nervous we were, he would encourage us to not hold back and be as ridiculous as we pleased. To this day, if you ask anyone who worked with Mr. Kloos to recite this phrase, they will be able to do it word for word,” Buxton said. “It is amazing that one single phrase helped so many young actors find a confidence in themselves that they did not believe they had.”

His legend at Neshaminy can be witnessed not only as the name of Neshaminy’s auditorium, but also in the hearts of all of his past students. His disease did rob him of teaching, but it did not stop him from seeing the shows that his legacy helped begin. Sophomore Angela Sanson did not feel deprived from his wisdom as she said, “I only got to do about two shows or so with Mr. Kloos, but from what I do remember, he always had a story to tell. Even as sick as he was, you could see his smile and passion for whatever he was to tell us.”

The Neshaminy choir hosted a successful show in remembrance of Kloos’ legacy. The feedback from the performance was nothing but praise, proving that those of whom succeeded Kloos, upheld the Kloos standard. “We have quite a family history here and the roots that Ted has started run deep through both the choir and the Neshaminy community,” choir director Kristin Nichols said.

Do not be mistaken, Kloos’ endowment to the arts at Neshaminy did not stop in the C Wing of Neshaminy high school: people from all around the community have been touched by this man’s intelligence. “The entire NHS community is saddened at Mr. Kloos’ passing. He is among an elite group of professionals who have left an enduring impression on multiple generations of students and staff at NHS,” principal Rob McGee said, according to Menno. “Our community has lost a true master.”

The one thing every single one of Kloos’ students will never forget, is his kick-off to each performance. The phrase “It’s Magic Time,” is a tradition, with many students fortunate enough to hear it straight from the man (Kloos) himself. “Before each opening night, Mr. Kloos would come into the green room and all of us would immediately become silent (which is saying a lot for a bunch of music kids). He would give us an inspirational speech ending in the same three words, ‘It’s Magic Time,’” Buxton said. “Through this phrase, he explained to us we were capable of creating an entirely different world up on stage each night, as long as we believed it was true. I know I will hold that close to my heart for the rest of my life.”