A Rock ‘N’ Roll Original Returns To SPHS To Take Directorial Helm

Severna Park High School’s (SPHS) 38th annual “Rock ‘N’ Roll Revival” (RNR) will have a new look thanks to an old friend this spring. Severna Park resident Pete Garvey, one of the original organizers of the first production in 1989, returns behind the Falcon curtain as director of the legendary production.

Garvey will settle into the Falcons’ drama program by directing “Legally Blonde,” running November 6-14, before turning his attention to RNR.

Garvey graduated from SPHS in 1987 and was studying theater at St. Mary’s College of Maryland when in 1989 he received a call from SPHS drama director Tom McKown, who wanted to talk about a “little” idea he was mulling.

“Tom called me and said, ‘I’ve got an idea of doing some sort of rock and roll review, lots of songs, great choreography, etc. Do you want to be involved?’” Garvey recalled. “Unequivocally, I said yes!”

In the 1987 Falcon yearbook, Garvey noted in his senior superlatives that he wanted to follow in the footsteps of his hero, McKown. He was getting his wish.

McKown and Garvey recruited a handful of stage professionals and a choreographer and got SPHS faculty involved. Garvey built the 72-foot guitar stage, on top of his official role as tech director. Auditions drew 105 students, and every one of them landed a role.

“It was really exciting, very grassroots,” Garvey said. “We had no idea what we were creating; we were just having fun. We went from 120 people the first night, to packed overnight, and we thought ‘What is happening?’”

At the last moment, a student dropped out. Garvey stepped in and sang “Rock Around The Clock,” the opening number for the very first RNR.

He returned to college and the rest was thought to be history, with the Rock ‘N’ Roll tradition on its way to becoming the community juggernaut it is today.

Garvey went on to excel in careers in information technology (IT) and theater, while maintaining a pilot’s license. Today he is the IT support specialist for St. John the Evangelist school and parish. He’s held IT positions with several organizations including the United States Naval Academy, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute and Maryland Aviation Administration, and has launched his own consulting firm.

His extensive acting resume includes off-Broadway stage productions, roles in several Annapolis-area companies, television and film performances, voiceovers and commercials. When he’s not acting, he’s behind the scenes, having served in technical direction, design and stage management, writing and education.

After witnessing the immense acting talent of Severna Park Middle School (SPMS) students when his own children were students, Garvey and his wife Julie poured their combined experience into supporting the SPMS drama department before launching Stage & Screen Studios in 2017.

“We created Stage & Screen Studios because we were compelled to provide as professional of an environment as we could for these young actors,” Garvey said. “Our focus is on teaching kids what is acting, what it’s all about, and what are the techniques used to become a great actor.”

Garvey expects to see former Stage & Screen Studios students audition for “Rock ‘N’ Roll Revival.”

So, what is someone with 35 years of experience in IT and theater going to bring to “Rock ‘N’ Roll Revival XXXVIII”? The answer is simple.

“I am all about simplicity. I know that the core foundations of RNR are solid, they have to be for the show to become a Severna Park expectation,” Garvey explained. “It’s not about me or my resume. It’s about the kids. It’s about their moment on stage, and their moment to shine. My job is to work with the many exceptional Falcon Drama Booster volunteers to collectively make that happen for the kids.”

As a Severna Park parent, Garvey has seen firsthand the phenomenal talent of students, whether they are acting, singing, dancing or playing in the band. His goal as the new director is to highlight and promote the talent of every student in a production.

“I want the kids to own it and have fun. I want them to feel energized after each performance and feel that they achieved something special,” Garvey said. “They will make audiences want to come back again and again.”

Garvey remembers the old SPHS auditorium and recalled how the inaugural RNR had one wireless microphone rented from RadioShack, calling the sound raw.

“When we planned Rock ‘N’ Roll back in 1990, it was never imagined that we would be starting something that would still be going on in 2027,” Garvey said. “Looking back at what I wrote in my yearbook in 1987, ‘to follow in the footsteps of Tom McKown,’ I may have inadvertently predicted that.”

After directing “Legally Blonde” this fall and taking a short Thanksgiving break, his full attention will turn to RNR, which entertains audiences in early spring.