Noted Broadway, movie director, producer, mentors high school thespians

Celebrated Broadway, television and movie musical director and producer Michael Rafter has been working with the performing arts department and student thespians at Fort Pierce Central High School, sharing his experience, insight and strategies with the students necessary to produce a successful show, from selecting the script to closing the final curtain.  He will continue to collaborate with FPCHS in future drama productions. Rafter has worked extensively on Broadway supervising the music for Jersey Boys, The Sound of Music, The King & I, and Thoroughly Modern Millie.  He conducted Gypsy both on Broadway starring Tyne Daly, as well as the TV movie starring Bette Midler, and won an Emmy award for his music direction of the movie.  Most recently, he worked with Hugh Grant in the movies Music And Lyrics (piano/vocal coach, produced vocals) and Did You Hear About The Morgans? (produced vocal and instrumental tracks) as well as on the movie re-make of Arthur, starring Russell Brand, Jennifer Garner and Helen Mirren. He wrote additional scoring and arrangements for the film. Rafter is the uncle of FPCHS assistant principal Kristi Pacocha. Pictured, front row from let, Bryan Brown, Horace Lloyd, Tyrone Sugrim, Patrick Edmondson, Xavier Quinteros, and Bryson Mitchell. Back row, from left, Omar Guerrero, Romana Saintil, Michael Rafter, Ashley Fielder, Jacquicia Brown, Alexis Orshowitz, and Bria Wheeler.