Rebecca Blum

HGHS 2003

Yale BA English 2007 

 

Jonathan Bittner

HGHS 2003

Yale BS Physics 2007

 

Boy meets girl in 7th grade “Bell Chords”. Girl is admitted to Theater Rep at Greeley.  Boy says he’s jealous . Girl doesn’t truly notice boy until he plays the lead in the HGHS Senior Musical, How to Succeed in Business (Without Really Trying). He credits his role in that show with getting her to notice him. The rest is history for Rebecca Blum and Jon Bittner, 2003 Greeley grads for whom Greeley Theatre was the catalyst for their romance and marriage.

 

Rebecca and Jon both relished theatre at Greeley, participating in memorable productions such as The Secret Garden.  Rebecca said, “I LOVED playing Lily.  It’s a very emotional show with beautiful music, and the cast was full of amazing, positive people.  The entire experience was life-changing”. Jon cites playing the severed head inPippin as one of his Greeley Theatre highlights, in addition to the senior musical role which was his connection to his life-long leading lady.

 

The Greeley Theatre program was “life-changing” for Jon.  He says it made him comfortable in his own skin, and gave him confidence, confidence with speaking in public and confidence with his “strong and unusual personality”. Rebecca echoed Jon’s sentiments, saying  “I learned to love performing and searching for a connection with the audience. It did wonders for my confidence in front of groups”. Except perhaps  in Our Town.  Rebecca savored the role of Emily,  but STILL regrets leaving out lines in the “Goodbye” monologue. While Jon took the Musical Theatre elective at Greeley, Rebecca took several academic courses in the Theatre department including Acting and Stagecraft, as well as Theatre Rep.

 

While at Yale and after college, the couple sang in numerous choruses, and now sing with a small a cappella group in Providence, RI, where they currently reside.

Five years out of Yale University, Jon says he’s still trying to succeed in business without really trying. After trying strategic consulting and Astrophysics, he’s now working on a start-up he co-founded.  Rebecca is currently working at Hasbro, but is still searching for her long-term career.