Notre Dame alumni will make music to benefit trooper

Musical stars from Notre Dame Regional High School -- including one 1985 graduate who now performs on Broadway -- will get together Nov. 20 at the high school to sing for one of their own.

The concert is a fund raiser for alumnus Sgt. Brad Lively, the Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper who was severely injured June 14 when he was struck by a car on Interstate 55. Lively is a 1985 graduate of Notre Dame.

While most of Lively's medical costs were taken care of through the patrol's insurance, not everything was covered, said Tony Buehrle, development director at Notre Dame. Buehrle and drama director Cindy King have organized the concert.

The donations will help the family with the medical costs not covered by insurance and other expenses. Buehrle said that Lively's mother, who is a teacher at Notre Dame, has taken a year's leave of absence to help care for her son.

Tenor Roger Seyer will fly in from New York City to sing several selections. One possible song, he said, is "Something's Coming" from "West Side Story," the show he appeared in on stage at Notre Dame, as well as "This is the Moment" from "Jekyll and Hyde." Seyer has appeared on Broadway in "Miss Saigon" and "Les Miserables" and has sung in the national tours of "Les Miserables" and "Mamma Mia." He is currently between shows.

Seyer said he hasn't been in touch with Lively recently but recalls when they "horsed around together" in high school.

"We hung around a lot, we were on the basketball team together and had several classes together as well," he said. "He was a fun guy to be around. In high school, Brad Lively being a highway patrolman would have been the last thing I would have thought. I guess it goes to show, in high school you really don't know what you want to do."

Mississippi River Radio K103 personality Mike Renick, class of 1996, will also sing. He has just released his first CD of original songs, "Diamond Eyes." Buehrle said that the proceeds from the sale of the CD that night will also go to Lively.

Other performers that evening will be Jackson teachers and Notre Dame alumni Kara Cracraft and Alan Bruns. A group known as Noziroh, with Jim Keusenkothen, Daryl LeGrand and Bret Yount, will perform as will Notre Dame teacher Adam Cox. Recent graduates Casie Janet and Blake Fisher will also perform.

Buehrle said Lively and his family plan to attend. Some of his fellow troopers will also be there and will provide traffic control.

Buehrle said Lively is still getting physical therapy and now is able to get around in a walker as well as in a wheelchair. One of his legs is healing well, and the other is recovering a little more slowly, he said.

Doors open at 7 p.m., and the concert will begin at 7:30. Admission is a minimum $5 donation at the door. Advance tickets will not be sold. The proceeds from the sale of concessions also will go toward assisting Lively in his recovery.

lredeffer@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 160