The classic comedy "Tartuffe" will return to the stage for a 40th anniversary commemoration by veteran theater alumni this weekend at Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston.

A mixed group of alums, retirees, current students and community members will perform the play, which was directed at the college 40 years ago by John L. Nydegger.

Nydegger, 83, will be in the audience Sunday, at a special show celebrating alumni. He admits to being bitter about what happened to theater at LCSC after his retirement in 1987.

He started teaching speech and theater at the college in 1963, when it was still a two-year Normal School. When it was upgraded to a four-year college he helped establish a theater major.

"We had one of the strongest departments in the Northwest," Nydegger says.

In the years after his retirement, the theater program shrank. Budgets got tight and people retiring weren't replaced, Nydegger says. In 2003, the theater program was cut.

"To a major, to a minor, to nothing; it tore the guts out of me. I gave the best of my productive years, heart and soul, to that program. It was my life and when the president of the college refused to save the program, I was devastated," Nydegger says.

Theater is now back at the college on a limited basis. Students can minor in the subject. The program is run by assistant professor Nancy Lee-Painter.

Nydegger participates in local theater to a limited extent. He's involved in the Lewiston Civic Theatre's Seniors on Stage program and takes in as many shows as he can. He says he's most proud of his students and what they've accomplished since they left college.

"None of these people ever went on to make a big splash on Broadway. ... That doesn't mean they're failures. (Theater has) obviously affected their lives in very intimate and personal ways you might not think of."

"Tartuffe" is directed by Tom Hennigan of Lewiston, who wanted to bring the play back to honor alums and emeritus faculty. He saw the production of "Tartuffe" 40 years ago.

The show will be staged at 7:30 tonight, Saturday, next Friday and April 17 and 2 p.m. Sunday and April 18 at the Silverthorne Theatre in the Administration Building. All LCSC alums are invited to see this Sunday's show free of charge. John A.K. Barker, who designed the sets of the 1969 production, also will be in attendance. The alumni performance is dedicated to theater alum Steve Hubbard who died in January.

Performers in the show include Randy and Adrienne Willems of Lewiston, retired LCSC professor Shirlee Hennigan of Lewiston, Stephanie Hennigan Snodgrass of Bellingham, Wash., Joe Simpson of Lewiston, LCSC nursing professor Brian Fonnesbeck of Lewiston and others.

Bauer may be contacted at jkbauer@lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2263.

If you go

What: "Tartuffe"

When: 7:30 tonight, Saturday and April 16-17; 2 p.m. Sunday and April 18

Where: Silverthorne Theatre, Lewis-Clark State College, Lewiston

Admission: $3 regular price; free to LCSC students and active military and reservists with ID card

Of note: Sunday's performance will celebrate alumni; all LCSC alums are admitted free