Peter K. Connolly says he went to high school with actor Alan Alda 57 years ago.

As he says, they “shared the stage in several theatrical presentations at Stepinac High School in White Plains N.Y.”

Connolly (who is the author of “When Shadows Fell at Notre Dame”) went to hear Alda talk about his book this week. Alda’s talk Monday, Sept. 22, was the early kickoff of the Big Read Festival, which will be Oct. 11 near Clayton High School.

Connolly, who lived for years in Creve Coeur, now lives in Lyon in Franklin County. For info on his book: www.NDShadows.com

Thanks so much for the report.

By Peter Connolly:

A great event and Graham Chapel on the Wash U campus was overflowing. They estimate about 750 attended. Alda was witty and charming and all were sorry when 8 pm rolled around. Lots of folks took their books into Danforth building for signing afterwards.

I chatted with him after and gave him an old picture of the two of us after a High School play (Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme” by Moliere.) That was February 1951. (See attached pic. He’s in the striped robe.) He laughed and said “Imagine. The two of us wound up as writers.” I told him he made a lot more money out of it than I did.

He transferred to our high school in NY in 1949 from CA. His Dad (Robert Alda) was Sky Masterson in the Broadway play Guys and Dolls and had all our HS cast up to his house for a party after opening night of our play.

Al was as funny in HS as he is today. A nice guy and a good family man. Married to Arlene for 51 years now. (She’s an author of about 15 childrens’ books and a professional photographer.)

He’ll be back in town Oct. 7 to kick off the Maryville Speaker Series.