By Sue Kiesewetter
Enquirer contributor

MONROE - Forty-six years ago, Taylor "Sonny"" Lacher stood on the Lemon-Monroe High School stage dressed as a scarecrow and belted out "If I Only Had A Brain."

It was the school's first Broadway musical ever performed by students, replacing the Follies variety show written by then-choir director Paul Bell.

Friday, the 62-year-old semi-retired actor sat on a stool in a red sweatshirt and black jeans glancing at the words as he sang the song again, this time with freshman Paul Jutte, who is playing the same role Lacher did in this weekend's performance of The Wizard of Oz.

It will be the last musical staged in the theater, because the school will be mothballed when classes end in June. A new school is set to open next school year.

"It's kind of sad for me. This brings back memories,'' said Lacher, who has appeared in 250 television shows, several commercials and 30 movies, including Mr. Majestic, Charlie's Angels, Police Story and Dukes of Hazzard.

"I could hardly refuse to come here. It's the last musical. I'm really excited about seeing this play with these young people,'' the former Blue Ball resident said.

The only advice he offered to Jutte came from his performance as the scarecrow.

"I thought of myself as being attached to a string,'' Lacher said. "It made me loose.''

Jutte said he wasn't intimidated by the 30-year veteran actor or particularly nervous. But he wrote Lacher's suggestion on his hand so he wouldn't forget it.

"I just hope he enjoys the show,'' said Jutte, a freshman.

But sophomore Brandi Hubbard, playing the wicked witch of the west, thought differently.

"The fact he's an actor - it just gives you the butterflies in your tummy,'' Hubbard said just before Lacher signed the back of her Wizard of Oz T-shirt. "I think it's kind of nifty he's here."

If You Go

The final two performances of the Wizard of Oz are set for 7 p.m., today, and 2:30 p.m., Sunday, at Lemon-Monroe Junior/Senior High School, 101 W. Elm St.

Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for students and senior citizens. Children 5 and younger are free.