What do Wayne Brady, Joey Fatone and Wesley Snipes have in common? They all had the same teacher for theatre class in Central Florida. Karen Rugerio served as the Theatre Director for Dr. Phillips High School for 27 years. During those decades, Rugerio brought up a variety of future stars on screen and stage.

She started at Jones High School when she first came to Orlando. Wesley Snipes was in her first class, "I still talk to him on the telephone all the time." Snipes even flew Rugerio and her partner out when the movie Blade opened in theaters. Snipes also flew her out when he made it on Hollywood's Walk of Fame.

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