Our Mission

I want to tell you a story about three of our alumni:

Student 1 performed only his junior and senior years, winning best actor in three of the five competitions he participated in and was a major reason why we won one-act in 2009. Before that, RCHS won region one-act in 1982. He is now a lawyer and a First Lieutenant in the Marines who looks back at his time in the RCHS Performing Arts Program as a learning process where he gained language and leadership skills.

Student 2 was a gifted singer and actor who won more performing arts awards than any other at this school ever, eclipsing student 1 by winning region literary twice. He is now a missionary who, like Student 1, believes his work ethic and teamwork skills were improved here at the program.

Student 3 transferred to the school his junior year, earning a lead role only in his last play before graduating. That student will soon take a technical theatre position at a major university, making about $50,000. He’s 24 years old.

If students decide to choose theatre as a career, that’s gravy, but we are designing the RCHS Performing Arts Program with non-majors in mind. My senior English teacher, when someone would ask if something was going to be on the test, would often say, “No, this will only improve the quality of your living.” We still want to be good at what we do, but we want our skills to transfer into all areas of our lives so that the skills not only draw from our lives but also enrich our lives.

Performing arts, at its heart, is storytelling. Why do we tell stories?

a. We want to be accepted for who we are.

b. We want to inspire others.

Acting is psychology in motion. We—performers, audience members, friends, family—will face our fears, celebrate our individualities, bond as a family, and become the most interesting group of mischief-makers in the world.

a. Comedy helps us uncover our fears.

b. Drama helps us realize how important they are to overcome.

c. Music helps us celebrate the struggle.

If you would, please look for these elements when you watch our performances. A performing artist doesn't "become a character"; a performing artist develops character, both in the art and in the performer. As performers, as technicians, as parents, as friends, and as audience members, this program will simply improve the quality of our living.