FUTURE: Riverside Poly theater members discuss their experiences in the performing arts, plans to pursue careers in this field and the benefits of following their dreams.
By Georgio Elnar, Staff Writer
For most high school students, involvement in particular school activities comes to a halt on their graduation day. Any history of their participation in school clubs and programs is left on a page of their yearbooks, only to be flipped and forgotten. However, for a select few, their hobbies in high school lead them into the next chapter of their lives. That happens to be the case for a few members of Poly High School’s theater program.
So far this school year, two of Poly’s theater members have been accepted to colleges where they intend to continue to exercise their talents in the performing arts. Hannahbelle Swartzel-Rausch (12) has been coasting through her final semester in high school, since she has already been accepted to her first-choice college, American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA). Swartzel-Rausch may be relaxed now, but this accomplishment did not come without hard work. “I’ve been a part—no matter how small or on what side of the curtain—of every show here since my freshmen year,” Swartzel-Rauch said. That’s a total of 11 shows at Poly and does not include class projects, festivals, independent monologues, community theater programs and showcases that Swartzel-Rausch has been a part of as well. “Before the start of high school, I realized I had very little musical talent,” the actress admitted. However, after years of practice, not only has she mastered this talent, but she also plans to continue to pursue her passions at one of the more prestigious schools for performing arts in Los Angeles. Swartzel-Rausch’s sample class agenda for her upcoming year at AMDA consists of a variety of artistic outlets, such as creative writing, stage combat, Greek theatre and emoting basics, all of which are skills she hopes to improve on in order to land her “dream roles” throughout her career. To Swartzel-Rausch, acting has proved to be so much more than reading lines from a script. “The great thing about acting is it holds so many opportunities to play these different roles. You’re always getting to express a different part of your personality in each character, and that’s the experience,” Swartzel-Rausch said.
Unlike Swartzel-Rausch, who discovered her love for the performing arts as a teenager, Caitlyn McCain (12) grew up listening to Broadway show tunes like “Cats, A Chorus Line” and “Phantom of the Opera.” So it comes as no surprise that McCain intends to pursue an acting career in the ‘Big Apple,’ perhaps on some of the same stages that inspired her as a child. Since she recognized her love for acting and singing in the sixth grade, McCain has been a part of approximately 20 shows. Whether she was bringing her audience to tears playing the role of dramatic characters or hitting remarkable notes in a musical, McCain has never been scared of the spotlight, which led to her acceptance to one of the most prestigious campuses in the country, New York University (NYU). But why NYU? For some, moving across the country is a daunting task. However, McCain has had her eye on NYU since her freshmen year. She decided that NYU was her number one college choice during her junior year after speaking with a school representative, since they were one of the only colleges that offered an amazing theater program along with a chance to double major in business.
McCain has been involved in Poly Theater all four years of high school, and in this time, has directed, performed, choreographed and managed several shows on Poly’s stage. Despite all that she has contributed to Poly Theater, McCain expressed, “Poly Theater has given me so much more. The theater has given me confidence and a home at Poly High School.”
Whether it’s in the entertainment capital of the world or in the limelight of Broadway, members of Poly’s theater program plan to further their experience in the performing arts and pursue careers in this field as well. Although many may perceive this choice as a risky one, former Poly Theater member who is currently following her dreams as a freshman at the University of California, Irvine, Rosemary O’Neill explained that it is worth the risk. “For what I want to do in life, it has been very worthwhile. Through my major I’ve learned a lot about myself and gained confidence and vulnerability. Basically, I love it,” O’Neill expressed.