Oak Park needs a performing arts facility

Oak Park needs a performing arts facility

I was very pleased to read Eileen Kahn’s letter of Sept. 28 about our new performing arts program at Oak Park High School. I am overjoyed heading up this creative effort as the new drama teacher and producer of our three upcoming plays.

My deepest gratitude goes to Tony Knight who has been an inspiration. He has given all of us a very precious gift: Shakespeare. My son Adam in the sixth grade at Medea Creek Middle School thoroughly blossomed as a young actor under his guidance. He portrayed Caliban in "The Tempest" and Cassius in "Julius Caesar." Our family will cherish this forever.

The passion for performing arts, literature and history Mr. Knight has instilled in my son and other children is something we can applaud as our children go through the Oak Park Unified School System. We now have a first-rate performing arts team from kindergarten through 12th grade.

Now that I am teaching drama at Oak Park High School (OPHS), I take personal and professional pride in the efforts and achievements of our talented students.

We hope that our new performing arts program is a huge success so we can add more exciting subjects to our curriculum. My staff drama coaches are top professionals in their field and they bring an exciting array of experiences to our students.

Because we have no theater in Oak Park, our first play, "Arsenic and Old Lace," will be performed in Oak Hills Elementary School’s multi-purpose room on Nov. 16, 17 and 18.

Our second production, Shakespeare’s "Twelfth Night," will be performed March 22, 23 and 24 in the OPHS gym.

"Oliver!" our spring musical will be held in the Scherr Forum Theatre of Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza on May 23, 24 and 25. This exciting new venue change is due to the generosity of Tony Knight. (Thanks again, Tony.)

This new performing arts program could not have been possible without the support and creative direction of our principals at OPHS, its faculty and the Oak Park Unified School District board.

Thanks to you, we now have a living and breathing performing arts department.

I am honored to be in this exciting new position and vow to bring the very best theatre education for your children and the finest entertainment for all who support our productions.

Meanwhile, let’s find some way to finance a performing arts center in Oak Park.

Our children must have a place to shine.

Rick Rhodes

Oak Park High School

Drama Department