Despite all the naysaying about culture here, Las Vegas enjoys a healthy complement of local theater companies, offering a wide variety of productions. One notable part of that industry is Rainbow Company Youth Theatre, one of the big success stories of the City of Las Vegas’ cultural division.
Created in 1976, Rainbow has been producing dynamic, professional-grade, and revered theater ever since. Offerings range from classic family favorites like A Charlie Brown Christmas, to traditional musicals like Meet Me in St. Louis, to more challenging fare, like Shakespeare. There have been original, Nevada-centric shows as well.
Each production is cast and executed by children aged 8 to 18, of all theatrical skill levels. Children as young as 4 can enroll in the education program, which includes, among other things, performance, basic stage design and safety, technical operation, and theatrical history — as well as aspects that enhance stage production.
"This semester, we're learning about self-awareness on stage," says Victora Whitaker, theatre program specialist of education for Rainbow. "Students right now are working on how to be emotionally aware and physically aware while performing. ... We try to build [the curriculum] in a way where every year is something new. Everyone is always learning."
Students can take and use what they learn at Rainbow offstage as well. "Skills learned in the arts, specifically in theater, are transferable to anywhere in the world. ... Similar skills are required in auditions, or public speaking and leadership."
Rainbow's new four-production season starts this weekend with a stage adaptation of the 2003 novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. One of the ensemble students working on it onstage and off is Vaughn Stolworthy, who is taking all the different aspects of production in stride, and gaining valuable experience as well.
"I feel like with acting, it comes pretty natural[ly]," he says. "I don't really have stage fright. I do this thing where I kind of just 'go dead,' if that makes sense. I just don't feel anything. I'm like, okay, I got this, guys. And then for tech, I specialize in sound. [I did] that for this last year's production of Much Ado About Nothing. ... I helped design the music for that show, and it was really fun."
And, just as Whitaker indicated, Stolworthy is developing real-life skills through theater — including learning to be comfortable in his own skin.
"I was a really awkward, really quiet kid, and I feel like just the years of exposure with different people — meeting lots of different people, lots of different directors, artists — has really helped me a lot."
Guests: Victoria Whitaker, theatre program specialist of education, Rainbow Company Youth Theatre; Vaughn Stolworthy, ensemble student, Rainbow Company Youth Theatre
