Perry Theater has demonstrated time and time again through countless competitions, wowing students and families year after year. This nationally recognized group is chalk full of gifted students and teachers, both onstage and behind the scenes.

One student who has been shown in the national light is Steven Ricks, who was recently selected for the National Theatre Company. Ricks was one of just twelve students nationally that has been given this honor.

Ricks commented that “one of the big things about this company is that [we] get to work with the director of Wicked on Broadway currently and some of his actors are with him. You get to make connections and you get to perform with people who love performing as much as you do.” Ricks continued, “Another cool thing about the group is that you get to perform for everyone who goes to nationals, so thousands and thousands of teenagers.”

Theater Arts and Perry Theatre Company teacher, Shawna Marquis commented that being selected for the NTC “is an absolutely huge honor. It is the first time that we have had an Arizona student recognized and selected for the national company. Students from around the world audition for this. [Students in NCT] get to perform with Broadway actors and professionals who work on Broadway so it’s an amazing opportunity.”

“The great thing about international conferences is that there are recruiters there from colleges, there are agents there, there are people there representing Broadway interests that are scouting for talent. If you’re interested in being a professional performer it’s a great way to be put out for marketing, if you will,“ explained Theatre and Film Study teacher, Jim Fountain.

“These are people that he might end up working with in the future. So the networking opportunity is a great chance,” Marquis added.

Ricks explained that they “perform the opening number, so everyone comes and the very first meeting we perform a big number for everyone…There’s 2 different groups because there are so many people that they can’t fit everyone in once space, so we perform [it] twice.”

Fountain remarked that “they go a day early and rehearse and they are the opening act for the national conference that has thousands of students and it’s quite a big deal.”.

Just like the lights of a stage, the future for Ricks also looks bright.