New Direction for Park City High School Theater Program

Rick Kimball, the new theater teacher at Park City High School grew up in a Navy family, moving every three years -- elementary school in California, Middle School in Maine, and High School in Japan. Rick was 23 when his father retired in Utah, and he followed the family here.

While a senior in High School, Kimball's English score wasn't up to par, so needing extra credit to graduate, he agreed to play the role of a super awkward student in a one act play and it changed the direction of his life.

Rick went on to get a BFA in Theatre Education from University of Utah and an MA in Secondary Theatre from Westminster College. He was in the process of applying for several PhD programs in Theatre when he decided instead to teach High School.

Working with young talent allows, Kimball to see the potential they often don't see within themselves and to give them opportunities to grow that talent. “I love that moment when the student takes that leap of faith and grows as both an actor and a human being. I also love pushing them past their comfort zone and allow them to see their potential.”

He has taught theater in other Utah School Districts, at Salt Lake Community College, and at the Success Academy High School for the Liberal Arts in Manhattan. When the Park City theater position opened up he jumped at the chance to return to Utah with his family and the artistic nature of the community here.

His PCHS production of Little Women this past year was nominated for Best Musical in Utah and won several awards. Six productions are planned for the coming school year including The Addams Family in the fall. The Theater Productions Class will perform at Disneyland in 2018, and Rick is in process of connecting with the Royal Shakespeare Company, so that the productions class will have the opportunity to travel to London to train with them. His goal is to develop into a nationally recognized program that gives students the opportunities to play on a national stage as well.

“Many of the students here often go elsewhere for opportunities in process and production. Eventually, I want to create an Improv class and a Musical Theater class so that students can grow and (so that I can) create new opportunities and challenges within the theater program”.  I think the students in Park City are both talented and hungry for opportunities. I just feel privileged to be there in the moments that become long lasting memories.”

Track the progress and productions of the PCHS Theater program through their Facebook feed here.