She also emphasized the importance of
each role, whether large or small, but says she
learned more from the children than they
learned from her: “You expect kids to act a
certain way, but when it came down to it they
were always there for each other.”
Directing the musicals has helped Rhoades
improve her leadership, time management
and communication skills.
“After the first show, I realized I was the
director,” Rhoades says. “Usually I am more of
a follower but it gave me confidence because
they were looking to me for answers.”
She loves working with children and also
learned a lot about directing.
“The number one thing is to be patient,”
Rhoades explains. “It’s hard for them to pay musicals became more complex, especially
attention. It also helps to treat them like their the choreography. Several participants,
age, because they won’t listen to you if you including sisters Lily and Abby Stephenson,
treat them like little kids.”
praised Rhoades for her leadership and
After rehearsing for weeks, the children creativity. “I like how confident she was and
found it difficult to maintain a high level of how she had so many great ideas,” Lily says.
energy during the final performance. Rhoades
Carly Dowell also participated in two
suggested that they act
musicals, and her mother,
like it was the first time
Michele, says she is
“I always teach the kids
they were doing it.
excited about the next
“You need to give it
one: “Amanda is amazing
that the show wouldn’t
as much energy as you
with the kids and gets
did the first time you
them excited about
happen without them,
performed it, so the
performing.”
audience can really feel
Rhoades plans to
but
there
would
be
no
it,” she says.
continue to direct
Rhoades also
musicals during the
show without anyone
encouraged the audience
summers while she
to laugh and clap.
else along the way.”
completes her studies at
“It can’t be a good
California University. She
show without a good
is also a member of two
audience,” she notes. “The kids need approval
choirs and an a capella group at the university.
and they need to know what they’re doing is
After she graduates, she wants to open her
right.”
own children’s theater. She has always been
Between 2014 and 2016, the cast grew
interested in musical theater and “Newsies”
from 10 to 23 children. Rhoades says the
is her favorite show. However, Rhoades says
she is usually a shy person and when she first
began performing she did not have a lot of
confidence.
“I was always very hard on myself,” she
adds. “I didn’t have any stage presence. I never
really wanted to put my voice out there.”
However, she has become more confident
over time and says that is one of the most
important parts of performing. Her parents
also encouraged her and pushed her to
succeed.
“It’s 90 percent confidence and 10 percent
actually singing,” Rhoades says. “I need to
have the confidence to hit the high notes;
otherwise I won’t [be able].”
Obviously, practicing is still important and
Rhoades urges aspiring singers to develop
their own voice.
“You shouldn’t aspire to sound like
someone else,” she says. “You should make
your own voice stronger but you should keep
the special quality that makes it yours.” n
Some of the casts of the past productions that
Rhodes has directed for St. Thomas More Church.
Bethel Park | Winter 2016 | icmags.com 15