Central junior DeVon Richards II has been involved in theater for over seven years and has been a part of 13 productions so far. But for the first time ever, he has taken on his first community theater performance as the lead role in “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” at the Rose Theater.
He got his start in theater at Alice Buffett Magnet Middle School in a production of “The Enchanted Bookstore” as Tom Sawyer during his fifth-grade year. Richards explained the silly story of how he got involved.“I had a crush on a girl, and so, in order to get to know her better, I tried out for the play because that was stuff she did,” he said. He also said that he stuck with theater because he loves making people laugh, giving him the perfect opportunity to showcase his humor to peers.
Richards said that joining drama allowed him to connect and meet many different people, inside and outside of school. He also said that making the bonds were worthwhile. “Some of these people that I consider my best friends I probably wouldn’t have met if I wasn’t in drama. It’s a second family, as corny as it sounds,” he said.
Richards always wanted to do community theater productions. So, when he received an email about the audition from the Rose, he decided to take the risk. “You know what? Let’s just see what happens,” he said.
He also said that the audition process for Rudolph was much like the ones he experienced at school. There were cuts online, and he finished the rest of the audition at the Rose. “It was relatively easy, actually,” he said.
Richards was changing at the end of his weight training class when he saw the audition results. “First, I thought they had mistyped. I was very relieved,” he said. He was very excited about the news and immediately called his mom.
Richards said the thing he was most nervous about was shaving his face. He had grown to like the beard he was growing and said it was the most nerve-racking thing about the production. It was something he didn’t enjoy doing.
As an honors and Advanced Placement student, Richards had some difficulty balancing his schoolwork, struggling to keep up at the start of the show. But he had a support system from his friends, teachers and mostly from his mom. Richards said that she understood the pressure he was under and would help him make up assignments.
“I really appreciate it. Shout out to my mom, Brianna Richards,” he said. Richards said that there are definitely hard times, but it’s worth it and that balancing will help him prepare for heavier workloads next school year.
Richards said he had to miss a couple of choir events, and he couldn’t join the Central step team or the fall theater production, “The Play That Goes Wrong.”
Richards said that Rudolph is his third favorite role that he’s played. Right after Patrick Star in the Omaha Public Schools summer musical from a couple of years ago, “SpongeBob the Musical,” and Jesus in the Central production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”
Rudolph is his third favorite character he has played because of his constant curiosity and goofiness. But he also explained that Patrick was first because he was Richards’ favorite character from the original show, and doing the voice was fun. Jesus was second because it was a funny role and simply because it’s Jesus.
You can still catch Richards in action and a showing of “Rudolph” until Dec. 23. The musical is 90 minutes in length and has ASL and sensory friendly shows, as well as audio description services. Ticket prices for the main floor are $37, and balcony seats are $32. Members receive discounted tickets.
