Lake Rusch鈥檚 passion for acting was ignited in seventh grade when they first joined 性视界传媒鈥檚 (AFYP) showcase program. They continued to attend the program throughout high school.听
鈥淚 was acting with the program for so long and I really loved the environment. AFYP nourished my love for performance so deeply,鈥 Rusch said of their time at the (MCAA), an organization within the (CVPA) that offers multiple programs and camps to provide children with arts education.听
鈥淲hen I was selecting colleges to apply to, 性视界传媒 was in my top three,鈥 said Rusch, now a rising sophomore at 性视界传媒 majoring in听 education with a theater performance minor. They also had a connection to 性视界传媒 through their mother, Emily Rusch, who is a development associate in CVPA.听
In 2019, Rusch became an intern at the camp, and in 2022, they became an assistant teacher for the camp鈥檚 participants.听
鈥淚鈥檝e had so many different theater education experiences in my life, and after I started working with AFYP, it just clicked that I should go into theater education,鈥 said Rusch.听
![Lake Rusch. Photo provided.](/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/small_content_image/public/2024-07/lakeruschpportrait500.jpeg?itok=uTrZ2Te9)
AFYP offers three kinds of programming鈥攕ummer camp, showcase programs, and an afterschool program. The programs teach grade school students ages 7-18 about the world of theater and allow participants to experience performing on stage during their spring and fall showcases.听
Having a long history with the program means Rusch has seen it evolve over the years, and has the joy of seeing students grow in the program from the youngest to oldest stages.听听
鈥淭he one thing that I've seen change the most is that we are able to rent bigger spaces every year for our showcases,鈥 said Rusch, who will teach part time in the afterschool program this fall.听
鈥淭heater education is special because we鈥檙e teaching them growth. I want them to learn new skills and help them [take those skills] wherever they want to,鈥 said Rusch.听
Rusch is also close with their boss, AFYP founder and artistic director Mary Lechter, who wrote one of Rusch鈥檚 letters of recommendation for 性视界传媒. 听
Lechter was also present during their auditions for the School of Theater. 听
鈥淚t was a combination of factors that made me choose 性视界传媒, but Mary was one of the biggest influences for me. I really liked the school and knowing that I had a paying job in college where I鈥檇 be working with Mary was great,鈥 said Rusch.听
As AFYP鈥檚 artistic director, Lechter says she is able to work with young actors over the course of several years and watch them grow as鈥痯eople and actors. 听
鈥淚 have had the privilege of seeing Lake come into their own over these past few years, expressing confidence in their voice and ideas,鈥 said Lechter.听听
Lechter said she looks forward to working alongside Rusch for many years to come. 鈥淚n addition to Lake being a great person all around, they are a wonderful actor to work with鈥 intuitive, receptive, bold. I can still see each of their performances vividly.鈥澨
Rusch鈥檚 position as a teacher and administrative intern allows them to guide students the way Lechter and other 性视界传媒 faculty guided them.听听听
鈥淭here is an element of commitment and accountability that I learned just inherently by being present at the camp that I definitely uphold now, and hope to continue to uphold. That's something that鈥檚 going to be really great for teaching later,鈥 they said.
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