MHS Grads: Rachel Ropella – Class of 2016
This week I had the opportunity to interview Menomonie graduate Rachel Ropella. Due to Rachel’s extremely busy schedule at her place of employment, The Guthrie Theater, this interview was conducted completely online.
Among the high school memories that Rachel listed as “amazing” were going on the French Trip with Madame Julie Eiden (Rachel described Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy as “incredible!”) and the New York Choir Trip with Audric Buhr to sing at Carnegie Hall.
You may recognize Rachel’s name from being active in all things theatre and performing arts in the area as she was growing up. In fact, Rachel has described herself as a “total theater kid.” That interest is what drove many of her most memorable moments while a student at MHS.
“I was involved with all the musicals and plays during my time at MHS. The most special performance for me was during my senior year when I was directed by my mom,
Carol Diser-Ropella in ‘You Can’t Take It with You.”
Other than theater, Rachel’s favorite extracurricular activity was Forensics, where she participated at the state level all four years of high school. “It certainly helped me become a much stronger public speaker and writer. I loved getting to talk about books with Terri Westerlund, Jenny Behrend and Andrea Smith. The entire English department felt like home.”
After high school graduation, Rachel studied theater and arts management at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN, and fell in love with directing plays. While at St. Olaf, she spent a summer back in Menomonie at the Mabel Tainter Theater for an arts management internship. She also worked at the Children’s Theater Company in Minneapolis as a camp counselor.
Another accomplishment from Rachel’s time at St. Olaf was co-founding the theater company Melancholics Anonymous with her friend Timothy Kelly. This company has expanded into a ten-person collective that continues to produce original theater year-round in Minneapolis.
After college graduation, Rachel says she’s been fortunate to work at professional theaters all over the country—assistant directing at Portland Stage, the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, the Dorset Theater Festival, and Hartford Stage.
Rachel adds, “I’ve even traveled to Scotland to direct a show in Edinburgh Fringe.” This summer, Rachel is directing the first-ever musical adaptation of Watership Down for the Minnesota Fringe. “I love that my work in theater has allowed me to travel and work in so many different cities that my mom, grandfather, and little brother often come to visit!”
Currently Rachel lives in Minneapolis and works at the Guthrie Theater as the Education and Engagement Manager. As part of the Artistic Team, she helps run Student Matinee and Summer Camp programs, supporting over 19,000 students throughout the year.
“Seeing plays at the Guthrie with my family and even going to a camp there one summer was foundational to my growth as a young artist. It feels very full-circle to now help make that dream possible for other young people!”
Rachel’s response to my final question regarding what made growing up in Menomonie so special was “The incredible sense of community and appreciation for the arts in Menomonie is so special and was pivotal in my life when I was growing up. I have many wonderful memories of watching the Ludington Guard Band concerts, performing in Menomonie Theater Guild camps and shows, and spending as much time as I could at the Mabel Tainter. I always love coming back home to Menomonie to see family and be a part of this wonderful community.”
I tell my interviewees that the readers of this column love to know what “their kids” are doing now. As a community, we are proud of their accomplishments. At a young age, Rachel has become one of those accomplished home-grown kids, and we’re so happy that she did!
NOTE: Friends, thank you to those who responded to my plea for more interview candidates. I won’t be writing for a few weeks as I’ll be on a European riverboat cruise with my sister Sue. I plan to come back re-energized and ready to get back to work!
Judy Foust is a retired longtime 7th Grade Reading Specialist at Menomonie Middle School. To submit info to her or to request an interview she may be contacted at [email protected]
