Fox Valley Rep Blog

Each month, NFT Performing Arts Academy selects an outstanding student to be featured in the Student Spotlight of the Month. The selected student is featured in the NFT Playbill and on the blog. This month’s Student Spotlight recipient is Leah Richards!

Leah Richards is a 16 year old who has just finished her junior year at Kaneland High School in Maple Park. Her first show at Noble Fool Theatricals was School House Rock Live, and since then she has been cast in Footloose and Oliver! According to Leah, School House Rock Live was a last minute audition and she is so glad she went. ???I have met so many amazing people, who I love dearly,??? she said.

Leah has done other theater productions at Kaneland High School, Batavia???s First Street Playhouse, and Elburn???s Countryside Music.

In addition to being in the NFT Youth Ensemble, Leah has done two directing internships with Noble Fool Educational Manager Tracy Whiteside. ???I never really thought of myself as a director until I did the two internships. I was so immensely proud of the kids when they were done performing. Also, Tracy is an amazing director, teacher, and overall great person! I was so lucky to have met such an amazing person!??? Leah said.

When Leah is not acting at Noble Fool she is taking voice lessons with Noble Fool vocal instructor Ken Jones. ???Ken is one of the nicest and most encouraging people I will probably ever have the pleasure of meeting. Yes, he does critique and fix a lot of the problems I have when it comes to singing, but he does it in such a nice way,??? she said.

“It is no surprise that Leah was chosen as this month’s Student of the Month. I have known Leah for a year now, and it is amazing to watch her learn, mentor, and shape her future. She consistently performs to the best of her ability while striving to improve and to be creative in new and inspiring ways,” said Ken Jones, Director & Musical Director of Once Upon a Mattress and Musical Director for I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.

???The auditions for the Noble Fool shows are not like any other audition. I mean I thought I was good under pressure until I went into the audition. It has made me be more prepared for just about anything,??? she said.

Overall she feels that coming to that last minute audition for School House Rock Live has made her refocus on what???s important. ???I???m more myself now then I have probably ever been in my life, and I can accept it and move forward in my life.???

Leah is planning on going to college when she graduates from high school next year. ???For me the future holds endless possibilities. The hard part is I just have to choose from all of them.???

You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.