She's Not Clowning Around, She's Got a Bright Future

In the Spotlight: Rachel Calter, 18, a senior at Middletown High School.

Rachel is an amazing, remarkable, individualistic and enthusiastic young woman.  Here’s an excerpt of our conversation together.

Patch: Tell me about what you do in school. 

Rachel: I'm taking four AP classes, Literature and Composition, Calculus, Physics and French. I'm also in Chamber Choir, which is a select group of singers who are chosen by audition. I am the secretary for Drama Club, and was the assistant director for the last MHS drama production, "Grease!" in March. 

Patch: Does that leave you with time to do anything outside of school?

Rachel: Sure, that’s the best part of my day! I'm a member of the Connecticut School of Circus Arts, an Oddfellows, ARTFARM and Matica Arts circus training program, the Oddfellows Playhouse Traveling Circus, a company which creates a show and then is hired to perform at different events and schools around Massachusetts and Connecticut, and I am a member of the Oddfellows Playhouse Teen Repertory Company, in which I both act and stage manage. 

In fact, next weekend (May 20 and 21) the Traveling Circus is performing a new show, "We Work for Ice Cream," with two performances at Oddfellows Playhouse before we take the show on the road. The Connecticut School of Circus Arts will also be performing next weekend in a showcase of their circus skills as the opener for the Traveling Circus. Admission is $8 for students and $15 for adults. It’s a very fun show!

Patch: So tell me, what’s so special about Rachel Calter? 

Rachel: Well, that’s an interesting question. My mom says I’m an individualist and very comfortable in my own skin, being exactly who I am. In fact, I was voted Most Unique in my class probably because I do circus or because I dress differently that everyone else, so you sort of can’t miss me in the hallways. I usually wear crazy colored tights and skirts in school, and occasionally crazy colored fake dreadlocks, if I have a circus show. I had purple hair for a while, too, but now it’s reddish and more normal-colored. But basically, I’m just happy being who I am. 

Patch: That’s pretty wonderful to feel that way about yourself in high school.  What is it about circus that you love so much? 

Rachel: I was attracted to the summer circus program in seventh grade, when I saw the Oddfellows Playhouse Traveling Circus perform at my school. The show inspired me, and I was amazed at what they could do. I said to myself, “I can do that.” Little did I know that I’d soon become a member. I had 10 years of dance experience prior to joining circus and I knew one of the performers had a dance background, too, so that also inspired me. 

Patch: So tell me Rachel, what’s your future going to look like? 

Rachel: I don’t know what college I’m going to yet. Wherever I go, I plan to major in stage management. Hopefully my college will be near where there is a circus program. I’ve applied to the University of British Columbia, Acadia University in Wolfsville, Nova Scotia, Ryerson University in Toronto, Ontario and SUNY Purchase in New York. I’m still waiting to hear back from SUNY Purchase but I hope they accept my application because they have a circus program there and it’s not so far away from home.   

Patch: What accomplishment are you the most proud of? 

Rachel: I’m most proud of two things: First is being selected as assistant director of "Grease." That was a highlight for me. But I’m also proud of being part of an Oddfellows Teen Rep production directed by Marcy Arlin, who is an Obie-award winning director and founded the Immigrants’ Theater Project, which is a theater company that focuses on the experiences of immigrants and immigration. It was a wonderful experience for me to work with her.