At DePaul College Prep, the spotlight doesn’t just shine on the stage—it illuminates the growth, confidence, and connection that the performing arts offers to students. Whether it’s center stage in a dramatic role, behind the curtain running cues, or sharing poetry at an open mic, the performing arts community at DePaul Prep is helping students like Samantha Rodriguez, Maria Danaher, and Sheila Bourke find their voice, their passion, and even their future. 

A Triple Threat: Theater, Choir and Poetry 

Samantha Rodriguez, a senior involved in theater, choir, and poetry, says her love for the arts began at just nine years old when she attended a summer camp at Lookingglass Theatre in downtown Chicago. 

“That was the first time I fell in love with acting,” she said. “Just being able to express yourself in a unique way and feel so free on stage—it was really rewarding.” 

Since then, Rodriguez has performed in seven of DePaul Prep’s eight theater productions, playing a wide range of characters, from a grieving mother in The Library to a Gothic punk girl in DNA. 

These roles weren’t always easy. “Some characters were so different from my own life experience that I really had to dig deep to relate to them,” she said. “But through that, I grew more empathetic and open-minded”

To prepare for her roles, Rodriguez uses a rigorous memorization method, as do many. She also makes a playlist to get into character. “It’s a fun way to connect emotionally to the role,” she said.

In addition to theater, Rodriguez is also a proud member of the choir. “Singing is vulnerable, it’s your voice, your sound, and it’s unique to you,” she said. “But at DePaul, there’s such a supportive community in choir. Even when you mess up, no one laughs – we’re all learning together “

One of her favorite choir memories? The fall concert, where students performed songs from Wicked and Phantom of the Opera. “It felt magical,” she said. “We were listening to each other, blending together—it was really special.”

Rodriguez also finds empowerment in poetry. She recently MC’d an open mic night in the school’s black box theater, which she described as “one of the best we’ve ever had.” 

Performing in the black box —a smaller, more intimate space—has also helped her connect more deeply with audiences. “You’re not just performing to them, you’re performing with them,” she said. “It’s a powerful connection.” 

In that closeness, Rodriguez found not only artistic satisfaction, but a profound sense of community.” there’s something real about being so near to the audience you can feel their energy,” she said. “And somehow, we all come together in this space to create something beautiful. “That’s the magic of it”

That evening in the Black Box theater, surrounded by peers in rock, creative energy, reminded her why she fell in love with the arts in the first place.” It wasn’t about being perfect” she said. “ It was about being present—with the audience, with the words, with each other.”

That night reminded her how the arts bring people together across differences. “Everyone in that room had a story, a background, something unique to share,” she said.” And somehow, we all came together in this space to create something wonderful.”

Reflecting on her time in the arts, Rodriguez said the growth has been undeniable. “Performing helped me become more confident. It strengthened my public speaking and helped me express myself authentically,” she said. 

She explained that authenticity wasn’t always easy – it came from trial and error, moments of vulnerability, and trusting the process. She expressed that sometimes people get on stage scared or unsure, but as you become more confident you allow yourself to be seen, flaws, and all and that’s when you grow.

For Rodriguez, each performance became a stepping stone toward personal growth. The stage, once intimidating, turns into a place of freedom.” I learned how to stand in my truth,” she said, ”and that’s something I carry with me forever”

Through her experiences on stage in choir, Samantha learned how to handle pressure, think quickly, and trust her instincts. Whether delivering emotional monologues or blending harpies with her classmates, she developed skills that extended far beyond the theater. Rodriquez also discovered the value of collaboration, learning to rely on her peers and build trust in creative partnerships. These experiences taught her how to lead with empathy and adapt quickly in  her dynamic settings.

These lessons weren’t confident to the stage. Rodriguez found herself applying them in everyday life – leading group projects, navigating friendships, and speaking up for what she believed in. In a way the arts gave her a toolkit to carry in her life. Which is inspiring for everyone. The knowledge and skills she uptain due to the performing arts is impactful and gives you assurance that if you part take then you’d have a community to lean on throughout the courses of life. 

She credits the performing arts with giving her a sense of belonging. The bonds she formed through shared rehearsals and performances became some of her most meaningful high school connections, she said=

“It’s not just about memorizing lines or hitting the right notes,” she said. “It’s about working with people, waging calm under pressure, and really listening.” She emphasized how performing taught her to communicate more intentionally, a skill that now helps her in academic and everyday conversations. Rodriguez also noted that staying calm on stage translated to saying composed during tough exams or stressful group work. Her advice to others? “Jump right in; be bold. You might find your passion.”

While Rodriguez shines onstage, Maria Danaher found her place in the arts through a happy accident. She attended an acting meeting thinking it was for the stage crew, but instead of turning back, she stayed. Now she’s the rehearsal and assistant stage manager for DePaul Prepproductions.

”I look forward to it everyday,” she said. “Being involved in theater is why I get out of bed in the morning.”

Danaher credits her father (who worked in the film industry) for inspiring her to join the arts. Since then, she’s helped manage four DePaul Prep productions and even plays in the school band. “What I love is that everyone works together to create something beautiful,” she said. “It’s all an ensemble effort.”

Her most memorable moment came during a talkback after The Library, her first show. One of the cast members stood up and publicly recognized her work. “I got a standing ovation – even though most of the audience didn’t even know I existed backstage. It was really touching.”

Danaher’s experiences have also shaped her future. “Being a stage manager made me realize I want to pursue this as a career,” she said. “It’s helped me discover what I love.” 

For senior Sheila Bourke, the arts have always been a quiet but steady presence in her life, rooted in a love of literature passed down from her mom, a school librarian, and a childhood curiosity sparked by fiddling with her aunt’s old piano. “I’ve always been really drawn to music and reading,” Bourke  said. “That love for literature became a gateway into other forms of art.”

At DePaul Prep, Bourke found her voice – both literally and figuratively – through poetry and music. She’s a proud member of the RAM slam poets, DePaul’s spoken poetry group, and recently hosted the 2025 open mic night in the Black Box Theater alongside Samantha Rodriguez. 

Hosting the event marked a turning point in Bourke’s artistic journey. It gave her the courage to share her poetry openly and connect with others on a deeper level.

She describes the experience as transformative, Helping her step into leadership and finding pride in her creative voice.

“I’m really proud of being able to MC those events,” she said. “I used to be nervous about sharing my writing, but performing helped me grow so much more confident.”

Bourke  also brings her passion for music outside the classroom. Though she isn’t enrolled in music classes at DePaul Prep, she’s a self taught multi-instrumentalist, playing guitar, ukulele, harmonica, and a bit of piano and bass. “I didn’t take lessons, except for a little piano as a kid,  but I’ve always loved experimenting with sound,” she said. 

Bourke often blends instruments to create unique compositions that reflect her mood and identity. This musical exploration became a personal outlet and creative freedom.

Though largely self-taught, she’s found mentorship and encouragement in the community, where her talent is recognized.

Even more inspiring, she navigated her musical journey with a physical limitation on her left arm, teaching herself how to adapt on string instruments. “Now, strings are actually what I’m best at.” 

One of her favorite spaces to perform and experience art is the Black Box Theater. “It’s such a personal environment,” she said. “Whether you’re performing poetry, or watching a play, you feel you’re right there with the artists; it’s intimate and real.” Bourke believes these intimate settings foster stronger emotional connections between artists and audiences. For her, this closeness makes every performance unforgettable.

She encourages others to try performing not for perfection but for the chance to be fully seen and heard.

Looking back, Bourke is most proud of the way arts have helped her grow, especially in her confidence and communication.

“Being part of RAM Slam poetry and performing has been so empowering,” she said. “It’s a supportive community that encourages self-expression and helps you see the world through different perspectives.”

Her advice to others? “Just go for it! Even if it’s a little scary at first, you’ll grow in ways you don’t expect. It’s not just being ‘good’ at something – it’s about discovering who you are.”

All three students, Rodriguez, Danher, and Burke, agree that the performing arts at DePaul Prep has given them much more than technical skills; they’ve found confidence, purpose, and community. 

Danaher summed it up simply by saying, “There’s no downside; everyone is welcoming, and we create something meaningful together.” 

Rodriguez echoed the sentiment: “Performing arts shaped my identity—not just creatively, but socially. It helped me grow as a person.”

“Be yourself. Be brave. And just try it,” Rodriguez said. “It might change your life too.”