REGIONAL OFFICE OF EDUCATION 9

The theater bug bit Jordan Rinkenberger at a young age. Actually, age 6.

He was cast as the king in the Champaign Park District Youth Theatre’s production of “Cinderella,” held at the Virginia Theatre in downtown Champaign.

“I was hooked immediately,” Rinkenberger said.

His older sister, Grace, had been in a production of “Peter Pan,” inspiring Rinkenberger.

“Ever since then, it’s been my main hobby,” he said.

His interest started before that. When he was 3, he was given DVDs of classic films.

“Every day, he had to watch ‘The Wizard of Oz’ and ‘Alice in Wonderland,’” mom Amy Wyatt said. “He would re-enact his favorite parts in our living room. That really started it for him, just his passion for acting and theater.”

There are more “Oz” ties. At 9, he adapted the story and had grandma Peggy Wyatt type up a script. He put together a cast of friends, and they rehearsed at home or on the playground at Countryside School and gave a performance for family and friends in the backyard, complete with costumes, music and set changes.

So it’s easy to see where Rinkenberger was heading.

Today, at 16, the Champaign Central sophomore has been in more than 50 productions, playing a wide range of roles. With the help of his family and friends, he is adding another title: director.

“I’ve been wanting to direct for a while,” he said. “It’s been something I’ve been passionate about.”

There was a point last summer when he knew he had to try it. In July, after a frustrating play rehearsal, he texted a friend: “I wish that I could direct something. I wish I could be in control of this thing.”

Who would give a 16-year-old the keys to a play? Easy: the 16-year-old himself.

Rinkenberger has started his own theater company, Champaign Urbana Drama Makers.

On June 13-15, Rinkenberger will direct “Carrie: The Musical” at the Parkland College’s Second Stage Theatre.

Auditions are scheduled for March 22-23 at Champaign’s Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, with the cast to be announced shortly afterward. Those interested in trying out can go to cudramamakers.com to sign up.

Long journey

Directing won’t be a totally new experience for Rinkenberger. He has served as an assistant director in the past, but has never been in charge of his own show.

Getting to this point wasn’t simple. Or cheap.

First, he talked to his parents. They were supportive.

“I really just believe in him and his vision,” Wyatt said. “He’s so driven. Anything he puts his mind to, he accomplishes.”

“So incredibly proud that he had a dream of his and chased it down and wanted to give it his all,” said his father, John Rinkenberger.

Before taking the directing plunge, Jordan talked to theater professionals he has worked with over the years.

“I was like, ‘Would this be dumb?’ And some of them were like, ‘Yes.’ Some of them were like, ‘No, it’s a great idea,’” he said. “I just did it.”

After naming the company, the next step was to pick a debut production.

“’Carrie’ has been a show I’ve loved since COVID,” Rinkenberger. said. “I listened to the soundtrack and I watched a bunch of productions during COVID. I was like, ‘This is the perfect show to start out with.’ It has a great story, great music, and I have strong visions for the show.”

He bought the rights to the show for about $2,000 from Concord Theatricals, a publishing company that controls a catalog of titles.

His family is paying the initial fee out of its own pocket, which makes Wyatt the producer of the show. She is staying out of the day-to-day business. It is her son’s production.

Rinkenberger made a budget for the show with the estimated costs. Ticket sales will cover about half the expenses.

For the rest of it, he is looking for donations and sponsorships. A GoFundMe page has been set up, with more than $1,100 raised as of Monday afternoon.

Rinkenberger is reaching out to businesses in the area to be sponsors. He has prepared packages detailing what they receive for participating.

There is also the cost of renting the Second Stage at Parkland, which is another $2,000. Putting on a play can be pricey.

Why the Second Stage? It is the right size and had the dates available. It has seating for about 80.

“I wanted it to be more of an intimate setting,” Rinkenberger said. “I want it be an immersive experience. I want it to be in your face.”

Fortunately, there is no cost for rehearsal space. The nice folks at Good Shepherd are allowing the free use of their fellowship hall for auditions and rehearsals.

“We’re very grateful for them,” Rinkenberger said. “This is really a community effort.”

‘I saw the movie’

It’s a line Rinkenberger hears often about “Carrie.”

“Almost everybody,” he said. “When I say ‘It’s a musical,’ they’re like, ‘What?’”

Rinkenberger has seen the 1976 film based on the Stephen King novel. The musical is told from the perspective of Sue, the film’s sole survivor, and tells the aftermath of the original story.

“It’s a really cool musical,” Rinkenberger said.

He promises plenty of special effects.

Helping hands

Rinkenberger has put together a stellar production team: Delaney Wright (stage manager), Debra Myers (music director), Phia Marino (choreographer) and Jasmine Elam (assistant director) have the primary jobs. Marino is a senior at Urbana High School. Wright is completing a fine arts degree at the University of Illinois in scenic technology. Elam has a theater degree from Eureka Collge. And Myers has degrees from Western Illinois University and the UI.

“It takes many people to put on a show,” Rinkenberger said.

There are 14 named roles in “Carrie: The Musical.” Rinkenberger plans to add a small ensemble, so a total cast of 14 to 20.

Will there be a second production? Rinkenberger is not ready to commit to that just yet.

He does have a second show in mind: “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”

Important influences

Early in his acting career, Rinkenberger worked with Patty Dudley, a longtime theater director in the area. She has been his mentor.

He first mentioned an interest in directing while in the third grade. She let him sit in during auditions.

Other mentors include LaDonna Wilson and Jaclyn Loewenstein.

Rinkenberger has mostly been in musicals. He was in Central’s 2023 production of “Matilda: The Musical,” performing at the International Thespian Festival in front of 3,000 at Indiana University in Bloomington.

Rinkenberger has been part of the Central shows during his time in high school and will be in the spring musical, “Little Women.” He is playing Laurie, the lead male character.

Rehearsals for “Carrie” won’t conflict with “Little Women” for Rinkenberger. There are perks to being the director. He scheduled his own play on opposite days.

His teachers at Central have been a big help to Rinkenberger.

“They’re very understanding when I’m in a show,” he said.

His grades are solid. He has learned how to balance school work with his acting and directing.

He has played in the marching band at Central, has been a cheerleader and is part of the drama club. He’s got a full plate.

Besides his parents and Grace, Rinkenberger’s family includes his 12-year-old brother, Bentley, who attends Urbana Middle School. Jordan is close to grandma Peggy, who lives in Urbana.

“She gives me a lot of rides everywhere,” he said. “She’s a really great support for me.”

Career choice

What is the plan for after high school? Rinkenberger wants to go to college for directing. Maybe as a minor while majoring in musical-theater performance.

“I’ll go anywhere that takes me,” he said. “Theater programs are very competitive.”

His production of “Carrie” should help.

“On college essays, this would be a good thing to write about,” he said. “That’s not why I’m doing it. It’s just a perk.”

He enjoys acting, but prefers directing.

“I really like conceptualizing a whole show, a whole story,” Rinkenberger said.