Rachel Cavanah wants to turn her interest in theater and the arts into a career on Broadway.
It’s a daring goal for the recent University Heights Academy graduate who also wrapped up a five-year career as a Lady Blazer tennis team member.
Rachel’s adolescent life has been filled with singing and performing.
“I think it’s just something that I’ve been born with. It’s always been very important to my mom and I just grew up with it. It’s such a spiritual thing for me. It’s part of my soul and I can’t imagine life without it,” she said.
Cavanah has been involved in over two dozen stage performances through the years, most recently ‘Frozen’ at the historic Alhambra Theatre.
“The Alhambra is my home away from home and I love being there with the people that I love who love theater with me,” she said.
Rachel was the president of UHA’s Tri-M Music Honor Society – a club that she restarted.
“It’s an organization for people who really love music We extended it to instrumentalists as well as vocalists but I restarted it a few years ago because our old choir director Jill Bressler briefly retired and she was not able to continue the club. After a year or two, I started it up again because I have a very strong passion for music.”
Rachel was also involved in the Environmental Club, Poetry Club, Key Club, National Honor Society, and Beta Club at UHA.
She said several teachers had a big impact on her during her time on Academy Drive.
“A really cool thing about UHA is that the teachers have such an amazing bond with all the students. We’re all very close. Kim Humphries was my physics teacher, and even though it’s not my main focus of study, she always encouraged me to do my best and work my hardest. She’s just a wonderful person.”
Rachel is the daughter of Duncan and Sarah Cavanah. It was Sarah who began the winter guard program at UHA that Rachel became of part of in the seventh grade.
“We’re just a very close team. It’s a very small group but we’ve grown up doing the sport together and it’s really beautiful and lyrical and wonderful,” Rachel said.
Rachel put all of her talents together to be named the Distinguished Young Woman of Christian County last fall, a competition that judges entries on talent, fitness, and leadership.
Rachel made all As throughout high school except for one class. She scored a 28 on her ACT.
She is set to attend Southeast Missouri State University in the fall where she is going to pursue a degree in theater.
“I would love to pursue a career in New York on Broadway or reach into film,” she said, adding that SEMO offers classes in all aspects of theater – both in front of the camera and behind it.
“I will be taking classes that involve being backstage, which is very important for me to do, but I think my first steps will be definitely in front of the camera.”
