For you to understand the importance of the aforementioned programs in my life, you need to understand my path since high school. I moved to Chicago where I attended Columbia Chicago, majoring in TV Production: Writing and Producing. My experience far exceeded the others in my program because of Dave Legg and his commitment to having the best Broadcast department in the nation. Because of my previous experience, I was able to dedicate time perfecting my craft and making sure I was well rounded, in preparation for my eventual move to Los Angeles. I’m currently a Casting Director in LA on “Deal or No Deal” and a brand new game show premiering this summer. I’ve worked for MTV, the Oxygen Network, ABC, The Game Show Network and also “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”. I could go on for days about how my experiences from Novi have thrust me, in five short years, to being where I am today.

Everything I know about casting, editing, producing segments, and being on-air can be attributed to the Mr. Legg and the Broadcasting program. It’s an incredible program that drastically impacted my career path and taught me about what I wanted to do after high school. Choir, Drama and Musical showed me how to toughen up and not take things personally when I wasn’t right for certain roles. Lydia Cadena and the Journalism program taught me about interviewing others, something I use daily. Heather McKaig and Don Daniels taught me stage presence and how to command attention, which I have to use at casting calls with tens of thousands of people. I have to sell my contestants to top-level executives at the biggest networks and I learned how to do that creatively with everything creative that Novi had to offer. My interviewing skills, my time management skills, my confidence, and my outgoing personality were developed throughout high school, through participating in all of the NCAC programs. I’ve had an edge on people my entire life and I can thank Novi. I never thought I would attain the success that I currently have in such a short time and I can thank Novi.

While the academic programs were part of it, I am who I am today, both professionally and personally, because of the caliber of the programs and teachers and friends and experiences and endless nights and rehearsals and competitions and long hours editing and the love that is present in such amazing programs. It pains me to think that current and future students will not have the advantages that I had and might not realize their full potential. Past graduates of Novi are currently on Broadway. Some are working on Emmy-winning television and Oscar-winning movies. I know teachers and vocalists and working actors and actresses. While some may not be in high profile careers related to the arts, I know being in such incredible programs dramatically changed their lives. Once again, I would not be anywhere remotely close to where I am if my creativity had not been sparked at Novi. It's in an editing bay at 6:30pm, working on a package for TV News, that I knew what I needed to do with my career. If that edit bay or choral practice room or stage isn't open for kids to use, there are countless sparks that will never happen and countless dreams will not come to fruition.

On a personal level, I made five best friends in high school that I made during Freshman year through Musical and Choir. We are all still best friends to this day, despite living coast to coast. I could not imagine living my life without them present and it kills me to think that, with these cuts at Novi, future students are missing out on positive, live-changing friendships. While others were busy doing drugs and binge drinking, we were busy making our dreams happen. Without their influence in my life, I would be completely different person.

While it’s unfortunate what might happen to students, it’s also a detriment to the school system. Novi has an edge in the state of Michigan with these departments. With the profile of the local private schools, many students will leave Novi and go elsewhere. If kids want arts, parents can send their kids to Interlochen or other schools, where the offer these programs. I know with sports, parents will move their kids to better suit their needs in the best athletic programs. Parents and students are just as devoted, if not more devoted, to their creative passion. While it’s important to save money in the horrible economy, it must come from somewhere else. I am better person and more viable in a tough work force because of what I learned in the Arts at Novi High School. It is necessary to do whatever possible these essential programs.

RJ Larese
Casting Director
"Deal or No Deal" and "20Q"