Tessa Rutchik is grateful for the experience the organization provided her family
By Jeff Kurowski | On Mission
NEENAH — Prior to the start of rehearsals for the St. Mary Catholic High school production of “Shrek, the Musical,” Eric Conner, fine arts director for St. Mary Catholic Schools, posted a tentative schedule.
Following the public run of performances, a “possible Make-A-Wish performance” was listed.
Sophomore Tessa Rutchik, who was cast as Dragon in the production, told On Mission that when she read that notice, she was excited, knowing personally what that additional performance could mean to Make-A-Wish families.
“I told my mom about it,” said Rutchik, “and I think she told Mr. Conner that ‘If you can figure that out, you should definitely do that because we love Make-A-Wish so much.’”
Rutchik’s sister, Elena, has a congenital heart condition. In 2017, the family participated in a Florida adventure granted by Make-A-Wish.
Rutchik described the memories from that trip as “invaluable” to her family.
The Make-A-Wish performance of “Shrek, the Musical” became a reality on March 16 in the Jane Bergstrom Fine Arts Education Center at the St. Mary Catholic High School campus.
Bergstrom Automotive sponsored the show.
“I had a strong passion and dedication to that specific performance,” said Rutchik, the eldest of five children in her family. “I really had to make sure that it was a great performance. (Make-A-Wish families) deserve a great performance because I know how much they go through on a regular basis.”
For many of the families, it was their first time experiencing a live performance together, said Conner.
“It was so inspiring to see (the families’) smiles light up after the show when they got to meet the cast as well,” he said in a news release from the school after the performance. “It was just a wonderful experience that touched both performers and audience members alike.”
“That was a great experience for me,” Rutchik told On Mission about meeting audience members after the performance. “I had a lot of little girls tell me that Dragon was their favorite character. Even if they were a little shy, I was able to help them warm up.”
Rutchik added that she is grateful to her castmates for their kindness in meeting with the families after the performance.
“Oftentimes with kids with disabilities, kids who have critical illnesses, people will treat them like they are incapable,” she said. “My sister has a lot of experience with that. I was really proud and happy to see my castmates treating them like anyone else.”
Rutchik recently won two golds at the State Solo & Ensemble Festival. She also took first place in the storytelling category at the Wisconsin Forensics Coaches’ Association State Tournament.
“I do pretty much anything I can relating to the performing arts,” she said. “Theater, music, choir, everything I can do I do. I do it nonstop. I have to be in the production. It’s one of my biggest passions.”
Rutchik is cast as the Wicked Witch in the Future Stars Theatre production of “The Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition,” which will be performed in June.
She said that her entire family, who are members of Holy Spirit Parish, Kimberly/Darboy, enjoy the performing arts.
“We are really into books and reading, and music and theater,” she said. “My mom (Holly) was a total theater kid when she was my age. She helps me with all my auditions.”
Rutchik said that she plans to go to college to major in performance or theater. She added that she hopes for more opportunities to use her gifts to brighten someone’s day.
“I want to use the passions and gifts God gave me to strike emotion in people somehow,” she said. “Make-A-Wish kids are especially important to me. To have some distraction, to have a moment of solace from what is always affecting their lives, is very important. I have a perspective that helps me understand how important it is. (The Make-A-Wish performance) inspired me to continue to do things like that.”
Founded in Phoenix, Ariz., Make-A-Wish operates locally in all 50 states throughout the United States and, according to its website, “aims to bring the power of wishing to every child with a critical illness because wish experiences can help improve emotional and physical health.” For more information about Make-A-Wish America, visit https://wish.org/.