Scott Harris has big shoes to fill, but he seems to have found the perfect fit as the new Theater Director at Rye Neck High School. 

By Janice Llanes Fabry

Scott Harris has big shoes to fill, but he seems to have found the perfect fit as the new Theater Director at Rye Neck High School.  

“Thanks to the legacy Pat Rinello created, students at Rye Neck choose the theater program and the musical, even though they are pulled in all different directions by sports clubs and extracurricular activities,” he noted referring to his predecessor, who sat in the director’s chair for 35 years.

Having been a working actor for 12 years and having performed in production tours around the country, Harris brings more than his fair share of firsthand experience to the school district. At this stage in his life, he welcomed more stability, so he turned to teaching. Consequently, he enrolled in graduate school and earned his Master’s in Theater and Playwriting.

Midway through the current school year, he has a number of initiatives waiting in the wings. In addition to his roles as chorus director and production manager for the high school musical, Harris teaches three levels of acting courses for beginning, intermediate, and advanced students earning credits through Manhattanville College. He also introduced a Master Class, whereby professional actors, playwrights, and casting directors share their experiences with the students.

In the midst of building a conservatory program, Harris believes these classes offer boundless opportunities for Rye Neck students.  “Acting in classes will inform how the students develop a character and analyze a script,” he explained. “It will make the difference between a good performance and a great one.”

The theater director is already planning a light comedy next fall for students who don’t necessarily want to sing or dance in the annual musical. “There is certainly enough energy, talent, and interest here,” he observed.