Rochester Association of Performing Arts

History

Established in 1978.

The Rochester Association of Performing Arts (RAPA), is Upstate New York’s oldest and largest professional school of performing arts for all ages having served the Greater Rochester Area since 1978.

RAPA is a non-​profit 501c3 corporation primarily training students in theatre arts, voice, and dance.

RAPA’s mission reflects its commitment to all community persons interested in the arts, ages 4-​adult. Fulfilling its mission, many of the students in RAPA’s career program have performed on Broadway, tours and in feature films. Others have gone on to prestigious performing arts colleges and conservatories. Still others have become playwrights, directors and founders of Community theatre groups. It is within RAPA’s mission to provide a safe environment for all students, artists and performers of all nationalities and financial backgrounds.

Meet the Manager

Eric J.

Manager

Eric has been involved with countless theatre and film productions in the Rochester community. Johnson serves as the Business Manager and Program Director of Rochester Association of the Performing Arts (RAPA) coordinating all classes and educational programs for RAPA, and serves as the Managing Director of OFC Creations. He directs and teaches theatre arts in several local schools including Seton Catholic School, Barker Road Middle School, Penfield Schools, and Greece Summer Enrichment (SNAP). Past directing and producing credits include: The Wiz, as a benefit for Facing Race, Embracing Equity; the original Rochester musical, Kite Strings, as part of the 2013 Rochester Fringe Festival; the RAPA & LGBT Giving Circle production of bare: a pop opera; and the first Rochester production of In the Heights for seven sold-​out performances at the East End Theatre. Most recently, Johnson directed West Side Story & Mary Poppins as RAPA’s first Main Stage productions at the Kodak Center.