RHS Theatre Collective
Meet the directors
Department Chair & Theatre Magnet Director
Erik Archilla
Erik Archilla graduated Summa Cum Laude from Baylor University with a BFA in Theatre Performance. He has been teaching at the Richardson High School Theatre Magnet since 2006, and has been Department Chair of the Theatre Collective since 2021. He has directed many plays at RHS, including By the Bog of Cats, Lord of the Flies, Legally Blonde, Into the Woods, Chicago, SpongeBob, CARRIE, and FROZEN. In 2018, he was named an RISD STARS Teacher. He has also taught workshops at the Dallas Children’s Theatre, The Classics, Big Thought’s “Thriving Minds,” and was an Arts Integrationist for DISD. Outside of his career in Education, Erik acts on the stage, performing at Watertower, Theatre Three, Shakespeare Dallas, The Classics Theatre Company, and Second Thought Theatre where he was an original company member and currently serves on their Advisory Board. He’s also done voice over work for Funimation (now Crunchyroll), Okratron 5000, and commercial radio, and is represented by Kim Dawson Agency. In addition, he’s the co-creator, writer, and producer of the critically-acclaimed audio drama podcast “1865,” which now has almost 8 million downloads.
Theatre Magnet Director
Chase Mitchell
Graduated with an MS degree from Texas A&M University-Commerce, a BFA from the University of Texas at Arlington, and an AFA from Lon Morris College. Mr. Mitchell previously taught at Berkner High School for 5 years as the Technical Theatre Director. He was born and raised in the Dallas area and has been a part of the theatre community since he was 9 years old. He has worked with many theatre companies throughout the metroplex including: Dallas Children’s Theatre, Theatre Arlington, & Garland Civic Theatre. His acting credits also include Disney on Ice Shows & professional film work.
Theatre Magnet Director
Madison Armstrong
Madison Armstrong is incredibly excited to be teaching at Richardson High School! She has been in theatre education since 2021, previously serving as co-head director at Plano West Senior High School. She graduated from the University of North Texas with a degree in Theatre and a minor in Social Sciences (emphasis in Psychology and Sociology). Ms. Armstrong has worked as a producer, director, actor, technician, choreographer, playwright, puppeteer, and improv troupe member. Her goal as an educator is to inspire creativity and passion in each of her students.
Theatre Magnet Director
Jacob Hemsath
Mr. Hemsath was the West Junior High theater magnet teacher for four years before joining the RHS Theatre team. He considers theatre his home away from home, and it brings him great joy to be able to mentor students in the theater arts. He graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Music in Musical Theater from Ouachita Baptist University. In college, he performed in musicals, plays, operas, and in choirs, as well as worked behind the scenes, both in production and direction. He has performed for many professional theatre companies around DFW such as Lyric Stage, Casa Mañana, and Uptown Players and other theatres outside of DFW as a singer, actor, and dancer.