'Hadestown' will be Braden River High theater director's final show


Ricardo Robinson-Shinall has worked in the Braden River High School theater department since 2016.
Ricardo Robinson-Shinall has worked in the Braden River High School theater department since 2016.
Photo by Madison Bierl
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Ricardo Robinson-Shinall has built a multi-faceted, educational career spanning nearly three decades in choreography and theater production.

After teaching at Braden River High School as the color guard director for 15 years and the theater teacher for 10, Robinson-Shinall’s last show as theater director will be Hadestown: Teen Edition April 24-26.

“All I wanted to do was to create and do stuff in this performance world,” Robinson-Shinall said. 

In 2019, Robinson-Shinall was driving with his daughter Monica Dellinger and they were listening to the Hadestown soundtrack. A song called “All I've Ever Known,” which he described as a pivotal moment in the show, was playing. 

”We were on Alligator Alley, and we noticed the fact that both of us were just in tears, crying over the show,” Robinson-Shinall said. 

Six years later, Robinson-Shinall decided that he wanted Hadestown to be his last show. Hadestown is still touring the country, so the rights are restricted so only teenagers can perform it. 

“Nothing changes, none of the songs change,” Robinson-Shinall said. “Everything is the exact same thing, except it has to be done by people under 19.”

Jacob Mazzone is a senior who plays Hades in Hadestown. He said when he first met Robinson-Shinall at the beginning of his high school career he was intimidated, but quickly felt comfortable with him.

“As far as Ricky goes, everyone here appreciates him, and he's phenomenal at what he does,” Mazzone said.

Senior Gloria Candela is the stage manager and has been in the drama department her entire high school career. She said Robinson-Shinall can be tough, but only because he wants them to reach their full potential. 

“A lot of us are dedicated to the department, so we just want to do our best because we want to make him proud,” Candela said.

Jacob Mazzone, Ricardo Robinson-Shinall, Gloria Candela and Michael Sandwall.
Photo by Madison Bierl

Ricardo Robinson-Shinall was inspired from a young age to pursue the creative arts. His mother Cyndi Robinson was a dancer and his father Bruce McGee was a football player at the University of Central Arkansas. At the football games they had a co-ed color guard and it sparked Robinson-Shinall’s interest. 

“I was fascinated by it, so I started doing productions in my yard for my family where I would choreograph my own shows, and I would sew my own costumes and sew my own flags,” Robinson-Shinall said.

Both of his grandmothers, Millie McGee and Gracie Lay, were seamstresses.

“I have been designing and creating my entire life,” Robinson-Shinall said.

Robinson-Shinall attended Newton County High School in Decater, Mississippi. The school did not have a theater program, but they did have a show choir. 

“I was actually one of the inaugural male members who joined the show choir,” Robinson-Shinall said. “Before, it was all female.”

Robinson-Shinall was introduced to a lot of music from Broadway in show choir, which led to him auditioning for community theater productions. His first production was doing “Oklahoma” with the Newton Little Theater Company when he was 14 years old as a lead dancer.

Robinson-Shinall said he had various inspirations to pursue the arts. During his time in high school, band directors Pete White and Larry Howell gave Robinson-Shinall the opportunity to teach the color guard program and develop his skills.

Robinson-Shinall said that his choral director Gloria Harms believed in his abilities and trusted him to pursue his dreams. He attended East Central Community College and the University of Southern Mississippi.

“I actually did go to college and majored in vocal music education with a minor in theater and dance, because I wanted to be like her,” said Robinson-Shinall. 

Robinson-Shinall said that he wanted to be a Broadway performer, and he almost pursued it, but then decided to pursue an occupation that would give him a steady paycheck.

He has taught various color guard, theater and dance classes across Mississippi. He moved to Atlanta for a couple of years for a color guard position before landing in Bradenton. 

Ricardo Robinson-Shinall majored in vocal music education with a minor in theater and dance.
Photo by Madison Bierl

In October 2024, Robinson-Shinall became one of the school district’s specialists for visual and performing arts, which oversees all of the theater and dance programs in the county. He is currently doing double duty but this will be his last year as the theater director at Braden River.

“I'm hopefully going to have a little bit of time, and the first thing that I'm going to do is audition for a community theater show,” Robinson-Shinall said. “I have not done anything for myself in 17 years since I left Mississippi.”

Robinson-Shinall said he takes inspiration from other teachers, students and performers in order to strengthen his skillset and methods. He attends theater festivals and competitions in order to continue to teach new things.

“You should never stop learning,” Robinson-Shinall said. “You should always walk into every situation and be a sponge, and that's what I teach my students.”

Tabetha Walter began working as the theater and dance teacher for Braden River High School in November 2024 and has been working with Robinson-Shinall to make his last show happen. She will officially take over directing next year’s show, bringing 20 years of choral music experience. She has also directed 22 musicals.

Robinson-Shinall described his current students as resilient, hardworking and professional. 

“There's no doubt in my mind that a huge chunk of them are going to go on and become famous or continue doing this after high school, which is all that I want,” Robinson-Shinall said. “We want them to keep going and not just do this like a one and done thing.”

 

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