Reimagining the Performing Arts Through Storytelling, Advocacy, and Community

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Hello, I’m Rohan. Welcome to Curtains Up!

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I started  Curtains Up!   because I love theater and wanted to learn more about its history and the people who keep it alive today. Over time, it has also become a way for me to speak up about why the arts matter and why students and communities should continue to have access to them.

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Through my podcast, I talk with artists, educators, researchers, and arts leaders from across the country. We explore theater history, but we also talk about issues facing the arts today, including arts education, funding, access, community wellness, and the future of the performing arts.

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As a high school theater student, arts advocacy is especially important to me. I have seen how theater can give students a place to be creative, build confidence, make friends, and feel like they belong. I also know that these opportunities are not always guaranteed. Arts programs can be affected by limited funding, changing school priorities, and decisions about what opportunities students should have.

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I want to use Curtains Up! to help more people understand why keeping the arts strong matters. Supporting the arts is not just about putting on shows. It is also about education, community, culture, and giving people opportunities to connect with one another.

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I am also interested in business and economics, which has made me curious about what happens behind the scenes. How do arts organizations find funding? How can they reach more people? What does it take to keep arts programs going for the future?

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Through Curtains Up!, I hope to bring these different interests together by exploring the history, impact, business, and future of the performing arts. From ancient theater and Shakespeare to arts education, senior wellness, funding, and AI, I want to understand where theater has been, where it is today, and where it might go next. You can also find my work on Instagram and curtains-up.org. 

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Most of all, I hope Curtains Up! can help more people understand why the arts matter and why we need to protect opportunities for them in our schools and communities.