When Danville locale Ryan Weible graduated San Diego State University with a Bachelor of Arts Performance Studies degree in the Spring of 2002, he was faced with a difficult decision. After securing an offer to lead the Drama Department at San Ramon Valley High School directly out of college, he decided to put his dreams of a successful Broadway career on hold. Some might call it settling, others may call it being grateful, but if you ask Ryan Weible, he calls it simply that, “a calling.”

Ryan knew early on that he had a calling to teach, further dispelling any otherwise doubting Thomas’ when he accepted a teaching position as opposed to pursuing a show business Career.

Immediately recognizing the opportunity that had been given to him, Ryan made a vow to create the kind of theatre that the community and students deserved. The position as the Drama Department head had usually been reserved for the likes of more seasoned professionals, whom of which have weathered many years of successful theatre productions. Despite his lack of years, and teaching credential at the time, being fresh out of college, Ryan took on the position with the same level of professionalism that he employed with every role he took, on stage or off.

Through Ryan’s extensive theatre training he has learned the value of risk taking and reverberates to his students in and outside of the classroom its importance. When asked to elaborate, Ryan passionately explained, “You need to put yourself out there to be able to find and test your own personal limits. Anyone that can do exactly that will achieve their own personal measure of success whether it is in theatre or in life.”

Shortly after taking the reigns of the SRVHS Drama Department in 2003, the California State School District had to make mandatory budget cuts, which included letting go of all non- credentialed teachers. Ryan sought this as an opportunity to heed his own advice of risk taking.

Ryan took what money he had and moved to try his luck in theater. Quickly immersed in the New York City culture, Ryan experienced firsthand what his once lucid dreams had cultivated so many years hence. Studying at New York University over the course of four years, Ryan accomplished many accolades including directing New York premieres such as Antique, That’s Amore and Games People Play. Upon finishing his Masters in Theatre Education at NYU, Ryan co-directed “III” at the Cherry Lane Theatre and received 2008 honors of “Overall Excellence Award for Outstanding Play” at the New York International Fringe Festival in addition to being selected for publication in The Best Plays of 2008.

After achieving so much in such a short time, Ryan began to sense a void in his life, whether to continue his career in New York or to follow his initial calling to teach, Ryan reassuringly exalted, “The decision was easy, I wanted to teach.”

Leaving the New York scene to return to teaching at San Ramon Valley High School, Ryan has no regrets, adding “In New York, Theatre is a business, and I’m not a business man, I’m a teacher. Ryan elaborated saying, “It took leaving teaching, and pursuing previously made plans to realize what I wanted most was right here in front of me all along. That being said, I am better off because I left as I am now more experienced and in the process have opened an incredible amount of doors as a result, doors that my students now have access to.”

Ryan Weible’s latest project is directing the upcoming production of San Ramon Valley High Schools “Wait Until Dark.”

“Wait Until Dark” can be seen at the San Ramon Valley High School Performing Arts Center February 18-20 at 8:00pm and an encore presentation February 21 at 2:30PM.