Despite pandemic, OFC Creations finds innovative ways to keep the arts alive

When Eric Vaughn Johnson founded OFC Creations Theatre Center he was a middle-schooler with a passion for theater that wasn’t being addressed in the traditional school setting. So it might come as little surprise that 15 years later, as OFC embarks on a new chapter in its storied history, the organization continues to cater to the kids it was founded to serve.

“Many other theaters in town will run summer camps or a summer production for teenagers, or sometimes have shows for younger kids, but this is a company that that’s part of its mission, to educate all ages,” said Judith Ranaletta, longtime former vocal music and drama director at Greece Athena High School and a director for OFC. “There are educational and performance opportunities for all ages all times of the year. They have a stunning program for training young people.”

Despite the pandemic, OFC Creations was able to hold its annual camps this past summer, educating and entertaining some 500 socially-distanced kids ages 4 to 18. The camps were held at both Kodak Center and OFC’s new theatre center at Winton Place. Because state regulations called for camp groups of no more than 15 people, productions were smaller in size, with each youngster in a speaking role.

“They were all able to be a lead in a show,” Johnson said. “So it kind of worked out to our advantage to an extent; it gave kids that normally wouldn’t have that opportunity a bigger chance. So that’s what we’re focused on right now.”

In fact, OFC Creations is focused on quite a bit right now. Johnson and his team of three employees and up to 50 contracted teachers and artists in April leased the former Comix Café and most recently Downstairs Cabaret Theater in Brighton, spending the bulk of the next few months renovating the 9,600-square-foot space into a theater that seats 260 and includes a cabaret space and lounge, dressing/green room for nearly two dozen and other amenities.

“It’s an interesting time to open a theater, during a pandemic, but everything was kind of signed before the lockdown so we just spent the down time here painting away and keeping sane, to be honest,” Johnson recalled.

The project has been a labor of love for Johnson and his team.

“This has been a long time coming for us needing our own space and needing something that we can call our own and be able to do what we need to with,” he said. “I think there’s a big demand from the kids that have been with us. It’s funny; even though there aren’t big public performances right now that people can come in groups of 200 to, people are still buying tickets. They want to come see something when things reopen.”

Johnson founded OFC Creations in 2005 when he was headed from middle to high school. He and a group of neighborhood kids were looking for more arts activities than were being offered in their school.

“They weren’t being offered where we were going and we couldn’t really find a community resource to do what we were looking for so created it ourselves,” he said. “And that’s kind of what we’ve always been about even today, creating opportunities for kids that they need more of.”

Over time, OFC ventured into film and video work. They made movies and shorts for school projects and competed and placed in a handful of film competitions. They made feature films as well as commercial parodies and music videos.

“Over time we really discovered that we wanted to do more of the live stage element and some wonderful adults gave us the opportunity and supported us in the right ways to make that possible and see if that’s something we wanted to do,” Johnson explained of the group’s trajectory into live theater.

From that point on OFC was a student-run group that following graduation was asked to run an educational program at a school, a program that would teach elementary school kids about theater and performing.

“So we came in and we kind of learned how to do that, and those kids wanted voice lessons. And then those kids wanted summer camps,” Johnson recalled. “So slowly and organically it grew to be what it is today, where we’re in multiple schools running their drama programs. We have things happening that are keeping the kids actively engaged because they can’t get enough of it and they want to continue.”

Somewhere along the way Johnson connected with RAPA, the Rochester Association of Performing Arts. RAPA, now closed, was Upstate New York’s oldest and largest professional school for performing arts, having opened in 1978. While there, Johnson served as program director and ran the nonprofit’s educational programs.

It was while he was with RAPA that Johnson met Ranaletta. Ranaletta was directing “Little Shop of Horrors” at RAPA’s East Main Street theater, and Johnson was stage manager of the production. The two had a conversation about Johnson’s direction in life.

“Eric has always been ahead of his time and a visionary from a very early age,” Ranaletta said. “As RAPA moved from Main Street and started operating out of the Kodak (Center) facility, Eric became the head of educational programs and the youth theater programs there. He brought that educational program for young children to life and it was wonderful.”

Their paths continued to cross as Ranaletta directed for RAPA and for a number of other theater companies around town and Johnson continued his work in theater.

“He was always there. He was doing publicity, program director, marketing, tickets and that is proof of the fact that he is so capable in so many different areas,” Ranaletta said. “Then RAPA just kind of ended, and Eric and I both moved on to different places.”

Ranaletta continued her work with Roc City Singers, a group she founded of singers and dancers who have performed at the Rochester International Jazz Festival, the Fringe Festival and elsewhere. Johnson, meanwhile, found a new home for OFC Creations at Rochester Lyric Theatre, a stunning performance space in a former church located in Rochester’s Neighborhood of the Arts.

Johnson and Ranaletta since that time have partnered on a unique interactive, immersive theater experience that Ranaletta had seen while in Venice, Italy.

“In Venice they have old castles. They’ll do a full-scale opera, where normally you would see 40 to 50 people with three singers. And they will take you from room to room in the castle,” Ranaletta explained.

As artistic director at the Century Club of Rochester, a women’s club located in the former Vogt Mansion on East Avenue, Ranaletta wanted to bring a similar production to the location. When she was unable to get the backing she needed, Johnson stepped in to co-produce. The duo has since produced four immersive shows at the Century Club.

During that time, Ranaletta also had directed a show for OFC at the Lyric. When OFC moved into its own space, Ranaletta was asked to direct four shows for the organization. Roc City Singers also are housed at OFC’s new theater while the Century Club is closed during the pandemic.

“The space itself has everything: a great location, the perfect number of seats — there’s not a bad seat in the house — parking is wonderful, it has that beautiful cabaret space in the front so that you can do small theatrical cabaret type events as well,” Ranaletta said. “I’m very grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of his team. I feel very valued personally and as far as my knowledge is concerned.”

OFC expects to continue its 2020-2021 season including productions in November that include tributes to Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra, as well as a December production of “A Golden Girls Christmas Carol, The Musical.” In January, Ranaletta will direct an eight-person production of “the Fantastics.”

Each of the upcoming shows will offer socially distanced seating and performers will wear masks and face shields. Educational opportunities — which include a number of programs for kids of all ages including dance lessons and productions of “A Wicked Christmas Carol” and “Annie Jr.” — also will continue to be socially distanced, adhering to both state regulations and CDC recommendations.

In addition to upcoming productions, OFC also will be expanding its newly-acquired space by 1,000 square feet. The second-floor addition will serve as a dance studio for kids to rehearse, as well as a breakout space to separate boys and girls dressing areas.

Ranaletta said Johnson is the kind of individual who says he is going to do something and before you can bat an eyelash he has it done.

“We knew that there was something very exceptional about him from a very early age. He truly is a visionary,” she said. “He’s resourceful, he’s creative, he’s provided opportunities for all ages and all year round.

“It’s been a great collaboration,” Ranaletta added. “I’m thrilled for Eric that he has seen yet another dream materialize, and I know that he won’t stop here. His growth is affecting many other people in a very positive way, educationally, artistically. His footprint will make a permanent artistic mark in the community for many.”

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