Christian Magby, who plays Lafayette and Jefferson in Hamilton, and SCAD President Paula Wallace held a 90-minute assembly for 250 Riverwood students.

A cast member from the Broadway musical Hamilton spent an afternoon with 250 students at Riverwood International Charter School, Fulton County Schools said Tuesday.

Christian Magby, who plays Lafayette and Jefferson in the show, visited the Sandy Springs high school on Sept. 17. He was joined by Paula Wallace, the founder and president of the Savannah College of Art and Design. The district described the visit in a Fulton County Schools news post on the Riverwood visit.

What happened

The assembly ran for 90 minutes. Wallace interviewed Magby about his background and career. The pair then took questions from students and posed for photos.

Magby is a Stockbridge, Georgia, native, an actor and composer, and a SCAD graduate, the district said. His early theater experience was with the Youth Ensemble of Atlanta.

Students also heard about SCAD programs in business, gaming, technology and art. SCAD has come to Riverwood before, the district said, but for more traditional events such as college fairs.

Riverwood students seated in a row, one holding a microphone and asking a question during the assembly.
A Riverwood student asks a question during the assembly with Christian Magby and Paula Wallace. Photo: supplied by Fulton County Schools.

Two days to plan it

SCAD approached the district because of its support for arts education, said Elizabeth Eppes, the district’s K-12 visual and performing arts coordinator.

“They knew our schools would recognize the value of an opportunity like this and work to make it happen for students,” Eppes said. Riverwood, she said, “has a strong Fine Arts Department, engaged students and leadership that is always willing to support meaningful opportunities for students.”

Principal Kindra Smith and her staff had two days’ notice. They chose 250 students with an interest in:

  • fine arts
  • U.S. history and social studies
  • the musical itself

“It opened my eyes. Sometimes we stay traditional when it comes to bringing colleges to our students,” Smith said. “It’s OK to explore and bring colleges who bring different things to our kids.”

SCAD also gave more than 20 tickets to members of the Riverwood community for the closing performance of Hamilton at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta the following Sunday night, the district said.

What it means for you

Riverwood is one of two public high schools in Sandy Springs, with North Springs Charter High. It sits at 5900 Heards Drive and is an International Baccalaureate magnet. Our Riverwood International Charter School profile has its test scores, graduation rate and enrollment, and our guide to Sandy Springs schools compares it with the city’s other public schools.

Parents who want to know about future arts events or college visits at the school can ask through Riverwood’s own website.