Zac Attends Retirement Celebration for his Drama Teacher

Longtime drama teacher Robyn Metchik took her final curtain call at the Clark Center for Performing Arts, where she directed and produced countless student performances over the last decade.

“I don’t have any idea what’s going on other than I was told to be here for a meet-and-greet at 5:30,” said Metchik before her “Take a Bow” tribute show began. “

Nearly all of Metchik’s guest directors and more than 50 former students performed in the show, which included musical numbers from past “Metchik Shows” and a special performance by the honoree’s three children: Aaron, Asher and Ari.

But the biggest surprise came at the end of the night when former pupil and Hollywood actor Zac Efron emerged from backstage with a homemade award for Metchik.

“She pretty much embodies drama for me all through my high school years,” said Efron. “When I found out she was retiring, I raced in my car today to be here. Literally stuck in traffic noteven knowing if I was going to make it.”

Efron credited Metchik with inspiring creativity and confidence among he and his peers growing up, and called her “the reason I was able to do anything in my life”.

In her retirement, Metchik said she will clean out her house, try community theatre and make the occasional guest appearance at Nipomo High School productions, if they’ll let her.

“It’s a real family affair,” she said. “I’m going to miss it a lot.”