Richard Everett

Richard Everett is Shannon Everett's wealthy father and the anonymous sponsor of Edwin Blackgaard's acting class. He offers the struggling theater owner good money on one condition: no student may be turned away. Edwin becomes convinced the secret donor must be Shannon's father, cuts the other students' roles, and makes her the star of an overcrowded production. His attempt to flatter Richard produces a spectacular failure. Furious with the poor teaching and obvious favoritism, Mr. Everett withdraws his money and leaves. Richard's sponsorship creates a real opportunity for Edwin to guide young actors fairly, but it also exposes how quickly Edwin abandons judgment when pleasing a wealthy patron seems more profitable than doing his job well.