Dave Reynolds couldn’t be happier to return to John Stark Regional High School, where he’s helping this year’s senior class put on their final show.

For him, this isn’t just a return to where he spent his teenage years; it’s a homecoming to the school, the teachers, and the experiences that helped shape his creative journey.

Now, a performer with the Los Angeles-based musical improv and theater troupe Robot Teammate, Reynolds has taken a path from rural New Hampshire to the Hollywood stage. But he’s never forgotten his roots.

“It really made me who I am today,” said Reynolds. “I feel like it made me the person who was able to accomplish the goals I had in front of me and the hard work it took to participate in the entertainment business.”

From Nov. 15 to 17, students from John Stark Regional High School will perform POCKETS, an original musical by Robot Teammate that is set in the whimsical, “olde British-ish kingdom of Crumpeton.”

Following the show, students will have a week of hands-on workshops and improv sessions with Robot Teammate members.

The group adapted the musical’s script specifically for this production, adding new characters and songs, even creating four songs at the students’ request — all of which will be performed here for the first time.

Reynolds credits Jen Matzke, the school’s performing arts teacher, with making this collaboration possible by securing the necessary grant.

Matzke was also Reynolds’ teacher when he attended John Stark High School. He graduated in 2007.

“If it wasn’t for her, none of this would happen,” said Reynolds. “She cares so much about these kids. All the roses and flowers in the world, if we could buy them and hand them to her, I would.”

While back at the school, Reynolds is also teaching a class. He feels overwhelmed with pride for a school that would embrace this opportunity for its students and is proud to have been part of this community.

“To be back in the same hallway and to be on the same stage and to know that this is some of these seniors’ final show at Stark and it’s POCKETS, it’s not just pride, but it’s a responsibility that I’ve felt and I’ve taken on,” said Reynolds. “I want this to be the best three weeks that these kids could ever have if they want to participate because, to me, Stark was that way, and I’ve always felt that I’m living my authentic self because Star allowed me to be my authentic self.”

Sruthi Gopalakrishnan can be reached at sgopalakrishnan@cmonitor.com