Whether he is on stage acting in front of 1,000 people at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park inside the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area or teaching 19 students in a second-grade elementary school class, Gerry Brooks has one philosophy in mind: "To be true to yourself and to be true to what you're putting out there," he said.

Brooks likens teaching to acting because in both roles, he has to be animated to capture his audience's attention, so he can teach them something new. For instance, in his latest role as Andrew McNair, a Congressional custodian in "1776," Brooks is hoping the audience will learn more details regarding the political situations leading to the signing of the Declaration of Independence.