A Herd of Tiny Traditions
July 1, 2026
As audience members make their way into the Anne and Ellen Fife Theatre, Bryan Newton and his co-workers have already started tabulating their guesses.
Newton, who works for Rhino Sports & Entertainment Services and helps provide security support at center events, gathers with fellow Rhino staff after performances begin to make their official predictions.
The challenge? Guess how many tickets have been scanned for that evening’s performance. The box office reveals the exact number and the closest without going over a wins. The only problem? There was no prize.
So Newton made one.
“And I’m like, ‘You know what would be a good prize? A little rhino,’” he said.
Using his 3D printer at home, he created a small, colorful rhino figurine. The first winner named their prize “Thunder,” and what started with one rhinoceros quickly became a tradition. Soon, Newton was designing new versions inspired by holidays, seasons, and even center performances — each one a tiny work of art.
Today, the collection includes a parade of personalities. An Easter bunny rhino. A warrior rhino for a wrestling event. A dancing rhino inspired by a performance by Stephanie Lake Company. Some balance gracefully. Some shimmer with multicolored filament. Some take only a few hours to print. Others, with intricate color changes, require more than 12 hours.
Each one reflects Newton’s creativity and the camaraderie among the Rhino team members who work together throughout the season.
“It brings joy. And it’s fun,” Newton said. “Going through the process and either picking or designing it, it’s a nice little creative outreach for me.”
What began as a hobby quickly turned into a creative outlet and, eventually, a way to bring a little extra fun to the workplace.
The tiny rhinos have become something of a badge of honor among the team, with everyone hoping to claim bragging rights and take home the latest creation. Before performances, the evening’s prize often sits atop the security gateway, where regular patrons have learned to look for it.
A 2001 Virginia Tech graduate with a degree in Business Information Technology from Pamplin College of Business, Newton served as a student manager for the Marching Virginians, handling logistics for the ensemble. He maintains his connection to campus through his work with Rhino, helping support events across the university, from athletics to concerts, but the Center for the Arts holds a special place for him.
“This (the Center for the Arts) was a dining hall when I went to school here,” he said. “Seeing what it’s become, it’s just awesome.”
He also appreciates the variety of experiences the center brings to Southwest Virginia.
“There are so many different types of events,” Newton said. “No matter what you like, there’s something here.”
That variety means no two nights are quite the same. A jazz concert brings one kind of energy. A family performance brings another.
And Newton will keep making rhinos. It's a small tradition, but one that captures something larger — the connections that form behind the scenes and the people who help make every performance possible.
After all, every great show needs a solid supporting cast.
All images courtesy of Bryan Newton.