Theatre is everybody’s story

For over a decade Sharon Byrd has been making a profound impact on our school as theatre teacher and Academy Department Chair.

“I found a love of theatre when I was in high school and it’s been a part of my life ever since. I had been toying with becoming a lawyer, veterinarian, writer and even exploring those as majors in college. Then I got cast in my first show and regardless of my lack of skill and my innate tendency to be an introvert I found my home,” said Byrd. 

Despite her love for acting, Byrd has focused much of her attention in recent years on directing. She is well known for directing the annual spring plays. 

Academy Art teacher Erin Richburg’s favorite production was “Agnes of God.”    

“It was so well done in such an intimate space and her students really brought to life the conflict in the play,” said Richburg. “I was able to see the behind the scenes as well because my students helped design the set so watching the process and seeing the end result was very cool.”

Byrd works closely with fellow Academy Theatre Teacher, Christa Vogt.

“Years ago at one of VPAA Info Nights, we scrambled to get the technology together for our Theatre Strand presentation behind the grand drape while the main presentation was happening in front of it, said Vogt. “We were whispering and couldn’t clearly hear each other, and it was like a two-person game of ‘Telephone’. We laughed so hard for a very long time. It was a great stress release.” 

Byrd is not only focuses on curriculum. She also knows how to bring a smile to others’ faces even when it is hard to bring one to her own.

“She [Byrd] is oftentimes so responsible and takes on so much that she is expected to juggle on a daily basis that some days it seems like she is all work and no play,” said Richburg. “Byrd is hilarious and she is able to make me laugh just by looking at me down the hallway. Even when she is stressed she can find ways to make me laugh.” 

One of Byrd’s biggest takeaways in theatre is staying authentic to individual behavior. 

“In my experience, theatre is about being curious and seeking to find the truth within given circumstances. What is it like to be you? To tell your story? To live your life? To find our common ground as people across continents and across history,” said Byrd. “The theatre is a community of like-minded individuals supporting one another and encouraging that process of learning and then presenting those findings to an audience. I love that. And my Salem community does not disappoint. Mrs. Vogt and I get to share our curiosity and knowledge with an incredible group of young artists dedicated to those same concepts who teach us every day what it means to be human and curious – it is joyful and humbling.”

If Byrd could change the general public’s perception of anything regarding theatre, she would want people to understand that theatre students are more introverted than one would think and theatre is everybody’s story, but not everybody’s story is a musical.