Emerson mourns death of former Dramatic Arts chair
Britt Braudo
6/25/09
Former Emerson professor and chair of the Dramatic Arts department William Sharp passed away May 29 at his home in Swampscott, Mass. Sharp, 84, was a member of at Emerson's faculty from 1970-1994 and was named professor emeritus of the performing arts after his retirement.
The Chicago native attended Phillips Academyin Andover and University of Chicago High School, before serving with the 381st Engineer Combat Battalion in France and Germany during World War II.
Sharp received his Ph.D. in theater and drama from Stanford University and was the chair and creator of the Drama Program at the University of California at Riverside from 1954-1964. He also taught at Stanford University, where he co-founded the Stanford Repertory Theater, and at Middlebury College.
"Dr. Sharp was a passionate educator who inspired and influenced many students who are now successful writers, directors, actors, educators and performing arts professionals," said Emerson College President Jacqueline Liebergott. "His impact on the lives of his students was profound and he will be greatly missed."
His Emerson colleagues remember Sharp as a drama enthusiast who loved classic Greek and Shakespearean plays. Leo Nickole, a retired Emerson professor who continues to teach at the college, was the Chair of Theatre Arts while Sharp was in charge of the Dramatic Arts department prior to the creation of the performing arts department.
"I remember on several occasions he would come into my office and we would talk about plays that he wanted to do for the dramatic arts department and I would talk about some of the work we would to do," Nickole said. "He would come into my rehearsals and offer some recommendations. He was wonderful in terms of his perspective on play production."
Nickole and Sharp worked closely together after President Liebergott came to Emerson. Sharp played an instrumental role in developing the current performing arts department.
"When the new president came in and the departments merged, we were really growing up in terms of our department in theatre at the time," Nickole said. "He was very cooperative and understanding during the transition."
Although Sharp's expertise was in Greek and classical plays, Nickole said he also developed an appreciation for more modern styles of expression.
"He was also interested expressionistic theatre, and more modern types of theatre that are so very much now in popularity," Nickole said.
Former Emerson professor Davis Robinson, now a professor at Bowdoin College, said Sharp's most memorable moments were in the classroom.
"He made every conversation a learning moment, and did his best to inspire actors to think deeply and thoroughly about dramatic structure, intention, and the playwright's words," Robinson said. "Like any good acting teacher, he was also always willing to put himself at risk, get on stage for a reading or a part in a play, and put his money where his mouth was."
Emerson Assistant Professor Mary Ellen Adams, who helped with costuming and makeup on many of Sharp's productions, said Sharp's intense focus on his students' development helped many Emerson alumni get good jobs after graduation.
"He was just a cool guy," Adams said. "He could be fiery though, the students would veer off course and he would bring them right back to the task. He was very focused on character development and studying character, and he would pass that on to students."
Sharp's sudden death was a shock to those who knew him well and had kept in touch with him after his retirement from teaching.
"I would see him maybe once a week and sometime have coffee with him after his retirement," Nickole said. "His passing was shocking to me because we never even mentioned any part of it, and that made the friendship very close. I would meet him and we would be walking together on Tremont Street and he never mentioned that he was ill."
Besides all of Sharp's accomplishments in the classroom and on the stage, he will be remembered by many former colleagues as a kind person with a passion for teaching.
"I always found him very professional, and the students adored him too, because he was a man who extended himself to them," Nickole said. "I had a tremendous respect for Bill Sharp. He was a scholar."
Former Emerson professor and chair of the Dramatic Arts department William Sharp passed away May 29 at his home in Swampscott, Mass. Sharp, 84, was a member of at Emerson's faculty from 1970-1994 and was named professor emeritus of the performing arts after his retirement.
The Chicago native attended Phillips Academyin Andover and University of Chicago High School, before serving with the 381st Engineer Combat Battalion in France and Germany during World War II.
Sharp received his Ph.D. in theater and drama from Stanford University and was the chair and creator of the Drama Program at the University of California at Riverside from 1954-1964. He also taught at Stanford University, where he co-founded the Stanford Repertory Theater, and at Middlebury College.
"Dr. Sharp was a passionate educator who inspired and influenced many students who are now successful writers, directors, actors, educators and performing arts professionals," said Emerson College President Jacqueline Liebergott. "His impact on the lives of his students was profound and he will be greatly missed."
His Emerson colleagues remember Sharp as a drama enthusiast who loved classic Greek and Shakespearean plays. Leo Nickole, a retired Emerson professor who continues to teach at the college, was the Chair of Theatre Arts while Sharp was in charge of the Dramatic Arts department prior to the creation of the performing arts department.
"I remember on several occasions he would come into my office and we would talk about plays that he wanted to do for the dramatic arts department and I would talk about some of the work we would to do," Nickole said. "He would come into my rehearsals and offer some recommendations. He was wonderful in terms of his perspective on play production."
Nickole and Sharp worked closely together after President Liebergott came to Emerson. Sharp played an instrumental role in developing the current performing arts department.
"When the new president came in and the departments merged, we were really growing up in terms of our department in theatre at the time," Nickole said. "He was very cooperative and understanding during the transition."
Although Sharp's expertise was in Greek and classical plays, Nickole said he also developed an appreciation for more modern styles of expression.
"He was also interested expressionistic theatre, and more modern types of theatre that are so very much now in popularity," Nickole said.
Former Emerson professor Davis Robinson, now a professor at Bowdoin College, said Sharp's most memorable moments were in the classroom.
"He made every conversation a learning moment, and did his best to inspire actors to think deeply and thoroughly about dramatic structure, intention, and the playwright's words," Robinson said. "Like any good acting teacher, he was also always willing to put himself at risk, get on stage for a reading or a part in a play, and put his money where his mouth was."
Emerson Assistant Professor Mary Ellen Adams, who helped with costuming and makeup on many of Sharp's productions, said Sharp's intense focus on his students' development helped many Emerson alumni get good jobs after graduation.
"He was just a cool guy," Adams said. "He could be fiery though, the students would veer off course and he would bring them right back to the task. He was very focused on character development and studying character, and he would pass that on to students."
Sharp's sudden death was a shock to those who knew him well and had kept in touch with him after his retirement from teaching.
"I would see him maybe once a week and sometime have coffee with him after his retirement," Nickole said. "His passing was shocking to me because we never even mentioned any part of it, and that made the friendship very close. I would meet him and we would be walking together on Tremont Street and he never mentioned that he was ill."
Besides all of Sharp's accomplishments in the classroom and on the stage, he will be remembered by many former colleagues as a kind person with a passion for teaching.
"I always found him very professional, and the students adored him too, because he was a man who extended himself to them," Nickole said. "I had a tremendous respect for Bill Sharp. He was a scholar."