Seth Sharp: International Ambassador of Arts in Education

In real life, Hartford, Connecticut native, Seth Sharp is a singer, actor, writer, director, teaching artist, and vocal coach, who happens to be living a storybook life as a big time celebrity in his home of Reykjavik, Iceland.

As a boy, Seth always wanted to be a singer and actor. He even knew he wanted to travel the world and live in Iceland ---- Iceland of all places? His childhood dreams of living there came to life after, sort of, falling into living there.  Just like a character from C.L. Lewis' Narnia fantasy series, when he was but a child himself, Seth was pulled into the land of Iceland by a magical force.  By simply reaching up into the set of encyclopedias his mother had purchased for the family, his dream began. He was only able to reach the volume that was marked for the letter "I."  The pages fell open to Iceland. Seth held onto his fascination with Iceland until he finally moved there after college. Taking the country by storm and surprise, he became a national celebrity.  Now, that is really speaking a dream into reality!

I considered myself fortunate to have crossed paths with Seth when he was in Connecticut to visit with his family and to direct and produce a children's production at his alma mater, Rawson School in Hartford.  When I arrived in the auditorium, where Seth was working with the students on that sunny summer day in August, the environment seemed immediately reflective of Seth's laid-back demeanor.  The students were genuinely happy to be working with him, and Seth worked with a calming ease with all of the kids, giving notes and directions to a myriad of child actors and singers.  Before the group stopped for a break, I was able to observe the organized, but active rehearsal.  Shortly after I arrived, the group paused for their much needed lunch break.  Seth, dressed in a simple black t-shirt and khakis, quietly approached me, where he agreed to be interviewed about his trail-blazing career and his commitment as an international ambassador of arts in education.

As a teaching artist, Seth seemed happy to let me know that he has always enjoyed bringing the arts into the classroom, as well as directing school stage productions.  His first performance was in school when he was three years old. His eighth grade Gifted and Talented teacher saw that he had a penchant for teaching and gave him the opportunity to help direct his first play.

During is matriculation at Yale, Seth started a theater company that did outreach with a third grade class of a local school, exposing them to poetry and singing.  That class had the opportunity to be the opening act for one of the theater company's Yale performances. Seth also told of being a member of Yale's acapella troop, the WhiffenPoofs.  He performed for President Clinton in the early 1990s, singing "The Christmas Song" for the president and his family during a holiday party.  Seth says, "This was one of my most major gigs!"

Although not a certified teacher, he recognizes the need for arts specialists to consult in the schools.  He feels that he assists educators in creative ways of teaching certain subjects.  "If there is a social studies or history project, say during 1776, we (he and students) could write a play together and assign the parts of historical figures to students.  This prompts student research of their respective characters, as well as the time period."  The students, in turn, become excited about this research because they are playing a role in a presentation in which they are actively involved.

Sipping casually from his bottled water, Seth talked about how he brings arts to kids.  "I developed my philosophy around the group investigation method," a cooperative learning approach he studied.  He says this approach promotes kids "taking ownership of the process."  He breaks the students into groups that specialize in specific aspects/tasks of a production (i.e. set design, marketing, costumes, etc.) like a real production company would operate.  Furthermore, Seth says he wants "to prepare students for the business world; create a safe place for students; and to prepare students to have an entrepreneurial spirit."

He remembers what a "tremendous experience" it was for him to direct his own theater company in college, "having to balance budgets and pay for things."  That's another reason he perpetuates the aforementioned "cooperative learning" model.  Seth also shared an anecdote of his philosophy in action.  He had one group of students in the four-week Rawson school project design the lighting for the show, only to applaud their efforts and then tell them to redesign the lighting as if there was little or no money was in the budget.  Seth says, "I want the students to problem solve too."

When asked about his future projects for children, Seth adjusted himself on the bleacher where he was seated, and with his trademark look of sincerity, depth and poise, he stated, ". . . I run a theater program there (Iceland) at an international school . . . I will probably start that again in October . . . My hope is to come back to Hartford soon . . . It's a wonderful feeling to take some of the knowledge from traveling around the world and come and take it to the kids...I love to be able to inspire the way I was inspired . . ."

"If this is what you want to pursue . . . have discipline, discipline, discipline, as much as possible, and keep going."  With a spirit that suggests wisdom way beyond his years, Seth doles out advice to students who aspire to gain success in show business.  One can almost see him staring intently at the aspiring student, piercing them with his huge limpid pools for eyes.  With the brilliance of an old soul, he reassures them, letting them know that they are receiving some of the true keys to success.

Photos "Children in Reykjavik" by ezioman and "Sunrise Across the Icy Lake In Feykjavik" by Trey Ratcliff courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons.