Life

Guided by Mrs. Byrd, HES theater has soared

Director Helen Byrd and tech director Chuck Place celebrate with the cast of 'Sleeping Beauty,' which opens Friday at Hendersonville Elementary School.

By Bill Moss, Published: October 24, 2014

Helen Byrd remembers when she first took on the assignment of directing the annual fall play at Hendersonville Elementary School. Incumbent director Kelly Schofield had applied for a teaching job at another school. She asked Byrd if she would take over.

"I said yes without thinking," Byrd says. "I had been an actor and I loved it. I never planned on directing and I didn't want to be a director. I didn't think she'd get the job."
But Schofield, who went on to become an award-winning principal at Dana Elementary, did get the new job and Byrd had to make good on her promise. Ten years later, legions of young actors at the school have gained from Byrd's coaching, cajoling and occasional scolding to put on productions that are known to be a cut above the usual elementary school play.
For starters, Byrd casts the play in August and launches rehearsals immediately after.
"She has spent months after school from 3 till 6 o'clock, just on a volunteer basis," says Claire Moss, an HES mom and the play's producer, meaning she herds volunteers and acts as a liaison to parents. "It's got to be someone that truly truly loves to do this."

Cues, lines and blocking

After a play rehearsal on Sunday, the actors, who are in grades 3 through 5, sat on the stage and talked about working with Mrs. Byrd, rehearsing and performing.
The fun part "is being with your friends after school," says Ella Smith, a fifth grader and a stage veteran.
"The hardest part," says Jacqueline Fernandez, "is learning the blocking."
"The funnest part," says Heath Gray, "is when you're so excited and you see those faces out in the audience."
Helen Byrd critiques actors after a rehearsal for 'Sleeping Beauty'To combat stage fright, "I just kind of jump quietly and get all my nerves out," says Alyssa Glover. "I take a deep breath and I just walk on stage."
This year's play, "The Spell of Sleeping Beauty," features a cast of 25 HES students.
The children said memorizing lines was hard, and so was learning their movements. Speaking and walking at the same time "just adds another level of difficulty," says Raphaella Alvarez.
Mrs. Byrd teaches them to listen for their cue, to stay in character and to convey emotion in their roles. The annual play is popular, and tryouts can be competitive.
"I feel like being in the play all three years is exciting because a lot of people will try out and not many will get in," Ella says.
On Friday, the young actors will show up at school already made up. That startles their classmates.
"Everybody's like, 'What's your problem?'" says Katherine Justice. "I think that sort of pumps you up and gets you ready for the play."
Anne Jones raises her hand.
"The best part is right before the show we have a giant actors circle and we say nice things about other actors," she says. "It makes you feel good."
Mrs. Byrd was touched by that. She invented the technique.

'She's so passionate about it'

Moss says Byrd's skill is equal to any she's seen at the Flat Rock Playhouse's YouTheatre, where her children have also performed. And it will be missed. This is Byrd's last show. She is retiring after 10 years of directing and 38 years of teaching, 24 of those in Henderson County.
"She's so passionate about it," Moss says. "She not only loves acting and the stage. She loves children and loves to teach them about it and is so patient with them. Being a producer watching first hand how she interacts with them, how she explains things and the most important thing is that they're having a good time. It's very special."
"They're not your average school play," she says. "The plays have prepared them for productions at the YouTheatre and really her shows are comparable. With the limited funding and resources she has, it's remarkable the professionalism that these guys show."
She gets a huge hand from volunteer set designer Chuck Place and costume designer Doren Blu.
After the audience boos the Wicked Witch and cheers for the Princess and Prince, the final curtain will descend Saturday night on "The Spell of Sleeping Beauty" and on Mrs. Byrd's directing career.
The tradition is endangered. The elementary school may not be able to find a teacher with a theater background, infinite reserves of patience and willingness to work 20-30 hours for free to meet the high standard Mrs. Byrd has set. "That's why other schools don't do it," Moss says.