Swampscott

William L. Sharp, 84, beloved Professor of Acting, Dramatic Literature and Theory and former Chair of the Theater Arts Department at Emerson College, died unexpectedly on Friday, May 29, 2009 at his residence in Swampscott, MA.

Born in Chicago, he attended Phillips Academy, Andover and University of Chicago High School and then served with the 381st Engineer Combat Battalion in France and Germany during WWII. He completed both his B.A and his M.A. from the University of Chicago. He received his Ph.D. in Theater and Drama from Stanford University and went on to teach at the University of California at Riverside, where he was the Chairman and Creator of the Drama Program from 1954-1964. He taught at Stanford University, where he also co-founded the Stanford Repertory Theater, and at Middlebury College and was Director of the Theatre Program at the Breadloaf School of English from 1966-1976. He was a faculty member at Emerson College from 1970-1994 and was named Professor Emeritus of the Performing Arts.

Dr. Sharp truly loved teaching. He inspired and influenced many students who are now successful writers, directors, actors, educators and performing arts professionals. His impact on the lives of his students was profound and he will be greatly missed.

He directed over 50 productions at Stanford University, Breadloaf School of English, Emerson College and the University of California at Riverside. He earned critical praise as a professional actor with companies such as the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the Stanford Repertory Theater, The Repertory Theater (Madison, Wisconsin), Princeton University and the Gloucester Stage Company in Massachusetts. He was an enthusiastic player of Scrabble and many other games. He was a long time summer resident of Essex, NY.

His scholarship was recognized by publication in a number of journals such as the Educational Theater Journal, the Tulane Drama Review and The Drama Review and his 1970 book, Language as Drama.


Dr. Sharp was predeceased by his wife of 27 years, Shirley Sharp (nee Vanderwalker) and is survived by their children Arthur, Kate and Liz Sharp, and grandchildren Laura and Sam Polstein and Alison Buckley as well as his sister Darlene Fiske and brother Don Sharp. He was also lovingly tended in his later years by close family friends Melanie and Marcus Ransom and the late Jen Waterkotte.

A memorial service will be held on July 25 at 2:00 p.m.at Semel Theatre of Emerson College, Tufte Performance and Production Center, 10 Boylston Place (pedestrian way), 3rd floor, Boston, MA 02116. Please send donations in lieu of flowers to Emerson College Performing Arts, c/o Robert Ashton, Emerson College, 120 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116, noting that the donation is in memory of William Sharp. For online guest book or additional information, please contact the Murphy Funeral Home, 85 Federal St., Salem MA 01970, 978 744 04978 or visit www.MurphyFuneralHome.com.