Week 34 - Play time - Sheridan, Bywater & Thomas

The love of theater and being on stage has been part of my family for generations.  Although I would love to show a connection to notables such at Richard Brinsley Sheridan or John T Prince...alas...it is not to be. Yet.

But our family has had our share of local actors and actresses.  Let's begin with William Fay Bywater.  Uncle Fay did perform at least once that I know of. He was one of 14 thespians who put on a play ca1935 at the Middleton High School in Middleton, Michigan, the next town over from Perrinton. Fay was born April 1, 1917, in Sears, Michigan. He was the son of William and Sadie (Johnson) Bywater. He would have been about age 17 in this picture. (marked with an X)

Middleton High School ca1935
Possibly performance of A Christmas Carol
W Fay Bywater - X

Uncle Fay's granddaughter, Jessica (Graves) Ripley. Jessica was a budding actress and enjoyed performing in theater all through school. She continued on throughout college and even performed at the Kennedy Center at the American College Theatre Festival in the production of 1913: The Great Dayton Flood. Today she still enjoys the theater, but out of the lights and in a seat. Maybe one of her and Alan's children will 'carry on'....

The Crucible 1999
Jessica - bottom right

Leo Thomas Sheridan was also a budding actor while in school. He performed in more than one play throughout his schooling. He performed in "A Prairie Rose" in April 1915 at Middleton High School.  An engaging young man he was always in the limelight even as a grownup. He was born Jan 17, 1896, in Fulton, Michigan, son of Michael and Elizabeth Sheridan. He married Marie Baker December 20, 1919, and they were the parents of three children: Lorelei, Grace Virjean (aka: Jean) and James R Sheridan.

Leo Sheridan
Alma Record 29Apr1915 Thu pg7 col4

Toni Thomas has been Drama Director at West Branch High School for about 25 years and has been a driving force behind many aspiring actors/actresses from Michigan. Although she usually helped direct school plays rather than performing in them at St Mary's in Gaylord and Sault High in Sault St Marie, Michigan her love of theater has never left her.

Her daughter Margaret has performed since she was a small child and continued through High School. She will be attending Michigan State University pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. It has been very rewarding to follow and support her over the years.


Being creative comes in many ways and performing on stage would have to be one of the best. The excitement of opening night, the sense of accomplishment and the pleasurable feeling when the audience claps and whistles at the end. Not a pastime for most but for the chosen few who obtain that height it must be spellbinding.

Barbie






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