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Kristin Byrne lives in a world of Imagination.
Kristin Byrne
As president of Palmetto High School's Imagination
Theatre, Byrne is a key player in a troupe of talented young actors
bringing live theater to children all over South Florida.
"Most kids today grow up without ever
experiencing live theater," said Byrne. "They spend all
their time watching TV or at the movies and hardly ever go out to see
plays. So, we're bringing live theater to them!"
Byrne, a senior honors student at Palmetto Senior High
School and a Miami Herald Silver Knight award nominee in the drama
category, became seriously interested in acting when she was in the
10th grade, took a theatre class as an elective and met drama teacher
Rick Adams.
"He's the best drama coach there ever was and he
really encouraged us," she said. "I didn't act in any
productions until my sophomore year, but then I had a small supporting
role in a play and I immediately loved it."
Since then she has performed in several Palmetto
productions, including Dancing at Lughnasa, Antic Spring, The Skin of
Our Teeth, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Sister Mary Ignatius
Explains It All For You, and What You Will a humorous satire of
Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.
Byrne has received many prizes and commendations for
"superior performances," both individually and as part of an
ensemble.
During the summer before her junior year, Byrne joined
Palmetto's elite acting troupe, known as Imagination Theatre, a group
of young actors that brings live performances to children throughout
the county.
"In most schools, after a performance of a play,
the actors leave the stage without ever interacting with the
students," said Byrne. "I remember when I was young watching
a production in school and wishing I could talk to the performers and
ask them questions. So, we always stay for awhile after our
performances, talking about acting and about our show. Sometimes the
kids get so excited they even ask for our autographs!
"I'm proud of the work I've done with Imagination
Theatre and thankful to Haley Gordon for starting a wonderful Palmetto
Players tradition," she continued. "Performing for the
elementary school children, especially the special needs kids, has
really made me feel good about myself. It warms my heart every time
the students remember more words to the songs we sing than we do, or
when a child I don't even know comes to sit on my lap. It is the
greatest feeling!"
After graduating from Palmetto, Byrne plans to attend
a four-year university with a strong theatre department.
"Thanks to the long rehearsal hours and excellent
training I have received at Palmetto High School, I hope to be able to
excel in the field of dramatic arts," she said.
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