Curtain closes, but legacy lives on

A longtime director of the Shelby High School theater department has taken his final bow.

Steven Padgett, 55, passed away Friday. The Shelby native spent 25 years as the director of the school's theater department, teaching and inspiring countless students along the way.

“I was one of hundreds, but he made me feel like I was one of one,” former student Jordan Ellis said.

Though his time at Shelby High came to a close several years ago, Padgett’s legacy at the school remains intact. The department is now led by two of his former students, Dan Treharne and Cole Hamrick.

Treharne said Padgett wanted his students to have fun, but he was also known for being tough and giving honest critiques, all in an effort to have them give their best performances. Treharne cites Padgett’s approach to students as the greatest lesson he learned from his mentor.

“He showed me how you can have a great passion for theater, and you can bring it to students on every level,” Treharne said. “He was very good at seeing what a student could be and giving them the opportunities to find that within themselves.”

Highly awarded

During his tenure at Shelby High, Padgett earned 21 Excellence in Directing awards and seven Excellence in Choreography awards from the North Carolina Theatre Conference.

He was known for working closely with Kathie Royster Burgin, who served as manager of the Malcolm Brown Auditorium for nearly 20 years. Burgin passed away in 2010.

Michael Sisk taught Padgett math while he was a student at Shelby High, and remembers how his former student hated the subject. When Padgett returned to Shelby to teach, he and Sisk worked together on many productions. He recalls how Padgett flourished in the theater realm.

“The high school had a reputation across the state for having strong productions, and he and Kathie were both huge factors in that happening,” Sisk said.

Treharne likens the creative partnership of Padgett and Burgin to that of John Lennon and Paul McCartney during their time in The Beatles.

“They were each their own individual artist and person, but they found a way to come together and connect in a way that was really dynamic,” Treharne said.

In 1997, under the direction of Padgett and Burgin, Shelby High won the State High School Play Festival for the first time with a production of “Brighton Beach Memoirs” by Neil Simon. Shelby High then represented the entire state at the Southeastern Theatre Conference High School Festival in Alabama.

In 2006, Shelby High won the State High School Play Festival again, this time with an original play written and directed by Padgett and Burgin. The duo took their play, “Fried Pies: The Tawdry Tale of Mitzi Massingale,” to represent the state of North Carolina at the conference held in Georgia that year.

“A high school doesn’t have to do the stereotypical high school theater,” Treharne said. “They can push beyond that. He gave a really great example of what high school theater can be.”

The duo also inspired a younger generation with Kathie Burgin Children's Workshop Theatre, which continues to enrich the lives of Cleveland County's youth through performances today.

Unforgettable experiences

Ellis was one of such youth who worked with Padgett. He began with the children’s workshop at age five. Padgett then taught him theater at Shelby Middle and again at Shelby High.

Ellis still acts to this day and has gone on to do theater in Colorado, New York and Charlotte. Padgett remained in touch through the years, and Ellis still looks back fondly on his beginnings in Shelby.

“He made my time at Shelby High School unforgettable,” Ellis said. “I’ve talked to a lot of people who want to forget high school. I can look back and really treasure the time and the family that Steve created.”

Sabrina Giles, who graduated from Shelby High in 2004, said Padgett taught her to leave it all on stage and helped prepare her for life beyond high school. She continues practicing theater, and said Padgett will continue to live on through the students he taught over the years.

“Those performances will be dedicated to him,” she said.

A service celebrating Padgett’s life will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday at First Baptist Church in Shelby.

Shelby High chorus and theater alumni were called to perform a favorite Broadway songs tribute to Padgett for the service.

Casey White can be reached at 704-669-3339 or cwhite@shelbystar.com.