Hamnet reintroduced Shakespeare to contemporary audiences, reframing the bard as a working artist shaped by family, loss, and daily life.
This shift in perspective rang true for Elyse Sharp’s ’12. Her podcast Shakespeare Anyone? — which she produces and hosts alongside Kourtney Smith — recently earned the 2026 Shakespeare Publics Award (large scale) by the Shakespeare Association of America. The award recognizes culturally significant efforts to foster and sustain diverse Shakespeare studies through teaching, scholarship, performance, and/or activism.
“Shakespeare Anyone? was born from the idea that there was a disconnect between theatre practitioners and Shakespeare academics,” Sharp said. To bridge that gap, she and Smith began unpacking the academic work and recontextualized it for a wider audience. “Just a few weeks ago, a character on HBO's The Pitt quoted Shakespeare; understanding those references holds power in our society,” she explained. “The more people who can access and engage with that capital, the more equitable the culture and society become.”
For Sharp, the foundation for this work began in college. “My entire experience at Whittier helped me grow the seed of the idea that classical theatre could be deconstructed and re-examined through modern lenses,” she said. Coursework in script analysis and theatre history continues to shape her approach, while interdisciplinary classes pushed her to connect art with social and cultural contexts. “All of these interdisciplinary experiences foreground the work I do today.”
Sharp’s extracurricular involvements also encouraged her to blend theory and practice. “As a podcast producer, I view the four years that I spent working at the on-campus station, KPOET Radio as a formative experience outside of the classroom that led directly to my current work,” she said.
Sharp sees her success as part of a broader case for the liberal arts, which she champions as a long-term investment.
“Its power lies in teaching students skills such as critical thinking and communication, that apply across industries and allow graduates to navigate, network, and succeed in diverse contexts.”
For students considering a future in theatre, her advice is simple: stay open.
“Success in theatre and the broader entertainment industry isn't linear. You will be a better artist (and human) if you don't limit yourself to just one narrow view of success or what you can offer this industry.”
