Playwright
My work as a playwright grows directly out of everything else I do. Years of performing Shakespeare have shaped how I think about language and how it lives in the body, how it lands on an audience, how a single word choice can open a scene up or shut it down. My background as an actor in Theatre for Young Audiences has sharpened my instinct for storytelling that earns its audience's attention rather than assuming it. And my Shakespeare scholarship runs underneath all of it, informing how I think about making complex, rich material feel genuinely alive and accessible to anyone in the room.
Both of my produced works reflect that fusion. I co-adapted Shakespeare on the Vine's Henry IV, helping shape one of the most sprawling histories in the canon into something stageable, surprising, and grounded in the text. And I co-wrote Never Fear, Shakespeare with Sean Patrick Nill for B Street Theatre's Family Series, which introduces young audience members to Shakespeare as a guy trying to make something with his friends, rather than a genius on a pedestal.
Whether I'm adapting or writing something new, I'm always chasing the same thing: language and story that matter and make sense.
Never Fear, Shakespeare
By Sean Patrick Nill and Elyse Sharp
ML Roberts, Rob Karma Robinson, and Hunter Hoffman in B Street Theatre’s 2025 production of Never Fear, Shakespeare. Photo by Tara Sissom-Pittaro.
When sixteen-year-old Ben Shoe sneaks off to see his first play, his world explodes with wonder. Dazzled by the power of storytelling, Ben runs away to London to chase an impossible dream: to become an actor with the Lord Chamberlain’s Men. Along the way, he befriends a struggling playwright named William Shakespeare, clashes with the legendary Richard Burbage, and accidentally sparks one of the most iconic moments in theatre history: the creation of the Globe Theatre.
Full of humor, history, heart, and (of course) snippets from Shakespeare’s best, Never Fear, Shakespeare celebrates the messy magic of making theatre. With rollicking performances, modern wit, and a story that connects kids and adults alike to the joy of Shakespeare’s world, this family-friendly adventure reminds us that the stage belongs to everyone.
“Never Fear, Shakespeare!, written by Sean Patrick Nill and Elyse Sharp, introduces kids and grown-ups to the Bard in a fun and engaging way. There are guaranteed laughs, gasps, and even some learning in this wonderfully entertaining world premiere. ”