A Star Behind the Scenes

Heath Carroll is far from shy.

A longtime thespian, he feels at home on stage and is empowered by the reactions he elicits from audiences.

“When I can make people laugh, that’s like a superpower,” he said.

As Emerald Coast Theatre Company’s (ECTC) educational director, Carroll is fun and easy to talk to, especially if the topic of conversation is his students.

“We’ve got a saying here, that ‘the heart of ECTC is you,’ that the heart is the patrons,” Carroll said, adding that for him, “The heart of ECTC is the kids. I’m here for them.

“I never thought I was going to be an educator, but there’s nothing that really matches the moment when you see a student get it — when you see something click for them or you see them having true joy in something they’ve done. Because creation is one of the most powerful things we can accomplish as human beings.”

Carroll’s life, personal and professional, has been shaped by finding himself in unexpected places.

He didn’t always have an interest in theater. But his friends and drama teacher managed to pull him in during his sophomore year of high school when one of their productions fell an actor short.

“I found out that I loved it,” he said. “Then I found out that you could get scholarships for college through the arts. That got me all the way through college.”

Photo by Mike Fender

Encouraging professors matched Carroll with gig work that led him to California, where he interned with a Shakespeare company for two seasons before bouncing to New York City. There, he performed in cabaret shows alongside college friends.

“They had all the music, but they didn’t have the book,” Carroll recalled. “I fancied myself a young writer at the time, so I wrote the book for them. Doing that cabaret is how I met my wife.”

What started as a writing collaboration soon evolved. After visiting Carroll’s family, his wife Melissa fell in love with Holmes County’s rolling pasture landscape just miles from the Gulf of Mexico shores, and the couple decided on a permanent move.

Carroll worked for 10 years as Ponce De Leon High School’s fine arts teacher, the very school where he first discovered his love for theater. But when ECTC co-founder Nathanael Fisher invited Carroll to teach a summer class, he never left.

“And then they opened up this position for education director, and I jumped right in. It’s been go, go, go ever since.”

Students at ECTC enjoy working under Carroll’s guidance. One student noted Mr. Heath as fun and inspiring and said he’s great at breaking the ice for new or reluctant students.

Carroll enjoys catching the kids off guard with silly, off-the-cuff bits, and he always keeps spirits high.

Carroll says he doesn’t “put on a teacher mask,” always treating his students with the same respect he does his colleagues, and believes laughs are just as important as learning. Photo by Mike Fender

“I’m pretty fast and loose and speedy,” Carroll said. “I try to have as much fun with it as possible, even though it is work … you’ve got to laugh, and you’ve got to be having fun while you’re doing it.”

But even more, he enjoys being the resident hype man.

“I always try to pump them up, let them know when they did a good thing,” he said. “Let them know when they need to work on something but really celebrate the good moments.”

Jokes aside, much of Carroll’s good rapport with students stems from his honest and respectful approach.

“I’m sure anyone can remember when you were in school, maybe elementary or middle school level, you always knew when you were being talked down to,” he said. “I don’t want to do that to a child.”

Carroll oversees all youth programs and productions and teaches several classes each season. So his days are full. But a busy schedule is a small price to pay to help prepare the next generation of creatives for life outside the theater.

“It’s more than theater,” he said. “It would be great if some of our kids went on to Broadway. But that’s not really the goal. The goal is the life skills they get.

“Figuring yourself out, that is what it’s all about for these kids,” he continued. “But you’re also learning about the human condition.”

Carroll considers himself a visual learner and recognizes that learning styles differ for everyone. In moments where he can help it all click for a student, he feels he’s done his job. Photo by Mike Fender

When preparing kids for real-world auditions and job interviews, Carroll preaches, “You don’t need to fear them. There will be another job. There will be another gig. The thing you’re trying to get across is, you’re selling yourself as a product, but make them realize how much they need you, that you’re bringing something to it.”

He sees value in each of his students, and he wants them to see that, too.

“Everybody needs their spotlight moment when they’re here with us … and each one of these kids deserves
that moment.”

For Carroll, witnessing each student’s shining moment feels as good as a rave review. 

Photo by Mike Fender

» Get involved

Whether it’s through classes, attending a performance or becoming a VIP Member, learn how to get involved by visiting EmeraldCoastTheatre.org.