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True Stories

A  Passion for Theater
Shia Saltzman

"Life is what happens to you when you’re busy making other plans." John Lennon’s often-quoted line resonates with many of us at a certain age, and captures perfectly, by his own admission, Shia Saltzman’s experience.

For as long as he can remember, the 69-year-old grandfather of three, has been attracted to the theater. He envisioned himself as an actor, director, drama teacher. But necessity dictated a different script. "You have to earn a living to raise a family," he said. So after completing his military service, Shia went to work as a paint salesman, a successful career that would stretched 40 years. Yet he found a way to keep his passion alive. A sales territory and customers may have claimed his working days, but his nights and weekends belonged to community theater.

His first role -- Mr Peachum in Bertolt Brecht’s Three Penny Opera -- led to some 50 others over the years. He was Willie Loman in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman (playing opposite his wife, Sandy, who shares his love for the theater) and Tevye in the popular musical, Fiddler on the Roof (two favorites). In the 1970's, Shia Saltzman began to direct three shows a year at Jewish Community Center, in Bayonne, New Jersey. He serves as drama coach at the local Y.M.C.A., where teenagers are given the opportunity to explore typical problems in original skits. He also directs a summer playhouse for Bayonne residents (those entering 8th Grade through age 20)

Then three years ago, after he had retired from his sales job, the stage beckoned again. This time, Shia was hired as full-time director of theater productions at his alma mater, Bayonne High School -- a match made in heaven. "I enjoy working with young people," he said, "it keeps me young. I try and get kids involved in the theater, especially kids with problems. I look for the shyest kids, and try to bring them out. They learn so much about life, about other people and cultures by being involved in a play. They discover parts of themselves they didn’t know existed. They get high on being able to move an audience to laughter or to tears."

Bayonne High School does three productions a year, including classics such as Arsenic & Old Lace, You Can’t Take It With You, Up the Down Staircase, Mame, Hello, Dolly! and West Side Story. Most recently, it staged Night of January 16, a courtroom drama by Ayn Rand, with 19 characters that fills its jury with members of the audience. "I like to choose plays with lots of parts so more kids get an opportunity to participate," Shia said.

When a show ends, he is often flooded with letters from grateful cast and crew. Two of his students have gone on to bigger things. One is currently on the road with the touring company of Peter Pan. Another was awarded Best Supporting Actor for his role in Hello, Dolly! by Rising Star, a program sponsored by the Paper Mill Playhouse that judges musicals from 100 area schools. Shia Saltzman couldn’t ask for better reviews.

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