Greenfield native comes back to direct camp, 'Lion King Kids' musical

Sarah Smith Burke and her daughter Taylor came to Greenfield last week to give about 35 young campers the unique experience of putting together a musical and performing it for the community all in five days’ time.

Sarah graduated from Greenfield High School in 1995, when the town’s opera house still stood largely rundown, however fascinating, in her own words.

To come back after she had been away for awhile and run a camp like this — the music and acting teacher used to frequent Greenfield each summer, however she hasn’t as much since the pandemic — has been a very rewarding experience.

Sarah is proud of her hometown, so when Catherine Olesen reached out to her about doing a camp like this, she didn’t have to think about saying yes. She just did.

Sarah, the daughter of Ron and the late Barb Smith, directs musicals regularly where she lives in Arizona. She’s taught music and acting for a long time. Through having to teach choir online during the pandemic, she learned she enjoyed teaching acting just as much as singing.

The production campers performed last Friday and Saturday nights was “The Lion King Kids,” which is a simpler, more condensed 40-minute version of “The Lion King,” which is a story most people know well.

Sarah said she wished she would have had opportunities like this growing up in Greenfield, but she had many other good opportunities.

“I was a kid who could’ve used something like this when I was a kid. In most parts of Iowa, there’s an emphasis on trying to be an athlete. I tried to be an athlete and I was a decent athlete in a couple of different sports. But there were a few times during my adolescence where I wondered where I really fit in, and I am certain there are kids who feel that way now. It’s cool to now be one of the people providing something like this for kids like me.”

Taylor, 18, has been helping her mom direct shows since she was about 14. While she’s been in shows and enjoys that, her passion is directing shows and helping a cast prepare a show into something that is their own.

“Being on a stage completely prepares you if you’re going to have to public speak when you’re older. An audition is like a job interview. The nervousness, talking, presenting yourself, working together with the cast, memorizing your lines, it all provides real-life qualities,” Taylor said.

Sarah said everybody needs a little bit of the arts in their life.

“It’s a fun, creative way to learn things you’ll utilize for the rest of your life,” Sarah said.