Canyon Lake writer’s lyrical play goes live in Midland, Michigan

BY Dawn Rankins

Sharon Curcio, a long-time resident of Canyon Lake, recently had her lyric play, “Contemplating Fire,” take the stage for the first time in Midland, Michigan.

Sharon is not only a writer, but she was an English teacher for more than 20 years and taught at university and high school levels. She also worked in marketing and was a copywriter for a Madison Ave Advertising agency.

“Contemplating Fire” is an oratorio focusing on the life events of Joan of Arc.

Sharon Curcio

“The play focuses on Joan’s short life as a leader of France at the age of 17 and her subsequent brutal betrayal and execution,” Robert Nordling, the conductor-music director of Shoreline Music Society, said. “We hope audiences enjoy this performance and that they are challenged by it to think and feel deeply about Joan of Arc and the issues raised by her life and death.”

Janet Martineau, who reviewed the play, said the full libretto shares the pain and heartbreak and anguish and grit of Joan’s last hours on earth. It is as brilliant as the score, she said

Sharon lived in Miami before coming to California in 1992 where she served as a project officer for the Army Reserves before returning to teaching.

While on active duty, Sharon was called to Guantanamo Bay to conduct intelligence analysis from 2003-2004. She retired from the USAR as a CW-4 in 2012.

Sharon retired from teaching in 2018, however, she taught student teachers online for National University from 2019 to 2021.

In 2013, Sharon’s mother moved to California and Sharon became her mother’s primary caregiver until her passing in April of this year.

In retirement, Sharon wrote five screenplays, two with co-writer Diana Saenz. Sharon and Diana continue to co-produce a podcast.