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Monroe drama teacher says acting in her soul

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By Denise Wilson, Staff Writer 7:11 PM Sunday, September 13, 2009

MONROE — Devan Norsworthy caught the acting bug at the age of 15 in Kettering summer youth theater while performing in “Theatre Under the Stars.”

Even though she’s been hired as the drama and English teacher at Monroe High School, she has no plans to abandon her acting career.

“That would be like giving up part of my soul,” she said.

A 30-year-old Franklin native who lives in Kettering, Norsworthy was an actress for four years after graduating in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in theater studies from Wright State University.

She played a Loretta Lynn-like character in a three-woman musical, “Honky Tonk Angels,” during its 2002 run at La Comedia Dinner Theatre in Springboro.

Norsworthy toured for two years with the Theatre IV Children’s Touring Company in Cincinnati and traveled nationally before returning home. She found a full-time job and joined the Dayton Philharmonic Choir.

While completing her master’s degree in language arts education at Wright State, she performed in a play-writing contest called Future Fest with the Dayton Playhouse. Her performances included “Arsenic and Old Lace” and “Barefoot in the Park.”

She also performed in the Lebanon Theatre Co. as Shelby in “Steel Magnolias.” She met her husband, Ben, while performing in a 2006 musical in Middletown called the “1940s Radio Hour.”

Norsworthy said she decided to pursue acting after participating in glee club in high school.

“My teacher made me audition for the ‘Music Man’ and I did, and I got a part, and that was it. I loved it,” she said. “I think I’m just a big ham. I love being on stage and having people watch me and the applause. I love the process, too, and all the people that you meet.

“I love everything about it,” she added. “It so much fun working on a show to me and developing the character.”

Devan Norsworthy

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