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Act I- Where the story began

A traditional five-act play begins with an introduction, builds through conflict, reaches a turning point, and ends in transformation. It is a structure designed not just to entertain, but to reveal something true about the human story. In many ways, Kyle Biery’s life has followed the same pattern.

A third-grade classroom in Cleveland, Ohio, and a university theater in East Tennessee could not look more different, yet both have served as stages in Kyle Biery’s life. What started as an early introduction to theatre has grown into a calling to lead and mentor young performers. Kyle’s path to the chair of the theater department at Carson-Newman University began far from a university stage. A graduate of Morristown-West High School’s Class of 1991, Kyle first discovered the stage years earlier in that third-grade classroom.

Once a month, a volunteer named Loe Goldwasser, a stay-at-home mother with a deep love for theatre, transformed that ordinary classroom into something extraordinary. Desks became makeshift stages in an after-school children’s theater group she led in Cleveland, Ohio, Stagecrafters. She introduced students to the world of performance and imagination. Kyle was one of those students.

Kyle carried that love for theatre with him when his family relocated to the Lakeway area, specifically Morristown, in 1990. His father, Max Biery, joined TRW (now JTEKT) as its only American representative, helping establish the company locally. His wife, Marsha, and their family soon made Morristown home. It was at Morristown-West that Kyle met Mr. Maloy, the former director of the combined East and West High School theater productions. Along with Maloy, Kyle became part of the inaugural Summer Players Program, a longstanding summer theater program for students in the Lakeway region. He performed in its early productions such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Hamlet.

Kyle continued his education at the University of Tennessee, bringing together two fields that would shape his future: a degree in architecture alongside a second degree in theatre. One taught him how to design physical spaces; the other taught him how to tell human stories within them. He went on to earn a master’s degree in scenography—the art of designing sets, lighting, and costumes—at the University of North Carolina Greensboro. There, he learned to create environments that do more than frame a performance; they help reveal its meaning.

Kyle’s path circled back to the stage when his former teacher, Mr. Maloy—who was helping lead Carson-Newman University’s lyrical theatre program—invited him to take part in a production of Fiddler on the Roof. While this initial opportunity was not an official role on the production team, it opened the door to what would become Kyle’s long relationship at Carson-Newman. A few years later, he received a formal invitation to join the production staff. When Dr. Welton retired in 1997 after 37 years of leadership, Kyle was asked to carry the torch forward, first serving in an interim role. Although he would later step away for a time, Kyle ultimately returned in 2008 to serve as chair of the Carson-Newman theatre department—a position he has faithfully held for the past 18 years.

Act II: Stories that Shape the Soul

At Carson-Newman University, Kyle has intentionally shaped the theatre program around the school’s guiding principles, creating a department that is both artistically rigorous and spiritually grounded. He describes it as an intentionally Christian program—not one that avoids darkness or brokenness, but one that understands them as part of the human story.

“Life isn’t free from pain or struggle,” he says. “The question for us is always, How do we point people back to the Creator through each show and performance?” That question guides every decision he makes, from the scripts he selects to the way rehearsals are led. The department does not shy away from challenging material; instead, it approaches difficult themes with purpose and discernment.

“We do challenging work,” Kyle explains, “but we do challenging work with the Holy Spirit guiding and leading us.” For him, theatre is more than entertainment. It is a way to illuminate truth, invite reflection, and ultimately direct hearts and minds toward God through story. Some productions remain more than performances in Kyle’s memory—they become markers of growth, faith, and formation. One of the most meaningful milestones came just this past fall with Mary Poppins, a show Kyle had dreamed of directing for years. Other productions continue to stand out in his mind, including The Women of Lockerbie, The Diary of Anne Frank, The Diviners, We Live By the Sea, and Big Fish. Of these, Big Fish holds a particularly sacred place in his heart; the stage adaptation of the beloved story of a father and son.

“Big Fish was definitely one of those productions that changed me,” Kyle says. “I think I’m choosing these plays for my students, but God ends up changing me every time.”

For Kyle, each production is more than a title on a program. They are chapters in a living story—one in which God continues to work through art, students, and the light that rises each time the curtain opens.

As part of their senior capstone, theatre majors at Carson-Newman are required to direct and produce their own original stage production. Among the many projects Kyle has guided over the years, one stands out with particular significance:

“One student, Momo Smith, was deeply moved by the book Shakespeare Saved My Life and adapted its stage production Shakespeare on the Range for the C-N stage. It was a truly special senior project that stands out in my mind,” he explains. With Kyle’s mentorship, she transformed the story into a theatrical production that brought its message to life. The project reached an even greater milestone when the author, Dr. Laura Bates, attended one of the performances in person. For Kyle, the moment captured everything he hopes theatre can be: a space where literature, music, and performance converge to tell stories that heal, inspire, and connect.

Act III: A Shared Calling

Theatre does not end on the stages of Phoenix Theater and Gentry Auditorium. Theatre is a family experience. In 1998, Kyle met his wife, Lisa, who shares not only his love for theatre but his commitment to living out faith through service and storytelling. A fellow Morristown native and graduate of Morristown-West High School’s Class of 1996, Lisa first met Kyle under stage lights during a production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol at Walters State Community College.

Like Kyle, Lisa has devoted her life to guiding young people and families toward creativity and confidence. After teaching and directing theatre at East High School, she now serves as the education director for Encore in Morristown, where she continues the work once modeled by Loe Goldwasser—entering schools, organizing after-school productions, and introducing students to the transformative power of theatre.

Beyond the stage, Lisa also lives out her faith through her role at Arrowhead Church, where she serves as Director of Next Steps. In this position, she helps families—especially women—take meaningful steps in their walk with Jesus, offering guidance, encouragement, and spiritual formation. In many ways, her two callings reflect one mission: helping people step into the light. Whether guiding students onto a stage or helping families grow in faith, Lisa’s work echoes the same belief that has shaped Kyle’s journey—that stories, creativity, and community can become pathways to purpose. Together, the Bierys live out a shared calling of faith and formation, investing in the people of the Lakeway area through both art and discipleship. From classrooms to stages to church communities, their lives testify that purpose is found not in where you stand, but in who you serve. And in their case, it is the community they love that has become the living stage for their calling.

Act IV: Formed for More Than the Stage

Kyle often encourages his students to think of theatre not as a narrow path, but as a discipline that prepares them for a wide range of callings. Many of his students choose to double major, pairing theatre with fields as varied as education, communication, business, and ministry.

“The way theatre works in the world is physical, spatial, and creative,” Kyle explains. “We don’t just talk about those things in the classroom—we practice them. We learn by doing.” Through rehearsals and productions, students develop skills that reach far beyond the stage. They learn to work with their hands and manage their time. They collaborate within a world of creative minds and passionate personalities. They grow in discipline, empathy, and problem-solving—qualities that translate into nearly every profession. For Kyle, excellence is not measured only by applause or achievement. He wants his students to understand that success does not always look the way the world defines it.

“I hope my students say that I raised the bar, that I pushed them, and that I wanted them to be their best,” he explains, “Sometimes success is learning how to fail up—to grow through mistakes and become stronger because of them.” Above all, he hopes the theatre students at Carson-Newman remember that they were valued not just as performers, but as people.

“And I hope they know,” he adds, “that I really liked them.” It is a simple statement, yet one that reflects the heart of his teaching: discipline shaped by grace, challenge rooted in care, and a classroom where students are called toward something greater than the stage.

Act V: An Invitation to the Lakeway Community

Each year, the Carson-Newman theatre department brings four productions to the stage for audiences, including a fall musical designed especially for local schools. This past season featured the beloved Mary Poppins. While Kyle cannot yet reveal the title of this coming fall’s production, he hints that it will be both exciting and full of joy.

This spring, the department is immersed in a story of profound courage and faith for the Lakeway area to enjoy: The Hiding Place, a stage adaptation of the life of Corrie Ten Boom. Set against the darkness of World War II, The Hiding Place tells the true story of a Dutch Christian woman who risked her life to shelter Jewish families from the Nazi regime. Arrested for her actions, Corrie endured imprisonment in a concentration camp, where suffering and loss tested her faith in unimaginable ways. Her story is not one of despair, but of light—of forgiveness, endurance, and an unshakable belief that God’s love can survive even the deepest darkness. Her faith cost her everything, and Carson-Newman is bringing it to life.

The production reflects the very heart of what the theatre program seeks to accomplish: telling stories that confront brokenness while pointing audiences toward hope and faith in Christ. The show will run four performances for both the Carson-Newman and Lakeway area communities, April 16th–19th. Through their performances, these young actors and actresses invite the Lakeway area to experience the human story in all its depth, challenge, and light. Tickets may be purchased online at www.cn.edu/theatre, or guests may pay cash at the door.

Today, the lights Kyle Biery once discovered in a third-grade classroom now shine far beyond the walls of Carson-Newman University. The theatre department he leads is not only a place of learning, but a gathering space for the wider Lakeway community.

From a classroom turned stage to a university theater open to East Tennessee, the journey has come full circle. Each performance is another chance for the lights to rise, for stories to be told, and for hearts to be reminded that even in the darkest chapters of history—and of life—there is still a light worth following.