Monday, April 29, 2024
Micky Shearon is a pretty darn busy guy, so I was surprised last weekend by his Facebook post stating that he had just become ordained to perform marriage rites.
“Okay, who wants to get married?” he posted. “Yep, duly ordained and ready to get you hitched.”
Shearon is court administrator for the county court-at-law, a full-time job.
He also has another seemingly full-time job as board president of the Granbury Theatre Company. He is a performer in many of the GTC’s shows.
MAN OF THE YEAR
Shearon was named the HCN’s Man of the Year last year for his leadership at the GTC and his decades of advocacy on behalf of local children. Name an organization that helps kids, and he has likely served on its board.
So how the heck does this guy think he’s going to have time to speak blessings over people tying the knot?
Granted, he may have a little more free time than I thought, as evidenced by a recently posted photo of him and his wife Beth having a “pedicure Sunday” at a nail salon.
Still, though, I was curious as to what led Shearon in this direction. Not to a nail salon, but to wedding venues.
Knowing Shearon to be a live-and-let-live, liberal-leaning type of guy, I texted him to ask whether he had become ordained in order to officiate over same-sex marriage ceremonies.
It was a legitimate question. As most people know, same-sex marriage has been a controversial issue here in Hood County – so much so that we made national news a few years ago.
I figured Shearon might be looking to help out fellow GTC board member Paul Hyde, a lawyer who also serves as Tolar’s municipal judge.
Hyde has officiated over same-sex unions since elected officials here have refused to do so because of their own religious beliefs.
Turns out, that wasn’t the reason for Shearon becoming ordained, although he told me: “I absolutely would perform a same-sex couple’s wedding ceremony in a heartbeat. I made sure the ordinating religious organization I went through had no restrictions or stipulations about that.”
The real reason for his ordination, Shearon explained, was a request by GTC associates Matt Beutner and Jennie Jermaine that he perform their marriage rites. Their wedding is planned for October.
“It’s actually something
Kathy Cruz Staff Writer
that I’ve wanted to do for some time but just never have followed through with it,” Shearon said, adding, “I can’t think of a higher honor than being asked to perform a couple’s wedding ceremony.”
PATRIARCH
I have been told several times, by several people associated with Opera House productions, that the GTC is like a family.
I asked Beutner if he shares that opinion.
“Oh, a hundred percent,” he said.
The director/actor explained why he and dancer/choreographer Jermaine asked Shearon to perform their nuptials. He said that they wanted someone who was close to them both.
“We were naming off people who it could potentially be and we said, ‘What if Micky could do it?’ – because we both love him so much and we look up to him,” Beutner said.
Beutner, 30, said he was living in Denton when he found out that the GTC “in some place called Gran-bury, Texas, which I had never heard of” was holding auditions for “A Few Good Men,” which he considered a “dream show.”
He auditioned and scored a lead role – the same one played by Tom Cruise in the movie. That was it for Beutner. Granbury and the GTC became home.
“I absolutely fell in love with the city and the people,” he said.
Now he works for Shearon and the GTC board overseeing the Granbury Theatre Academy. He loves it.
“Micky’s the best boss I’ve ever had,” Beutner said.
I know from previous conversations with Shearon that he is devoted to the GTC and finds theater work rewarding.
I suspect he will find officiating at marriage ceremonies rewarding as well. I mean, who wouldn’t? There is, after all, cake involved.
kcruz@hcnews.com | 817-573-7066, ext. 258
