Caroline Sherman is a Renaissance woman.
As a member of Staples High School’s Class of 1983 — where she starred on the swimming, basketball and softball teams, played in the orchestra and sang in the choir — the native Westporter spent her senior spring interning for Congressman Sam Gejdenson in Washington.
At Colgate University she swam, played rugby and ice hockey, and served as editor of the student newspaper.
Caroline Sherman
While getting her MBA at Northwestern’s Kellogg School, she started a singing group (and invented a game called “Zoomball”).
She’s an avid collector of friends, and a builder of, what she likes to call “captured communities.”
So her latest accomplishment may not surprise you. Caroline has written and produced “Empire the Musical.”
Opening off-Broadway on July 11 (previews start July 1), it celebrates the construction of the Empire State Building from different perspectives, including the Mohawk “skywalkers.” Click here for more information.
Before this theatrical foray, Caroline had careers in mergers and acquisitions at Goldman Sachs, and product management at Richardson-Vicks and Procter & Gamble.
She assisted a Sports Illustrated photographer at the 1984 Olympics, taught skiing at Steamboat, and wrote for a sitcom in Los Angeles (while simultaneously earning her helicopter pilot’s license.
Caroline has biked across the US with her 2 brothers, ridden the 192-mile Pan-Mass Challenge to raise money for cancer more than 10 times, is a certified Scuba Diver, and has written and produced 3 short films featured in festivals.
Caroline Sherman (left) after a 2,000-mile bike ride, with friend and “Empire” co-producer Lynne Walder.
Her partner in the “Empire” project is Bob Hull. They have written lyrics and music together for over 25 years.
Caroline credits her Westport education — including teachers like Pat Beasley at Bedford Elementary School, and George Weigle, John Hanulik and Gerry Kuroghlian at Staples — as well as professors at Colgate and Kellogg, and (especially) her parents Ruth and Larry Sherman, for nurturing her wide-ranging interests and unstoppable drive.
Caroline Sherman (standing, rear) at a recent Westport Country Playhouse reading with her writing partner Bob Hull, sister Suzanne Sherman Propp, longtime friend Camille Addario and mother Ruth Sherman.
Her sister, the also spectacularly talented and accomplished Suzanne Sherman Propp, told “06880” about Caroline’s many careers, and latest venture.
“Hers is an inspiring story about a person who knows we’re only on this earth for a short time, and it’s our responsibility to squeeze every bit of juice out of this potentially fruitful life,” Suzanne says.
Hear, hear! Congratulations to Caroline Sherman, our “06880” Unsung Hero of the Week.
(Unsung Hero is a weekly “06880” feature. To nominate a hero, email 06880blog@gmail.com. To support our work, please click here. Thank you!)
A worthy recipient! One of the nicest and most relentlessly creative people I know.
Re: Mohawk Skywalkers, native men who worked in construction In NYC. I grew up in Central NY, home of the Iroquois nation, which inc. Mohawks, and heard the myth of native peoples having an incredible adaptation to heights which is why they built the Empire State Bldg and others.. The reality was different. They took the jobs because it paid well and many fell from buildings & died, or were injured.
I know I’m sort of known for comments like this, so with that said, I think it was in Burr Farms School, in my class was a Roger Sherman. I’m not sure how many generations one must go back, but he was related to the Roger Sherman who signed the Declaration of Independence. I wonder if Caroline is related?
Very cool (and impressive)!
Add a passionate nature, generosity and a tender heart to Caroline’s remarkable Renaissance resume. She is, indeed, a women for all seasons.
The entire Sherman family is a Westport treasure!
Spectacular!! Caroline, that is! And the 06880 article!! Can’t wait to see EMPIRE with my Maine neighbahs on 7/8 👏👏👏
Caroline is a rock star! Well deserved my friend! I consider myself blessed to know the whole Sherman family, and consider them family.
They are a Westport treasure!
I have met Caroline many times over the 27 years that have known her incredible sister, Suzanne. Caroline is always warm and friendly, as is every one of the Shermans and Propps.
Their parents should write a book or bottle whatever they fed their kids. There’s not a rotten apple in the bunch, and let’s not even get started on the grandchildren!
Love them all.
Congrats Caroline!
Add Unsung Hero to the rest of your achievements, and you know you have reached the top!
Can’t wait to see the show
Bobbi
What a family! What a woman! Mother, sister – Caroline you must not sleep. Most of us would be OK just doing one of those things. Love all you Shermans and Propps. Honored to know you and call you friend. And Dan, you keep us communitied.