Every piece of art has a story — and sometimes the person who tells it best isn’t the artist, but the collector who fell down a rabbit hole trying to find out who they were.
That’s the premise behind SPARK: Stories, Tom Byrn’s ongoing project of storytelling built from original art he’s pulled from thrift stores over the years. Expect a lot of projected images, a little detective work, and a genuine curiosity about the people behind the pieces.
Dying to learn more about this rather unique premise for a show, we talked with Tom about thrifting, brick walls, and coming back to performance after a hiatus.
In your own words, what is your show about?
In the end, it’s about curiosity. Sometimes it’s unearthing a story about someone, sometimes it’s just sharing what’s available, but it’s always about learning about a creator, an artist, an expression, and the short celebration of a human.
What sparked this piece?
I’ve collected original art from thrift stores for years, because I love the search and discovery aspect. After a hiatus from a theatre career (COVID, location, parenting), I thought, “Hey, maybe I can tell stories about these pieces.” They were all around me in my home.
What does “Fringe” mean to you as an artist?
I’ve started telling these stories already; honestly, I thought a Fringe festival might help them reach a wider audience. Fringe to me has always made me think “alternative” — not the best word — non-mainstream performances.
What do you want someone to feel — or think about differently — after seeing your show?
I just hope that it sparks ideas for personal accomplishments, or it enhances accomplishments already in progress, or it spurs someone to ask questions about others’ accomplishments.
What’s been the hardest or most surprising part of making this?
As far as research goes, the brick walls and rabbit holes are very frustrating.
Also, in all truth, I still harbor doubt as to whether this enterprise is as fascinating and revelatory to anyone else out there as it is to me!
Anything else you want people to know before they walk in?
There are a lot of projected images.
If there’s time, I usually do try to take a few questions at the end.
Catch SPARK: Stories at The Workshop on Thursday, October 8 at 8:00 PM, Friday, October 9 at 6:00 PM, or Saturday, October 10 at 8:00 PM, as part of the 2026 Scranton Fringe Festival. Buy tickets here. Thanks to Tom for sharing his stories with us — we can’t wait to see where the search leads next.
