A Childhood Full of Spark
Growing up in Glen Dale, West Virginia, Renee Storm was the kind of kid who never sat still for long. Curious, energetic, and full of wonder, she filled her days with song—singing wherever she went and turning the simplest moments into little performances. Music ran in the family. Her mother played in the polka band The Jolly Js, filling their home with sound and rhythm. Renee still remembers watching The Wizard of Oz for the first time, belting out every lyric, and performing for her reflection in the oven door. The stage, in one form or another, was calling.
Following the Arts Wherever They Led
That early spark only grew stronger. Renee began taking dance classes, singing lessons, and entering local talent shows. Really, any chance to perform was an opportunity she eagerly grabbed. Her love of the arts carried her through school, leading her to study music, theater, and communications. After earning her undergraduate degree at West Liberty University, she moved to New York City to complete a graduate degree in Educational Theatre at NYU.
“The arts have always been my true north,” she shared. Those years of study gave her both the skills and the confidence to trust her creativity and pursue a career doing what she loved.
Life on the Stage and on the Road
After becoming licensed to teach English and theater for grades pre-K through 12, Renee spent several years in classrooms before a new adventure called her name. She joined Jump with Jill, a touring children’s show that promoted nutrition and wellness through music and performance. The job took her across the United States and even to Europe, showing her just how powerfully theater could captivate, educate, and inspire on a massive scale. It was during her time on the road in 2019 that the first ideas for The World Beyond the Storm began to take root.
These days, Renee’s passion for the stage is alive and well right here in the Ohio Valley. You might catch her directing productions at The Strand Theatre in Moundsville, acting in interactive Murder Mystery dinners, stepping onto the stage at Towngate Theatre, or even performing with the Community Choir alongside the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra. For Renee, performance is more than a career path—it’s a lifelong love that continues to shape her identity and her creative work.
Coming Home to Wheeling
When the pandemic halted life in 2020, Renee and her husband made the choice to move back to Wheeling to be closer to family. Returning home felt like the right move. It was a chance to regroup, rebuild, and reconnect during uncertain times. For Renee, Wheeling had always been a place of inspiration. As a child, she had taken her first dance lessons at Toni Zeakes Performing Arts Centre and loved wandering through Centre Market, a place that seemed to hold endless discoveries. Now, as an artist, she sees the city’s hidden gems and rich history as fuel for her creativity.
Balancing Family and Creativity
Life looks different these days, with Renee balancing her work as a creator alongside her role as a wife and mother.
“Honestly? I’m still figuring it out,” she admits. Early mornings have become essential for carving out creative time before the day gets busy. But she also finds joy in blending family and art. Her daughter, Reign, often joins her at the Strand Theatre or even makes appearances in The World Beyond the Storm. Renee imagines she’ll be a star of the show herself before long!
Building The World Beyond the Storm
The vision for The World Beyond the Storm grew out of Renee’s belief that children connect deeply with energy, imagination, and joy. Her time with Jump with Jill showed her how one person’s vision could grow into something transformative, while her training at West Liberty and NYU gave her the tools to make it real. She credits Mr. Rogers as a constant source of inspiration, reminding her that storytelling for children can be both playful and profoundly meaningful.
Looking back, Renee can clearly see how the show had always been inside her. Whether she was performing for her reflection as a child or captivating students in the classroom, she’s always thrived on creating characters and embracing her quirky, high-energy self. Kids respond to that energy because it mirrors their own—full of curiosity, wonder, and joy. And that’s the heartbeat of The World Beyond the Storm.
Sharing Wheeling’s Story
Beyond her own creative projects, Renee has found another way to share joy and knowledge with families with Wheeling Wednesdays. In this weekly social media series, she explores the city’s history by visiting local landmarks and turning them into kid-friendly lessons. From the Wheeling Suspension Bridge to the Hancher Clock, McColloch’s Leap, and the Elm Grove Stone Bridge at Monument Place, Renee brings these sites to life through storytelling and music.
But the adventure doesn’t stop there. Each episode is paired with a downloadable coloring page inspired by the featured location—like Bobo the Elephant from Wheeling’s Sculpture Garden. Families can watch, learn, and then sit down together to color and imagine, making Wheeling’s history a hands-on experience.
Looking Ahead
Looking forward, Renee hopes to take her work off the screen and into the community by being part of more events designed for kids and families. She sees these gatherings as opportunities to spark creativity, nurture imagination, and give back to the city she calls home.
To keep up with her work—and to see Wheeling’s history through her playful, creative lens—follow along on her Facebook page, where you’ll find new episodes of Wheeling Wednesdays, coloring pages, and updates on The World Beyond the Storm.
