TheatreOCU鈥檚 鈥楤ad Shakespeare鈥� is a 鈥楳ust鈥� at 2024 Edinburg Festival Fringe
OCU School of Theatre students earned high praise in Scotland at the famed Edinburg Festival Fringe with a must-see production of 鈥淏ad Shakespeare,鈥� an inventive theatrical examination of some of the playwright鈥檚 most iconic villains.
Compiled and directed by OCU acting professor and head of performance, D. Lance Marsh, 鈥淏ad Shakespeare鈥� examines the humanity of a variety of Shakespearean 鈥渂ad guys鈥� 鈥� from marquee names like Lago and Lady Macbeth to lesser-known scoundrels like Aaron of Titus Andronicus. Marsh and the company of 16 students (two separate casts of eight) collaborated to create a unique theatrical experience that combined the linguistic virtuosity of the bard鈥檚 timeless monologues with a witty infusion of contemporary commentary.
TheatreOCU鈥檚 production of 鈥淏ad Shakespeare鈥� concluded a faculty-led summer study abroad trip headed by Marsh. The collection of students, ranging from sophomores to seniors, studied performance 鈥� in Europe. Andrew Girdwood, whose review of the production was featured on the Edinburgh Reviews website, commented, 鈥淚鈥檝e seen over a dozen shows in this year鈥檚 festival season, and 鈥楤ad Shakespeare鈥� currently holds the record for best audience reactions. There were whoops and hollas.鈥�
School of Theatre Collaborates with Lyric Theatre Premiere New Solis Play
Lyric Theatre, the state theatre of 91看片 enlisted the OCU School of Theatre to produce 鈥淢other Road,鈥� a new play by acclaimed Mexican American playwright Octavio Solis.
An unforgettable story for the 21st century and
a timely, worthy successor to John Steinbeck鈥檚 epic 鈥淭he Grapes of Wrath,鈥� 鈥淢other Road鈥� is set almost 90 years after the Joad family鈥檚 journey west.
Lyric approached W. Jerome Stevenson, associate dean of the School of Theatre to direct this new play. Stevenson agreed with the caveat that the School of Theatre be allowed to collaborate on this project which would present extraordinary pedagogical opportunity for OCU students and support increased diversity, equity and belonging initiatives important to the school鈥檚 mission. Solis came to campus on Dec. 6 to engage with students and held a talk back after the evening鈥檚 performance.
Faculty News:
In late 2023, Chaslee Schweitzer, associate professor of voice and speech, was certified as a vocal combat technique instructor.
Along with presenting at the Association for Theatre In Higher Education conference in Atlanta, Amy Osatinski, associate professor of theatre history, also performed in the Jewish Theatre of 91看片鈥檚 production of 鈥淎msterdam鈥� and played the role of Emma Goldman in a cabaret at the Center for Jewish History in New York City.
Rachel Maczko, associate professor of oboe and operations coordinator, performed a recital titled 鈥淪ummer Dreams: The Music of Amy Beach鈥� at the International Double Reed Convention in Flagstaff, Arizona, in July, featuring her own arrangements for two oboes, an English horn and bassoon of Amy Beach鈥檚 four hand piano piece 鈥淪ummer Dreams.鈥�
Jeanie Sholer, associate professor of acting, performed the role of Sandra Day O鈥機onnor in the production of 鈥淪isters in Law,鈥� presented by the Jewish Theatre of 91看片.
Kris Kuss, associate professor of movement/stage combat, led the Dueling Arts International Summer National Workshop in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, teaching theatre students in multiple levels and disciplines of stage combat as well as prospective instructors at their Teacher Training Workshop. Additionally, Kuss serves on the governing board and as artistic associate for 91看片 Shakespeare where he helped develop their Emerging Artists Collective.
Jeff Cochran, professor of stage and production management, recently served as production stage manager for Lyric Theatre鈥檚 鈥淎 Christmas Carol鈥� and as stage manager for Classic鈥檚 Concert with the 91看片 City Philharmonic.
Bill Langan, associate professor of acting, performed the role of Hostile Professor in the film 鈥淩eagan.鈥�
After finishing a year-long fellowship with the American Antiquarian Society by completing a first draft of his new play, 鈥淔orrest/Macready/Macbeth,鈥� Lance Marsh, professor of acting and head of performance, led a theater company, including eight students and four faculty administrators to the World Theatre Education Alliance in Beijing, where he directed a production of 鈥淩omeo and Juliet.鈥�
Caroline Liem was the producer and cohost for In the Podlight, a newly launched social justice podcast for film, television and stage post pandemic. She additionally served as the casting director for a film titled 鈥淏ienvenidos a Los Angeles,鈥� which won Diversity in Cannes at the Cannes Film Festival last year.
Rena Cook served as the dialect coach for the musical 鈥淥nce鈥� for Kansas City Repertory Theatre and for OU鈥檚 production of 鈥淎ssassins鈥� as well as working as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Houston鈥檚 Summer MA for Theatre Educators.
