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Focus on Theatre - 2025

OCU School of Theatre students at the famed Edinburg Festival Fringe in Scotland.
 

TheatreOCU’s ‘Bad Shakespeare’ is a ‘Must’ 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 “Bad Shakespeare,” an inventive theatrical examination of some of the playwright’s most iconic villains.  

Compiled and directed by OCU acting professor and head of performance, D. Lance Marsh, “Bad Shakespeare” examines the humanity of a variety of Shakespearean “bad guys” – 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’s timeless monologues with a witty infusion of contemporary commentary. 

TheatreOCU’s production of “Bad Shakespeare” concluded a faculty-led summer study abroad trip headed by Marsh. The collection of students, ranging from sophomores to seniors, studied performance — in Europe.  Andrew Girdwood, whose review of the production was featured on the Edinburgh Reviews website, commented, “I’ve seen over a dozen shows in this year’s festival season, and ‘Bad Shakespeare’ currently holds the record for best audience reactions. There were whoops and hollas.”


School of Theatre Collaborates with Lyric Theatre Premiere New Solis Play 

Lyric Theatre, the state theatre of Oklahoma enlisted the OCU School of Theatre to produce “Mother Road,” 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’s epic “The Grapes of Wrath,” “Mother Road” is set almost 90 years after the Joad family’s 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’s mission. Solis came to campus on Dec. 6 to engage with students and held a talk back after the evening’s performance. 


1. Chaslee Schweitzer, 2. Amy Osatinski, 3. Rachel Maczko, 4. Jeanie Sholer, 5. Kris Kuss, 6. Jeff Cochran, 7. Bill Langan, 8. Lance Marsh

Faculty News:

  1. In late 2023, Chaslee Schweitzer, associate professor of voice and speech, was certified as a vocal combat technique instructor.

  2. 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 Oklahoma’s production of “Amsterdam” and played the role of Emma Goldman in a cabaret at the Center for Jewish History in New York City.

  3. Rachel Maczko, associate professor of oboe and operations coordinator, performed a recital titled “Summer Dreams: The Music of Amy Beach” 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’s four hand piano piece “Summer Dreams.”

  4. Jeanie Sholer, associate professor of acting, performed the role of Sandra Day O’Connor in the production of “Sisters in Law,” presented by the Jewish Theatre of Oklahoma.

  5. 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 Oklahoma Shakespeare where he helped develop their Emerging Artists Collective.

  6. Jeff Cochran, professor of stage and production management, recently served as production stage manager for Lyric Theatre’s “A Christmas Carol” and as stage manager for Classic’s Concert with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic.

  7. Bill Langan, associate professor of acting, performed the role of Hostile Professor in the film “Reagan.”

  8. After finishing a year-long fellowship with the American Antiquarian Society by completing a first draft of his new play, “Forrest/Macready/Macbeth,” 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 “Romeo and Juliet.”

  • 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 “Bienvenidos a Los Angeles,” which won Diversity in Cannes at the Cannes Film Festival last year.

  • Rena Cook served as the dialect coach for the musical “Once” for Kansas City Repertory Theatre and for OU’s production of “Assassins” as well as working as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Houston’s Summer MA for Theatre Educators.  

     

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