Oberlin College Theater

A teaser for the film Robert Salazar, ‘13, made in Little...

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 16:13:30 -0400

A teaser for the film Robert Salazar, ‘13, made in Little Theater last Spring.

Did you spot Obie alum Will Chase in last night’s SMASH...

Mon, 27 May 2013 23:21:29 -0400

Did you spot Obie alum Will Chase in last night’s SMASH finale?

The Year in Oberlin Theater: Part Two

Sun, 26 May 2013 21:59:00 -0400

Hi followers!

Here’s the round up of the rest of our year in theater.

To kick off second semester, we had Skaida, Skaidis…, a one man show by Nate Krasner, ‘13.

Next, we had a 1950’s and 60’s inspired production of The Winter’s Tale, directed by Carter Sligh ‘13.

Our third show was Luz of the Moon, a coming of age story with a magical spin, written and directed by Rebecca Deutsch, ‘13.

Robert Salazar, ‘13, then used his Little Theater slot to shoot the entirety of his original comedy feature, White Walls, Dark Rooms.

The Connection, a play exploring drugs and jazz in the Beatnik era was next.

Our mainstage production was The Laramie Project, a documentary style play about a town’s reaction to an anti-gay hate crime. It was directed by Professor Caroline Jackson Smith.

Next up were the Directing Class One Acts, featuring six short plays by Katherine Snodgrass, Peter Shaffer, Aaron Sorkin, Sam Shepard, Woody Allen, and Tom Stoppard.

Our second to last show was The Trojan Women, Charles Mee’s take on a Greek play, adapted and directed by Sarah Bernstein, ‘13.

Our final show was Mary Zimmerman’s Journey to the West, an outdoor mythic play adapted and directed by Phil Wong, ‘13.

Have an awesome summer, and stay tuned about what’s coming up next year!

The Year in Oberlin Theater: Part One

Sun, 19 May 2013 14:41:36 -0400

Hi followers!

We decided to do a school year end wrap up to look back on all the amazing productions that happened here!

First up, we had God of Carnage, a domestic dramedy about an altercation between two children that makes their parents tap into their most animalistic sides. It was so awesome that it’s coming back for Commencement Weekend! Directed by Michael Cunningham, ‘14.

Next up was Boy Gets Girl, a chilling and poignant drama about how a woman’s fears of being stalked can change her life and the lives of those around her forever. Directed by Zach Weinberg, ‘14.

Next was Strike-Slip, a play that explores how a diverse ensemble of characters affect each other’s stories in LA. It made use of environmental theater and was directed by Professor Heather Anderson Boll.

Our mainstage show was Man of La Mancha, a classic musical with onstage seating, lit by OC Alum Carolyn Wong, and directed by Professor Chris Flaharty.

Our last production was the Theater 101 Showcase, where four upperclassmen Theater majors directed fifty-three freshman in the Theater 101 class.

That’s it for our first semester! Stay tuned for our wrap up of second semester!

If you haven’t followed us on facebook/twitter, you can do so at facebook.com/OberlinTheater and twitter.com/OberlinTheater.

Journey To The West was a SUCCESS

Mon, 13 May 2013 02:23:36 -0400

Journey To The West was a SUCCESS

Obie Audition: 3/13-3/14: Auditions for 6 One Acts (Theater Department)

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 17:10:21 -0400

Obie Audition: 3/13-3/14: Auditions for 6 One Acts (Theater Department):

obieaudition:

Auditions for the Directing Class One Act Plays will be Wednesday, March 13th, 4:30-6:00 PM, and Thursday, March 14th, 4:30-6:00 PM in Warner Studio #2.

Sign up sheet in Warner lobby.

No prepared audition pieces necessary, we will ask you to read from one of the scripts.

Rehearsals…

WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY REBECCA DEUTSCH ‘13March 7th, 8h,...

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 16:42:00 -0500

WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY REBECCA DEUTSCH ‘13

March 7th, 8h, 9th, 8 PM
March 9th, 2 PM

Little Theater, Oberlin College
Tickets: $3 in advance, $5 at the door
Available at Central Ticket Service in Hall Auditorium Lobby

Fourteen year old Luz is peculiar, and the world just won’t have it. Her teachers can’t handle her, her parents can’t handle her, and ultimately, she can’t handle the world. Through a heightened and experimental form, Luz of the Moon follows Luz in a world of freaks, bullies, angels and exorcisms, as she transitions into womanhood and faces the hardships that go along with it. As Luz’s inner life is on the brink of collapse, she meets an angel who offers her a ride to hell and heaven. It is up to Luz to save her world before the spiritual universe falls apart. This innovative production, written and directed by Rebecca Deutsch (‘13) and featuring Oberlin’s own Meeko Israel, interweaves mask work, puppetry, Brecht, and opera to explore the lived experience of a young woman growing up in an epic world.

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The Winter’s Tale, February 21-24, Little...

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 19:34:00 -0500

The Winter’s Tale, February 21-24, Little Theater.
https://www.facebook.com/events/349344225180671

Buy Tickets in Hall Auditorium Lobby
Or by calling 440-775-8169.

Write your own caption:
http://www.quickmeme.com/meme/3t18ih/

Featuring actress and Oberlin alum Judy Kuhn ’81. WQXR...

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 09:21:00 -0500

Featuring actress and Oberlin alum Judy Kuhn ’81.

WQXR celebrates the beloved American composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim, just in time for the Classic Stage Company’s New York revival of his and James Lapine’s 1994 Tony Award-winning musical, “Passion.” Featuring love songs from celebrated shows, including “Passion,” “Sweeney Todd,” “Company,” “Road Show” and others. With performances by Melissa Errico, Judy Kuhn and Ryan Silverman, and a conversation with Mr. Sondheim and John Doyle, director of “Passion.” Hosted by WQXR’s Elliott Forrest.

What is sound of one lesbian clapping? (Could it be barking?)

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 14:02:13 -0500

What is sound of one lesbian clapping? (Could it be barking?)

"Oberlin had a huge effect on my life,” Kander explains. “And the experience of being part of this..."

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 13:15:19 -0500

““Oberlin had a huge effect on my life,” Kander explains. “And the experience of being part of this community and being in the perfect place for me, which I’ve often said, is something I’ve never forgotten.””

- John Kander, Fall 2011 issue of Oberlin Alumni magazine. (via houtis)

A glimpse of the Oberlin College Theater production of LUCIA...

Sat, 09 Feb 2013 12:05:00 -0500

A glimpse of the Oberlin College Theater production of LUCIA MAD, performing in Hall Auditorium this weekend.

Photos by John Seyfried

Winter’s Tale is coming this...

Sat, 09 Feb 2013 11:50:00 -0500

Winter’s Tale is coming this February!

https://www.facebook.com/events/349344225180671/?fref=ts

Design by Jenna Bergstraesser

INTERVIEW: Llewie Nuñez ‘13 Talks to the Oberlin Reivew

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 14:00:00 -0500

INTERVIEW: Llewie Nuñez ‘13 Talks to the Oberlin Reivew:

“Nuñez returns to Hall Auditorium as the title character in Associate Professor of Theater Paul Moser’s production of Lucia Mad, by Don Nigro, which follows the batty daughter of James Joyce as she falls for his protégé Samuel Beckett. She spoke about the dubious distinction between student and professional theater, working with Oberlin’s faculty and her approach to character development for a historical play.”

Performance Artist and Guggenheim Fellow Holly Hughes Brings...

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 11:30:00 -0500

Performance Artist and Guggenheim Fellow Holly Hughes Brings Show to Campus

THE DOG AND PONY SHOW (BRING YOUR OWN PONY)
Written and Performed by Holly Hughes
Directed by Dan Hurlin

February 13, 8pm
Warner Main Space
Free

Did you miss Water Ways? Samantha Bergman ‘13 takes you on...

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 15:00:00 -0500

Did you miss Water Ways?

Samantha Bergman ‘13 takes you on a tour of the production, courtesy of Cool Cleveland.

Paul Moser's Summer Theater Hits Its Stride

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 12:21:00 -0500

by Julia Melfi ‘15

Associate professor Paul Moser is the producing artistic director and creator of the Oberlin Summer Theater Festival. His production of Don Nigro’s Lucia Mad runs February 7-9, 2013 in Hall Auditorium as part of Oberlin College Theater’s mainstage season. Tickets for the production are available for purchase online.

In only four seasons, the Oberlin Summer Theater Festival (OSTF) has made a significant mark on greater Lorain County, with no larger impact than this past summer, when the festival drew record audiences. William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, William Inge’s Bus Stop, and Marc Blitzstein’s musical The Cradle Will Rock, surpassed previous seasons’ attendance by more than 30 percent. Producing Artistic Director and creator of OSTF, Paul Moser attributes this success to the hard work he and his team have put in reaching out to the surrounding community and having “sewn the seeds” during the festival’s first three seasons of operation.

As a child, Moser grew up attending free performances in Rhode Island. It was a part of his own education, and now a part of his vision for OSTF, which aims to present “free productions of meaningful theater classics” to Lorain County and the larger northeastern Ohio community, making the experience of attending live professional theater “available to everyone in our community, regardless of age or socio-economic background.”

With encouraging statistics like 32% and 36% increases in attendance from inhabitants of Oberlin and Elyria respectively, OSTF has greatly expanded the extent to which it can make theater accessible. Not only were these audiences numerous, but as Oberlin alumna and company member Courtney Merrell (‘08) noted, they were also uniquely engaged. “I have never played to such an appreciative and enthusiastic audience anywhere,” Merrell recounts. “They go on a journey with us.”

The Festival’s acting company consists of a combination of professional actors, recent alumni and current Oberlin students. OSTF hopes to build a core intergenerational acting ensemble, composed mostly of Oberlin grads who can return to Oberlin as their summer artistic home to do meaningful work with a supportive community of like-minded professional artists.

Ellie Phillips (’12) reflected upon her most recent season after having just graduated as “a nice way to stay in Oberlin a little while longer and ease the transition into ‘real life’.” She also noted, “OSTF was my first paid acting job, which probably won’t happen again any time soon.”

While the summer-stock schedule is highly intensive, with three productions performed in repertory during July and August, the experiences and opportunities for students are invaluable. For Billy Ferrer (’12), OSTF connected him with an ensemble of professionals that extends beyond the summer. “I’m constantly meeting and collaborating with former company members in New York, and I plan on maintaining those relationships in my professional career,” explains Ferrer.

It’s these experiences and opportunities that make OSTF unique. The success of OSTF would not be possible without the tireless work done by Moser and his team of staff, returning alumni, and current student interns. Oberlin’s President, Marvin Krislov, has been an unquestionably important arts advocate and is also to thank for his generous support. If last season was any indication of the future, hopefully OSTF will help to market Oberlin as a year-around center for the arts in the Northeast Ohio Region.

Details for the 2013 festival including titles, performance dates, and audition opportunities for current students, alumni, and community members will be released in the late spring. To read more about the festival, or to donate, visit www.oberlin.edu/ostf.

Julia Melfi is a sophomore Theater and Art History major at Oberlin College from Seattle, WA.

Cleveland Scene Magazine Reviews Water Ways

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 12:35:00 -0500

Cleveland Scene Magazine Reviews Water Ways:

“The brilliant, multi-faceted production of Water Ways has profound things to say about our most fluid asset”

Fierce.

Sun, 27 Jan 2013 10:00:00 -0500

Fierce.

Arts-Intensive Semester Leads to Original Play with Cleveland Public Theatre

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 14:00:00 -0500

Amanda Nagy

For a group of 16 students throughout the college and conservatory, fall semester didn’t end with traditional exams. The students enrolled in Oberlin’s first arts-intensive semester (OASIS)—a pilot program that takes a collaborative approach to the arts—became immersed in two weeks of intensive classes and workshops with professionals from Cleveland Public Theatre (CPT), often working late in the evening.

Throughout winter term, the students are living and rehearsing in Cleveland, where they will perform an original play at Gordon Square Theatre. The play, Water Ways, was created over the course of the semester under the guidance of CPT Executive Artistic Director Raymond Bobgan and Education Director Chris Seibert.

OASIS is a pilot project spearheaded by Dance Professor Nusha Martynuk. For the students enrolled, the fall semester consisted of five integrated arts courses. Martynuk modeled the project after immersive study away programs—particularly the Oberlin-in-London program, a remote campus of Oberlin College where a small group of students and faculty study each spring semester. Given Oberlin’s rich ties to the arts in Cleveland, it only made sense to bring Oberlin to Cleveland for winter term. For two weeks in January, students are staying at the Cleveland Hostel in Ohio City.

“We talk all the time about collaborative teaching and working across disciplines. We talk all the time about hands-on learning and professional experiences. Oberlin has people who are doing all that work,” Martynuk says. “But I think, why aren’t we doing more of it?”

OASIS drew students and faculty from different departments throughout the college and conservatory, including creative writing, cinema studies, technology in music and related arts (TIMARA), and theater and dance. The semester offered five integrated courses, including the capstone course, Oberlin Arts Intensive, which began and ended with two weeks of intensive workshops on narrative performance with CPT’s guest artists; and Seeing Work out of Oberlin, which took students to Ann Arbor, Cleveland, Columbus, and Pittsburgh to see performances.

Throughout the semester, students developed an original play, Water Ways, which they will perform January 24 through February 4 at Gordon Square Theatre in Cleveland. Water Ways is the first of a five-part series, The Elements Cycle, being created by CPT. The series “tests our own preconceived relationships with the environment, and seeks to raise awareness and promote deep thinking about our place in the world,” according to CPT.

Water Ways focuses on the human connection to water and the region’s reliance on the Great Lakes as a water source. In one of the courses, students went to Cleveland to take a tour of the sewer district’s water treatment plant and the Division of Water’s facility. “It was beautiful to look at, and a really interesting opportunity to talk about the way in which Lake Erie interacts with Cleveland,” Martynuk says.

Lisa Yanofsky, a fifth-year double degree student, says OASIS has been one of the most exciting learning environments at Oberlin. “The program is many different things: screenings, debates, discussions, field trips, performances, critiques, studio classes, music lessons, and cinema studies classes. Everyone comes to class with the most astounding thoughts and concepts for work. Making art and finding joy in art is much harder than it sounds, and I appreciate the laughter that my peers and professors and I share.”

The arts-intensive experience has helped students explore collaboration in a deep and sustained way in a high-pressure, real-world environment, says Bobgan. “Everyone involved in the project needed to stretch beyond past accomplishments and find new ways of working that serve a bigger vision than any one individual and provide a meaningful impact to a professional theater audience.”

The project involved considerable collaboration among the faculty teaching the courses — a factor that Martynuk says would have not been possible without outside funding and support from the college.

Support for the OASIS project was provided by the Great Lakes Colleges Association as part of its New Directions Initiative, made possible by a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; as well as the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District. Additional support came from the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and the theater and dance program.

Martynuk says plans are under way for a smaller version of the arts-intensive semester in spring 2014.

Tickets for Water Ways can be purchased on CPT’s website. Performances will be 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Monday, January 24 through February 4, at Gordon Square Theatre, 6415 Detroit Ave. Tickets are $10 to $25.