SYNOPSIS

One night only! Join us as Tony Award-winning actor, Faith Prince, takes the stage with Ohio University’s BFA Musical Theater Class of '24 in a concert featuring some of the best and most entertaining songs from Broadway and beyond!  

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We, The School Of Theater, acknowledge that, from the time of Ohio University’s founding in 1804, it has occupied the traditional homelands of the Shawnee people, as well as the Wahzhazhe (who are also known as the Osage), who lived in Southeast Ohio before them. As the first federally legislated public university in the United States of America, Ohio University was an integral part of the U.S.’s westward expansion and empire building. 

Welcome to the 2023-2024 OHIO Theater Season!

We are so excited to welcome audiences back to a new season at the Ohio University School of Theater. We have thrilling productions this year that ask us to look at our humanity, our place in the world, and how we can be a part of building community. While there may not be an obvious theme to our production selection, each play has been chosen as an extension of our need to tell stories together. 

Tantrum Theater, OHIO’s professional theater, will feature two productions this season, bringing professional directors, stage managers, designers, technicians, and actors to work side-by-side with our students. In the fall, Shelley Delaney will direct William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, and in the spring semester Tantrum will produce the musical 9 to 5, written by Appalachia’s own Bard: Dolly Parton!

Vibrancy Theater, the School’s student-run theater “creates a playground for student theater-artists and generates a space for Black, Indigenous, Students of Color to develop artistic leadership skills.” Vibrancy will produce Jackie Sibblies Drury’s harrowing We Are Proud to Present a Presentation About the Herero of Namibia, Formerly Known as Southwest Africa, From the German Sudwestafrika, Between the Years 1884–1915.

You, our audience, are an integral part in this community building because live theater can’t happen without you. We welcome your energy and support for our students’ work and hope you’ll join us for what will be a thrilling year.

2023

Medea

By Euripides
Directed by Devin Ty Franklin

In this modern translation by Frederic Raphael and Kenneth McLeish, this classic Greek tragedy follows the journey of a woman fighting to be seen by a man (and a world) that has defined her as invisible and insignificant. What will it take for this force of a woman to ascend beyond her circumstances?

Virginia Hahne Theater, Kantner Hall
October 12th, 13th, 14th @ 8PM & 14th @ 2PM

The Knight of the Burning Pestle

By Francis Beaumont
Directed by Caitlin Lopez

A group of thespians present a romantic play about star-crossed lovers… well… they would if the audience would just shut up. A rowdy grocer and his wife demand a different play starring their apprentice. The company must now perform two plays: the romance, and an improvised chivalric adventure complete with knights, giants, and sick dance moves.

Virginia Hahne Theater, Kantner Hall
October 26th, 27th, & 28th @ 8PM & 28th @ 2PM

TANTRUM THEATER PRESENTS

Twelfth Night

By William Shakespeare
Directed by Shelley Delaney

A shipwreck in perilous waters creates a sea of confusion on land in Shakespeare’s freewheeling romcom of loss, longing, mistaken identity, obsession, revenge and madness, Twelfth Night. Anything can happen in coastal Illyria, where characters leap in heart first: transcending gender, upending propriety and scoffing at noise ordinances. Or… What You Will.

Forum Theater
November 10th, 11th (Talkback), 15th, 16th (ASL+Talkback), 17th, 18th @ 8PM & 18th @ 2PM

ShiningGirls

Written Collectively by Millie Rose, Levi Shrader, joolz, Kaitlin Gilgenbach, Maggie C. Nolan, and Molly H. Donahue
Directed by Molly H. Donahue

Sometimes, the only thing we can do is survive.

When two podcasters go viral for catching a vivid paranormal experience on tape, they will do anything to keep that fame train runnin'! Even if that means bringing the innocent public into direct contact with the veil for clout. Kantner is filled with ghosts of one girl's past and once they are released, it is unclear if they will ever be contained again.

Kantner Hall
December 1st, 2nd, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th @ 7PM & 9PM

2024

1st Year MFA Director Project

Title To Be Announced
Directed by Sarah Curtis

First year MFA Directing students will each present a one-act play to introduce themselves as artists to our community. We are proud and excited to produce their work. Titles and production information are forthcoming. 

PlaySpace, Putnam Hall Room 227
March 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th
March 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th

TANTRUM THEATER PRESENTS

9 to 5 the Musical

Book by Patricia Resnick
Music & Lyrics by Dolly Parton
Adapted from 9 to 5 (1980)
Directed/Choreographed By Shanna VanDerwerk                                                                                                                                       Music Director: Brent Frederick

9 TO 5 The Musical is the story of three working women getting revenge on their sexist and egotistical boss. Based on the 1980 film and the real-life women of the 9 to 5 movement, over 40 years later, this sassy, fun, and fast-moving show with Dolly Parton music provokes us to examine how much progress we’ve actually accomplished in equal rights for women, and all folx.

Forum Theater, Radio and Television Building
March 1st, 2nd (Talkback), 6th, 7th (ASL+ Talkback), 8th @ 8PM

VIBRANCY THEATER PRESENTS

We Are Proud to Present a Presentation About the Herero of Namibia, Formerly Known as Southwest Africa, From the German Sudwestafrika, Between the Years 1884–1915

By Jackie Sibblies Drury
Directed by Caitlin Lopez

A group of actors gather to tell the little-known story of the first genocide of the 20th century. We Are Proud to Present … follows a group of idealistic actors they test the limits of empathy as their own stories, subjectivities, assumptions and prejudices catalyze their theatrical process. Eventually the full force of a horrific past crashes into the good intentions of the present, and what seemed a faraway place and time comes all too close to home.

Baker Theater
April 12th, 13th (Talkback), 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th (Talkback), 20th @ 2PM and 8PM

Fringe Festival

In spaces on and around campus.

April 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th

Please join us for the entire season of live in-person theater. We can’t do it without you!

Merri Biechler

she/her/hers

Director, Associate Professor of Instruction

School of Theater

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

The School of Theater is proud to have the support from the following sponsors, without whose support, this performance would not have been possible: The Ohio Performing Arts Series, and The Visiting Artist and Scholars Committee

HOW TO REACH US

School of Theater 

307 Kantner Hall

19 South College Street

1 Ohio University

Athens, Ohio  45701

740.593.4818

Email: [email protected]

FIRE NOTICE

Illuminated signs above each door indicate
emergency exits. Please check for the nearest
exit. In the event of an emergency, you will be
notified by theater personnel and assisted in
the evacuation of the building.

SEATING POLICY 

Everyone must have a ticket. Sorry, no
children in arms or on laps. Patrons who
leave the theater during the performance
will be reseated at the discretion of house
management. Those who become disruptive
will be asked to leave the theater.

ACCESSIBILITY SERVICES

The Elizabeth Evans Baker Theater in Kantner Hall is
fully accessible to those with mobility issues.
When booking tickets, please let our Box
Office know if you require a ticket that will
accommodate a wheelchair. Please call Ledger
Free, Director of Audience Services, at 917-
733-0081 if you need any assistance during
your visit. We are here to help you!