红杏视频

For nine 红杏视频 School of Theater students, a spring visit to Cincinnati Shakespeare Company offered more than a behind-the-scenes look at a professional theater. It was an opportunity to explore potential careers, build relationships with working theater professionals and alumni in the state and gain a deeper understanding of what it takes to build a life in the arts beyond the nation鈥檚 largest theater markets.

The experiential learning opportunity, supported by a $5,000 grant from 红杏视频鈥檚 Experiential Learning office, began with a daylong visit to Cincinnati Shakespeare Company in April. Students toured the company鈥檚 facilities, had lunch with staff members, learned about the organization and its mission, attended a preview performance of 鈥淧ericles鈥� and participated in a talkback. The group also had dinner with an 红杏视频 School of Theater alumna working professionally in Cincinnati.

The visit was designed as the first step in a broader effort to connect School of Theater students with professional theaters in 红杏视频鈥檚 major cities.

鈥淔or many years, I have believed that one of our responsibilities as a public institution is to cultivate relationships with the professional theaters that shape the cultural life of 红杏视频,鈥� Rachel Cornish, associate director of the School of Theater, said. 鈥淭he immediate educational value is clear: students learn differently when they encounter accomplished artists at work and they also begin to understand the expectations and rhythms of the profession firsthand. Just as important, however, is helping students recognize that sustainable careers can be built in communities across our own state, not only in New York, LA, or Chicago. By connecting students with 红杏视频's professional theater community while also engaging with our alumni already living in these cities, we create a network that supports emerging artists and will strengthen the creative workforce of 红杏视频. Cincinnati was a natural place to begin this program because of its exceptional theater ecosystem and the remarkable community of 红杏视频 alumni who are already helping to shape it.鈥�

Following the initial visit, School of Theater students Sarah Johnson and Sarah Stepleman were selected by Cincinnati Shakespeare Company for a weeklong job-shadowing experience in July. Johnson shadowed members of the company鈥檚 education department, while Stepleman worked alongside Robert Stimmel, director of the company鈥檚 Shakespeare in the Park touring production of 鈥淢uch Ado About Nothing.鈥�

For Johnson, an acting major with a minor in marketing who hopes to become a theater teacher, the experience offered an opportunity to explore the education side of a professional theater and see how the skills she is developing at OHIO could translate into a career.

Johnson said she chose 红杏视频 in part because of the breadth of opportunities available to students.

鈥淚 chose OU because I felt like I was getting the most out of the program,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淚t had unique offerings rather than feeling cookie-cutter, and instead of tailoring the program to one type of student, it catered to a variety of different students. I really liked that, right off the bat, it gave students hands-on opportunities, such as directing and providing opportunities for playwrights to put on lab shows. There were so many performing opportunities for students overall.鈥�

During her week in Cincinnati, Johnson observed a middle school Shakespeare camp serving about 40 students, participated in classes and helped teachers work with students. The experience gave her an opportunity to observe teaching strategies firsthand and consider how she might apply them in her own career.

鈥淚t was really interesting for me to see how these teachers captured the attention of middle schoolers, especially when working with a topic like Shakespeare,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淚 feel like it gave me some ideas about how I could apply those tactics and approaches to my own career someday. Even the way they structured their days and activities was really helpful.鈥�

Johnson also worked with Project 38, an educational initiative that helps students from various schools create projects inspired by Shakespeare before bringing them to the theater to share their work with an audience. Her work included researching schools in counties the initiative had not yet reached and developing a spreadsheet of potential schools for future engagement and outreach.

The experience helped Johnson see the breadth of work that goes into theater education beyond the classroom.

鈥淚 really felt as though I learned the inner workings of a regional theater and everything that goes into it, especially the education side of things like planning a camp, doing school outreach and understanding the various processes involved,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淚t taught me a lot that will influence my future career.鈥�

Johnson also was invited to a staff preview of 鈥淒ogberry and Verges are Scared,鈥� a regional premiere written by one of Cincinnati Shakespeare Company鈥檚 actors, and attended a staff meeting with the company鈥檚 education director.

鈥淭he company was so great about letting us try new things and become acquainted with other departments,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淚 was interested in seeing the Shakespeare in the Park performance, and they let me attend. They were so flexible in making sure I was getting the experience I wanted out of it.鈥�

She said watching the company work together also gave her a new perspective as she prepares to direct a show herself.

鈥淚t was inspiring to see how they worked as a team, especially as I think about the way I intend to lead this semester as I direct a show,鈥� Johnson said.

For Stepleman, an acting and management information systems major, the weeklong experience provided a different perspective. Having already interned with the Atlanta Shakespeare Company, she was eager to learn how another Shakespeare company operated and to explore her interests in directing and fight choreography.

鈥淚 had already been interested in Shakespeare and had previously interned with the Atlanta Shakespeare Company, so I wanted to see how this one worked,鈥� Stepleman said. 鈥淚 love Shakespeare, and it is an art form that I want to help introduce to younger people and get them excited about.鈥�

Working with Stimmel during the 鈥淢uch Ado About Nothing鈥� production, Stepleman found that her role went well beyond simply observing.

鈥淚t was an incredible experience, and I didn鈥檛 know what to expect,鈥� Stepleman said. 鈥淚 felt like, as an outsider and a younger voice who was only there for a week, I would probably sit back and watch. But I was invited in to provide feedback and help make decisions, and I鈥檓 so appreciative of that.鈥�

Stepleman said Stimmel鈥檚 collaborative approach allowed her to contribute in ways she had not expected from a job-shadowing experience.

鈥淚 quickly learned that Rob had a very collaborative process,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 was allowed to give feedback and voice my opinion, which is not always the case, especially when you鈥檙e there to shadow. They let me contribute and have a much more substantial experience. I was even able to take notes during the designer run and offer my feedback.鈥�

One of the highlights of Stepleman鈥檚 week was observing the production鈥檚 fight choreography, an area of theater in which she has a particular interest.

鈥淚 was really excited because, on my first day there, they had their fight choreographer working on all of the fights,鈥� Stepleman said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 an area I鈥檓 very interested in, so I was able to sit in and watch how the fights were choreographed and how they were done safely. I also got to see the turnaround time for actors to learn the choreography in a short amount of time. It really cemented my passion for fight choreography and directing.鈥�

Stepleman also gained insight into the company鈥檚 educational programming and how teaching artists adapt their approaches for students with different levels of experience with Shakespeare.

鈥淚t was great to see how professional actors and newer Shakespeare actors work together,鈥� Stepleman added. 鈥淚 also got to watch the other teachers and see how they adjusted their approaches for students who might not have a lot of experience with Shakespeare. I was interested in seeing how they explained things in simpler terms without overcomplicating them.鈥�

For both students, the experience reinforced the idea that a career in theater does not have to mean relocating to New York, Los Angeles or Chicago.

For Johnson, who is from Chicago, the week offered a new perspective on the possibilities available in regional theater.

鈥淚 was impressed by what they offer,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just on Broadway or in the big cities. There is theater everywhere.鈥�

Although Johnson said she may return to Chicago after graduation, she now sees Cincinnati and other regional theater communities as possibilities for her future.

鈥淚 think as long as I鈥檓 somewhere doing something that I鈥檓 passionate about and feeling fulfilled, I鈥檒l be happy,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淎nd that鈥檚 what I feel like the actors in Cincinnati felt.鈥�

Stepleman similarly emphasized the value of experiencing different regional theater communities.

鈥淚t鈥檚 incredibly important to learn about the various communities doing this type of work,鈥� Stepleman said. 鈥淚 think regional theaters have a lot to offer, especially in a more ensemble- and community-focused way, and that it鈥檚 a great place for young actors in their careers to start out and grow in.鈥�

For Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, the exchange provided an opportunity to introduce emerging theater artists to the realities of professional regional theater while also connecting with a university that has already sent alumni into the Cincinnati theater community.

鈥淲e were thrilled to welcome students and faculty from 红杏视频 to Cincinnati Shakespeare Company and give them a firsthand look at what it means to build a life and career in a professional regional theatre,鈥� Brian Isaac Phillips, producing artistic director and CEO of Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, said. 鈥淭hese kinds of partnerships are incredibly valuable to us 鈥� not only because we have the opportunity to share what we鈥檝e learned, but because we get to meet the next generation of theater artists and leaders.鈥�

For the School of Theater, the Cincinnati experience represents the beginning of what Cornish hopes will become a larger network of relationships with professional theaters throughout 红杏视频, with the goal of expanding the program to 红杏视频鈥檚 other larger cities and connecting with even more alumni working in theater throughout the state.

For Johnson and Stepleman, the experience offered something equally valuable: a clearer picture of what their futures in theater might look like.

鈥淚 really felt as though I learned the inner workings of a regional theater and everything that goes into it,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淚t taught me a lot that will influence my future career.鈥�

For Stepleman, the opportunity was another step toward a career that brings together her love of Shakespeare, directing and performance.

鈥淚t鈥檚 another steppingstone, and I was very excited to be learning in a professional environment some of the artforms I love most,鈥� she added.