Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University’s Department of Theatre Arts will present Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare Feb. 16 at 8 p.m., Feb. 17 at 7:30 p.m., Feb. 18 at 4 p.m., Feb. 19 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 20 at 2:30 p.m. All showings will take place in Verser Theatre on Ouachita's campus. The show is directed by Daniel Inouye, OBU assistant professor of theatre arts. Tickets are $6 each and may be purchased at www.obu.edu/finearts.

According to Inouye, Twelfth Night, one of Shakespeare’s comedies, has been billed as having “a madcap plot that mixes the sweetness and silliness of love triangles, cross-dressing and pompous servants paired with the opulence and mystery of Persia.”

“We try to provide our students with a wide variety of styles and types of productions in order that they might gain a wide range of experience while here at OBU,” Inouye said. “Shakespeare is an important part of any actor’s development. I specifically chose Twelfth Night due to its humorous content and the challenges that it poses for our students and myself as a director.

“Working on Shakespeare is always challenging both to the director and the actors,” Inouye continued. “The focus on the understanding of the language and words is vital to a successful production.”

Inouye and the cast spent hours pouring over the script line-by-line to ensure that the whole cast understood each word and each moment.

“And this is only one part of the task when it comes to Shakespeare,” Inouye added. “Once the students know what is being said, they have to find a way to make it seem perfectly comprehensible to an entire audience within the performance.”

In addition to Inouye, the production crew includes Eric Phillips, professor of theatre arts and chair of OBU’s department of theatre arts, as technical director and scenic designer; Mary Handiboe, associate professor of theatre arts, as costume and make-up designer; Kathryn Kellogg, a senior musical theatre major from Sherwood, Ark., as assistant director; Cortnee Stewart, a senior theatre arts major from Ward, Ark., as stage manager; and Kayla Esmond, a freshman musical theatre major from Burleson, Texas, as assistant stage manager.

Members of the cast include: Lauren Casteel, a senior musical theatre major from Garland, Texas, as Maria; Timothy Drennan, a freshman musical theatre major from Paron, Ark., as Antonio; Rudy Jones, a junior theatre arts and mass communications major from Smackover, Ark., as Sir Toby Belch; Xavier Lagunas, a junior musical theatre major from Arlington, Texas, as Sebastian; Jody Lee, a senior theatre arts, music double major from Arlington, Texas, as Orsino; Cody Myers, a freshman psychology, musical theatre double major from Van Buren, Ark., as Fabian; Moriah Patterson, a junior musical theatre and theatre education major from Sheridan, Ark., as Viola/Cesario; Justin Ratliff, a sophomore musical theatre major from Whitehouse, Texas, as Valentine; Sam Spradling, a senior theatre arts major from Italy, Texas, as Olivia; Jacob Sturgeon, a freshman music education major from Pine Bluff, Ark., as Malvolio; Lynley Vire, a senior musical theatre major from Searcy, Ark., as Curio; Jacob Watson, a senior musical theatre major from Wynne, Ark., as Feste; and Garrett Whitehead, a freshman theatre arts major from Cleburne, Texas, as Sir Andrew.

Additional members of the cast are: CJ Bernard, a freshman theatre education major from Anchorage, Alaska, as Sea Captain; Gemma Guiomard, a freshman musical theatre major from DeSoto, Texas, as Servant; Tyler Herron, a sophomore theatre arts major from Rosston, Ark., as a Musician; Joe Ochterbeck, a freshman theatre education major from Maumelle, Ark., as First Officer; Alexis Pace, a sophomore musical theatre major from Sugar Land, Texas, as a Musician; Bethany Swiontek, a sophomore musical theatre major from Colorado Springs, Colo., as Priest; MaryLacey Thomson, a freshman musical theatre major from Plano, Texas, as Second Officer; Heather White, a sophomore musical theatre major from Houston, Texas, as Female Attendant Two; and Katie Willhite, a senior Christian studies and theatre arts major from Rowlett, Texas, as Female Attendant One.

The costume crew includes: Amanda Murray, a sophomore musical theatre major from Racine, Wis., as costume crew head; Molly Brown, a senior musical theatre major from Rowlett, Texas; Cortnie DeVore, a senior musical theatre major from Beebe, Ark.; Nicole Mattson, a freshman musical theatre major from Rowlett, Texas; and Jordan Miller, a freshman musical theatre major from Rockwall, Texas.

The hair and make-up crew includes: Brooke Ault, a senior musical theatre major from Little Rock, Ark., and Ashley Partridge, a senior musical theatre major from Baton Rouge, La.

The build and light crew includes: Steven Miller, a senior theatre arts major from Westminster, S.C., as the assistant lighting designer; Sarah Davis, a freshman theatre arts major from Bedford, Texas, as lighting board operator; Alison Johnson, a sophomore musical theatre major from Shreveport, La.; and Shay Michael, a junior musical theatre major from Grapevine, Texas.

The sound crew includes: Jacob Watson, a senior musical theatre major from Wynne, Arkansas, as sound designer, and Grace Johnson, a senior vocal performance and theatre arts major from Tyler, Texas, as sound board operator.

The properties crew includes: CJ Bernard, a freshman theatre education major from Anchorage, Alaska, as crew head; Michelle Lackey, a junior musical theatre major from Decatur, Texas; and Ben Perry, a freshman musical theatre major from North Little Rock, Ark.

The box office and front of house crew includes: Callie Chancey, a musical theatre major from Branson, Mo., as house manager, and Lindsey Lederer, a freshman musical theatre major from Carrollton, Texas, as box office worker. Ushers include Gabriela Baltzley, a freshman musical theatre major from Little Rock, Ark.; Brooke Brackett, a freshman musical theatre major from Springdale, Ark.; Lauren Linton, a freshman musical theatre major from Millington, Tenn.; and Angela Morgan, a freshman musical theatre major from Bryant, Ark.

All tickets are $6 and may be purchased at www.obu.edu/finearts or by contacting the Jones Performing Arts Center Box Office weekdays from 2-5 p.m. Ouachita students receive one free ticket with their student ID. For more information, call the Box Office at (870) 245-5563 during box office business hours.