Tanith Erikson and Jaden Matthews rehearse a scene for “Aesop’s Fables,” the upcoming production for young audiences at Northwestern Oklahoma State University. The play is open to the public on Nov. 21 at 2 p.m. in the Fellers Family Auditorium in Herod Hall on the Alva campus. Admission is $2 for all patrons.
ALVA, Okla. – Northwestern Oklahoma State University’s theatre program will present a tale of high-stakes animal antics and timeless wisdom as 28 university students bring four of James Brock’s “Aesop’s Fables” to life in Fellers Family Auditorium in Herod Hall. A public showing will be Saturday, Nov. 21, at 2 p.m. Admission is $2 for all patrons.
Classes from local and area elementary schools will attend performances during the day on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 19-20.
What is this play about?
This annual Theatre for Young Audiences production weaves together the classic fables “The Fox and the Crow,” “The Hare and the Tortoise,” “The Donkey in the Lion Skin,” and “The Fox and the Sour Grapes.”
The production will feature a deceptively clever fox, a vain crow, a fiercely competitive tortoise and hare, and a donkey in disguise, delivering a hilarious, heartfelt exploration of authenticity, humility, and what it truly takes to win at life’s finish line.
Through these fast-paced animal antics, viewers will ultimately learn that true success and respect cannot be faked or stolen; instead, it is honestly earned through self-acceptance and steady, consistent effort.
Cast and Crew:
The cast for this production and the characters they will portray include:
Jaden Matthews, Hennessy senior majoring in speech and theatre, Aesop; Sophie Jungman, Alva junior majoring in English, Crow; Rylee Ott, Forgan senior major in biology, and Chuck Shafer, Alva sophomore majoring speech and theatre, both as Tortoise; Emily Wright, Cheyenne senior majoring in media & communication, and Madison Grindle, Guthrie freshman, majoring in English, both as Hare; Aidan Slater, Laverne sophomore majoring in elementary education, and Lucas Wood, Enid junior majoring in business, both as Fox; Luke Wheeler, Duncan sophomore majoring in agricultural education, Donkey; John Snyder, Oklahoma City senior majoring in music performance, Owl.
Others making up the cast include:
Allie Cearley, Guthrie freshman majoring in vocal music education, Allie; Abigail Guatney, Granby, Missouri, freshman majoring in speech and theatre, Abi; MaKenzi Hamil, Taloga freshman majoring in agricultural communications, MaKenzi; Dayton Masters, Hardtner, Kansas, freshman majoring in media & communication, Dayton; Julia Penner, Okeene freshman majoring in business, Julia; and Jacob Saucedo, Glenpool sophomore majoring in speech and theatre, Jacob.
Cast as part of the ensemble for the production are:
Addyson Bryan, Medicine Lodge, Kansas, sophomore majoring in art; Gabriel Bussinger, Woodward senior majoring in speech and theatre; Tanith Erikson, Alva freshman majoring in chemistry; Karina Garcia, Beaver junior majoring in media & communication; Samantha Grimes, Enid senior majoring in music education; David McFadin, Pond Creek-Hunter freshman majoring in media & communication.
Joey West, associate professor of theatre, and Mickey Jordan, director of technical theatre and Herod Hall facilities manager, are the directors of this production.
Supporting helpers include Kendra Puebla, Felt junior majoring in speech and theatre, who is the stage manager; Lilly Post, Ponca City junior majoring in speech and theatre, is the assistant stage manager. The makeup designer is Bella Anguino, Tulsa junior majoring in general education, and the lighting designer/board operator is Matthew Skinner, Sand Springs senior majoring in speech and theatre. Additional stage crew members include Justus Durham, Brighton, Colorado, sophomore majoring in speech and theatre, and Aspen Marshall, Tulsa junior majoring in speech and theatre.
Questions about this play or the theatre program should be directed to West at jdwest@nwosu.edu or 580-327-8462, or Jordan at mojordan@nwosu.edu or 580-327-8458. Additional information is available on the Reichenberger Department of Fine Arts webpage.
-NW-