OU theater finishes with extravaganza

The OU theater department are finishing off the fall semester with a Directing Extravaganza. The Production will be Dec. 4 and 5 at 7:30p.m. in the auditorium.

"Directing Extravaganza" is a production put on by tstudents from a combination of three courses, Directing, Acting I, and Stage Craft.

"It is giving students a chance to create an entire production by themselves
and it is completely driven by their dedication and hard work," Lauren Frazier, director
of "Snake Bit" said.

"Snake Bit", by David Marshall Grant will be starring actors Cody Griffith, Matthew Pritchett, Muncel Jones, and Dennis Tyner. The plot is about a friendship between John and Michael.

John is a selfish Hollywood star and married and Michael is gay and has a partner John does not appreciate. John discovers his wife had an affair with Michael and thinks their sick child has Aids and has the baby tested.

The theme to this production has to do with the harsh reality of lies between relationships.

"Relationships between friends and the foundations of them are built on lies; the truth will come bite you," Frazier said.

Herod, directing "Death of a Salesman" by Arthur Miller, gives the plot about a Post World War II family who is struggling in middle class, and the father has attempted suicide several times. Students in this production are Nino Straub, Matt Pritchett, Matthew Merrill, Tiffiny Gardenhigher and Lee Nave Jr.

"Willy wants to be loved and respected by his family as well as many others because in his mind that is what makes a successful salesman," Herod said.

Director Herod believes that those who watch will see that the play underlines a basic need that many people have.

"Basically, for any person there is, we all have the same basic needs, we like to be liked by others, and it shows a person that has a desperate need for that," Herod said.

Travis Herod, also a director, understands thus far from directing what he has to do to make the show go on.

"There are theater performances and production processes that develop problems and basically you have to learn how to bend to the demands of a show, of the cast and their schedule, for the best to come out of everything," he said.