The SUNY Oswego Theatre Department recently welcomed students from the Oswego Homeschool Association (OHA) Performing Arts Theater Program for a collaborative visit celebrating performance, creativity and community engagement.
As part of the department’s strategic mission to foster connections with the local community, approximately 20 homeschool performers and their chaperones joined theatre students for a series of interactive activities last week.
On Thursday, the visiting students attended a rehearsal of the department’s upcoming musical "All Shook Up," led by theatre faculty member Steven Mazzoccone (pictured). The homeschool performers received a behind-the-scenes look at the production process and shared their own talents in a lively exchange, performing two musical numbers from their upcoming production of "Matilda, The Musical – Junior."
The collaboration continued the following morning when the OHA students joined professor Jonel Langenfeld’s "Fundamentals of Acting" class. Together with SUNY Oswego theatre students, the group participated in a performance exercise focused on sharing space, collaborating with scene partners and exploring physical improvisation techniques.
OHA Co-Producer and Musical Director Amy Murphy described the experience enthusiastically, noting that the homeschool students “were all a-buzz with their experience and we are so grateful for including us and allowing the kids to practice performing.”
Theatre Department Chair Krystal Kennel echoed the positive impact of the exchange. “Theatre teaches us all the essential skills of teamwork and collaboration," Kennel said. "It can build bridges between different communities and we are so fortunate to have this opportunity to connect with the Oswego Homeschool Association.”
The Oswego Homeschool Association Performing Arts Theater Program will present "Matilda, The Musical – Junior" on the Waterman Stage at 2 p.m. on March 14; 4 p.m. on March 15 and 18; and at 2 and 6 p.m. on March 21.
Tickets are available at OHA.Ludus.com.
This collaboration highlights the Theatre Department’s commitment to community engagement and the shared joy of performance across generations of artists.
-- Submitted by the Theatre Department