Featured Content

Keeping It Real, Spring 2022

Everybody, Fall 2021

gather 'round, Spring 2021

Dance Nation, Fall 2020



We stand in support of Black lives, in our program and beyond.
We are interrogating the structures of white supremacy we inhabit and have upheld. We recognize that people have experienced harm in our program. We are sorry.
We recognize and thank the artists of “The Ground We Stand On” for their clear articulation of demands for academic institutions in We See You White American Theatre.
We are working both individually and collectively, at both the department and the program level, and have been meeting regularly since June. We are committed to continuing to do so.
We are creating an evolving document/action plan in response to the demands. We pledge to incorporate student voices.
In July 2020, a group of over 250 BIPOC theatre artists released an open letter and list of demands entitled "We see you, white american theatre." In homage to August Wilson, the group calls themselves The Ground We Stand On.
The Theatre Faculty are currently engaged in discussion of this document, and plan to post a list of action items soon.
No audition is required to major or minor in Theatre at Saint Mary’s College. Auditions are required for most productions. The Saint Mary’s Theatre Program practices culturally inclusive casting, and we welcome first-years, transfers and beginners in our productions. All roles are open.
Our curriculum integrates practical and technical coursework with performance and production opportunities, and with the study of theatre history, theory, and dramatic literature, producing deep thinkers and dynamic theatre-makers.
Performing Arts welcomes Victor Maog, 2020-21 Visiting Professor in Theatre.
Victor Malana Maog was born in the Philippines, raised in the Bay Area, and is a graduate of New York University Gallatin School, with a concentration in Global Leadership and Performance Studies. A highly respected theatre director, educator, and arts leader with more than twenty-five years of experience directing projects, programs, and companies, Victor locates his work at the intersection of world-class art-making, popular culture, and forward thinking community engagement.
Victor’s love for theatre began while watching religious festivals as child in the Philippines. He says, “My grandmother would take me to epic religious festivals - masks, processions, weeping, … it was like a dream to go from the city to this mythical place in the midst of Holy Week. I was fixated and my love of pageantry was born.”
Oskar Eustis (Public Theatre) describes Maog as “one of the leading lights of his generation – smart, talented, capable, and an artist with deep principles and integrity.” Maog is equally at home directing classic plays like The Tempest, Twelfth Night, and Cyrano and musicals like Spring Awakening, Ragtime, and South Pacific. New work creation has taken him from major theatres in New York and Los Angeles to non-traditional projects in Chicago’s South side and Cambodia. From 2016-18 he served as Show Director for Disney Parks Live Entertainment, creating and directing stage shows and large scale events and spectacles for millions of people.
Directed by Daniel Larlham (Dance Nation, The School for Lies, Twelfth Night, Lysistrata)
This is a poignant and joyful adaptation of the fifteenth-centurey morality play Everyman and a finalst for the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for drama. For more info: stmarys-ca.edu/Everybody
with artistic leadership by the class of '22
April 21-24, 2022
This student-written, -directed and -performed festival of new works highlights themes of identity, mis/communication, rebellion, and youth culture. It's a glimpse into the minds of rising theatre artists, led by seniors Sejal Bahl (playwright/performer), Thomas Bradvica (playwright), Grace Clinton (playwright), Audrey Edmondo (projections designer), Aero England (playwright/performer), Naomi Kalter (dramaturg/director), and Sarah Shaughnessy (playwright). What's on their minds? Misunderstandings, hijinks, speaking their truths, and the absurdity of Collegiate Seminar.
Daniel Larlham is a performance-maker and scholar with a Ph.D. from Columbia University and an M.F.A. from New York University’s graduate acting program. He taught for five years at Yale University's Theater Studies Program. At Saint Mary's (2014-17, 2020), Daniel taught acting, comedy, voice, and Collegiate Seminar, and directed Dance Nation, The School for Lies, Lysistrata, Twelfth Night, and The Good Person of Setzuan. In Fall 2021, he will direct Everybody.
Theatrical Stage Manager, Production Coordinator and Educator with a demonstrated history of working in the performing arts industry. Highly skilled in Production Management, Music and Theater History, and Technical Theater. A strong professional with a M.F.A in Drama and Arts Management from the University of California, Irvine Claire Trevor School of the Arts, a B.A in Theater from the UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television coupled with more than 30 years of production experience.
Dr. Philippa Kelly (she/her) is Resident Dramaturg for the California Shakespeare Theater, Resident Dramaturg for Remote Theater, and Production Dramaturg for many regional theaters. Philippa moved to the Bay from Australia in 2002. She has been awarded fellowships from the Fulbright, Rockefeller, and Commonwealth Awards, and grants from the California Arts Council, the National Endowment of the Humanities, the Walter and Elise Haas Foundation, and the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas (Bly Award for Innovation in Dramaturgy). Philippa has published 11 books, 48 internationally peer-reviewed articles, and 52 playbill articles. Her Arden book, The King and I, is closest to her heart, illuminating King Lear through the lens of Australia’s history of outcasting. Her Run the Canon series at Cal Shakes presents original 12-minute video talks on Shakespeare’s canon https://calshakes.org/cal-shakes-online/run-the-canon/. She is currently in the third week of Shakespeare In-Depth With Philippa Kelly, a lecture series on the Cal Shakes platform that can be joined in on at any time. (https://calshakes.org/learn/shakespeare-in-depth-with-philippa-kelly) Philippa is Chair and Professor of English at the California Jazz Conservatory, Visiting Professor of Theatre at San Jose State University, and Visiting Professor of Theatre at Sanit Mary’s College of California.
Jiwon Chung is a professional actor, director, educator and a key theorist of Theatre of the Oppressed. Grounded in the work of Augusto Boal. with whom he studied extensively, Chung's focus is on theatre as a tool for social and political change. Through Boal's Interactive Theatre, Chung empowers others to challenge, resist, and transform systemic oppression, structural violence and injustice. He is the Artistic Director of Kairos Theater Ensemble and past President of the national organization for Theater of the Oppressed. Chung is also a Visiting Associate Professor of Art and Social Justice at Starr King School/GTU and a Teaching Artist at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre School, though his work as an educator often takes him around the country and across the globe.
Everybody by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. Directed by Daniel Larlham (Dance Nation, The School for Lies, Twelfth Night, Lysistrata)
https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/Everybody
gather 'round by Karen Ann Daniels. Directed by Victor Malana Maog
https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/gatherround
Dance Nation by Clare Barron. Directed by Daniel Larlham
https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/dancenation
Playwright Clare Barron in Conversation
Friday Oct. 23, 2020 6:00-7:00 pm
The playwright takes us inside her writing process and shares the artistic goals and personal experiences behind Dance Nation. Director Daniel Larlham moderates.
New Works Festival: Our Gendered Present in Conversation with our Past by student playwrights. Artistic direction by Amissa Miller and Deanna Zibello; individual works directed by students.https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/new-works-festival-21
Children's Tales from Around the Globe directed by Cathy Davalos. JanTerm children's show featuring Dance Theatre: https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/childrenstales
gather 'round by Karen Ann Daniels (with help from the SMC students). Directed by Victor Malana Maog. Music Director: Dr. Sixto F. Montesinos Jr.; Choreographer: Antonio Brown.
https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/gatherround
This is Modern Art by Kevin Coval and Idris Goodwin. Directed by Amissa Miller
Charlotte’s Web adapted by Joseph Robinette. Directed by Will Huddleston [Jan Term]
The School for Lies by David Ives. Directed by Daniel Larlham (cancelled due to Covid-19)
Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov. Directed by Frank Murray
Miss Nelson is Missing! by Allard and Marshall. Book, Music & Lyrics by Joan Cushing. Directed by Will Huddleston [Jan Term]
Cabaret by Kander and Ebb. Directed by Jon Tracy
Under 30: A Festival of One-acts by student playwrights. Artistic direction by Daniel Larlham; individual works directed by students
...and Jesus Moonwalks the Mississippi by Marcus Gardley. Directed by Ken Prestininzi
Puss 'n Boots adapted and directed by Will Huddleston [Jan Term]
Impure Thoughts (without apology) by Ken Prestininzi. Directed by Rebecca Engle
Under 30: A Festival of One-acts by student playwrights. Artistic direction by Lisa Marie Rollins; individual works directed by students
Twelfth Night by Shakespeare. Directed by Daniel Larlham
Good Night Moon book/music/lyrics by Chad Henry. Directed by Will Huddleston [Jan Term]
In the Heights by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Directed by Nick Gabriel
365 Plays/365 Days by Suzan-Lori Parks. Artistic direction by Lisa Marie Rollins; individual selections directed by students
Chaste (an awful comedy) by Ken Prestininzi. Directed by Rebecca Engle
Charlotte’s Web adapted by Joseph Robinette. Directed by Will Huddleston [Jan Term]
Lysistrata by Aristophanes. Directed by Daniel Larlham
The Car Plays by student playwrights. Artistic direction by Rebecca Engle; individual scripts written and directed by students
Anyone Can Whistle by Stephen Sondheim. Directed by Frank Murray
The Adventures of Pinocchio adapted and directed by Will Huddleston [Jan Term]
The Good Person of Setzuan by Bertolt Brecht. Directed by Daniel Larlham
Under 30: A Festival of One-acts by student playwrights. Artistic direction by Lisa Marie Rollins; individual works directed by students
And when we awoke there was light and light by Laura Jacmin. Directed by Susannah Martin
Puss 'n' Boots adapted and directed by Michael Cook [Jan Term]
Antigone(s) by Sophocles. Directed by Frank Murray
Spring Awakening by Frank Wedekind, book & lyrics by Steven Sater. Directed by Reid Davis [Jan Term]
A Lie of the Mind by Sam Shepard. Directed by Frank Murray
June in a Box by Octavio Solis. Directed by Rebecca Engle
Hansel and Gretel adapted and directed by Michael Cook [Jan Term]
The Imaginary Invalid by Moliere. Directed by Reid Davis
Angels in America, Part One: Millenium Approaches by Tony Kushner. Directed by Reid Davis
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs adapted and directed by Michael Cook [Jan Term]
Angels Among Us, traditional Medieval cycle plays. Directed by Frank Murray
At Mrs. Dalloway’s Party adapted from Virginia Woolf stories. Directed by Delia MacDougall
Rip Van Winkle adapted and directed by Michael Cook [Jan Term]
Sera by Angela Santillo. Directed by Rebecca Engle
Abundance by Beth Henley. Directed by Rebecca Engle
Rumpelstiltskin adapted and directed by Michael Cook [Jan Term]
Sweeney Todd by Stephen Sondheim. Directed by Reid Davis
Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare. Directed by Reid Davis
Goldilocks and the Three Bears adapted and directed by Michael Cook [Jan Term]
17 Reasons Why by Naomi Iizuka. Directed by Catherine Castellanos
Marfa Lights by Octavio Solis. Directed by Rebecca Engle
Song of the Swallows written and directed by Michael Cook [Jan Term]
Urinetown by Greg Koltis and Mark Hollmann. Directed by Reid Davis
Inherit the Wind by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee. Directed by Dan Cawthon
New Clothes for the Empress adapted and directed by Michael Cook [Jan Term]
Lorca in a Green Dress by Nilo Cruz. Directed by Rebecca Engle
The Firebugs by Max Frisch. Directed by Rebecca Engle
Thumbelina adapted and directed by Michael Cook [Jan Term]
Albee3, one-acts by Edward Albee. Directed by Dan Cawthon & Saundra Alassio
Good Night Desdemona, Good Morning Juliet by Anne-Marie MacDonald. Directed by Frank Murray
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs adapted and directed by Michael Cook [Jan Term]
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. Directed by Dan Cawthon
She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith. Directed by Dan Cawthon
Hansel and Gretel adapted and directed by Michael Cook [Jan Term]
Venus by Suzan-Lori Parks. Directed by Rebecca Engle
Tales of the Lost Formicans by Constance Cogdon. Directed by Rebecca Engle
Puss in Boots adapted and directed by Michael Cook [Jan Term]
Actor’s Nightmare/God by Christopher Durang/Woody Allen. Directed by Frank Murray
Iphigenia and other Daughters by Ellen McLaughlin. Directed by Rebecca Engle
Cinderella adapted and directed by Michael Cook [Jan Term]
Our Town by Thorton Wilder. Directed by Dan Cawthon
Philadelphia, Here I Come! by Brian Friel. Directed by Dan Cawthon
The Princess and The Pea adapted and directed by Michael Cook [Jan Term]
Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim. Directed by Frank Murray
Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard. Directed by Frank Murray
The Ugly Duckling adapted and directed by Michael Cook [Jan Term]
Alabama Rain by Heather McCutcheon. Directed by Rebecca Engle
The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoevsky, adapted by Anthony Clarvoe. Directed by Rebecca Engle
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White. Adapted and directed by Michael Cook [Jan Term]
The Imaginary Invalid by Moliere. Directed by Dan Cawthon
Trojan Women by Euripides. Directed by Frank Murray
Most Valuable Player: The Jackie Robinson Story by Mary Surface. Directed by Michael Cook [Jan Term]
Man of LaMancha by Wasserman/Leigh/Darion. Directed by Dan Cawthon
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, directed by Michael Cook [Jan Term]
Spunk by Zora Neale Hurston, adapted by George C. Wolfe. Directed by Rebecca Engle
The House of Blue Leaves by John Guare. Directed by Rebecca Engle
Rumpelstiltskin addapted and directed by Michael Cook [Jan Term]
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, adapted by Cummins & Scoullar. Directed by Dan Cawthon
Hippolytus by Euripides. Directed by Dan Cawthon [Jan Term]
Little Shop of Horrors by Ashman & Menken. Directed by Frank Murray
Theatre Program Director
Deanna Zibello
(925) 631-8299
dlz2@stmarys-ca.edu