USAO Students Featured in "Lysistrata" Production

When Aristophanes' Lysistrata opens on the USAO stage Nov. 12 it will feature a cast of USAO students -- many new to the stage at the college and some veterans.

The USAO drama department is scheduled to present Lysistrata Nov. 12-14 in the Davis Hall Theatre on the USAO campus. The performance starts at 7:30 p.m. nightly. General admission is $10 for adults and $5 for all non-USAO students (students must be over 17 to attend without a parent or guardian). Admission is free to all USAO students, faculty, staff and paid USAO Alumni Association members.

A video featuring cast interviews and other information is available at /news/news/lysistrata-opens-nov-12-usao. The video is near the bottom of the page.

Although around 2,500 years old, the production is still relevant today and has an important message, said cast members.

"Even though it is a classic Greek piece, just updating a few words and a few sentences really brings it back to our modern society," said C.W. Bardsher, a communication major from Marlow who plays Drakes. "It is actually a very important piece and I think it's a lot funnier than people realize.

"It is a really funny, funny show and it's not written for a certain time period. The translation we have, the issues it covers and the things we've added really make it a modern production."

As an Old Greek Comic, the productions style relies on bawdy physical humor, gross jokes, obscene language and, in this case, lots of sexual innuendo.

"It really is a comedy about sex and a lot of it. So there are a lot of mature themes and audiences need to be prepared for that, but it's all in good fun," Bardsher said.

"Lysistrata, creates a plan to get the men back from war by getting the women to withhold sex to force the men to come home. It eventually works but there's some really funny interludes along the way," said Amanda Whitchard, a drama major from Muskogee, who plays Lampito.

"My character, Lysistrata, is a very strong personality, very intelligent -- more so than what a normal Greek woman would be for her time," said Jessica Ferguson, a drama major from Oklahoma City.

"One of my favorite scenes is trying to convince the women that this is a good idea to go against the men to make peace. Everything else has failed from what men have done so far, so now it is time for the women to shine."

Due to explicit language, crude humor and graphic scenes of a sexual nature, no one under the age of 17 will be admitted without an adult guardian.

Katie Davis, assistant professor of drama at USAO, directs the production. Cast members include

Amber -- Sachelle Story, an English major as Old Market Woman
Bowlegs -- Nikki Garland, a drama major as Corinth Lady
Chickasha  -- Jessica Belvin, an English major serves as an assistant director; Raynelle Freeman, a drama major as the Old Market Woman; Robert Story, a chemistry major serves as an assistant director
Clinton -- Alena Leonard, an art major as a Young Woman
Covington, Ohio -- Andrea Jones, an English major as Harmony
Covington, Texas -- Jesse Scarborough, a history major as a member of the Old Man Chorus
Fairbanks, Alaska -- Phillip Hill, a music major as Strymodorus
Lawton -- Calli Vaughan, an English major as a Young Girl and Harmony
Marlow -- C.W. Bardsher, a communication major as Drakes
Midwest City -- Elizabeth Ryan, a history major as an Old Woman; Laron Short, a communication major as a member of Old Women Chorus; Roderick Kohl, a drama major as a member of the Old Man Chorus
Moore -- Chris Bennett, an English major as a member of the Old Man Chorus
Mountain View -- Montania Lightfoot, a drama major who serves as tech
Muskogee -- Amanda Whitchard, a drama major as Lampito
Norman -- Corie Harris, a business major as Rhodipe
Oklahoma City -- Daniella Jimenez, a drama major as a Young Girl; Jessica Ferguson, a drama major as Lysistrata
Omaha, Nebraska -- Neal Hassler, an undeclared major as the Athenian Ambassador
Pauls Valley -- Whitney Whitaker, a drama major as Kalonike
Tulsa -- Cara Cox, a drama major as Myrrhine; Hannah Pike, an art major as Lady Cop
Tuttle -- Paige Simpson, a drama major serves as stage manager
Wetumka -- Kasey Sams, an English major as Old Lady Chorus Leader