SOU Theatre student actors Shane Howard and Samantha Mansell (photo credit Marvin Walder)
SOU Theatre Presents Two Dynamic Fall Productions: Arcadia and Ghosts on a Live Mic
ASHLAND, Ore. — The Southern Oregon University (SOU) Theatre Department is set to showcase the breadth of its student talent this fall with two ambitious and distinct productions: the intellectual masterpiece Arcadia and a chilling radio show, Ghosts on a Live Mic.
These productions underscore SOU’s commitment to practical, professional training, with students creating every aspect of the show—from design and construction to performance. This intensive, mentor-led approach ensures graduates are ready to step into professional roles in the industry.
Arcadia: A Masterpiece of Intellect and Design
Opening soon is Tom Stoppard’s highly acclaimed play, Arcadia. This brilliant play moves smoothly between 1809 and the present day at the elegant Coverly estate, exploring the nature of truth and time, the difference between classical and romantic temperaments, and the disruptive influence of sex on our life orbits—”the attraction Newton left out.” The scenes reveal a household in transition, where thirteen-year-old Lady Thomasina and her tutor delve into intellectual and romantic issues, while
present-day scholars research a possible scandal involving Lord Byron. Director Scott Kaiser, who served on OSF’s artistic staff for 28 seasons, remarked: “Arcadia is one of the great theatrical masterworks of the twentieth century. Shifting between 1809 and today, Tom Stoppard’s erudite play brilliantly explores the intertwined connections between past and present, science and art, chaos and order, knowledge and truth. So I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to work on it with SOU students.”
The show is presented on the mainstage, with fully realized scenic, costume, lighting, and sound. Assistant Professor of Theatre, Technical Direction and Fabrication Thomas Fagerholm notes, “Kay Bartel, one of the lead carpenters for SOU’s production of Arcadia has been working on the CNC router to cut out detailed doors and windows for the set. The use of a CNC router… has allowed students advanced training for skills often needed in regional theater and other entertainment work.”
Pictured: SOU Theatre student Kay Bartel
Assistant Professor of Theatre, Costumes Ulises Alcala added, “Costume Designer Pluto Yost-Moore and Assistant Costume Designer Mammon Qualls have created a world that beautifully transitions between the Regency era and modern characters, their vision being realized by the dedicated crew of student drapers and stitchers. Come see our beautiful show this November!”
Pictured: SOU Theatre students Pluto Yost-Moore, Samantha Mansell, Shane Howard, Mammon Qualls
Performance Details: Arcadia
Dates: November 13 – 23, 2025 (Limited Engagement)
Time: 8:00 PM (2:00 PM matinee on Sundays)
Location: SOU Main Stage Theatre, 491 South Mountain Ave, Ashland OR 97520
Special Event: Post Show Talk Back with Cast and Designers on Friday, November 21, 2025.
Tickets: $15 General Admission / $10 Students.
Available at: sou.universitytickets.com/w/event.aspx?id=1732
Ghosts on a Live Mic: An Evening of Radio Horror
SOU Theatre students rehearse Ghosts on a Live Mic (photo courtesy Cathi Romero-Molay)
The SOU Theatre season kicked off with the spine-tingling special engagement Ghosts on a Live Mic: An Evening of Radio Horror. This production cleverly recreated the golden age of radio, featuring classic creepy stories of murder mysteries, ghosts, and aliens, including the famous thrillers Sorry, Wrong Number, The Hitch-Hiker, and War of the Worlds.
The production explored soundscapes from the original broadcasts with live Foley sound effects visible to the audience. The show gained new relevance as it explored how the 1938 War of the Worlds broadcast terrified a nation that couldn’t distinguish fact from fiction—a theme mirrored today by AI video, deep fakes, and new media technology.
Director Michael J. Hume shared, “Casting this production was a big gamble. The auditions consisted of anonymous submissions of recorded ‘spooky stories,’ so the actors were chosen solely based on how they sounded. Fortunately, every one of them turned out to be perfect for the multiple roles they were assigned!”
Professor of Theatre and Design Sean O’Skea conceived of the show, sharing, “With so many people listening to podcasts and audiobooks, we thought it would be fun to recreate some of the best examples of the original spoken-word drama. War of the Worlds seems especially relevant as we are again almost a century later, questioning if what we see and hear in our media is fact or fiction.”
Performance Details: Ghosts on a Live Mic
Dates: Production closed on Nov. 1, 2025
Director Biographies
Scott Kaiser Scott is a nationally recognized master teacher of acting and voice, as well as a director, playwright, and author. For 28 seasons, Scott served as a member of the artistic staff at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, where he directed, adapted, coached, or performed in every play in Shakespeare’s canon. He holds an ADVS from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, an MFA from the University of Washington Professional Actor Training Program, and a BA from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Michael J. Hume Michael J. Hume’s extensive career includes 58 productions at the OREGON SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL, as well as work at the KENNEDY CENTER (with OSF), SEATTLE REP, AMERICAN CONSERVATORY THEATRE, and CAPITAL REP (where he was a Co-Founder, directing and acting in over 35 productions). He has also worked at major regional houses including Hartford Stage, Syracuse Stage, South Coast Rep, and Pittsburgh Public. He studied with Uta Hagen at HB Studios in NYC.
About the Southern Oregon University Theatre Department
The SOU Theatre Department offers students a unique and rigorous professional training experience focused on hands-on production and collaboration. Situated near the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the department prepares students for careers in performance, design, and technical theatre through a diverse curriculum and intensive practical application.
