Oklahoma City University STRIPPED recently closed its fall production of the musical The Mystery of Edwin Drood in the Petree Auditorium. OCU STRIPPED, a student-run theater company, presented the 1985 musical on November 1st and 2nd.
Drood is based on Charles Dickens’s unfinished novel of the same name, and the story is full of vibrant characters and Victorian tropes that characterize the British author’s works.
The musical is a “show within a show,” where the actors play characters who are playing other characters, all wrapped up in the surroundings of an English music hall.
The musical is famous for its brand of “choose your own adventure” plot; the audience votes for how the story will end, creating an entirely new show from night to night.
As the name implies, STRIPPED stages stripped-down productions of musicals once a semester, employing simple sets, costuming, and orchestration.
The organization is a staple in the Wanda L. Bass School of Music, with an audition and rehearsal process identical to the school’s main season—except for one crucial difference: STRIPPED productions are entirely run by the student body.
The production presented a thrilling challenge for director Zac Decker and the entire creative team. In an interview with The Campus, assistant director Lianna Paglia discussed the musical’s strengths and how it was the right fit for the company’s mission.
“At the root of Drood is the characterization, and you have these big, larger than life characters…it really highlighted the capability of our actors, how talented they are, how big of a presence they have.”
Senior Ellis Stumbo, who played The Chairman, recalled his experience playing a unique character who often addresses the audience directly.
“One thing that helps in creating the character is the fact that he interacts with the audience. There’s the big part in act two, the voting section, where it’s eleven minutes of me talking with the audience…not in the story, but in the world of the theater. It was really interesting to create that ringmaster-esque leader persona.”
OCU STRIPPED will continue its 2024-2025 season next semester with a production of the 2006 musical Calvin Berger. More information can be found on their Instagram page, @ocustripped_
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