VPA dean’s long-awaited dream hits the stage before retirement

When John O’Connell first experienced the play “The Taming of the Shrew: The March for the Vote” in Chicago in 2017, he was enraptured.

“The minute I saw it, I said I have to direct this play,” the dean of Purdue University Fort Wayne’s College of Visual and Performing Arts said.

Serving at PFW since 2007 and VPA’s dean since 2012, O’Connell’s hope was to direct the play as quickly as possible, but circumstances such as acquiring or creating two sets of period costumes pushed his timeline back. Now, he’s almost out of time, with his June retirement date approaching.

Though there are only 13 cast members, this is a full-department endeavor, as everyone wants to make sure the last of O’Connell’s directing efforts at PFW turns out perfect. No pressure!

“I think there will be many emotions from everyone,” said Olivia Albertson, a senior. “This cast feels like a wonderful, loving community, so I am sure there will be the bittersweet tears on closing night!”

The cast includes students Emma Gilbert, Michaela Mooney, Emma Houser, Isabelle Shenfeld, Elizabeth Derbyshire, Tailor Grant, and Albertson. The Fort Wayne actors are people O’Connell has worked with previously, or those who have heard him talk about this dream project for years. They are Kate Black, Leslie Ringger, Blair Allen, Nancy Kartholl, Dotty S. Miller, and Julie Donnell. There are no men in the cast, though most of the roles are male—perhaps a play on how male actors during William Shakespeare’s time played female roles. Shakespeare wrote the original “The Taming of the Shrew” during the 1590s.

This version of the story is about a Chicago women’s social club in 1919 preparing to present the play. But there’s also an ongoing undercurrent about the 19th Amendment, which in 1920 guaranteed women the right to vote.

“It’s so cool that it’s going to be the most challenging play I’ve directed since probably `Noises Off!’ in 2020,” O’Connell said. “It also was a farce and was very difficult. My goal is to raise everyone’s performance level and provide a fun experience for our audience.”

Part of that challenge is teaching the younger performers how to be comfortable speaking in the language and tempo of Shakespeare. For most of the students, this was like learning a new language, and O’Connell had to teach them the nuances. O’Connell said, once they have done Shakespeare, they will likely yearn for more opportunities.

“JohnO has such clarity of vision and joy in finding humor in his productions and possesses the ability to move his actors toward that end so deftly,” said Black, who has appeared three times under O’Connell’s direction. “He encourages collaboration and creativity, shaping and honing the production as a whole to that vision. He has the most positive attitude and buoyant spirit, but does not brook any nonsense.”

Demanding but fair, O’Connell encourages his cast to call him “JohnO” instead of dean or director. He’ll push his actors to be particular and excellent, just as he does himself. He wants this to be a performance  everyone remembers fondly in the future as some of their best work.

Though the curtain is closing on his time as dean, O’Connell said he will continue directing in the Fort Wayne community and hopes to someday be asked to return as a director to PFW. He’s got plans to work in community theatre and return to his professional directing career by working across the nation for his next acts.

“JohnO is so passionate about this play and its message that I feel grateful that he is the one directing us,” Albertson said.

But what are his own nerves like heading into this presentation? Will there be nostalgia when the final moments hit him?

“I will probably have those feelings during the performance when it’s actually being played in front of an audience,” O’Connell said. “And if it’s going well, then I’ll probably connect to the thought, `Well, this could be it.” But not likely during it, because like I said, this will be one of the most challenging plays I’ve done in years.”

In other words, O’Connell is going to as usual pour everything he has into it.

Showtimes in the Williams Theatre are Feb. 20, 21, 26, 27, 28 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 22 at 2 p.m.

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