The MSU Friends of Theatre and MSU Department of Theatre are pleased to announce the next free “Behind the Scenes” season of classes exploring the inner workings of select 2025-2026 MSU student productions. Please join us with our next class of the season.

William Shakespeare’s Othello

November 6-20

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity! “BEHIND THE SCENES” classes are composed of two discussion sessions separated by a two-week opportunity to attend a performance of the MSU student productions under discussion

Othello

SESSION ONE: The initial discussion will be led by the show’s Assistant Director/Sound Designer and the Props Designer with student actors from the MSU Dept of Theatre. This session will be held at The Peoples Church, on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, from 3 to 5 pm.

THE PLAY: Class participants will have a two-week opportunity to attend the play at MSU’s Pasant Theatre on the day and time of their choosing. The play runs from November 7 – 16. Parking is available in the Wharton Center parking structure or in the Shaw Lane parking ramp.

SESSION TWO: After the play closes, a second discussion-style session will be held at The Peoples Church, on Thursday, Nov. 20, from 3:00 to 5:00 pm. This class will be led by the director of the play, Ji Won Jeon, and actors. This always promises to be a lively discussion.

When: Thursday, November 6, 3-5 pm and Thursday, November 20, 3-5 pm

Where: The Peoples Church is at 200 Grand River Ave, East Lansing. Classes are in the Robertson Room. Free parking, including handicap spaces, is available on the west side of the church. The Church is handicapped accessible.

Cost: The classes are FREE. To purchase tickets to the plays, call the WHARTON CENTER Ticket Office at (517) 432-2000 or toll-free at 1-800-WHARTON. The cheapest way to purchase tickets is to go to Wharton Center in person.

Registration: Although classes are free, please submit this REGISTRATION FORM to secure a spot. If you have any questions, please contact Kath Clark at the MSU Department of Theatre, clarkk98@msu.edu or (517) 884-7796. Seating is limited.

Production Description for Othello:

What happens when fear takes control? Set in modern-day America, this bold new production of Othello brings Shakespeare’s searing tragedy into our world of political upheaval and cultural reckoning. Through the lens of diverse immigrant experiences—Middle Eastern, African American, Asian American, Latinx, and beyond—we confront the ways fear of the unknown fuels hatred and violence. In a time of global crises, how do we navigate truth, trust, and power? We invite the audience to explore these urgent questions and bring this electrifying vision to life.

Meet the Director: Ji Won Jeon

Ji Won Jeon (she/her), Assistant Professor in the Theatre Department, is a theatre director from South Korea working internationally. She believes in the power of theatre and storytelling to jumpstart conversations that challenge and move us outside our comfort zones. She firmly believes that the stories we tell about ourselves are formative of who we become as individuals, communities, and society. Her work is therefore centered around the idea of bringing individual and collective cultural history that makes us who we are today and allows us to move forward. She holds a B.A degree in Theatre and Visual and Performing Arts Studies from the University of Southern California and an M.F.A in Directing from Northwestern University. Before coming to Michigan State University, she taught directing at Skidmore College.

Class Organizers: Joan Mattson, Sam Austin, Jeanie Croope, and Carol Bryson. Faculty Liaisons: Rob Roznowski and Kirk Domer.

Future sessions in the Behind the Scenes series will feature Jane Austen’s “Persuasion” (April 2026). Details and registration will be announced at a future time.