Meet the guest artists of Oxy's Theater Department
Steven Berkoff was born in London in 1937. He studied Drama in London and Paris. He performed with repertory companies before forming the London Theatre Group (L.T.G.) in 1968. Their first professional production was In the Penal Colony, an adaptation of a short story by Kafka.
Tim Sanford is the Artistic Director of Playwrights Horizons, a writer's theater dedicated to the support and development of contemporary American playwrights, composers and lyricists, and to the production of their new work. Beginning as a literary intern in 1984, Tim went on to serve for nine years as Literary Manager and two years as Associate Artistic Director, before assuming leadership o
Larissa Kokernot is happy to be directing The Thugs at Occidental this fall as the Culley Guest Artist. Larissa has been working in the professional theatre for over 30 years with regional directing credits at Indiana Repertory Theatre, Ten Thousand Things, the Guthrie Theater, The Playwrights' Center, California Repertory Theatre
Captain Jason Barlaan first enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2005 upon graduating from the University of California at Santa Barbara with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre. After spending two years at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, he reported to Quantico, VA where he earned his Commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps. In 2008 he was sent to Fallujah, Iraq in support of Opera
Omar Paxson’s (’48) interest in theater began during the second world war when he was sent to LSU to train as an army engineer - but watched rehearsals in the theater department instead.
Cheryl has been in the entertainment business for over 30 years working in theater, commercials, film and television.
Gretchen's professional singing and acting career has taken her all over the world. She has performed on stages and in studios in Japan, Russia, New York, Los Angeles, and many places in between. Her voice has been heard in Jazz Clubs, on Cruise Ships, in Theaters in Movies, on TV, the Radio, on CDs, etc.
After graduating from Occidental with a major in Music, Benjamin began a successful career as a Classical Singer and Musical Theater Singer/Actor. He performed at the Los Angeles and Carmel Bach Festivals as well as many regional musical theaters.
Tre holds a BFA in Directing from the North Carolina School of the Arts where he worked with legendary Broadway director Gerald Freedman. In addition, he has been a directing fellow for the Eugene O’Neill Playwright's Conference, the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, and for the John F.