By: Stephanie Lynne, SUNY ONEONTA
Hello! My name is Stephanie Lynne, and I am from Syracuse, New York. I am an upcoming senior at SUNY Oneonta majoring in Communication Studies with double minors in Theatre and Media Studies.
In my free time, I enjoy writing, biking, exercising, and reading. Outside of my hobbies, I am passionate about theatre, specifically directing and design. Most recently, I directed SUNY Oneonta’s Mask and Hammer Theatre Club’s production of The Shape of Things by Neil LaBute, which was independently student-produced. I am also the Communication Director of WONY 90.9 FM, SUNY Oneonta’s radio station. I would love the opportunity to be a director professionally once I graduate next May, but I also enjoy marketing, public relations, and advertising, so I’m happy to have multiple paths open.
For my research, I have been fortunate enough to receive the opportunity to travel to Prague, Czech Republic, this July through August to participate in Prague Shakespeare Company’s (PSC) Summer Shakespeare Intensive. There, I will be assistant directing a production of Love’s Labour’s Lost by William Shakespeare (directed by Evren Odcikin), which will later tour to Venice and Genoa, Italy. Additionally, I will be able to choose core electives that support my interest in directing while also working on the main production. Examples include Intimacy Direction and Best Practices, Stage Combat, and more. The culmination of five weeks of directing, training, and studying Shakespeare in the Czech Republic and Italy will result in a professional Prague Shakespeare Company production credit to add to my resume, expanding my theatrical training beyond the typical undergraduate experience.
The ultimate objective of this project is to document the creation of Love’s Labour’s Lost in a shareable portfolio to be presented in Fall 2026. This documentation will chronicle rehearsals, design development, performance, and touring, offering insight into both the artistic process and the interpretive decisions behind the production. By creating a comprehensive digital archive, the project extends beyond the live performances in Europe, allowing broader academic and artistic communities to engage with the work.
I learned about PSC’s Summer Shakespeare Intensive during my freshman year through my professor, Kiara Pipino, who works with PSC every summer. As someone who has always been passionate about theatre and eager to travel, I knew this opportunity would be an incredible way to develop my independence as a young adult while expanding my creative outlook on how theatrical processes differ across environments.
The intensive begins on July 5th, 2026. After the program in Prague concludes, I will spend one week touring Italy before returning home on August 9th, 2026. Working in both the Czech Republic and Italy will allow me to collaborate with a diverse ensemble of professional artists, from actors to designers, offering firsthand exposure to different rehearsal techniques and performance styles. Furthermore, connecting with audiences around the world will deepen my perspective and boost my credibility in the global theatre scene.
There is so much I’m excited about that it’s hard to choose just one thing! I’m thrilled to meet new people from all over the world who love theatre as much as I do. I’m also excited to travel to not one, but three European cities in just five weeks while participating in something I’m deeply passionate about. Of course, I’m nervous, I’ve never been this far from home for this long, but I’ve embraced the saying “do it scared.” Whether the moments are positive or stressful, I plan to take in every experience that comes my way during my time in the Czech Republic and Italy this summer.
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