Director of student theatre production finds voice at SUNY Oswego

For Thomas Kan, a SUNY Oswego theatre major from Bay Side, California, serving as director of the student theatre production “God of Carnage” represents both a dream and the kind of hands-on creative experience that initially drew them to SUNY Oswego. 

However, as with many paths, the route to the director's chair for the production opening Nov. 11 was not necessarily a straight line. 

Kan discovered a passion for directing relatively late. After returning to theatre after the COVID-19 pandemic, they found themselves in a high school environment where students were directly running and leading the theatre department. The experience introduced Kan to the possibilities of directing. 

“That was where I kind of found my groove,” Kan recalls. “This is something I enjoy doing. I enjoy working with people. It’s something I’m good at.” 

When it came to choosing a college, Kan was looking for more than just a place to study theatre. They wanted to attend a program that was not only close to New York City but also one where directing was an attainable goal and where students could put their interests into practice. 

SUNY Oswego offered that pathway. 

Kan describes being drawn to the university's directing opportunities. Rather than traditionally waiting until graduation to begin developing their craft, students could participate in production and collaborate along the way.

“Coming here, I came in with the expectation of directing. Like, that was my main goal,” Kan said.

Leading a team

That opportunity has become central to Kan’s experience in the department. 

Directing “God of Carnage” is not just interpreting a script. It requires coordinating a creative team, working through different ideas, capturing those ideas and helping actors toward the choices that serve the production. 

Their time at Oswego has included courses in acting, stagecraft, stage management, lighting design and play analysis – experiences that have broadened their understanding of what directing requires. 

“Being able to dedicate myself to theater, taking all these courses, and being able to take that skill set and come back into directing is a great milestone in how far I’ve progressed,” Kan said. 

Now, as a senior, Kan is putting that experience into practice as the student director of “God of Carnage.” However, the opportunity is not handed out casually. 

According to faculty mentor and professor Steven Mazzoccone, students interested in directing a departmental production go through an extensive application process – the biggest being choosing one play from a short list of titles and developing interpretive ideas on that play as a faculty committee evaluates their proposal.

“Directing is one of those things that is not just an analytical experience, and it is not just a communication and collaboration experience. It is holistic,” Mazzoccone explained. “So much of the director's responsibility is the care and upkeep of the show and of the rehearsal space.”

For Kan, directing is about more than leading a production. It’s about creating an environment where everyone contributes. 

“One of the great benefits of being a student director is really working with peers,” Kan says. “We may not all have the answers, but working together to come to a fully realized production… is a really great experience.” 

Collaborative environment

That collaboration is central to SUNY Oswego’s theatre department. “God of Carnage” allows students to direct, perform, and design a production with the resources of a mainstage show. 

“To have a student direct and design a show and still receive the resources of a mainstage show is a pretty unique thing for an academic theater department,” said Mazzoccone. “I do think that’s what sets our department apart from other schools and institutions.” 

For Kan, bringing people together also means sharing that passion behind the work.

‘Something I really strive for is to show passion for projects and find what I really love about the projects I’m working on, and share that so others can be passionate as well,” Kan explains.

For Kan, “God of Carnage” is more than a directing opportunity. It is a milestone in a journey that began with discovering love for theatre, and also a reminder of what students can accomplish when they are trusted to lead and supported to create. 

At SUNY Oswego, Kan isn’t just learning how theatre works. They’re making it happen. 

“God of Carnage” has 7:30 p.m. curtains on Nov. 11 to 14, as well as 2 p.m. matinees on Nov. 14 and 15, all in Tyler Hall’s Lab Theatre. 

Tickets are free for SUNY Oswego students, $10 for all others. Tickets and additional information are available at tickets.oswego.edu.

– Written by Jose Vazquez Nava of SUNY Oswego’s Class of 2027