Watch the Performance HERE
Medieval Ballads in Miniature: Shadow of Myself is a dynamic, interdisciplinary production which seeks to personify and modernize medieval Spanish romances through original music, adapted narration, and puppetry. The production explores the worlds created by beloved Spanish romances Abenámar and La Doncella Guerrera through a modern lens by means of novel adaptations of the works which intend to call attention to the thematic relevance of the romances to the current day.
Through the voice of a single narrator, the audience is transported to what we now know as Spain in the Middle Ages, first to the Moorish region of Granada when it begins to draw interest from the Christian kingdom of Castilla, and later to an unnamed kingdom where the protagonist must face the duality of their identity. Unique to these texts is the narrator’s relationship with the protagonists; in the first romance, the narrator is permitted to speak directly to the protagonist, Abenámar, at the onset and the conclusion of the work, and in the second romance, it becomes apparent by the end of the piece that the protagonist, la Doncella, is indeed one with the narrator. Textual themes of duality, courage, patriarchy, and heritage are represented musically by leitmotifs, recurring musical phrases or themes that denote a particular character, location, or idea, and by the silhouettes of the puppets themselves.
Medieval Ballads in Miniature: Shadow of Myself is premiering at Ohio Wesleyan University (Fall 2020). Translation, adaptation, narration, musical collaboration, and puppet design by Hannah Treadway. Original music by Noah Green. Directed by Paula Rodríguez. Supervised by Dr. Glenda Nieto-Cuebas.
Text by Hannah Treadway
Dr. Glenda Y. Nieto-Cuebas (Project Supervisor, Producer, Web Designer), is a Professor of Spanish at Ohio Wesleyan University. Her upper level courses, publications, and research focused on studying Early Modern Hispanic Literature, especially 17th century theatre and its contemporary productions. Due to the complexity these texts can convey for undergraduate students, in her classes she often employs hands-on and project-based assignments to help learners obtain a better understanding of this literature and also to have a unique experience that otherwise would be hard to acquire. With these goals in mind she has designed numerous projects and worked one-on-one with several students, such as Hannah Treadway, interested in Medieval or Early Modern Hispanic Literature and Theatre.
Her scholarship has been published in edited volumes and peer-reviewed journals. She recently co-edited a volume on Social Justice in Spanish Golden Age Theatre (University of Toronto Press, 2020), and is currently working on several pedagogical projects and publications focused on how experiential learning can help students better analyze Hispanic classical theatre through non-traditional means.
Translator, adaptor, writer, puppet designer and puppeteer
Music composer
Artistic Director
Hannah Treadway (Translator/ Adaptor/ Musical Collaborator/ Narrator) is a senior double majoring in Music and Spanish at Ohio Wesleyan. In her time at OWU, she has been the principal clarinetist of the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Chamber Orchestra, and Woodwind Ensemble, has served on the Department of Modern Foreign Languages Student Board, and has been president of the Department of Music Student Board. She has previously been seen as a clarinetist in the orchestra pit of Ohio Wesleyan’s production of Cabaret (Spring 2018). When she is not hard at work in her two major departments, Hannah can be found working as a Spanish tutor and a private instructor in clarinet and piano. After she graduates in December, Hannah will be moving on to graduate school to pursue a PhD in Hispanic Linguistics. She cannot wait to share this production with you, and hopes that the performance proves a worthy distraction from the chaos in which we are living.
Noah Green (Composer/Viola) is a senior Music Composition major from Granville, Ohio. He has previously written music for Cloud 9 (Composer), “A Mother’s Love” (Composer and Sound Designer), “Orchesis 19-20” (Composer), Eurydice (Composer and Sound Designer), and Inter/Sect (Composer). He hopes you enjoy the show!
Paula Rodríguez (Director) is a Spanish actress based in London. She defines herself as a Classical Theatre Re-Maker and a Multidisciplinary Storyteller. As an actor in the UK, she has worked with companies such as The Spanish Theatre Company, at Cervantes Theatre and Flute Theatre, Shakespeare for inclusive audiences, premiering "Twelfth Night" and "A Midsummer Night Dream" at Chichester Festival 2019 and now touring. Also, other organizations such as The Young Vic, The Bridge Theatre, The Orange Tree Theatre, The Vaults Festival, Dash Arts and FesteLon (Spanish Theatre Fest) among others. In Spain she has participated in the productions of several Spanish classics, most notably with The National Company of Classical Theatre and with directors specializing in Spanish Golden Age Theatre, such as Ernesto Caballero (former National Theatre Director in Spain), Ernesto Arias (Rakatá) and Nuria Alkorta (Delabarca).
Her career as an actress has always been related to the field of research and devised work. She is also a translator, writer and director, working in collaboration with other artists and producing her own projects. In 2015 she co-funded Teatro Inverso, a theatre company that specializes on staging Spanish Classical plays for contemporary international audiences. Their two shows "ROSAURA" and "WONDERS" have toured internationally since 2015. In 2017 she created "The Other Solos, Shakespeare", a series of YouTube monologues reflecting on Shakespeare and migrants. She is currently developing a new project "AURIC (Songs from a Golden Age)" a gig theatre show that combines experimental music with Spanish Golden Age poetry.
Carlos Coello-Escoto (Guitar) is a freshman at Ohio Wesleyan, planning to pursue a degree in Music Composition and a minor in Economics. This will be his first show at OWU. In high school, Carlos played in an honors jazz ensemble and was a guitarist in a local garage band. He is excited to start his Ohio Wesleyan performance journey.
Taryn Barnes (Flute) is a senior double majoring in Music and Marketing. She participates in several musical ensembles on campus including Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Chamber Orchestra, and Woodwind Ensemble. Outside of the Department of Music she is the OWU Admissions Operations Intern and is part of the Latham Scholars Entrepreneurial Program. She would like to thank Hannah Treadway and Professor Nieto-Cuebas for this opportunity.
Cat Giacalone (Sound Board Op) is a senior theatre and English double major, film and dance double minor from Franklin, MA. She is known for her work on stage and behind the scenes, including her recent work as Sound Designer for The Secret Garden (before COVID happened) and her upcoming performance in “Orchesis 20/21.” She doesn’t really know what’s happening tonight, but she’s excited anyway!
Luis Gonzales (Double Bass) is a senior Music Education major at Ohio Wesleyan. He enjoys performing with a variety of ensembles on campus including the Park Avenue Jazz Ensemble, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, and Chamber Orchestra.
Lena Ison (Assistant Puppeteer) is a senior from Pittsburgh, PA studying Psychology and Environmental Science. Growing up, Lena performed as a puppeteer alongside her family members in their family puppetry business. She is excited to be back behind the stage during her final year at OWU!
Kathryn Lawson (Oboe) is a senior majoring in Music Performance from Cincinnati, Ohio. She performs with the Chamber Orchestra, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, and Marching Bishops, and has performed with the OWU Woodwind Ensemble. She is excited to be a part of this project and hopes you enjoy the show!
Jonathan Munroe (Violin) is a freshman at Ohio Wesleyan University majoring in Geography and Urban Studies. He has been playing violin since the age of six and currently performs in the Chamber Orchestra on campus.
Abraham Sulin (Horn) is a junior Music Performance major with a minor in Spanish. He is an active performer in many of the ensembles at OWU including the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and the Chamber Orchestra. He has also been involved with the Ohio Wesleyan Woodwind Ensemble and Brass Ensemble. He is thrilled to have this opportunity to perform amidst the pandemic, and hopes you enjoy the show!
Jerrod Ward (Light Engineer) is a senior majoring in Theatre from Loudonville, Ohio. He has worked as a Light Designer for Eurydice (Winter 2020), Orchesis 18/19 & 19/20 and has worked on lights Tafor How to Be a Respectable Junkie (Fall 2018), Tim Miller’s Performance at OWU (Spring 2020), and Rosaura (Spring 2019). He has written for One Acts 2018, and Instant Theatre 2019-2020, and has directed in One Acts 2019. He is excited to get the opportunity to work on this project and hopes you all enjoy it.
