1. At Home at the Zoo performed in
Campus Center
By EVA ZIELINSKI
Published 05/09/13 11:33am
This semester’s classroom project performance of At Home At The Zoo will be taking place on
Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday, May 8, 9, and 11 in the Campus Center Theatre at 8 p.m.
The Classroom Project places the focus on acting and directing and is designed to present a
provocative and thought-provoking evening of theatre for the Otterbein community, according to
director and theater professor Ed Vaughan. It also means that it is a smaller budget production,
with a smaller cast and technical crew, and usually is a show that has more mature and
controversial content.
At Home At The Zoo, written by Edward Albee, is a new drama that expands on The Zoo Story,
the one-act that launched Albee’s career over fifty years ago. In act one, an everyday
conversation between a husband and wife takes an unexpected turn into dangerously personal
territory. Act two explores themes of isolation, loneliness and social disparity. With the intensity
and honesty for which Albee is known, At Home at the Zoo reveals cutting truths about our
humanity.
Vaughan said he had a wonderful experience working with the student actors. At Home At The
Zoo has three characters: Peter played by Anthony Cason. Jr., his wife played by Emily Vanni
and the stranger, Jerry played by Sean Murphy.
“They are excellent actors and every rehearsal they find out something new about their
characters and the play,” Vaughan said. “It has been great fun watching them work and seeing
the play come together. Some say that 90 percent of directing is finding the right cast, and I think
I accomplished that this time. We started rehearsal just after spring break and usually work two
to three hours per night Monday through Friday.”
When asked to describe this specific theatrical experience, Vaughan said he couldn’t completely
understand his experience with this project until he sees it in front of an audience.
“Theatre does not exist without an audience,” he said. “What we are doing now is crafting the
work, and only in front of an audience can it rise to the level of art. My hope is that when an
audience comes next week we will all experience a glorious artistic experience.”
Sophomore BFA acting major Emily Vanni described the play as a story of people trying to
make connections with other people, to build relationships and find ultimate fulfillment in one’s
life, which is seemingly more difficult than expected.

2. “This process has been such a blessing,” Vanni said. “It has been a difficult process, requiring a
lot of specificity and for each of us actors to be pushed out of our comfort zones, but its been
incredibly fun. This show, being so intimate, has required a lot of depth and vulnerability. Our
director has done nothing but support us, push us to be better than ourselves, and create a world
and mood for the show that is sure to make audiences question, reevaluate and feel.”
At Home At The Zoo contains sexually explicit language and is intended for mature audiences
only. However, admission is free to everyone.