The School of Dramatic Arts is home to many outstanding shows, and as the run of “Troilus and Cressida” came to an end this past weekend, theater fans are looking for even more opportunities to witness SDA students perform. While “Deep Blue Sound” will open in just a few weeks, the Independent Student Productions are already buzzing with excitement.

ISPs give students the opportunity to have full creative control over their projects, taking on every cast, crew and producing role. Students also get a chance to pick the shows they are a part of. Sometimes, the shows themselves are written by students. 

While there are so many ISPs it is often hard to keep up, audiences can continue to explore the many options that ISPs have to offer — from on stage, behind the scenes and in the audience.

---

Daily headlines, sent straight to your inbox.

Subscribe to our newsletter to keep up with the latest at and around USC.

---

Aeneid Theatre Company — “Rhesus”

For the last 10 years, Aeneid Theatre Company has worked to produce student-pitched productions. Throughout its time as a company, Aeneid has done everything from William Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” to its most recent show, “Danny and the Deep Blue Sea.” Kicking off the Spring semester, ATC will bring “Rhesus,” written by Euripides and translated by George Theodoridis, to the stage.

The show will take place in the open-air amphitheater at Hutton Park under the direction of Paul Lazzari, a junior majoring in theatre and anthropology. The show began its run Wednesday and will close Sunday. The show takes place during the Trojan War and features many similar characters that audiences just saw in “Troilus and Cressida.” Samara Hernandez, a sophomore majoring in theatre with an emphasis in musical theatre, will star as Hector, and Jayden Adams-Ruiz, a sophomore majoring in acting for stage and screen, will play the show’s namesake — among other familiar legends of Greek mythology.

Modern Minority Theatre Company — “The Effect”

Modern Minority Theatre Company is an ISP focusing on empowering underrepresented artists and theatermakers by giving them unique opportunities in the theater space. The company works to tell the stories of underrepresented groups but helps everyone, regardless of experience, find their way into the theatrical space. For their upcoming show, MMTC will perform “The Effect” by Lucy Prebble.

“The Effect” — which recently had a National Theatre run nominated for Best Revival at the 2024 Olivier Awards — tells the brilliant story about two volunteers participating in a trial for a new antidepressant under the supervision of two doctors. 

As feelings emerge, morals blur and questions arise, and a powerful, funny and intimate story is told by the cast of four. “The Effect” will run March 6-8 at the Scene Dock Theatre and stars Vanessa Andrick, a junior majoring in global health as well as studying for a Masters of Applied Biostatistics and Epidemiology, as Dr. Lorna James and Rhett Huie, a senior majoring in theatre with an emphasis in acting, as Dr. Toby Sealey. Aaron Eichenlaub, a sophomore majoring in acting for the stage and screen, will play Tristan Frey and Vanessa Cardona, a senior majoring in theatre, plays Connie Hall. Alex Cardona, a senior majoring in narrative studies, will direct the production.

Dorothy’s Friends Theatre Company — “M. Butterfly”

Dorothy’s Friends Theatre Company is an LGBTQIA+ theatre company aiming to produce “works that are more representative of the queer community.” The name originates from “The Wizard of Oz” (1939) and was historically used as a method for members of the LGBTQIA+ community to identify each other. The term was adapted into the company’s name to pay homage to all LGBTQIA+ theatrical artists that came before them. 

DFTC will be performing “M. Butterfly” by David Henry Hwang. The 1988 play is inspired by a true story of a French diplomat, René Gallimard, and his affair with Song Liling, a Chinese opera singer who pretends to be a woman. Hwang went back to the text again in 2017 to update the ideas and raise more significant questions about stereotypes, gender and sexuality. 

The show runs March 7-9 under the direction of Amos Pai, a senior majoring in public relations and theatre with an emphasis in acting, and stars Bryce Rayen, a senior majoring in theatre as Gillmard and Ike Liu, a master’s student studying cinema and media studies, as Liling.

CommUnity Arts Collective — “The Suburban Legend of Baba Yaga”

CommUnity Arts Collective aims to eliminate barriers holding students back from involvement with theater at USC. The group focuses on making projects that students are looking for or — in this upcoming show’s case — write. 

For its upcoming show, CommUnity Arts Collective will be performing a production of “The Suburban Legend of Baba Yaga” written by student Ben Berman, a freshman majoring in writing for screen and television.

The show follows Kim Fibberman as he attempts to gain his mother’s validation by bringing home a “perfect” boyfriend to the Yom Kippur Break Fast. Meanwhile, he and his family are suffering the loss of their family matriarch. The show will run from March 27-30 in the Stop Gap Theatre. 

While cast and crew auditions/applications have already closed, the results have not yet been made publicly available. But with such an engaging story and the brilliance that students tend to bring to ISP shows, there will certainly be an exciting experience come March.

Impulse Theatre Company — “Clarkston”

Impulse Theatre Company has been creating contemporary and realist theater since summer 2017. Coming out of its fall show, “Greater Tuna,” the company just announced their upcoming spring show this past Tuesday. Directed by Cesar Serrano, a sophomore majoring in public relations and advertising as well as theatre, Impulse Theatre Company will be producing “Clarkston,” written by Samuel D. Hunter.

“Clarkston” takes audience members to the wide and vast world of Costco in Clarkston, Washington as two night shift employees find connection in unique ways. The two of them — Chris and Jake — are both gay but have led very different lives to find themselves working the night shift in that small town Costco. 

The show is often presented as one of two in Hunter’s “Lewiston/Clarkston” duology, though each play can stand fully independently of the other. With this new announcement, the cast and crew have not yet been selected, but students will soon have a chance to apply.

Musical Theatre Repertory — “Anastasia”

Musical Theatre Repertory is unique out of most ISPs in that they focus exclusively on full-scale musicals. Each semester, MTR puts on a fully student-produced musical, with Fall 2024 bringing “Falsettos” to USC. Following that roaring success, MTR will perform the much-loved “Anastasia” with a book by Terrence McNally, music by Stephen Flaherty and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens.

The show, based on the film “Anastasia” (1997), will be directed by Grayson Abdalla, a senior majoring in animation and visual arts, and will run April 3-6. The show follows Anya and her travels to discover who she is and the mysteries of her past. Anya’s journey won’t be easy, as General Gleb Vaganov is determined to stop her. 

The show ran on Broadway starting in March 2017 and has been loved by audiences across the globe. More information — including cast, crew and location — will hopefully be released in the coming weeks.

Disclaimer: Alex Cardona formerly served as a copy staffer at the Daily Trojan in Spring 2023. Cardona is no longer affiliated with this paper.