On June 21, the Capital Connections D.C. cohort toured Shakespeare Theatre Company's Klein Theatre. Following the tour, the cohort and alumni attended a performance of Othello.
On June 21, Elon Study USA DC “Capital Connections” students toured Shakespeare Theatre’s Klein Theatre, led by Company Manager Morgan Engle ’22. After the tour, students, as well as Elon alumni, attended Shakespeare Theatre Company’s production of Othello.
Engle, who graduated from Elon in 2022 and currently serves as company manager at Shakespeare Theatre Company, said the Washington, D.C. community has embraced theatre and arts culture.
“I think that when a lot of people think of DC, they think of Capitol Hill and politicians and different lobbying organizations or aid organizations, things that are more visible from the outside perspective and how DC is represented in media,” Engle said. “But DC as a whole has been so welcoming as a theater community; we’re very lucky to have some incredible regional theaters.”
Faculty Director for Study USA D.C., and Associate Professor of Political Science and Public Policy, Joel Shelton, echoed Engle, noting that musical theater is just one part of the arts culture in D.C.
“I think the most important context is that Washington, D.C., is often thought of as a place where politics happens, but culture in the capital is a really fundamental aspect of community here,” Shelton said. “There are so many different manifestations of popular culture in the city, whether that be art, literature, or museums, and especially theater, because, of course, Washington, D.C. is not New York, and it’s not Los Angeles.”
Shelton also said choosing to attend Othello was to show students both the political and artistic parts of the play.
“To me, when we were dreaming of this course, I thought that Othello was a wonderful place to see the linkages between political meaning and cultural production in Washington,” Shelton said. “So you have the arts and culture, but also a play that is deeply political and deeply concerned with contemporary questions around race, gender, power, identity.”
Engle, who earned a degree in arts administration, said that the program introduced her to students with different experiences.
“The program is made up of people who have life experiences and a lot to teach, and you’re coming together with students who are not taking all of the same classes with you, but have different experiences within the school,” Engle said.
Elon junior Kallie Latham, who has a background in dance, said being in the theater had a sense of reminiscence.
“This program has a lot of people with different musical theater interests. We all felt pretty happy and nostalgic,” Latham said.
Latham said the tour gave her a sense of understanding when watching Othello later in the day.
“It’s even better because I think we get to understand the acting and the theater production that goes into all of it, and how all the settings and the background were changing,” Latham said. “That was really cool.”
Engle also highlighted the out-of-the-classroom experiences Elon offers to its students.
“They encourage you to join clubs and travel abroad and to experience the world outside the classroom as well.” Engle said. “I think that ties into the really cool nature of moving beyond the classroom and then into the professional world, and so much of what you do comes down to the relationships you build, and the way you’re able to engage with the world around you.”
Students interested in this experience for summer 2027 may begin applying on Sept. 1. For more information about the program, contact Anna Smith, director of Study USA.