MSC Founding Board Members
Mansfield Shakespeare Company began in 2023 as dreams often do: as a conversation between like-minded friends. "Wouldn't it be cool, if...?" quickly became, "how can we?"
With a shared passion for community-building, theatre, and (of course!) Shakespeare, everything gained momentum. We added more friends to the mix, dreamed bigger, and we are still just getting started!
We believe in Shakespeare For All... And For All Time.
We hope you agree!
Haley Bedocs
Haley is a local thespian who has been involved in the theatre world for nearly 15 years. She grew up in Bailey Lakes, Ohio and found her love for the stage in school at Crestview High School. Haley graduated from Ohio State University at the Mansfield Campus in 2016 with a major in Psychology and a minor in Theatre. She served as the Theatre Club President for a number of years and continued to do theatre on campus even after graduating. She primarily performs but has also directed and stage managed productions in the past. Haley currently works as the Patron Experience Manager at the Renaissance Performing Arts Theatre in Mansfield, Ohio. In college, she thoroughly enjoyed delving into the realm of Shakespeare with her first full production of The Tragedy of Macbeth, in which she portrayed one of the prophetic witches. Following that production, she later performed in Julius Caesar as Portia, Brutus’s courageous and spirited wife.
Joseph Fahey
Joseph is a Professor in the Department of Theatre, Film, and Media Arts and Director of the Theatre Program of Ohio State Mansfield. He is a former Coordinator for Introduction to Theatre Courses on the Columbus Campus and Editor of the Journal Theatre Studies. Joe has taught at Ohio Dominican University, Ohio University, Denison University, and Case Western Reserve University. He has served as a producer for over 80 theatre productions, and he has directed over 40 shows. He has served as a coordinator and respondent for the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival and currently serves on the Richland County Arts Council and board of The Children’s Theatre Foundation.
Mary Frankenfield
Mary has been involved in the arts in this community for just over 30 years. She has performed onstage at OSU Mansfield, The Mansfield Playhouse, the Mansfield Renaissance Theater, and the Richland Academy of the Arts. She is also active in the community as a board member for several organizations including the Richland County Development Group, the Children’s Theater Foundation, and the Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development Foundation.
Daniel O'Brien
Daniel is a born and raised Richland County Ohio resident. He has been in a number of shows, musicals and technical endeavors at the Mansfield Playhouse, Ohio State Mansfield Theatre and several other theatres. During his college he studied History but also minored in Theatre.
Victoria O'Brien
Victoria is a lifelong theatre lover and active member of the local performing arts community. By day, she is an Academic Advisor at Ashland University. By night, she is a costumer, performer, and volunteer with the Mansfield Playhouse, Ohio State Mansfield Theatre, and Mansfield Shakespeare Company. She lives with her husband Daniel, cat Maggie, and too many/not enough books. “I like this place, and willingly could waste my time in it” (As You Like It, Act II, scene iv).
Scott Leon Smith
Scott earned his MFA in acting from West Virginia University in 2002. He studied under alumni of the prestigious American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco. Scott honed his craft working for A Crew of Patches Theatre Company in Chicago where he performed full-length Shakespeare plays for young audiences. Mansfield audiences know Scott from his many appearances at the Renaissance Theatre.
Joel Vega
Joel is a Mansfield native and, after sharing his operatic talents in the wider world, returned to his hometown with a mission to bring opera to Mansfield and the surrounding areas. He is the general director and founder of Mid-Ohio Civic Opera. Joel performs as a tenor soloist across the region and teaches voice and opera practice. “Follow. But, follow only if ye be men of valor…”