What: Equus
When: Feb. 20-26 at 7:30pm and Feb. 22 at 2:30pm
Where: Strother Theatre
Cost: $10 for General Public and $8 for Students
Presented by the Department of Theatre and Dance and opening on Friday, “Equus” utilizes ritual, psychology and sexuality, including a scene containing nudity, to examine the meaning of what it is to be normal.
In “Equus”, psychiatrist Martin Dysart faces a personal crisis as he takes on the case of Alan Strang, a young man who is guilty of committing disturbing acts of animal cruelty.
“Alan has actually lost everything,” said senior acting major Evan Cullinan who plays Alan Strang in this production. “Since the incident with the horses, he has truly entered a new world and that is absolutely terrifying to him.”
As they delve into the murky waters of psychology and religion, they are forced to “confront the mythical presence of Equus,” said guest director Matthew Reeder. Equus is a god that Strong invents.
One scene requires Cullinan to be nude onstage, but he doesn’t want it to overshadow “Equus’” other merits.
“In the case of this particular play, there is a lot of baggage that comes with it,” said Cullinan. “Most people hear the name Equus and focus on the nudity or the sexual aspects of the play but miss the characters and the meat of the play that [the writer] has presented us.”
Reeder described the scene in question as “powerful” and “essential.”
“The moment is about vulnerability and about the conscious act of being completely exposed and open to another human being,” said Reeder.
The presence of nudity has placed a new challenge on actors involved in the production.
“Asking actors to be nude onstage is not an easy nor an enjoyable thing to do,” he said.
Cullinan said it was an “interesting experience to say the least.” He also noticed striking similarities between himself and his character.
"I can relate to the feeling of isolation, the experiences of first love, extreme fascination and obsession,” he said. “It's almost uncomfortable how comfortable I feel when I can identify with certain parts of Alan. I think that will be felt by the audience which should elicit some strong reactions.”
Reeder said that the target audience for this show is “anyone who has ever questioned themselves or their beliefs or their lives or felt vulnerable and exposed.”
Reeder is a 1996 graduate of the Musical Theatre Option in The Department of Theatre and Dance here at Ball State. He has been a freelance director in Chicago for the past 12 years and is returning to his alma mater to direct “Equus” under the invitation of Dr. Bill Jenkins, the department chair.
“Bill asked me to return both as an alumni and as a working professional artist,” said Reeder. “Bill goes out of his way to keep up with the lives and careers of alumni who are working in the field. Returning to BSU after 20 years, and directing in the space where I directed my first full production as a student has been a lovely experience.”
Read More
Ball State ends 2025 season with loss to Miami in MAC Softball Championship semifinal
By Zach Carter / 23 hours agoBall State ended the year with a 8-0 loss to Miami.
Cardinals elect a new pope, the first American pope in history
By Staff Reports / 2 days agoCardinal Robert Prevost, an American missionary who spent his career ministering in Peru and leads the Vatican’s powerful office of bishops, was elected the first American pope in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church, according to the Associated Press (AP).
Ball State holds Spring 2025 Commencement Ceremony
By Jessica Bergfors / May 3, 2025Ball State University celebrated its 201st commencement ceremony on May 3 at Worthen Arena, where thousands of guests gathered to honor the graduating class of 2025.
