Epiphany: Shawn Wagner
Shawn Wagner, 22, and a botany major, plans to transfer from Citrus College to Humboldt University. She played Marie, the leading lady of “The Epiphany”, and has been acting for over ten years.
“I have other passions, but theatre is something that is ingrained in me,” Wagner said. “It is a part of me.”
Marie is a young schoolteacher who speaks German and English. She is a strong mother who is naive about of the Nazi invasion. Marie, who is part Sami and part Viking, resides with her in-laws, her elderly aunt, and her husband, Olaf, who is a member of the resistance.
According to Wagner, Marie is an ordinary person who gets thrown into unordinary circumstances. When the Nazis arrive at the family’s small and isolated island, she is forced to make some decisions to save herself, her family, and her culture.
The inclusion of female leads is unusual in WWII plays, so this opportunity of taking on the leading lady of “The Epiphany”, while being overseas in Norway, definitely does not go without her appreciation.
With multiple female roles in “The Epiphany”, Wagner said she is proud to have been cast as a lead.
“There are four or five female characters in the story,” Wagner said. “And they are not just token characters, they are actually getting things done.”
As far as taking her role overseas to Norway, which was new territory for her, Wagner put all of her emotions on the experience into the simple word “amazing.”
She said words cannot describe the beauty and the hospitality that Norway had offered her.
“I spent a lot of time wandering around alone, and even though I was alone, I didn’t feel lonely,” Wagner said.
Being overseas gave Wagner a newfound appreciation and perspective of life. As she appreciated the humble beauty of Norway, she realized life is too short to be dragged down.
Wagner says, “It made me a stronger person, being so far away from home.”
Although she thought it was going to be awkward having a “host-mom”, she was happy to discover that the two of them hit it off quite well for the two weeks time. Wagner says it is a relationship she will always cherish.
“We still send each other Snapchats!” Wagner exclaimed.
As far as the performing goes, Wagner humbly said that the whole adventure was surreal and she learned so much about her character Marie. Without a doubt, the performances reached out and touched many hearts.
“Here [in America] it is just a story, but there it is a memory” she said, “They [audience] were not just listening, they were remembering.”
