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Rodriquez Scholarship established in Technical Theatre at Southeastern
Press Release Date: 10-18-2011
Among those attending the scholarship ceremony were Ayden Rodriquez, Laura Abel, Kierston Rodriquez, Barbara Witt (Darryl's mother), and Stormi Rodriquez (Darryl's niece).
DURANT, Okla. – The Darryl "Chico" Rodriquez Outstanding Technical Theatre Scholarship was commemorated Oct. 15 with the unveiling of his portrait in the New Theatre Building on the campus of Southeastern Oklahoma State University.
His hometown was Grandfield, Oklahoma. Rodriquez earned his bachelor's degree in Theatre from Southeastern in 1991 and spent five summers working with the Oklahoma Shakespearean Festival.
As an undergraduate, he was honored with the Charles Warthen Memorial Scholarship Award for his abilities as an actor, director, designer, technician, and dedicated artist.
Rodriquez met his wife, Laura Abel, in 1990, when both were theatre students at Southeastern. They were blessed with two children, Kierston and Ayden. The scholarship endowment was established by Laura Abel Rodriquez.
Rodriquez spent four years as scenic designer and technical director at Prairie View A&M University in Texas before entering the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program at the University of Oklahoma.
While in graduate school, he directed and designed the set for the world premier of "Guarding the Bridge," by fellow MFA candidate Chuck Gordon. This production was selected for the national festival at the Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival in the nation's capital and was co-winner of the 1998 Michael Kanin Award for Best Short Play.
Rodriquez's scenic design is published in the Samuel French, Inc., acting version of this play. He also served two years as the scenic designer for the Oklahoma SummerStage Theatre series in Norman, and was regularly hired to return to the University of Oklahoma to facilitate design elements for large-scale musical theatre productions.
Rodriquez served eight years as associate professor of theatre at Southwestern Oklahoma State University and then pursued freelance artistic positions.
He was a multi-talented and consummate theatre professional. During his 25 years in the profession, he worked on more than 150 productions as an actor, director, set designer, lightning designer, scenic artist, technical director, carpenter, technician or production manager.
In 2007, Rodriquez became a drama teacher at The Oakridge School, a college preparatory academy in Arlington, Texas. As a champion of arts education at all levels, he also taught at Arlington's Creative Arts Theatre School.
From 2001 to 2011, Rodriquez served as the production manager for the Oklahoma Arts Institute's (OAI) summer and fall sessions, where he was responsible for all technical needs for the Institute's programs and public performances.
Rodriquez passed away while traveling to Quartz Mountain to begin his 10th year on the staff of OAI.