Nora Manca Wickman

Artistic Director
Odd’s Bodkins Shakespeare Ensemble
630-853-8815 nora@oddsbodkins.org
In my work as a director, I use non-traditional stagings of classic plays with a modern, urban touch. I
believe ethnic diversity is important and that our stage should reflect the diverse population here in
Chicago. As an Artistic Director, I foster and encourage the careers of other women directors.

Theater Company Founder

Odd’s Bodkins – Founder and Artistic Director
Our mission is to produce classic plays with unconventional casts and staging that raises up
the voices of those normally outside the mainstream of theater culture, as well as to bring a
love of Shakespeare to the next generation through workshops and free school performances.

Turning Glass Shakespeare – Co-founder with MFA troupe

Storefront Shakespeare – Co-Founder and Artistic Director
Education
Master of Fine Arts in Shakespeare and Performance from Mary Baldwin College (now University),
May 2015
Master of Letters in Shakespeare and Performance from Mary Baldwin College 2014
Bachelor of Arts in Theater from North Central College 2006
Minor in Studio Art
Directing
The Winter’s Tale a romance about the downfall of the patriarchy, Odd’s Bodkins, winter 2018
Taming of the Shrew that promoted liberation over misogyny, Odd’s Bodkins, spring/summer 2016
Assistant Director to Lisa Wolpe, Artistic Director of the Los Angeles Women's Shakespeare Company,
for The Winter’s Tale with Turning Glass Shakespeare MFA Company at the American Shakespeare
Center, Winter 2015
Hamlet a ninety-minute promenade staging with a female in the leading role, at Storefront
Shakespeare, summer 2012
Much Ado About Nothing a cue scrip/light rehearsal production with promenade staging set in
modern Sicily of Shakespeare’s comedy, at Storefront Shakespeare, summer 2011
As You Like It a promenade staging set in modern India of Shakespeare’s comedy, at Storefront
Shakespeare, winter 2011
A Midsummer Night’s Dream a promenade staging of Shakespeare’s classic play, Storefront
Shakespeare’s debut production, spring-summer 2010
Steel Magnolias at Geneva Underground Playhouse, winter 2010
Potea Safari, an African dinner theater at Masala Yangu, Naperville, spring-summer 2008
Euripides' Medea: A Director's Nightmare a tragic-comic devised piece based on the classical play at
Benedictine University, spring 2008
An Ideal Husband at Benedictine University, Fall 2006
Assistant Director for Beauty and the Beast at Noble Fool Theatricals, spring 2010
 Nora Manca Wickman
Directing II with Beth Burns, Master of Company/Theatrical Deviser at Hidden Room Theatre, at
Mary Baldwin College, Shakespeare and Performance program, spring 2014
Teaching
Graduate Teaching Fellow at Mary Baldwin College teaching a COMM 100 Introduction to Mass
Communication Lab, fall 2014
Graduate Teaching Fellow at Mary Baldwin College assisting with COMM 240 Advertising, spring
2015
Theatrical Performance

As You Like It Rosalind Odd’s Bodkins

The Winter’s Tale Clown Directed by Lisa Wolpe for
A Chaste Maid in Cheapside Sir Walter Whorehound Turning Glass Shakespeare

As You Like It Celia Turning Glass Shakespeare

Much Ado About Nothing Hero Acorn Theater
Taming of the Shrew Lady Macduff Acorn Theater
Macbeth Bianca Odd’s Bodkins
Loves Labours Lost Maria First Street Playhouse
Midsummer Theatre Troupe
Pericles Lysimachus
MBC MLitt class of 2014
Hamlet Ophelia
Storefront Shakespeare
Twelfth Night Sir Andrew
Turning Glass Shakespeare
Little Life Sir Walter Whorehound/Paulina
Turning Glass Shakespeare
Blithe Spirit Elvira
Greenman Theatre Troupe
Inherit the Wind Rachel
Geneva Underground Playhouse
The Best Man Catherine Geneva Underground Playhouse
Vagina Monologues Vagina Workshop North Central College
Savage/Love Five Pieces Benedictine University
The Pirates of Penzance Isabel First Street Playhouse
Fiddler on the Roof Yussel Summer Place Theatre
A Director's Nightmare Played self as actress Benedictine University
Rocky Horror Brad Majors Completely Crazy
Impromptu Shakespeare Maria from Twelfth Night Northern Illinois First Folio
Shakespeare in the Classroom Witch, Helena, Juliet Beatrice, Theater Ensemble
Ophelia Storefront Shakespeare

Theater Management
Cultural Arts Coordinator for the Bartlett, IL Park District: responsible for the overall running of the
Park District theatre program including but not limited to serving as the producer and overseeing the
productions from beginning to end. 2015-2017

Technical Theater
Costume/set/props designer for a six-person touring Romeo and Juliet, Turning Glass Shakespeare
MFA Company, fall 2014
Production Assistant for She Stoops to Conquer, American Shakespeare Center, fall 2013
Assistant Stage Manager for Sleeping Beauty, Noble Fool Theatricals, fall/winter 2009
Costume designer for Taming of the Shrew, set in 1969, First Street Playhouse, fall 2007
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 Nora Manca Wickman
Assistant stage manager for 42nd Street, North Central College, 2003
Leadership
Founding Artistic Director of Odd’s Bodkins, 2015
Co-founded Turning Glass Shakespeare as part of the MBC MFA experience, 2014
Founder of Shakespeare in the Classroom an educational program for students of all ages, 2010
Founding Artistic Director of Storefront Shakespeare, 2010-2012
Board Member of Geneva Underground Playhouse, 2009- 2010
Founding President of Benedictine University’s Theater Club, 2002-2003
Founded teen acting club Riverwalk Actors, 1997-1999
Teaching Children’s Theater
Part of Turning Glass Shakespeare’s educational program doing Shakespeare workshops for middle
and high schools in Virginia, school year 2014-15
Founder of Shakespeare in the Classroom an educational program for students of all ages 2010
Taught two performance-based drama classes at The Learning Vine, a small private school, K-3rd
grade and 4th-middle school which culminated in performances of The Twelve Princess and Fire in
Paper, 2004
Taught Theater Workshop at Naper School, spring 2006
Taught three-day theater workshop sponsored by a mother of a Naper School student in her home
with ten students, focus on auditioning and preparing for a play. Students performed monologues
and scenes, summer 2006
Costumed Interpreter
1994-2005 volunteered as costumed interpreter and tour guide at Naper Settlement, a historic
museum village set in the 1800’s.
Languages
Spanish 102 at Benedictine University
Conversational Italian

References
Madeeha Syed, Esq., Board Member at Odd’s Bodkins, msyed423@gmail.com 331-481-1139
Paul Menzer, director of the Mary Baldwin College MLitt/MFA Shakespeare and Performance
graduate program, pmenzer@mbc.edu 540-887-7237 Ext. 7058
Sarah Enloe, Director of Education at the American Shakespeare Center,
sarahe@americanshakespearecenter.com