Southern Honors 12th Grade English students meet with OU actor and Southern alumnus Kyler Rogers.
ATHENS, OH — October 22, 2025
Mr. Whitlock’s Honors 12th Grade English students from Southern High School experienced Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream live on stage Wednesday morning at Ohio University’s historic Kantner Hall. The trip served as both an academic enrichment activity and a celebration of the students’ recent study of the classic comedy.
Over the past several weeks, students in Mr. Whitlock’s class closely analyzed the play’s intricate web of love, illusion, and transformation, culminating in essays that explored Shakespeare’s major themes and timeless insights into human nature. Seeing the performance brought those lessons vividly to life.
Following a fantastic and energetic performance, the Southern students were treated to a special visit from one of the production’s leading characters—Demetrius, portrayed by Southern alumnus Kyler Rogers. Rogers, who is now pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting at Ohio University, spent more than an hour with the students discussing the play’s themes, the rehearsal process, and the creative decisions behind the staging.
“It was inspiring for our students to see a former Tornado performing on a university main stage,” said Mr. Whitlock. “Kyler not only showcased the depth of his talent but also demonstrated what dedication and passion for the arts can achieve.”
Rogers will perform in his final OU mainstage production this spring—Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet—before graduating with his BFA. The afternoon offered Southern students not only a deeper appreciation for Shakespeare’s enduring work but also a reminder of how far one of their own has gone in pursuing his artistic dreams.