Dana Scott / Winonan

Winona State University senior Derek Wagner plays the role of Oliver in Winona State’s department of theatre and dance’s production of “As You Like It,” after his three-year break from acting.

Wagner is a communications studies major who hopes to incorporate theatre into his career by working in marketing for a theatre company.

“I wanted to find a professional career where theatre is just a passion,” Wagner said. “But now, I want to combine the both of them because being away from something for so long was difficult.”

Wagner was very involved in his high school’s theatre department—he was a part of 16 productions. However, due to heavy credit loads, “As You Like It” will be Wagner’s first production at Winona State. It will open Wednesday, April 13 in the PAC.

“Now my credit load is low and I saw the opportunity and I took advantage of that,” Wagner said. “After the audition I felt like I was coming back to something again.”

Wagner’s favorite experience with “As You Like It” this far has been, after practicing in the Dorothy B. Magnus Black Box Theatre in the Performing Arts Center, stepping back on stage for practice after so long.

Wagner was also interested in auditioning for “As You Like It” because he has never been in a production of a Shakespeare play before. Wagner thought he could read it well and evoke the emotions it deserves.

Wagner explained how he was nervous before the audition since he was auditioning for a new company, and they did not know anything about his experience in high school so he had to show them what he could do.

“After the call-back, I felt confident that I did well,” Wagner said.

Wagner read and watched “As You Like It” before his audition and thought about what role he would fit into. He saw himself playing one of the nobles in the play because he has experience with playing those kinds of roles. He explained he has a large performing voice and can portray characters that are larger than life.

Wagner said he thinks his character, Oliver, is an interesting character and he can relate to Oliver’s want to be noticed for his accomplishments.

“Whether it’s with school or theater, if you put in hard work you want that recognition,” Wagner explained.

Wagner shared a few things he would do differently if he were Oliver, including talking through things better with his brother, Orlando. Additionally, when Oliver is head over heels in love, Wagner would say better lines.

The Great River Shakespeare Festival will also be putting on a production of “As You Like It” this summer in Winona.

Wagner is excited to see how they perform the play and certain monologues, but does not feel any extra pressure because of this for Winona State’s production.

“We are an education department,” Wagner said. “We want to do the best we can.”

Even though he has not been a part of the theater department until now, Wagner has still built relationships and hopes to be able to be a part of another production at Winona State before he graduates in December 2016.

“All the cast members are very dedicated and very talented,” Wagner said. “And I feel so happy to be a part of it. They are all theater majors and they have dedicated their lives to this and I admire that a lot.”

Winona State’s production of “As You Like It” will be performed from April 13-16 and tickets can be purchased online or at the door.