Oklahoma Shakespeare’s artistic ecosystem is supported by a group of dedicated collaborators who bring their expertise, creativity, and passion to each season. Our Artistic Associates and Operations Director contribute to the company’s artistic identity and day‑to‑day excellence. Their work strengthens the foundation on which each production is built.
ARTISTIC ASSOCIATES AND OPERATIONS
D. Lance Marsh (he/him/his) serves as the Associate Artistic Director for Oklahoma Shakespeare, where he contributes to the company’s artistic vision through directing, performance, mentorship, and season planning. His work with OSP spans a wide range of productions, including both classical and contemporary titles, and reflects a deep commitment to text, ensemble practice, and the cultivation of emerging artists.
In addition to his role with OSP, Marsh is a Professor and Head of Performance at TheatreOCU, where he guides actors in training and fosters a collaborative, curiosity‑driven approach to craft. His directing and acting credits extend across regional theatres nationwide, including work with Berkeley Repertory Theatre, California Shakespeare Festival, American Players Theatre, and numerous Shakespeare and repertory companies throughout the country.
A proud member of Actors’ Equity Association and an Associate Artist with Oklahoma City Rep, Marsh has appeared in a wide range of productions with City Rep and other regional theatres, taking on roles that span classical repertoire, new work, and modern American drama. His recent performances include Sam Byck in Assassins, Richard Nixon in Frost/Nixon, and Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol at Lyric Theatre.
Marsh’s career reflects a lifelong dedication to ensemble storytelling, rigorous text work, and the ongoing evolution of classical theatre in contemporary communities.
ASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
D. LANCE MARSH
Kris Kuss (he/him) is a director, fight director, intimacy choreographer, actor, and educator whose work reflects a deep commitment to physical storytelling and ensemble-centered theatre. Based in Bethany, OK, he serves as Associate Professor of Movement at Oklahoma City University and is a Recognized Senior Instructor and Governing Body President of Dueling Arts International, where he helps shape national standards in stage combat and performer safety.
Kuss’s collaboration with Oklahoma Shakespeare spans acting, directing, and movement design, contributing to productions across the company’s classical and touring work. His approach integrates clarity of text, physical precision, and a strong ethic of care—principles that guide both his rehearsal rooms and his teaching practice.
Beyond OSP, Kuss has worked extensively as a fight director and intimacy choreographer with regional theatres and opera companies, including Lyric Theatre, OKC Rep, Painted Sky Opera, and 3rd Act Theatre Co. His directing and movement work at Oklahoma City University encompasses a wide range of contemporary and classical titles, where he is known for cultivating brave, imaginative spaces for emerging artists.
A proud member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, Kuss brings a collaborative spirit and a passion for craft to every project. He is honored to contribute to the creative life of Oklahoma Shakespeare and to help shape the company’s evolving artistic vision.
ARTISTIC ASSOCIATE
KRIS KUSS
David Weber is an actor, educator, and theatre pedagogue whose work centers on embodied storytelling, rigorous text exploration, and non‑trauma‑based acting practices. A member of the National Alliance of Acting Teachers, he holds an MFA in Acting and Theatre Pedagogy from California State University Long Beach, where he trained with leading practitioners in performance, movement, and actor training.
Weber has served as an education artist with numerous Equity theatres across the country, developing especially deep relationships with the Atlanta Shakespeare Company and Lookingglass Theatre Company. His performance work has been recognized for its emotional clarity and physical specificity, including his acclaimed portrayal in Terrence McNally’s A Perfect Ganesh, named among the top performances of the year by Atlanta theatre critic Bert Osborne.
His artistic range spans classical roles, contemporary drama, and solo performance. He has appeared as Sir Toby Belch with the Atlanta Shakespeare Company and toured his one‑man adaptation, An Actor’s Carol, to festivals and venues nationwide. With Oklahoma Shakespeare, Weber has performed roles including Capulet in Romeo & Juliet, Sir Toby Belch in Twelfth Night, Claudius/Ghost of Hamlet’s Father in Hamlet, and Master Ford in The Merry Wives of Windsor, bringing a blend of humor, depth, and textual insight to each production.
Weber’s ongoing research focuses on the Michael Chekhov technique, non‑trauma‑based actor training, and action‑driven approaches to performance. He serves as an Assistant Professor of Performance at Oklahoma State University, where he mentors emerging artists and continues to explore the evolving intersections of pedagogy, embodiment, and creative practice.
ARTISTIC ASSOCIATE
DAVID WEBER
Henri Bailey is the Director of Operations for Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park, bringing more than two decades of experience in hospitality, management, and creative problem‑solving to the company’s daily operations. Before joining OSP, he built a distinguished career in the restaurant industry, serving as General Manager of Cheever’s Café, managing several notable Oklahoma City establishments, and co‑owning the popular 51st Street Speakeasy, which he later sold to his partners. His background in high‑level service, team leadership, and guest experience informs the welcoming, community‑centered environment OSP strives to create.
Bailey’s expertise extends into home restoration, facilities stewardship, and property management. He owns and operates rental properties in a local historic neighborhood, further reinforcing his deep roots in hospitality and his commitment to creating spaces that feel cared for and inviting. At OSP, he oversees the maintenance and ongoing preservation of the company’s historic home in the Paseo Arts District, bringing steadiness, ingenuity, and a hands‑on approach to every challenge.
A talented visual artist and designer, Bailey has also shaped the aesthetic life of OSP. He brought his eye for interior aesthetics to the Mermaid Tavern, helping transform it into a warm and inviting gathering place for patrons. His artwork and craftsmanship appear throughout scenic elements and prop designs each season, adding texture, personality, and a distinctive creative touch to OSP’s productions.
Bailey’s blend of operational expertise, artistic sensibility, and genuine care for community makes him an essential part of OSP’s evolving ecosystem.