Calvin Shawler ‘28

Summer 2026

One Year Lease International Performance Residency

This summer, Calvin studied a vast array of traditional performance practices in Varadenahalli Village, India, and Nojiri Village, Japan. They traveled with New York-based One Year Lease Theater Company, receiving workshops and performances from local artists while rehearsing two short devised theater performances, one to be performed at the end of each two-week residency.

The trip allowed opportunities not only to grow as a performer and collaborator, but also offered many profound connections around the globe, an opportunity to look at artistic practices outside of our current American political moment, excited them about what collaborative art and an artistic career post-Oberlin could look like, and instilled in them a drive to investigate what a non-masculine theatre praxis could look like. 

Below is Calvin’s photo essay, documenting some of their experiences in India and Japan.