Please enjoy a brief look at my recent work as a stage director, theatrical composer, lyricist, and music director. I am currently most excited by creating new work, setting Shakespeare text to music, and developing soundscapes for performance. Further music examples, lyric samples, and professional references are available by request
Twelfth Night
Dir. Scott McKenna Campbell
Direction; Music Direction; Composition
Door Shakespeare
“Directed by Scott Mckenna Campbell, a Door Shakespeare veteran, Twelfth Night is one of Shakespeare’s funniest plays, featuring mistaken identities, misdirected love, and drunken revelry…most of the cast participated in creating music throughout the production, which certainly added to the merriment. Laughter is always appreciated, and this show has it in abundance.” –Mary Boyle, Ozaukee Living Local
“…the cast members seem to have a ball… These actors make the stage their playground, running, jumping, sneaking, staggering, fencing, falling and swooning through the story as they do.
An intimate performance setup makes that energy infectious. Unmiked actors climb on and off an outdoor wooden stage, surrounded by seating and nestled under a massive maple tree, often going through the aisles as the action takes them to and fro
Meanwhile, the audience was quiet, but not silent. The hush that fell over them when the play began soon gave way to laughter and murmurs, a few people whispering along to lines they knew. When Viola, played by Janyce Caraballo, directed a question to the audience, she got an answer.
Occasional fourth-wall breaks like these solidified a quickly developing relationship between the audience and the actors.” -Sam Watson, Door County Pulse
Great Expectations
Dir. Samantha Martinson
Music Direction; Composition
“This summer, Door Shakespeare has created another summer of outdoor theatre magic with the Bard’s TWELFTH NIGHT and an adapatation of Charles Dicken’s GREAT EXPECTATIONS.”-Mary Boyle, Ozaukee Living Local
Door Shakespeare
Emma ad. Joe Hanreddy
Dir Maggie Kettering
Music Direction; Composition
Door Shakespeare 2024
https://youtube.com/shorts/DPd8X-nUccM?si=JQyPk080_hHUZTjS
This production is made even more amusing by the purposeful lack of actors, which is remedied in a number of creative ways and to great comedic effect…Confusing? Absolutely. However, I promise, you will be enchanted. -Mary Boyle
Romeo and Juliet
Music Direction; Composition
Door Shakespeare 2024
https://youtube.com/shorts/usaLKEve96c?si=NJV610D4VnTrr8m-
“Multiple actors also serve as musicians, under the direction of Scott McKenna Campbell, which certainly adds to the beauty of the production; but, please don’t mistake all this talk of romance to mean that this play is syrupy-sweet” -Ozaukee Living Local
The Old Man And The Old Moon
Dir. Scott McKenna Campbell
Direction
Door Shakespeare 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEae6LDwDIE
“This is a fantastic play; full of wit, sentiment, adventure and a little suspense brought to the audience by a highly-talented musical cast.”
Scott McKenna Campbell…brought the comedic and musical versatility we have come to expect from him. As one of the most engaging stage actors he remains a firm favorite of ours.”
–Green Bridge Theatre
Because the majority of this play is set in the forest, the setting at Door Shakespeare couldn’t be any better, and the music, directed by Scott McKenna Campbell and performed by Isaiah Spetz as Amiens is a lovely accompaniment.”
–Mary Boyle, Ozaukee living local
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Dir. Nancy Cates
Music, Lyrics
Ohio Shakespeare Festival 2022
“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” a musical scare-fest now at the Ohio Shakespeare Festival in Akron, is a prime example of how to do a kid-friendly show the right way.”
–Christine Howey, Cleveland Scene
The Three Musketeers: An Adventure with Music
Dir. Marcy Kearns
Music, Lyrics, Music Direction
Door Shakespeare 2022
“This rendition, adapted by Joe Pine in 2016, is enhanced by original music from Scott McKenna Campbell, who portrays the slightly daft, guitar-playing Planchet…The Three Musketeers: An Adventure, with Music is a delightful retelling of a classic story and an enchanting way to spend a night in Door County, discovering dashing characters and daring plots lurking beneath Door Shakespeare’s tree branches.” –Erica Bousca, Door County Pulse
“In July, Door Shakespeare unleashes “The Three Musketeers: An Adventure, With Music” at Bjorklunden. It’s an exciting, swashbuckling production, thanks to the enthused players, thanks to the music, lyrics – and performance – by company member Scott McKenna Campbell.” –Warren Gerds, “Best of Our Professionals, 2022”
“Woven in are songs that tell of thoughts and feelings of men of bravado, of souls wrapped in love…This is live theater, and exciting stuff.”
“In the thick of things is music director and composer Scott McKenna Campbell, playing guitar and singing and enacting the role of Planchet, lackey to the hero.” –Warren Gerds, WeAreGreenbay.com
The Tempest
Dir: Todd Tenning
Music, Music Direction: S.M. Campbell
Door Shakespeare 2022
“The prism that is William Shakespeare radiates distinctive hues in a production of “The Tempest” being presented by Door Shakespeare…Scott McKenna [Campbell’s]… acting, composing, music-making and inventing skills add volumes to Door Shakespeare productions.” –Warren Gerds, WeAreGreenbay.com
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Dir: Tess Burgler
Music, Lyrics and Music Direction: S.M. Campbell
Ohio Shakespeare Festival 2021
“The greenshow features new, original music by company member Scott Campbell, who also portrays the mischievous sprite Puck in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” –Kerry Clawson, Akron Beacon Journal.
“The production, under Tess Burgler’s direction, is mindful of Elizabethan staging and delightfully effervescent. It is seasoned with period songs and musical interludes played by performers that add to the ambiance.” –Bob Ableman, The News Herald.
“Costume designers Marty LaConte and Kelsey Tomlinson, lighting/head designer Buddy Taylor and music director/composer Scott McKenna Campbell (who also plays Puck) all share in director Tess Burgler’ s notable achievement in making this well-worn play a jubilant triumph. The fairy’s music and costumes become a momentous part of the show.” —Lisa Benedictis, CoolCleveland.com
Hamlet
Adapted by Guy Roberts; Dir: Michael Stebbins
Original Soundscape: S.M. Campbell
Door Shakespeare 2021
“Ryan Schabach’s act isn’t entirely solo. Elaborate “dressings” abound. Collaborations come in music, sound effects, fog, lighting effects, scene changes and costuming trickery. Production meetings must have rained ideas. All those “little things” add up.” –Warren Gerds, WeAreGreenbay.com
Maid Marion: An Adventure with Music
Book: Sarah Coon; Dir: Nancy Cates
Music and Lyrics/Music Direction: S.M. Campbell
Ohio Shakespeare Festival (Fall 2019)
2019 Cleveland Critics Circle Theatre Awards: Special Mention for original music and lyrics in the world premiere
“This high-quality family entertainment at Ohio Shakespeare Festival has it all: Accomplished acting, great stage combat (Ryan Zarecki), adventure, romance and highly enjoyable original music by Scott McKenna Campbell…The music enhances the story beautifully, from a drinking song to love ballads. Amid Campbell’s nimble lyrics, he takes the implied final word from each stanza in “One More Ale” to apply ingeniously…” –Kerry Clawson, Akron Beacon Journal
The Merry Wives of Windsor
Dir: Marcella Kearns
Music and Lyrics/Music Direction: S.M. Campbell
Door Shakespeare (Summer 2019)
“The performance closes with the entire cast, many bearing instruments, capping things off with a joyous song.” —Warren Gerds, WeareGreenbay.com
Many Merry Days [Reunion Performance]
Windsor Opening [Rehearsal Midi]
Henry V
Dir: Matt Daniels
Music and Scoring/Music Direction: S.M. Campbell
Door Shakespeare (Summer 2019)
“…thoughtfully balanced, delicate, perfectly pitched original soundscapes.” –Bela Sandor, Playwright
Dear Old Albion’s Shore [Archival Track]
Much Ado About Nothing
Dir: Joe Hanreddy
Music and Lyrics/Music Direction: S.M. Campbell
Door Shakespeare (Summer 2018)
“Much of the music suggests the yearning – for love and a better, less divisive world – evident in so many of the songs popular during the Civil War, as lost souls longed for home.” –Mike Fischer, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
“Campbell’s other songs live and breathe what’s happening around Shakespeare’s characters.” –Warren Gerds
Door County I’m Coming [Reunion Video]
The Comedy of Errors
Dir: Leda Hoffman
Music/ Music Direction: S.M. Campbell
Door Shakespeare (Summer 2018)
“Music floats around. Three musicians perform pieces by player/composer Scott McKenna Campbell, some full songs but many snippets played during scene seques.” –Warren Gerds
Pericles
Dir: Alec Wild & Jeff Awada
Partial Music and Lyrics: S.M. Campbell
Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Academy for Classical Acting MFA (Summer 2018)
“Our adaptation of Pericles includes several songs, and lots of music performed by the cast…The original music is truly original.” Alec Wild, Director (Academy for Classical Acting MFA Program)
The Three Musketeers: An Adventure with Music
Book: Joe Pine; Dir: Nancy Cates
Music and Lyrics: S.M. Campbell
Ohio Shakespeare Festival (Fall 2017)
“Swordplay and singing shine in ‘Three Musketeers’ at Ohio Shakespeare Festival…Original music by Scott McKenna Campbell is a large element of this new work, which includes lovely singing.” –Kerry Clawson, Akron Beacon Journal
Twelfth Night
Dir: Joe Handreddy
Music and Lyrics/Music Direction: S.M. Campbell
Door Shakespeare (Summer 2017)
“Driven by nostalgia, their string-based score reminds us that both music and this play are overshadowed by time, as we continually recede from the songs of our youth toward the sound of silence. Music hasn’t done so much, this effectively, in any “Twelfth Night” I’ve seen since the fun musical pastiche featured in Des McAnuff’s 2011 Stratford Production.” –Mike Fischer, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
“Music is quite famously mentioned in the opening line of the play. It ties together the rhythm and action of the comedy as contemporary acoustic sounds to the songs of Feste the Jester played here with an earthy, organic charisma by composer and music director Scott McKenna Campbell.” -Russ Bickerstaff, Shepherd Express
The Heart of Robin Hood
Dir: Shanara Gabrielle
Music and Lyrics/Music Direction: S.M. Campbell; Mitch Fergusson
Door Shakespeare (Summer 2017)
“Music and song factor in quite a bit. The company introduces the tale in full voice. Along the way are songs ranging from of yearning…to roguish jest…” -Warren Gerds, WeAreGreenBay.com
Take the Oath [Lyrics: Campbell; Music: Fergusson]
Robin Hood: An Adventure with Music
Book: Terry Burgler; Dir: Terry Burgler
Music and Lyrics/Music Direction: S.M. Campbell
Ohio Shakespeare Festival (Summer 2016)
“A new production of “Robin Hood: An Adventure With Music,” written by Terry Burgler with music and lyrics by Scott Campbell, kept the audience laughing and cheering” – West Side Leader
“The Music & Lyrics by Scott Campbell satisfied a rapt audience of toddlers to seventy year- olds.” -Lisa DeBenedictis, Independent
The Sweet River Idle [Archival Track]
Scott McKenna Campbell 