About The Globe

Although Odessa is recognized as the center of oil exploration and production in Texas, the city has a number of attractions that have nothing at all to do with oil and gas. The most surprising of these are the replicas of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and Anne Hathaway's Cottage on the campus of Odessa College.

Built in the 1960's, the Globe Theatre is a non-profit organization presenting classical and modern plays using an Elizabethan stage. Bringing a bit of British flair to the West Texas landscape is this replica of the original Globe Theatre, the home of William Shakespeare's acting company in England.

The 410-seat octagonal theater was the brainchild of a local teacher and Shakespearean scholar, Mrs. Marjorie Morris, who wanted a proper showcase in which to present the Bard's Plays. The Globe hosts community theater performances, monthly country-western shows called The Brand New Opree, and other community activities. The Anne Hathaway Library next door, a replica of the cottage in which Shakespeare's wife lived, houses displays of special interest to Shakespeare fans.

Mrs. Morris was an English professor at Odessa College for over twenty years and held a B.A. and M.A. degrees from North Texas State University. There she studied with the eminent Shakespearean scholar, Dr. Arthur Sampley. Further studies were done at Yale University, the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D. C., the University of Southern California and the University of Birmingham, England where she attended the University's Extra-Mural School of Shakespeare in the British Embassy at Stratford, England. Her thesis "The Proposed Globe Theatre at Odessa, Texas" precipitated this extensive and copious research. She was privileged to work directly with Dr. Allardyce Nicoll of the International School of Shakespeare. Dr. Nicoll read her thesis and was astonished to learn that West Texas did in all seriousness intend to build a Shakespearean theatre. "You have reached for the stars," he said, "and you have found them. If you complete this theatre - and I believe you will - you will have the most nearly authentic replica of Shakespeare's own Globe anywhere on earth."
Mrs. Morris personally solicited donations and grants from individuals and private foundations to finance the construction, receiving funds from the Houston Endowment, the Piper Foundation of San Antonio, the Texas Electric Service Co. in Ft. Worth, the Sid Richardson Foundation, and many others.

She is listed in "Who's Who in American Women," "Who's Who in American Education," "World Who's Who of Women," "Texas Women of Distinction," "Who's Who in the South and Southwest," "The Golden Book of Texas Federation of Women's Clubs," and "The Royal Blue Book." A former First Lady of Odessa and a Piper Professor, she is a member of various clubs and organizations including the Poetry Society of Texas, The Odessa Music Study Club, and was a life member of Delta Iota Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma. She was a life member of The Globe Board of Governors and truly the First Lady of the Theatre.

German Visitor

In October, 1998, Vanessa Schormann from Munich, Germany, visited Marjorie Morris, the founder of the Odessa Globe Theatre. Vanessa was working on her Doctoral Thesis and was in the United States doing research on Shakespeare Festivals and replicas of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. She stated The Globe Theatre in Odessa, Texas, was a fascinating replica of the original built in 1599. Vanessa asked to meet the 91 year old founder of the Odessa Globe after she heard how Marjorie lead the drive to build this theatre upon completing her Master's Thesis in 1950.

Their conversation was full of the trials and tribulations of researching a 400 year old structure of which there are no accurate drawings and only descriptions from theatre patrons of the time. Studying the writings and drawings of other theatres of the time and area has led scholars, such as these two, to be able to accurately describe Will's theatre. Vanessa has since returned to Germany to work on her thesis. She writes on a regular basis to keep in touch with the many friends she made while in Odessa. She talks of the memories of her all too short week in West Texas and being able to see our production of Twelfth Night while she was here. She will never forget the West Texas hospitality she received nor the opportunity to meet our founder and local legend, Marjorie Morris. And we will never forget our friend, the little German girl from Munich.

Marjorie Morris August 23, 1907 - June 17, 2001

Autobiography

Marjorie Rogers Morris, Founder of The Globe of the Great Southwest and the Anne Hathaway (Cottage) Library, which are built within The Globe Court in Odessa, Texas, died on June 17, 2001.

    The following is an autobiographical record transcribed from hand written papers left by Mrs. Morris.

    I was born in Pilot Point, Texas the youngest of nine children born to Rev. & Mrs. W. L. Rogers on August 23, 1907. I accepted Christ as my Savior while still a child of 8 years of age. Our home was a godly home, one that was filled with reverence for God, but we were not pious. A prayer of thanks was offered at the table before each meal, and an evening prayer each night before we went to bed. My father prayed first, and then each member of the family offered his/her prayer, thanking God for the blessings of the past and also asking for God’s guidance for the days ahead.

Ann Hathaway Cottage

The Anne Hathaway Cottage is a replica of the childhood home of Shakespeare's wife, Anne. The original "Hathaway Cottage", still standing in the little village of Shottery, England, was presented to Anne as a gift by her brother following her marriage to William Shakespeare. Our Anne Hathaway Cottage, which opened in 1988, is used for receptions, weddings, board meetings and teas.

2010 Board Members

• Board of Trustees
  • Melanie Allen
  • Lisa Crenshaw Estes
  • Peter Figert
  • Ramsey Fowler
  • Barbara Hogan
  • Geneva Hooton
  • Sharon Edge-Jenkins
  • Gary Johnson
  • Erin Ashworth-King
  • Victor Lopez
  • Amber McDonald
  • Nelson Minyard
  • Jim Mosman
  • Bruce Shearer
  • Diane Sykes-Bookhammer
• Ex-Officio Board
  • James R. "Buzz" Hurt
  • Larry Johnson
  • Ladoyce Lambert
  • Richard "Dick" Sivalls
• Board of Advisors
  • Emma Burnett
  • Gayle Carlton
  • G. William Fowler
  • Edith Libson Hardy