Publisher: Elizabeth Hurd

Past Reviews

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The Pollard’s Dracula is a creepy night of Screams and Scares

Dracula is presented via a live read-through.

The Pollard Theatre Company has faced its fair share of setbacks in the past year. The pandemic forced the closure of the 2020 season, and the historic theatre finally reopened for Season 34, In Good Company, in August 2021. A late summer storm caused extensive damage to the lighting and sound systems in the theatre, and the company was once again forced to cancel an upcoming production. Bram Stoker’s Dracula was slated for a full production, but with the theatre still in repair mode, an alternative option had to be utilized. Always the… Continue reading

UCO returns to Mitchell Hall with RENT

(L-R) Jaylon Crump as Tom Collins and Samuel Moran as Angel

UCO’s College of Fine Arts and Design (CFAD) and the Musical Theatre Division present Jonathan Larson’s Rent, running until October 10th at Mitchell Hall Theatre. UCO’s Musical Theatre program is one of the best in the state. They produce big, bold works, and never shy away from tough subjects. Rent is polarizing, at times controversial, and it’s an institution of American musical theatre history. Love it or hate it, nearly everyone has an opinion on it. Playwright Jonathan Larson died suddenly before Rent was out of previews,… Continue reading

Jewel Box Theatre- “A Good old fashioned mystery” for their new venue.

    I was out wandering around (in my air-conditioned car, of course) and saw a line of cars filing into what used to be Jewel Box Theatre’s old home but instead, they were driving down a slightly different road (I followed the many signs along the road) to what appeared to be their NEW venue. I found myself curiously drawn into this building which advertised The Vultures, by Mark A. Ridge. I picked up a program, without opening it, and found a comfortable seat. on a raised platform overlooking the Library set (competently designed by Shawn Hancock) I would… Continue reading

3rd Act Theatre Company Delights with “Setting the Nation Right” and other “Easy Plays for Women”

Seated from left, Caitlin Cairns, Lauren Peña and Denise Hughes. Standing from left, Anna Holloway, Cara Chesney, Sarah Nilson, Meredith Harrison and Lana Henson in “Setting the Nation Right” and other “Easy Plays for Women” at 3rd Act Theatre. Photo courtesy of J. Christine Lanning

Bell Elliot Palmer was a well-known playwright of her day which is, amazingly, about a century ago.  Her short one-act “Setting the Nation Right” was published in 1924 and the collection of short plays in “Easy Plays for Women” was published in 1933.   Palmer’s extensive career spanned a period of over 40… Continue reading

“A Territorial Christmas Carol” Live-Streamed from The Pollard Actors with Nostalgic Tenderness

James A Hughes as Scrooge.

 

“A Territorial Christmas Carol” has long been a wonderful tradition for Oklahoma audiences and this show can only be found in one place:  The Pollard Theatre in Guthrie, Oklahoma.  Many theatres have come up with adaptations of Dicken’s classic “A Christmas Carol” but the Pollard version is unique.  Author Stephen Scott’s adaptation moves Dicken’s original location from the economically depressed London, to the struggling but developing Oklahoma Territory not very long after the land run of 1889.  The play opens with the Moody Family preparing for a sparse Christmas in… Continue reading

Fun with Politics in “Running Mates” at 3rd Act

Yoga Class at the Storm home. From left to right: Mercedez Ferguson as Ted Wink, Leigh Miller as Sofia Storm and Allyson Rose as Liddie Valentine. Photo courtesy of Amandanell Bold, 3rd Act Theatre

In the throes of this world-wide pandemic it is hard to find a moment that seems normal.  The 3rd Act Theatre Company of Oklahoma has brought those rare ‘normal’ moments to us with their productions.  The audience still wears masks and seating is limited due to social distancing.  But the show allows us to escape for a few brief hours.  The… Continue reading

Update to Lyric’s “A Christmas Carol” with the Ivy Cast and the Holly Cast

Ivy cast member Jonathan Beck Reed as Ebenezer Scrooge. Lyric’s “A Christmas Carol” Photo courtesy of Jonathan Beck Reed

Lyric Theatre presents Dickens beloved classic, “A Christmas Carol’ for the tenth anniversary presentation with a twist.  Not the Oliver kind, but a Dickensian twist of venue! The play is at Harn Homestead in Oklahoma City: a location that enables the audience to view the play outdoors.  The scenes take place in the various locations found at the Harn Homestead which makes the audience move from locale to locale as the scenes change.  The show is surprisingly adaptable… Continue reading

Lyric Theatre Presents “A Christmas Carol” with a New Twist

W. Jerome Stevenson as Ebenezer Scrooge bonding with Tiny Tim. Photo courtesy of K Talley Photography

Lyric Theatre presents Dickens beloved classic, “A Christmas Carol’ for the tenth anniversary presentation with a twist.  Not the Oliver kind, but a Dickensian twist of venue! The play is at Harn Homestead in Oklahoma City: a location that enables the audience to view the play outdoors.  The scenes take place in the various locations found at the Harn Homestead which makes the audience move from locale to locale as the scenes change.  The show is surprisingly adaptable to all the… Continue reading

“1984” at 3rd Act Astounds Audience with Audacity

Ronn Burton as Winston Smith in ‘1984’  Photo courtesy of Christine Lanning.

Many baby-boomers grew up fearing the arrival of 1984 a year made notable by the dystopian novel “1984” by George Orwell published in 1949.  The award-winning novel presents a disturbing view of a future ruled by the tyranny of totalitarianism and propaganda.  Control of every aspect of a citizen’s life is achieved through constant surveillance of every act no matter how private and the manipulation of language, history and literature.  The novel adapted into a play by Robert Owens, Wilton E. Hall Jr. and… Continue reading

“Frankenstein” Produced at 3rd Act Reveals 200 Years of Chilling Horror

Ford Filson as Victor Frankenstein and Kat Adams as Elisabeth. Peter Fischaber as the creature looks on,’skulking with intent to lurk.  Photo courtesy of 3rd Act Theatre  

The 3rd Act Theatre of Oklahoma City is presenting a new adaptation of “Frankenstein” through September 27, 2020 as part of their Noire productions.  The final performance on Sunday, September 27 will be live-streamed and all the previous performances are live on the stage at North Park Mall.  The author of this latest version is an actor and promising young playwright, Vincent Hannam, and this production is… Continue reading

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