Judy Collins Dazzles Audience at OCCC
Photo Courtesy of Brad Trent
Judy Collins conquered Oklahoma City last night. She came to OCCC to perform at the invitation of Oklahoma City Repertory Theatre (CityRep) and gave us a magnificent concert. Concentrating on the great songs from Sondheim’s wonderful repertoire Judy Collins is magnificent. Collins has had a long career in folk music, including folk/rock, folk/country and folk/everything.
She began her musical life as a piano prodigy and as a teenager was seduced by the beautiful folk ballads she heard. Later, living in New York City she stood at the beginning of a profound resurgence in folk music. She played in the coffee houses and recorded many songs from other artists such as Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger. She also became somewhat of an activist, an activism that stems from a passion. Judy Collins has always had a passion for music of any genre, and she also has a strong belief in people and easing their struggles and pain. The pairing of her twin passions creates a clear vision, and that vision has been with us throughout the decades, it is undimmed and is strong as ever.
The perfectly beautiful soprano heard on her wonderful albums (over 50) is unchanged, and in a live performance her song is amazing. Anytime there is a live performance, unexpected things happen. There is a hint of that in the live albums (4) but seeing her in person, breathing the same air she breathes, there is an incomparable ideal. The little things that happen, and how she works with them, are an asset that creates an abounding and unmatched perfection. Absolute perfection can only be found in the magic of live theatre.
Thank you for coming, Judy Collins, and we also owe a great debt of gratitude to Oklahoma City Repertory Theatre (CityRep) for bringing Judy Collins to perform in Oklahoma City. CityRep is a small equity theatre that sets a very high standard for theatrical productions in Oklahoma City and the surrounding communities. Every production by this professional company is professional quality. CityRep maintains a high standard, increasing the quality of every theatrical performance. The magic of live theatre will continue just next week with the incomparable Jonathan Beck Reed and the incredible Donald Jordan in “Greater Tuna” opening March 15th in the Freede Theatre at the Civic Center Music Hall.
CityRep has also announced the season for next year and it reigns again as a season of excellence beginning with “The Music Man” at OCCC September 28, 2018 through September 30, 2018. “Music Man” is a 60th Anniversary Concert to inspire. Following is a wonderful event: “Beyond Glory” starring the acclaimed actor Stephen Lange. “Beyond Glory” is a tribute to our servicemen and follows eight Medal of Honor recipients in this one man show at OCCC in honor of Veterans Day and Veterans, November 10, 2018.
City-Rep often collaborates with a University and the next production is a co-production with the University of Central Oklahoma’s Department of Music Theater: “Hair” February 14, through February 17, 2019. Then in April of 2019 at the Civic Center’s Freede Little Theater we will have “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” by Simon Stephens based on the wonderful mystery novel by Mark Haddon.
The magic of live performance prevails at City-Rep. While making reservations for “Greater Tuna” the show that must not be missed it may very well be a good idea to ask about a flex-pass for next season from CityRep.