Ashley Arnold dancing with Mateja Govich from Beauty and the Beast as little girl, Serena Feng looks on. Costumes by Jeffrey Meek.

“When You Wish” is Lyric’s own, a production created from the imagination of director, Michael Baron featuring favorite songs and fantasies from Disney dreams.  The plot is loose, a young girl dreams her way through beloved songs with wonderful music, dancing and delight.  Baron and choreographer, Ashley Wells, highlight Disney’s most fantastic musical creations with incredible vocals and dance numbers perfectly aligned with Andrew Bryan’s musical direction.  Classic delights from Snow White, Cinderella and Mary… Continue reading →

By Jillian Pritchard Ball

1) Sibling rivalry reaches comic heights in a scene from “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” which plays at Carpenter Square Theatre June 23-July 15. Pictured from left to right are J. Christine Lanning, Terry Veal, and Laurie Blankenship.

Carpenter Square Theatre, in its 33^rd season, presents “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” written by Christopher Durang.  The Tony Award winning play is a modern American homage to the character of Chekhov and the dramedy of Russian life, much like American life but set in rural Bucks County.  Siblings Vanya and… Continue reading →

The cast of Lyric Theatre’s production of Million Dollar Quartet. Photo by KO Rinearson

On December 4, 1956 Elvis Presley stopped by Sun Records to say hello to Samuel Cornelius Phillips, owner of Sun Records and the man who discovered his talent.  Phillips happened to be in the studio with Carl Perkins in the process of a new recording.  Perkins was experiencing a dip in sales and wanted a new hit.  Sam Phillips had brought in a new talent to assist, a piano man, Jerry Lee Lewis.  Johnny Cash had also happened by that afternoon. … Continue reading →

Truman Cheerleaders

The Pollard Theatre concludes another perfect season with “Bring It On: The Musical” a remarkable show. Excellent productions and performances abound, and the final show in the 30^th season is right on target!  “Bring It On:  The Musical” is loosely based on the movie “Bring It On” successful at the turn of the century.  The Guthrie, Oklahoma stage musical directed by Timothy Stewart is equally successful.  The story is about high school cheerleaders, the most popular girls in high school, claiming the most denigrated achievement later in life.  Campbell Davis, head cheerleader… Continue reading →

Charles Ross has returned to Oklahoma City bringing the “Star Wars One Man Trilogy” as hoped, much to the joy of committed fans.  Thanks to Oklahoma City Repertory Theatre, Ross has been brought back after a four year absence when he performed “One Man Lord of the Rings Trilogy” for CityRep.  Charles Ross is from another planet himself (Canada) and he brings to this show superior delineated characters, subtle and slapstick humor and a love of all things star wars, starry and starry-eyed.  “Star Wars One Man Trilogy” was born about 16 years ago as a comedy… Continue reading →

Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park presents “The Taming of the Shrew” beginning their 33^rd season with one of Shakespeare’s most popular and fun comedies.  Directed by Caprice Woosley, “The Taming of the Shrew” takes advantage of some forgotten traditions in this production.

In the day of the bard slang was a lot more poetic, and theatre was often a lot more spontaneous.  Traveling troupes of troublesome troubadours would pull up their wagons and present a play from a hodge-podge of costume remnants straight out of your closet.  Woosley brings back this troupe to introduce the play,… Continue reading →

“Creating Claire” is the story of Claire Buchanan, a docent at a science museum and stay-at-home mom.  Trained as a teacher, she devotes most of her time to her autistic daughter, Abigail.  Abigail attends public school, but needs additional help beyond that available in her special needs class.  Reggie Buchanan is a devoted husband and father, and Victoria Halstead is friend and curator of the Earth and Sky Museum, where Claire is a tour guide.

The Buchanan’s are agnostic, and most of their friends are as well.  One day, Claire surprises everyone by introducing the concept… Continue reading →

The object belongs to hir who just came here or didn’t you hear?  Many of us are beginning to hear about a new personal pronoun, pronounced ‘here or hear’ that is a combination of his/him/ her.  Taylor Mac is the author of “Hir” a critically acclaimed new play celebrating the use of gender-neutral pronouns and gender neutral existence.  For writers it may be an improvement to ‘he, she or it’ for every occasion; it certainly takes the lilt out of literature.

It is also too early to determine whether ‘Hir’ is critically acclaimed because it is edgy… Continue reading →

Young Jake McGowan (Mason Imboden) is encouraged by Jonas Nightigale ((Quinn Herron)

There is a defining moment in a lifetime when one is required to make a leap of faith.  The University of Central Oklahoma tells such a story with their latest production entitled “Leap of Faith” by Glenn Slater.  The story is based on a movie of the same name starring Steve Martin and, although the role is serious, Martin uses his own subtle version of levity that makes the serious movie viable.  The musical screenplay is somewhat different but the primary premise is the same.… Continue reading →

Oklahoma City University has a stellar weekend with the music of Cole Porter resounding and rejuvenating theatre patrons fortunate enough to attend “Anything Goes” this past weekend.  Director, David Herendeen, assembles talented and sophisticated students into the madcap story that has been enthralling audiences the world over since 1934.  Jan McDaniel directs music and conducts the powerful orchestra.  Cassandra VanHouten choreographs the dance numbers that are so perfectly suited to tap dancers with perfect timing, natural rhythm and sleek grace.

This group of students is not only extremely talented musical theatre performers; they are talented actors as… Continue reading →