Renee Krapff, Greg White, David Fletcher-Hall and Claudia Fain

“Private Lives” is only one of the great Noel Coward’s masterpieces and it is full of vim and vigor.  The play from 1930 is sophisticated and elegant, a hallmark of that glorious period of witty repartee and snappy comebacks.  “Private Lives” reveals the essence of the period, when the world was transitioning from the excesses of the 1920’s to the stark survival mode brought about by the depression.  Audiences were enabled to escape privation and recall worry-free, free-wheeling times. The comedy was then, as it is now, a… Continue reading →

Cast of “In The Heights” Photo courtesy of Kirk Tuck

The music and lyrics of “In The Heights” fill the Thelma Gaylord Performing Arts Theatre at the Civic Center Music Hall.  Lin Manuel-Miranda is an extremely successful talent and “In The Heights” is only one of the many exciting shows he has developed.  Miranda originally wrote “In The Heights” in 1999 and began revising the script in 2002.  In 2004 Quiara Alegria Hudes joined the team and wrote the book for the award winning musical.  Premiering on Broadway in 2008, “In The Heights” earned four Tony… Continue reading →

MaryJoanna Grisso as Maria and Austin Colby as they fall in love at the dance. Photo courtesy of KO Rinearson

Any time the lyrics of Stephen Sondheim and the music of Leonard Bernstein are together love happens and in “West Side Story” there is love, heartache, joy and song.  The book is by Arthur Laurents and the story is based on a concept by Jerome Robbins.  The idea isn’t exactly original; after all “West Side Story” is the American “Romeo and Juliet” from the 50’s and that is no secret!  Jerome Robbins originally directed and choreographed the… Continue reading →

Ashley Frisbee as Nell Gwynne (left) and
Kathryn McGill as Aphra Behn (right) in
Liz Duffy Adams “Or”

Liz Duffy Adams is a fascinating playwright, but playwright Aphra Behn has nearly been forgotten and Adams brings her to life in the comic story of a transformative night in Behn’s life.  Before becoming a playwright, Behn was a spy working for Charles II, a life she wished to leave behind.  She has a chance to have her play produced, almost a miracle in England in the 1660’s for a woman.  This is her opportunity to leave behind her… Continue reading →

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 →