Outstanding Original Production – “Gallow Walkers”
Michael Todd, Chelcy Harrell, Mat Govich and Jennifer Teel in Gallow Walkers.
Photo courtesy of Michael Weeks
Michael Todd is a gifted singer/song writer. He is known for the popular group The Wild Frontier Band, playing in venues both national and international as well as Oklahoma City. He has put his varied talents to work on a new musical that is now playing at Shakespeare in the Park on Paseo. The show is “Gallow Walkers” and Todd has written the music, lyrics, and the book for this rather zany paranormal folk opera. “Gallow Walkers” is not to… Continue reading
The Pollard’s “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” Phenomenal and Provocative
Matthew Alvin Brown as Hedwig (right foreground) and Renee Anderson as Yitzhak perform in “Hedwig and the Angry Inch”
“Hedwig and the Angry Inch” is a most provocative and unique story told in a delightfully tasteless rock and roll fashion that is based on shocking and somewhat horrific events. Hedwig is a tragic figure, yet he has made the most of the hard knocks in life, and he tells his story in a concert full of music and humor. The music is popular; the humor is dark and cruel. Nevertheless the story is uplifting. The show,… Continue reading
Lyric Theatre’s “Rock of Ages” Delights Patrons
The cast of “Rock of Ages”
Photo courtesy of
KO Rinearson
Lyric Theatre begins the fall season with the widely acclaimed “Rock of Ages” bringing the 80’s glitz and glitter back into our consciousness. Even those who tried to avoid the decade while experiencing it will connect positively with the tongue-in-cheek humor, and the fresh take found in the story from Chris D’Arienzo with arrangements and orchestrations of the greatest hits of the decade by Ethan Popp. Lyric’s Artistic Director, Michael Baron, is thrilled to present the show to Oklahoma audiences as it really strikes a chord with… Continue reading
“Hedwig and the Angry Inch” Shaping up with Style at The Pollard
Matthew Alvin Brown as Hedwig (foreground) with Renee Anderson as Yitzhak (seated)
John Mitchell Cameron’s “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” could be considered a rather controversial choice for the Pollard Theatre, however, it is an important choice as it acknowledges the alternative culture growing in America today. Hedwig’s lyrics and music were originally written by Stephen Trask, with Cameron doing the book.
“Hedwig and the Angry Inch” first premiered off Broadway in 1998 and received the Obie Award for Best Off-Broadway Musical. Since then it has drawn large audiences at every performance of the show for exceptional music… Continue reading
“Suite Surrender”—Sweet Sensation from Jewel Box Theatre
Actors pose in publicity photo for Jewel Box Theatre’s production, “Suite Surrender.” From left: Joe Bonfiglio, Amandanell Bold, standing, and Zaneen Hotchkiss. Photo taken Monday, Sep 11, 2017. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman
Jewel Box Theatre presents the hysterical farce, “Suite Surrender” through October 22, 2017 by noted playwright, Michael McKeever. The comedy is directed by Don Taylor, and he has the perfect cast to deliver the witty repartee with the perfect timing the play deserves. Timing is everything, double takes are imperative for the double entendrs, and a certain lack of fear from the actors make… Continue reading
Fascination and drama in ‘The Résistance Between Us’
“The Résistance Between Us” is the first book in a planned trilogy by Oklahoma author Phyllis Kimmel Libby. The trilogy’s name is “Ingrid’s Wars.”
Libby’s book is a tale of woe and wonder, darkness and daintiness, resistance and redemption, hope and horror. The backdrop is occupied France during the second World War. Written in first-person, “The Résistance Between Us” is rife with individual drama and insights.
Protagonist Ingrid Fellner, 41, was born in the year 1900. She is a recent widow caring for her daughter Marta, who was disabled in the skiing accident that killed Ingrid’s husband,… Continue reading
Exceptional Performances in “Hamlet” from Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park!
Hamlet (Luke Thomas Eddy) challenges his mother, Queen Gertrude (Kathryn Mcgill)
Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park is presenting “Hamlet” to put an exclamation on their 33rd season. Now that we have such beautiful cool evenings it is a welcome return to the Myriad Botanical Gardens for the performance. “Hamlet” is one of the better known Shakespearean masterpieces; everywhere we go we take a bit of “Hamlet” along with us. What falls ‘trippingly’ from our tongues in common speech is frequently Shakespearean, and, more often than not “Hamlet” is the source.
“Hamlet” is always studied in high… Continue reading
“A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline” is a Closer Walk with Music
Julie Johnson as Patsy Cline
Patsy Cline was born Virginia Patterson Hensley and as a youngster little Ginny Hensley broke into the music world with a delicious and delightful honkytonk sound. As she grew into Patsy Cline her music was distinguished by her powerfully emotional voice, and she is the first ‘country’ artist to cross over into the ‘pop’ charts. But she didn’t just cross over, she transcended. Her music was just that–music. And it seared the soul, an ability universally recognized. She died too young; she was only 30 years old when that fatal… Continue reading
CityRep Announces:
Below is a letter from Don Jordan regarding the unfortunate news.
Here at okartsceneandhurd, we would like to extend our appreciation of Hal Holbrook and his continued ability to perform in film and television. While we are going to miss Hal Holbrook’s performance, we are certainly looking forward to CityRep’s next offering of outstanding performances!
Good morning friends,
Donald Jordan here. I wanted to personally share a letter I received yesterday late in the afternoon from Hal Holbrook.
As you know, Hal was scheduled to start his fall tour with an appearance as MARK TWAIN TONIGHT!… Continue reading
“Ripcord” at Carpenter Square’s Pleases Patrons
Mark Fairchild as Scotty and Lilli Bassett as Marilyn gang up on Linda McDonald as Abby over dinner
Carpenter Square begins the 34th season of excellent community theatre to Oklahoma City audiences with David Lindsay-Abaire’s recent play “Ripcord” premiering in 2015. The comedy is billed as a cross between ‘Odd Couple’ and ‘Golden Girls’ and follows the somewhat shallow surface of the best television situation comedies. Good comedy is based on tragic possibilities at the very least, and while the prominent appreciation of situation comedies on television rarely delved into the meaty aspects of tragedy, “Ripcord” certainly does.… Continue reading