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Gaslight Theatre

221 North Independence, Enid, OK

The Gaslight Theatre of Enid, Oklahoma, was founded in 1966 under its original name of Enid Community Theatre. Gaslight is one of Oklahoma's oldest and most active community theatres. The theatre has been housed in an old TV studio in the 200 Block of East Randolph, later made its home in a converted warehouse in the 200 block of East Maple and in 1989 came to its present location at 221 N Independence. The current theatre was purchased and fully renovated with tremendous community support.

Built as the Billings Theatre in the early twentieth century, 221 N Independence was home to vaudeville and other live performances. Over the next 50 years, it went through several incarnations becoming the Criterion Movie House, then evolved into the Chief Movie Theatre and in the mid-70s became the Cinema Twin, never going dark for any extended length of time.

Gaslight's mission is to promote and present theatrical productions for the education, enjoyment and literary enlightenment of the Enid area. The heartbeat of Enid's Community Theatre is that of its volunteers. What makes Gaslight successful is a great deal of work by volunteers, both onstage and backstage and wonderful support from community residents, who give both their resources and their applause to the effort.

Gaslight presents high-caliber productions which include dramas, comedies and musicals. Eight regular productions are staged each year including our five regular season shows, plus a dinner theatre production, a summer musical and Shakespeare in the Park. In 2004 Gaslight celebrated its 10th season of free Shakespeare in the Park, presented in the historic Government Springs Park... Our dinner theatre is presented at the Enid Symphony Center in its newly renovated Symphony Ballroom Theatre. Gaslight Teens have made resurgence in the last few years to present a play annually.

Poncan Theatre

104 East Grand, Ponca City, OK

The Poncan Theatre has entertained and enthralled audiences for almost a century. Just touring the theatre itself will bring gasps of awe with its tasteful mix of art deco, classical Roman and medieval architecture. The Poncan Theatre has been restored to its 1927 look, but has been modernized for today’s use. The Poncan Theatre’s eclectic offerings meet the varied needs of the community and range from standing-room-only shows, to unique fill showings, to sell-out musical reviews. Home to the Ponca Playhouse, the Poncan Theatre also hosts events sponsored by the Ponca City Arts and Humanities Council and the Ponca City Area Chamber Orchestra.

Ponca Playhouse

301 South 1st Street, Ponca City, OK

Beginning in 1958 Ponca Playhouse made its home in the Civic Center paying $1 a year rent but the city closed the civic center in the early 1990′s due to structural concerns and several years later began the centennial project to remodel the building. The Civic Center closed with the production of “Rumors” in the spring of 1994 and the Playhouse began looking for a place to rehearse and perform. Fortunately, the Poncan Theater had just reopened after renovations and offered a vaudeville stage to the Playhouse. Between 1994 and 1996, the Playhouse rehearsed and built sets in a number of locations including Martin’s Furniture building which is now Kem’s gym. “We were vagabonds looking for a place to land,” says JoAnn Muchmore. The Playhouse rented the Poncan Theater stage and produced its first production “Lend me a Tenor” in the fall of 1994 and the Poncan would be its home for theatrical productions for the next 15 years. During this period the Playhouse presented its productions on the stage of the Poncan but used the O’Reilly building on South First St., purchased in 1996 from the Monger family, for rehearsal space, construction of sets, and as a storage area for costumes and props.

Oklahoma Children's Theatre

2501 North Blackwelder, Oklahoma City, OK

History:

Oklahoma Children's theatre began as a program of the Stage Center in downtown Oklahoma City. The program was a successful revenue generating program meeting the needs of children and youth audience.

In December 1986, the theatre became an independent non-profit organization with founder, Lyn Adams, named as Executive Director.

Ms. Adams operated a resident theatre program at Oklahoma City Community College from December 1986 to August 1989. During these three years, Oklahoma Children's Theatre audience grew from 10,000 to over 20,000.

In this same period, the theatre implemented a number of additional programs including: Summer Children's Theatre Workshops, Children's Theatre Tour of the Putnam City Schools and a Youth Conservatory Program. In August 1989, Oklahoma Children's Theatre was invited to become a resident at City Arts Center, on the fairgrounds.

This move permitted the expandability of productions and educational programs for young audiences to include: main stage productions each year, a statewide touring program, a youth theatre program and an arts collaboration program between Oklahoma Children's Theatre, local daycare centers and community artists.

On September 1, 2005, Oklahoma Children's Theatre began a wonderful and exciting journey with its new partner, Oklahoma City University, Department of Theatre. With the blessing of our Board And O.C.U. President Tom McDaniel, we have created a season of productions to be performed in both the Burg and Kirkpatrick Theatres and educational classes and camps to be held in the Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Building. We are enthusiastically pursuing this new phase of "The Adventures of Oklahoma Children's Theatre".

Lyric Theatre

1727 NorthWest 16th Street, Oklahoma City, OK

Mission:

The mission of Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma is to produce quality professional theatre; to encourage and educate talented individuals; to promote collaboration among the arts; and to enrich the quality of life for the people of Oklahoma.

History:

Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma is now a nationally-recognized, Broadway-caliber theatre, but it came from humble beginnings. On November 7, 1962, 14 prominent Oklahomans gathered at the Beacon Club to discuss the idea of forming a professional theatre company. Lyric's founders include those whose names are still well-known today: Charles Bennett, James A. Bermingham, Jr., Luther T. Dulaney, Jack Durland, Dow Gumerson, Breene Kerr, John E. Kirkpatrick, Hardin Masters, Don Watters, J. Robert Wootten, Mrs. Gordon Ferguson (Mary Ruth), Mrs. E. L. Gaylord (Thelma), Mrs. Norman Handle (Bea) and Mrs. Don Gardner (Dora Lee).

Lyric produced its first three-show season at Oklahoma City University's Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Auditorium in the summer of 1963. Lyric's seasons grew in scale and scope as the years progressed, and that formative period established Lyric as an artistic powerhouse in Oklahoma City.

In the 1990s, Lyric saw an opportunity to expand the level of its artistic product in a much larger venue at the newly renovated Civic Center Music Hall in downtown Oklahoma City. Lyric opened its inaugural Civic Center production- THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES- on the evening of June 25, 2002, and has produced its summer season at that venue since. In the years following this major change, Lyric's productions began to gain even more national attention. In 2005, USA Today named Lyric one of the "10 Great Places to See the Lights Off-Broadway."

As major changes occurred to Lyric's summer season, Lyric's leaders began envisioning a future as a year-round theatre, producing more than large-scale musicals during the summer months. In 2000, the Plaza Theatre was purchased by Lyric. Ten million dollars was raised to renovate the theatre and other buildings. In 2007, the pristine, 279-seat Plaza Theatre opened its doors allowing for four additional shows to be added to Lyric's season in the spring and fall. You can read more about the history of the Plaza Theatre here.

Lyric also purchased another building a half block west of the Plaza Theatre in 2000, which eventually became the home of the Thelma Gaylord Academy. The academy was established to specifically nurture young artistic talent and is committed to providing a safe, fun and educational environment focused on cultivating the musical theatre performers of tomorrow, as well as creating a love for theatre in all students which will last their entire lives. Read more about our academy here.

Another extension of Lyric's community arts outreach is its Musical Interactive program. This troupe of actors travels to schools around the state performing an adapted version of a musical that is entertaining and educational. Read more about Musical Interactive here.

Lyric provides over 250 jobs annually and employs nationally recognized directors, designers, actors, artists and artisans who join local professionals from across the state. The theatre operates under an URTA contract with Actors' Equity Association and employs members of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, Musicians Local 375-703 and I.A.T.S.E. Local 112. Lyric is proud to be Oklahoma's leading professional theatre and continually strives to produce Broadway-caliber productions for Oklahoma audiences.

Tower Theatre

425 North West 23rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK

About Tower Theatre

Opening in 1937, Tower Theatre operated as one of Oklahoma City's premiere movie houses for almost 40 years. After a downturn in the ‘70s, it ran kung-fu movies, midnight shows, and Spanish-language films until 1985, then fell briefly into adult films before closing for good. A brief revival as a music venue in 1999 lasted one year. After changing hands a few times, the Tower restoration project was taken up in 2015 by Pivot Project, and completed in 2016.

Carpenter Square Theatre

1009 West Reno, Oklahoma City, OK

Mission Statement:

Carpenter Square Theatre is committed to entertain, educate, and enrich the community with live, unedited theatre. A unique blend of award-winning modern works, hilarious comedy classics and outlandish musicals make CST Oklahoma City's premier year-round live theatre.

Carpenter Square Theatre gratefully acknowledges the assistance of the Oklahoma Arts Council and the National Endowment of the Arts. Carpenter Square Theatre is an Allied Arts member agency.

The Sooner Theatre

101 East Main Street, Norman, OK

History :

The Sooner Theatre opened in 1929, the first movie theatre in the region built to show talking pictures. Local architect Harold Gimeno spared no expense $200,000 constructing the Spanish Gothic building. The 252 Spanish coat-of-arms, displayed on the ceiling, were hand-painted by Patricio Gimeno, the architects father.

Mosaic tile and Italian marble were imported for the project, and a special ladies lounge was installed on the mezzanine level. A soundproof cry-room at the back of the orchestra level accommodated babies. The tinkle of champagne glasses and polite conversation could be heard from the party room in the balcony. The theatre even boasted refrigerated air and cooled water fountains.

The audience gasped when the first talkie, Alias Jimmy Valentine, premiered. The actors were speaking! After working frantically throughout that first show to cue the oversized records with the miles-and-miles of cellophane tape, the projectionist quit in disgust. Moving pictures were too darn complicated and, he predicted, they wouldnt last.

But last they did, and so did the Sooner at least until the 1970s. At that time, movie theatres became multiplexes, and the Sooner was reduced to showing second-run B movies as the public abandoned it for large, multi-screen houses. Attack of the Amazons closed the theatre in 1975. The Sooners only future visitor appeared to be the wrecking ball.

A dedicated group of citizens refused to lose the theatre and, under the aegis of The Sooner Theatre of Norman, Inc., appealed to the city of Norman to have her purchased and leased to them for $1 a year. The facility re-opened in 1982, after its first phase of restoration, as a community performing arts center. Now listed on the State and National Registry of Historic Places, The Sooner Theatre hosts local, regional, and national artists ranging from musical groups to magic shows.

Lawton Community Theatre

1316 North West Bell Avenue, Lawton, OK

History:

In 1952 a group of theatre lovers banded together to establish Lawton's first theatre group named "The Vagabond Playhouse." They met, rehearsed, and performed in schools, churches and backyards, wherever space was available. Their first production, "The Night of January 16th", was performed in December of 1952 in the Emerson Elementary School Auditorium. In January of 1953, the group, whose charter membership was now over 90 strong, met and ratified a constitution and a new name, "The Lawton Little Theatre." Also slated was an April production of "The Curious Savage". This was followed in June with "The Women", directed by John Denney, a young actor returning to Lawton after a successful career on the professional stage.

John Denney became the cornerstone of the Little Theatre (later renamed Lawton Community Theatre), directing 58 productions over 18 years and was named Director-Emeritus on the theatre's 25th anniversary. In 1966, LCT found a permanent home at 1316 NW Bell in a building leased from the City of Lawton. That building now bears the name of John Denney.

Subsequent directors, Bob Plumb, Irby Darnell, Tom Kartak, Cliff Justice and our current director, Cynthia Kent, have carried on the traditions laid down by our founders, helping make LCT one of Oklahoma’s premier community theatres.

In 1983, LCT’s production of "Working" was selected best in the State at the Festival of American Community Theatres. In 1997 "The Duck Variations" swept the awards at the State and Regional festivals and earned honors at the National festival. That same year LCT was honored to receive the Oklahoma Governor’s Arts Award. In 1998 LCT represented the American Association of Community Theatre (AACT) at the Liverpool International Theatre Festival in Nova Scotia, Canada, and in 2000 was selected as Oklahoma’s Community Theatre of the Year. In 2001 LCT’s production of the original script "The Normal Child" was selected as Production of Honor at the State festival. In 2003 LCT’s production of "Bus Stop" received the same. In 2005 the Lawton Community Theatre hosted the AACT SW Region VI Festival. In 2006, LCT's production of "The Three Billy Goats Gruff" was selected as Production of Honor, with a cast of teen-aged actors.

Today LCT stands as the oldest performing arts institution in Southwest Oklahoma. Our current membership exceeds 800 Season Subscribers and our 200 volunteers work diligently to continue producing the quality live theatre our patrons have come to expect. Traditions with roots deep into Lawton's history and the unflagging commitment of the Board of Directors, staff and volunteers make the Lawton Community Theatre a part of Oklahoma's cultural future.

Brady Theater

105 West Brady Street, Tulsa, OK

About Us:

Completed in 1914, the Brady Theater was originally designed as a municipal auditorium and convention hall by the architectural firm of Rose and Peterson of Kansas City, KS. The building was known as Convention Hall for the first forty years of its life. When the facility officially opened, it was billed as the largest hall between Kansas City and Houston.

In 1930, world-renowned architect Bruce Goff was hired as designer of a major interior remodel. He had thirty days to transform the barn-like interior into an elegant showplace. The Art Deco style remodeling included draperies and seats, vertical wall panels of white plaster decorated with thin gold dividers, gilded air conditioning grilles, and acoustic ceiling tiles painted green, blue, white, and gold. Five massive green and white pendant light fixtures were installed centrally in the auditorium.

In 1952, additions were constructed at the front and rear of the original 1914 structure. Upper and lower lobbies were added and the building was renamed Tulsa Municipal Theater.

Theatre Tulsa

412 North Boston Avenue, Tulsa, OK

Mission:

Theatre Tulsa is a community theatre with certain responsibilities inherent to theatre in general and to community theatre specifically. Equal emphasis is always placed on the quality of the productionsÂ Â Â and the quality of the experience for the participants.

The theatre's specific responsibilities are:

To produce quality entertainment.
To provide the opportunity to all segments of the community to participate whether an artist, volunteer or audience member.
To encourage the development of theatrical talent.
To be a leader in the community in the presentation of theatre arts.

History :

Since 1922, Theatre Tulsa has been a part of the culture of Tulsa. Theatre Tulsa has entertained the community for 82 years thanks to patrons and sponsors like you. It is our supporters who saw us through the Depression, World War II and the disaster of two fires.

These same supporters made possible hundreds of productions, including the first community theatre productions of Our Town, All My Sons, and, in 2003, I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change.

Theatre Tulsa and its supporters share a rich legacy of bringing music, laughter, and drama to the people of Tulsa and providing a venue for the many talents of the Tulsa community. Take a look at our history through the decades via the links below.

Tulsa Performing Arts Center

110 East 2nd Street, Tulsa, OK

History:

Before oil barons brought wealth and fame to the region, Tulsa defined itself by cultural sophistication. Replacing the city’s first municipal theater, erected in 1914, the Tulsa Performing Arts Center opened its doors in March 1977. Constructed with a combination of public and private funds, the Center is owned and operated by the City of Tulsa. Local arts organizations, entertainment promoters, performers and the citizens of Tulsa are the PAC’s main clients.

The building of the PAC was the result of a 1973 bond issue. Civic leaders John H. Williams and Leta Chapman posed a challenge to Tulsa voters: If citizens would vote to fund half of the total cost for a new performance space, Williams and Chapman would raise a matching amount. The challenge was taken by Tulsa voters, and the new center held its first concert on March 19, 1977, featuring the Tulsa Philharmonic and jazz great Ella Fitzgerald.

Nightingale Theater

1416 East Fourth Street, Tulsa, OK

About Us:

The Nightingale Theater is an affordable, alternative venue available to local and touring companies. Since February 2000, the theater has been host to over 200 individual theatrical events, with more than 700 actual performance dates and over 500 days of rehearsals; that averages to over 100 performances per calendar-year, making us one of the busiest stages in the region.

We are booking our calendar months in advance with companies such as Theatre Club, Thunder Road Theatre Company, FLAM and SuperOVUM Improv Troupes, Living Arts New Genre Festival, Youth Onstage, Taurus Productions, and, of course, both Midwestern Theater Troupe and Nightingale Theater Productions.

The Nightingale Theater is located in a small industrial park on Fourth Street in Tulsa, Oklahoma; the theater's rounded metal facade immediately sets it apart from the surrounding brick and concrete buildings. One block East of Peoria, the theater borders both the East Village and downtown, and is easily accessible to the Brady and Blue Dome districts.

Inside, our stadium-style seating is mobile to accommodate any type of traditional or non-traditional seating arrangements, and the backstage area has a 40-foot ceiling ideal for set and prop construction. Local and touring artists are invited to utilize the back-bay area as workshop or studio space in addition to holding performances in the main auditorium.

Interested parties can submit a short proposal illustrating their ideas for the space; take a look at the Nightingale floorplan, or contact us directly with any questions or comments.

McSwain Theatre

130 West Main Street, Ada, OK

About the McSwain

This magnificent, family destination brings a wide variety of music to fans of all ages.

Come see old-time favorites such as the monthly country music variety show featuring Jae L. Stilwell and the Crossover Band, or catch a classic movie on the McSwain Theatre big screen. Family shows, comedy acts, variety shows and children’s entertainment are always fan favorites at the McSwain Theatre as well.

The theatre is also equipped to host stage plays, special events and more!

Broken Arrow Community Playhouse

1800 South Main Street, Broken Arrow, OK

Mission:

The Broken Arrow Community Playhouse, a community spirited, educational, and artistic enterprise, organized for the purpose of producing dramatic events and encouraging the growth and practice of theatrical talents, welcomes the participation of any and all persons who subscribe to and support the following mission: "To provide a quality theatrical experience for the community, to encourage and develop new and existing talent in all phases of theatrical management and production, to serve and represent the Broken Arrow community responsibly and with pride through all of its theatrical activities.

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