by Tiffany Logue
News editor
Courtesy photo from Nick Growall
Staff photo by Tiffany Logue
First photo: Boomer Lowrie working on podims for the dinner theatre play “Game Show.” Lowrie was working on the podium in the new theatre building workshop on June 13.
Second photo: Rehearsals continue for the Oklahoma Shakespearean Feastival with “Four Guys Named Al” practicing on June 15. The four main actors for this performance are SE’s, left to right, Dr. Aaron Adair, Dell McLain, Jeremy Blackwood and Corey King. “Four Guys Named Al” is set to take place on June 22-23 in the new theatre building at 7:30 p.m.
In 1979, Artist Director Molly Risso started the Oklahoma Shakespearean Festival, according to Dustin Curry, OSF’s first assistant press agent as well as an actor in the festival.
According to its website, http://oklahomashakes.com, OSF is still being attended by community members and has become “one of the top summer festivals in America.”
Among the many people to attend OSF, Senator Billy Mickle and his wife usually attend as well, according to Molly Risso’s daughter, Riley Risso-Coker.
Risso brought many changes to Southeastern and the community, according to the website.
Those changes include Risso bringing in “theatre professionals, student training for a professional career in the arts and educational opportunities for a growing community through a children’s theatre workshop.”
According to Nick Growall, assistant press agent, “OSF is pretty much like a summer program they put together for actors all over the states. So it’s just anyone and everyone who wants to get experience and connections.”
According to the website, Risso said, “A long time ago, I learned from Paul Baker at the Dallas Theatre Center that ‘a little child shall lead them’ is a good philosophy for theatre as well as theology.”
Today, OSF is continued by Risso-Coker who still includes and directs the children’s theatre in OSF.
This year’s OSF includes six different plays: a cabaret, a teen theatre, a children’s theatre, a dinner theatre, a musical and a Shakespearean play.
The first play is “Four Guys Named Al” which will be the cabaret.
According to Curry, a cabaret is a performance that may not contain the detailed story but will contain a lot of music and dancing.
It will cost $25 to attend and will take place on June 22-23.
The second will be “Honk!” “Honk!” which will be the teen theatre.
It will be followed by the children’s theatre, “Scenes from Disney.” Both $8 to attend.
“Honk!” will be performed on June 27-29 and will continue with “Scenes from Disney” on June 29-July 1.
The dinner theatre will be the play “Game Show” and will cost $40 to attend.
As well as the meal, the audience will have a chance to volunteer to participate in the play.
Actors will pick their volunteers randomly.
If called upon, the member of the audience will participate in a game show for the chance to win a TV. Three TVs will be given away during this play.
“Once Upon a Mattress” will be the fifth play. It will be the musical.
Attendance for this production costs $25.
The 2012 OSF will end with William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.” Tickets to this performance cost $20.
The dinner theatre play, “Game Show,” will alternate performances with “Once Upon a Mattress” and “Romeo and Juliet.”
This set of plays start with “Game Show” on July 14, 17 and 20.
“Once Upon a Mattress” on July 15, 18 and 21, and “Romeo and Juliet” will be shown on July 13, 19 and 22.
To order tickets to a performance, contact the SE box office at 580-745-2696 located in the Visual and Performing Arts Center on First Street across from the Bloomer Sullivan arena.