OCTA Newsletter

The OCTAFest Registration form for Individuals is now on the OCTA website, as is a Letter of Intent for theatres wanting to participate. There is also some general information. Click on the banner, OCTAFest 2008 for all the news and information about the upcoming Festival in Guthrie, in July. We will be adding more in the next few months.

Ah, Festival where do I begin? Let’s look at the technical aspect first. If you are planning to participate in the next festival, then I think it’s very important to plan a play in your season that would make a good competition piece. Usually the plays are cut from full length to a 60 minute version. So my advice is to produce the full length play first and work on cuts from there. Or if you want to compete with a one-act, then find a companion piece to go with it and do two one-acts in your season. Why? So much is discovered, improved on and changed once you have the opportunity to have a run with different audiences. Why do you think they take shows on the road before they produce them on Broadway? We were lucky enough to do a four week run of “Over The River And Through The Woods” before we cut it and started working on it for festival.

Next, find a rehearsal space that is large enough to set up your set and run the play. It is important that you have a 10’X10’ space just like your will be using in competition to store your set. You need to coordinate and rehearse the set-up as well as the play. If you only have 4 foot square boxes to move out, no problem. But if you have a set like OVER THE RIVER’S, then you need to have a blue print for fitting it all into that space and a plan to remove it and get it back in during the designated time. If you can do it without actors involved, fine, but sometimes you need them to also participate in the set-up and strike.

If music is a part of your play choose wisely. Sometimes specific pieces are called for and other times it has to be something period or in the right mood. Whatever the music, you must have rights to use that music before you can participate in Festival. For singing one line, “Five foot two eyes of blue, has anybody seen my gal”, I paid a company in L.A. some money, (they owed ¾ of it), and got permission from the son of the original writer for the other ¼. I finally reached him by phone from the theatre at nationals. He had no computer or fax, so I got him to call the theatre manager and give his verbal permission. From a C.D. of Italian mandolin music my sound man had found at a Flee Market for $2.00, I ended up getting permission from a company that owned the rights in Canada.

The other most important thing is how to raise the money. I had a cast of 6 and a crew of 6 which included me. The budget for the State level was about $2,275, for Regional about $1615 and for Nationals about $8615. Then we went to Germany so we probably ended up raising about $80,000. We did a huge letter campaign to everyone in our address book from as far back as elementary school, made up pledge cards, had a few fund raisers, begged a few foundations and asked anyone else we happen to run into for their support.

Our play came in 3rd at Nationals in Harrisburg Pennsylvania that year and we were invited to Heidelberg Germany to perform for all the U.S. Military troops on the awards day of their festival. The theatre we had used as our umbrella agency was not interested in anything international, so with O.C.T.A.’s blessings we formed our own production company and started raising money for Germany. The day I had to buy the tickets the last of the money we needed came through. Two weeks after 9/11 there were 17 excited cast and crew members flying over the ocean. I had even put a request to the military to fly us there. That letter made it all the way to the Pentagon and was blown away with the rest of the rubble. They took such great care of us in Germany. We couldn’t have asked for more.

We would all do it again given the chance. Luckily I had a dedicated cast, crew and their families. It was a wonderful unforgettable experience for all of us. In fact I just directed OVER THE RIVER again at The Cynthia Poteet Theatre in Oklahoma City six years later with all of my same grandparents. The theatre had their first Academy Awards dinner with big screen bits from the nominations just like the real thing. I am proud to announce that the season ticket holders voted our show best play of the season, best set design and our Nick character (the grandson) won best actor.

So do what you can to enter our state festival this summer? I’ll see you there.

(Ed. note: Even if you don’t win Nationals and go to Monaco, there are other chances to take your play abroad. “Over the River and Through the Woods” was invited to Germany to perform for the military. Her production at Cynthia Poteet was voted Best Play of their 2007 season.)

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“In-School Theatre Education Continues To Expand"

4th grade students in Grove enjoy their theatre classes and improvs

The program that OCTA initiated a few years ago is garnering strength and beginning to expand to schools across the state. Theatre teaching artists are collaborating with their school systems to fill the vacuums in theatre education as well as forge audiences for the future.

Last September, Lawton Community Theatre took the original curriculum that introduces children to theatre in their classrooms and adapted it to the needs of two classes at one of their elementary schools, Whittier Elementary. Richard T. Johnson led a total of twelve hours of instruction in two classes each day, four days a week, for three weeks. The kids (76 of them!) loved it and the teachers were sorry that it had to end. Richard added a section on writing a short play, which many students, evidently, continued after the theatre class was over. The schools recommended that the program be presented at another school this semester. So Be It! Richard is taking it to Swinney School this spring.

The Playmakers in Grove continue to develop curriculum for 5th through 8th grades, one grade level each year. They continue the Introduction to Theatre lessons for all 4th grade students every year, using six of their volunteer teaching artists who spend 3 hours with each of 9 classes. The Playmakers are still honing the original curriculum. This spring they put two of the 4 lesson plans together. Next year, they will try combining two other subjects. These combination lesson plans provide options, not only for Grove, but for other theatre companies who might have different schedules and numbers of teaching artists. The plan is to put all optional lesson plans from the participating theatres on the OCTA webpage.

The Playmakers are also taking a new curriculum into the fifth grade classes this month. The subject is Greek Theatre. There will be two hours of introduction to Greek theatre, complete with a Readers Theatre about Greek mythology for the students to perform in that class time. Then all fifth grade classes will attend a play, “Wiley & the Hairy Man,” by Susan Zeder, which has most of the elements of Greek theatre, the chorus being swamp creatures! Playmaker youth theatre participants, adults and students, form the cast & crew for this production. The last hour, back in the classroom, will be a session on learning to analyze the play, in relation to Greek Theatre, and begin to develop an aesthetic sense. Sixth grade classes begin in April, based on the same format: 2 hours of introduction, a production, and an analysis. However, their subject is Commedia dell’Arte. The production for those grades is being co-directed by Amanda Pollen, the mid-school speech & drama teacher and Suzanne Boles, Artistic Director for the Playmakers. They are using one of the mid-school speech classes to present the Commedia play, “The Love For Three Oranges.”

Next newsletter, we will let you know what’s happening in Elk City and in Tulsa and Beggs, as the program continues to expand. If you want to initiate this program in your school system, leave a message at the OCTA office (405-236-0788), or email us at: oktheatre@sbcglobal.net .

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“CLARK THEATRE IN TULSA
CELEBRATES 30 YEAR ANNIVERSARY"

Fools

Honk

The Tempest

The Emporers New Clothes

Can you still call yourself a “youth” theatre once you’re 30 years old? A Tulsa theatre faces that happy conundrum in 2008.

Established in 1978, Clark Youth Theatre celebrates 30 years of serving the Tulsa community through camps, classes and plays. Located in L.C. Clark Park, the theatre is part of the Park and Recreation Department of the City of Tulsa. The city established the location as a youth theatre after several years of it being under-utilized as a standard community center. Offering organized after-school activities to a large group of students whose interests were not then being addressed, it met with immediate acceptance and popularity. In the last 30 years, thousands of student actors from all over the metropolitan area have performed on its stage. Its cumulative audience now numbers in the multiple tens of thousands. Approximately 150 plays have been performed and countless theatre classes taught. The performers at Clark even have a (somewhat obvious) nickname for themselves: “Clarkies.”

Parents often comment how much involvement at Clark has changed their children’s lives. Kids who have difficulties ‘fitting in’ at school often find kindred spirits in the theatre, and friendships made over the course of rehearsing a show can last a lifetime. But maybe this is best expressed by the ‘Clarkies’ themselves:
“It’s like everyone’s one huge family.” Molly
“I believe everyone deserves a chance to shine and Clark does just that. It’s a place filled with life, excitement, and dreams.” Christina
“I feel like I belong here . . . that’s pretty hard to find.” Tiffany
“The people at Clark will treat you with respect and kindness; everyone there is loved. Clark means making the world, or at least Tulsa, better, one show at a time.” Brianna
“Here you can express yourself, laugh with friends, discover the arts, and realize yourself.” Jon
Brittany sums it up in words that you hear frequently when people describe what makes this place special: “Clark is like my second home.”

Clark performs five to six plays a year. Each play is rehearsed for about 7 weeks, then performed over the course of two weekends. The season always includes at least one musical, one Shakespeare or other classic play, and one play specifically for middle school students and younger. In addition, the classic “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” is performed annually in December.

Clark also hosts a comedy improv group, Clark Laughing Matter. The group meets once a week on Saturday mornings, and performs every six weeks or so, using games similar to the TV show, “Whose Line Is It Anyway.” Like everything at Clark Theatre, the shows are meant to be enjoyed by the whole family.

Besides shows, Clark offers Spring Break and Summer camps, where students study acting, singing, and dancing for one to two weeks and then give a ‘variety show’ type performance on the final Friday. Additional classes are taught on Saturdays when staff work loads permit.

Amazingly, the same three member staff, (Julie Tattershall, Frank Gallagher and Erin Thompson) operates and manages both Clark Theatre and Heller Theatre. Heller Theatre is also a part of the City of Tulsa Park and Recreation Dept., and serves as an adult community theatre.

Visit www.clarktheatre.com for Clark Theatre information including future plays and classes.

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USAO's Annual Drama Trip to New York City in May of 2008 includes New Mel Brooks Musical “Young Frankenstein” and Mark Twain's newly discovered comedy “Is He Dead?”

The Trip is from Tuesday, May 20, 2008 through Sunday, May 25, 2008. The tour price includes: round-trip airfare, OKC to New York (airfare from other cities is available); round trip transportation between the airport and the hotel; accommodations for five nights at the Edison Hotel in the Heart of the Theatre District at 47th and Broadway; tickets to two major Broadway plays - "Young Frankenstein” and “Is He Dead?”; an introductory seminar about New York which will include tips on what additional shows to see, how to get half-price tickets to plays and art events, and advice as to subways, tipping, and sightseeing, as well as a New York Guidebook with lots of trip specific information. For those of you for whom it would not be convenient to fly from Oklahoma City, we can offer a New York Only price that will allow you to make your own transportation arrangements and meet us in New York City.

The Annual Spring Art and Theatre tour is open to the public. A $100 deposit will hold a space on the trip until Feb. 11, when a $300 deposit is due. The balance is due March 24. Space is limited, so it would be best to make your reservations as soon as possible.

“The trip is open for everyone and is a wonderful opportunity to see New York City, which is very tourist friendly,” said Jacquelyn Knapp, assistant professor of art and tour co-leader. “There is something for everyone in the Big Apple.’”

Comic veteran Mel Brooks' 1974 hit monster film jumps from the silver screen to the Broadway stage in “Young Frankenstein," a new musical comedy of sci-fi proportions. When metropolitan brain surgeon Frederick Frankenstein inherits a castle and laboratory in Transylvania, he embraces his family's tortured past and re-animates Hollywood’s most famous monster for a rousing performance of “Putting on the Ritz.” Things go haywire when Frankenstein¹s creation goes on the fritz in this classic story, retuned with new songs and plenty of memorable scenes that made the original movie a cult classic. The all-star cast includes Megan Mullally, best known for her award-winning portrayal of Karen Walker on TV's “Will & Grace,” Tony award-winning Sutton Foster, as well as legendary comedienne Andrea Martin. You can check out this great new show at http://www.youngfrankensteinthemusical.com/home

According to a website news release, “Is He Dead?” was written by Mark Twain in 1898 but was unpublished until it was rediscovered in 2002. The new Broadway comedy centers on a group of poor artists who stage the death of their mentor in order to drive up the price of his paintings. Throughout the play, the artists resort to ridiculous tactics such as planning a fake funeral, cross-dressing, deceptive relationships and more. Tony award-winner Norbert Leo Butz plays the lead role in the comedy. More information at http://www.ishedead.com/

In addition to the basic tour, there will be a Theatre add on package and an Art/Museum package. With the Theatre package you can add one, two, or three additional plays chosen by the group leader, Roger Drummond. Two of the three optional extras are Aaron Sorkin's “The Farnsworth Invention,” a new drama about the coming-of-age of the television at the beginning of the 20th century and “Fuerzabruta,” a performance piece produced by the same people who brought De La Guarda to New York. Aaron Sorkin also wrote the Emma- and Golden Globe-winning TV series, “West Wing.” “Fuerzabruta,” is a colorful art performance piece produced on a see-through stage above the heads of its audience. “I am really excited about seeing "Fuerzabruta,” said Knapp. “It is a performance art show that should ignite all the senses.” The third show will be chosen soon.

The Art package will consist of visits to the Museum of Modern Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and a gallery tour led by USAO Art Professor, Jackie Knapp. There will be plenty of free time to see more plays and/or museums and for individual shopping, sightseeing, and other adventures. Even though much of the trip includes unescorted free time, both Drummond and Knapp said they are always available to any first-time visitors to New York. “We will always be ready to help you with suggestions and directions until you are comfortable on your own,” Drummond said.

Tour Costs for 2008
BASIC TOUR COSTS:*
SAO Student Rate(Quad Room) $ 1,199.00 each
Non Student rates:
Quad Rate (four to a room) $ 1,299.00 each
Triple Rate(three to a room) $ 1,574.00 each
Twin Rate (two to a room) $ 1,674.00 each
Single Rate (one to a room) $ 1,999.00 each

Costs for the Art and Theatre add on packages will be based on the number and type of plays and/or museums selected.

*based on current airport fees and fuel surcharges, any significant increases will need to be added.

DEPOSIT A $300.00 deposit is due by February 11, 2008, with the balance due by March 24, 2008. All deposits become nonrefundable after February 18, 2008. Trip cancellation insurance is available. $100.00 will hold a spot on the tour until February 11, 2008.

Though many tour members fly out from Oklahoma City, it's not uncommon for many people to fly from other cities and states and meet the group in New York. We have had numerous alumni and friends who live in Texas, California, Florida and other states arrange their own airfare and join us in New York

. In those cases, the cost of airfare from Oklahoma City to New York is subtracted from the total price of the trip. Out-of-town travelers will be responsible for arranging their own flights. If arrival and departure times coincide with the main group, they can join the group and ride the chartered bus from the airport to the hotel and return.

Hotel Information
The Edison Hotel is a rare find in NYC. It has an excellent location, is very clean and has an excellent staff and security. We are very fortunate to have the opportunity to stay at The Edison. The main entrance is on 47th St. between Broadway and 8th Avenues, just about 45 seconds from Times Square. The Hotel has a gift shop/newsstand, a cozy bar, coffee shop, and a fine Italian restaurant. Pay phones are available in the lobby.

Hotel Edison
228 W. 47th St.
NY, NY 10036
Phone number (212) 840-5000 or 1-800-637-7070
Fax number (212) 719-9541.
E-mail: edisonnyc@aol.com
http://www.edisonhotelnyc.com/acc-broadway-hotels.asp

TO JOIN THE TOUR, Please Contact:
Roger Drummond Tour Leader
(405) 361-2554. email - facdrummondr@usao.edu
Jackie Knapp Art
(405) 574-1303 email - facknappj@usao.edu

USAO Mailing Address
1727 W. Alabama Ave., Chickasha, OK, 73018

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT THE USAO WEBSITE
http://www.usao.edu/

Click on News and then on New York 2008 under Trips and Tours for more information.

Take advantage of this great opportunity and join this New York trip. Space is limited, so sign up soon. Give Your Regards to Broadway, Remember me to Harold Square.

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HELLER THEATRE PLAYWRIGHTING CONTEST

Award-winning original play "Dancing On Air" at Heller Theatre, Tulsa, Ok, depicts a meeting between Einstein and Kafka

Author William Borden

William Bordens' original play “Dancing on Air” opened for the first time anywhere at Heller Theatre in February. Borden, who taught literature and creative writing at the University of North Dakota in North Fork, has written plays produced by such companies as the renowned Actors Theatre of Louisville.

His work has won more than 90 national playwriting competitions. He added Heller’s original play contest to the tally when the theater announced last fall that Borden’s imaginary conversation between two historic figures of the 20th century would be presented during its 2007-08 season. For more information about "Dancing On Air" click here .

If you're a playwright, or even an aspiring playwright, here's your chance to get your script performed at Heller. Heller Theatre is proud to continue its support of new dramatists, and announces its 2008 Original Play Contest. The winner will be produced as part of Heller's 2008-09 season. For more information call Heller Theatre at 918-746-5065 or email frankgallagher@ci.tulsa.ok.us .

All submissions must be mailed or hand delievered to us:
Heller Theatre
5328 S. Wheeling
Tulsa, OK 74105

2008-2009 Original Play Contest Rules & Guidelines

1. One hard copy must be submitted to Heller Theatre, 5328 S Wheeling, Tulsa, OK 74105. Electronic submissions will NOT be considered
2. Submissions must be postmarked between Jan. 15th, 2008-April 1st, 2008
3. Manuscripts will NOT be returned. Submissions must include SASE for notification of results.
4. One-Act and Full-length plays of any genre will be considered.
5. Material must be un-produced and original and the sole work of the entrant. No adaptations will be considered. Previous readings acceptable but the play must not have been fully staged.
6. The winning Play will receive its world premiere production as part of the 2008-2009 Heller main-stage season.
7. Plays should be suitable for staging in a small black box theatre. Cast size should be limited to eight.
8. The winning playwright will receive a $300 prize. In addition, should the playwright wish to come to Tulsa during the performances (at the playwrights expense), Heller Theatre will host the playwright by arranging in-town transportation, recommending accommodations, and making the playwright guest-of-honor at all functions associated with the production.

Good luck!

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UNIQUE COMMUNITY PARTERNSHIPS FOR MUSKOGEE LITTLE THEATRE’S “THE MIRACLE WORKER”

Two years ago, director Nick Sweet presented Muskogee Little Theatre with a unique proposal that will come to fruition this February on the M.L.T. stage. Nick, an O.A.C. Artist in Residence, directs all over the state and Texas. He has much experience working with under-served groups, such as the deaf and hard-of-hearing. Nick has been interested, for some time, in expanding his experience with under-served groups by working with blind actors.

Muskogee is the site of The Oklahoma School for the Blind. Nick proposed presenting a production of “The Miracle Worker” and casting all of the blind character roles, including the role of Helen Keller, with students from The Oklahoma School for the Blind. Muskogee Little Theatre jumped at the chance to take on this challenge! First on our list was getting O.S.B. on board. They were not only thrilled to be involved, allowing students an opportunity to be involved in community theatre, but told us that they had “the perfect” Helen for us. Ashley Biggs, our “Helen”, was cast in a major motion picture a couple of years ago and worked with actors Kelly Preston and Aiden Quinn. Eight other blind students have been cast in the show as well as enlisting a blind high school student who is running sound and designing an insert in the show program that lists the cast in Braille.

The set construction was our next challenge. Because of the use of blind actors, the set had to be completely constructed prior to rehearsals. With rehearsals beginning on January 3rd and our Christmas show closing on Dec. 15th that meant finding volunteers to build a set during the holidays. Sheriff Charles Pearson came to our rescue. He brought a van full of “trustee’s” to MLT who worked under the direction of our set director and the set was completed in 10 days.

On February 15th Muskogee Little Theatre will bring to life, on the stage, the story of young Helen Keller, a child without sight, speech or hearing and with the instincts of an untamable denizen of the wild into a thinking, understanding and communicating human being. This transformation comes only after some of the most turbulent, violent, and emotion packed scenes ever presented on the stage. MLT’s production runs February 15-23. For additional information, visit www.muskogeelittletheatre.com. or contact Coni at 918-816-0688.

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“Ponca Playhouse Getting Set
To Celebrate Its 50th Anniversary"
All the shows in Ponca Playhouse’s 2008-2009 season are ones that have been done in past seasons. They were selected in part by a membership vote at the first show of the current season. Plans are underway to celebrate the Golden anniversary season in a variety of ways which will be announced as the season nears its beginning this summer.

Ponca Playhouse was created in 1959 by an interested group of local citizens. They received our Articles of Incorporation on January 8, 1960. They began performing in the Civic Center Auditorium, an unused site owned by the city, paying only one dollar a year for their exclusive use. They used local directors during that time for the 2-3 productions each year. The theatre grew rapidly; producing five shows a year and an off-site dinner theatre. In 1969 the Playhouse hired its first professional director. The Playhouse had on-staff directors until 1987. At that time, they felt the need to hire directors on a per show basis for both artistic and financial reasons.

In 1996, the Playhouse bought a space of its own to be used as a rehearsal hall, construction and costume shop, for storage and office space. The Playhouse then began performing in the Poncan Theatre, which is on the National Registry of Historic Places. The Playhouse offers adult and youth theatre education workshops, adult and youth productions, and theatrical assistance to civic organizations who need their service on performance-based projects. They are active members of the Oklahoma Community Theatre Association and the American Association of Community Theatres. Kicking off the anniversary season will be "The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker" which was the first show the Playhouse did. Other plays for the season will be "Steel Magnolias," "The Odd Couple," "Bus Stop," and "Fiddler on the Roof."

Congratulations Ponca Playhouse!