OSU Theatre hosts statewide community theatre festival
Thursday, July 21, 2016
Oklahoma State University’s Department of Theatre will host the Oklahoma Community
Theatre Association’s biennial four-day festival, OCTAFest, on July 27-30 in the Seretean
Center for Performing Arts. Performances will be staged in the Vivia Locke Theatre
of the Seretean Center for the Performing Arts.
OCTA has been serving community theatres in Oklahoma since 1969. The association
was the first unified network for community theatres in both the state and the nation.
Decades later, OCTA has a membership of approximately 36 amateur and professional
theatres, five college and university theatre departments and more than 80 youth and
adult individuals.
OCTAFest features workshops, a marketing contest and a silent auction for members.
In addition, the festival serves as a competition for local theatres to compete to
advance to regionals. From regionals, theatres have the opportunity to advance to
the national competition. The competitions are all organized and sponsored by the
national organization the American Association of Community Theatres.
President of OCTA for 2016 is OSU alumna and graduate from the Department of Theatre,
Debbie Sutton. Sutton lives in Stillwater and is highly involved in Town and Gown
Theatre, Stillwater’s own community theatre.
“I remember performing onstage at the Vivia Locke when it was first constructed,
and I just love the place. OSU was my first choice, and I’m so glad that the Department
of Theatre is so willing to work with OCTA this year,” Sutton said.
Andrew Kimbrough, Head of the Department of Theatre, is equally excited about partnering
with OCTA this year. Oklahoma State University last hosted OCTAFest in the 1990s,
when Jerry Davis was Head of Theatre.
“Of course we’re happy to host OCTAFest. I see us as Oklahoma’s theatre. The Vivia
Locke is indeed a beautiful facility, and I hope more and more people come out to
see productions staged there,” Kimbrough said. “Most folks in the greater community
know that we offer use of the stage at next to no charge. It’s our way of giving back.”
The theatre productions will be performed by Sand Springs Community Theatre, Duncan
Little Theatre, Town & Gown Theatre from Stillwater, Lawton Community Theatre, OnStage
Woodward and Southwest Playhouse from Clinton. Sand Springs Community Theatre and
Duncan Little Theatre will perform July 28 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Town & Gown Theatre
and Onstage Woodward will perform July 29 from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Southwest Playhouse
will perform July 30 at 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Individuals wanting to support their local theatre can attend just the performances
during the festival. Tickets are $10 for the block of two performances and $5 for
one performance, and the Box Office will open 30 minutes prior to the performance.
The Box Office is in the lobby of the Vivia Locke Theatre. More information about
the schedule of events and performances can be found online at www.oktheatre.org.
Photo credit: Matthew Blakeburn
Photo caption: Cast and crew from Clinton’s “All My Sons” production