Lyric Theatre Introduces 2017 Summer Season

Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma's 2017 summer season will take patrons on a whirlwind adventure, from a famed recording session with rock 'n' roll icons and a spectacular Disney musical to a classic New York City love story and a toe-tapping hip-hop dance spectacle.

 

The season includes four large-scale, fully-orchestrated productions at the Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N Walker Ave. -- Million Dollar Quartet (June 27-July 1), Disney's When You Wish (July 11-15), West Side Story (July 25-29) and In The Heights (Aug. 8-12).

 

They came together to make music. And together they made history. Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins joined forces for one night only on Dec. 4, 1956, at Sun Records Studio in Memphis for the greatest jam session ever. Relive this legendary night with Million Dollar Quartet as you rock along to such classics as "Blue Suede Shoes," "Folsom Prison Blues" and "Great Balls of Fire." There will surely be a "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" for this epic night of music from rock 'n' roll's greatest icons. A collaboration with ZACH Theatre of Austin, Texas, it will be guest directed by ZACH's Artistic Director Dave Steakley.

 

The cast of the production, written by Floyd Mutrux and Colin Escott, includes Billy Cohen (Carl Perkins), Emily Farr (Dyanne), Jeff Jeffers (Sam Phillips), Corbin Mayer (Johnny Cash) and Gavin Rohrer (Jerry Lee Lewis). The production also features Adam Egizl and Zach Yañez. Million Dollar Quartet's music director is Allen Robertson with set design by Adam Koch, costume design by Jeffrey Meek and sound design by Anthony Risi. Courtney Strong will serve as props designer, Helena Kuukka is lighting designer, and the production will be stage managed by Catherine Anne Tucker.

 

This marks Lyric's first-ever collaboration with ZACH Theatre. "We have long admired the work of our colleagues at Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma and share with them a common aesthetic in our work," Steakley said. "Lyric's Producing Artistic Director Michael Baron directed Spring Awakening and Peter and the Starcatcher at ZACH Theatre, and they are both experiences we enjoyed so much. Our collaboration is a natural extension of our friendship and allows our resources to go further for both theatres, enabling us to secure the very best talent for these two blockbuster summer musicals that will be audience favorites."

 

Up next at the Civic Center, Lyric presents Disney's When You Wish, which brings the best of Disney's beloved movies and stage musicals to life in a new theatrical adventure. The show travels into the imagination of a young girl as she dreams her way through classic Disney musicals. Songs and characters from Snow White, The Jungle Book, Pocahontas, The Little Mermaid, Mulan, Hercules, Tangled and more will be featured. Lyric's Producing Artistic Director Michael Baron will direct.

 

When You Wish stars Michael Andreaus (King Louie), Ashley Arnold (Belle), Gino Chaviano (Aladdin), Thomas Cromer (Woody), Serena Feng (Little Girl), Hannah Fernandez (Jasmine), Mateja Govich (Beast), Tevyn Hill (Terk/Sabastian), Mandy Jiran (Mother), Jeff Jordan (Baloo), Mattie Joyner (Snow White/Mary Poppins), Tatum Ludlam (Rapunzel/Jane), Sophia Macias (Pocahontas), Jessica Martens (Ariel), Sheridan McMichael (Bert/Lumiere), Kimberly M. Oliver (Mrs. Potts/Ursula), Perry Sook (Tarzan/Hercules), Anna Uzele (Tiana/Kala) and Julie Welch (Mulan). The cast also includes Gordie Beingessner, Faith Flanders, Madison Levy and Sean Watkinson. Set design is by Adam Koch, featuring costumes by Jeffrey Meek, choreography by Ashley Wells and music direction by Andrew Bryan. Props design will be by Courtney Strong, lighting design by Helena Kuukka and Julie Meyer will be production stage manager.

 

The Civic season continues with one of the most memorable musicals of all time, West Side Story, written by Arthur Laurents and music by Leonard Bernstein. Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is transported to modern-day New York City as two young, idealistic lovers find themselves caught between warring street gangs, the "American" Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks. Fresh from his critically acclaimed sold-out production at Washington, D.C.'s Signature Theatre, Matthew Gardiner will guest direct a dynamic, new production of this classic American musical.

 

The cast includes Gino Chaviano (Chino), Austin Colby (Tony), Ryan Fitzgerald (Action), Mary Joanna Grisso (Maria) and Christopher Rice (Riff). The production also features Gordie Beingessner, Sophie Braud, Abigail Cash, David Dobson, Conor M. Donnelly, Hanna Fernandez, Makayla Fontaine, Anthony Giandiletti, Phillip A. Giandiletti, Jorge Guerra, Stephen Hilton, Keyna Hoselton, Jeff Jordan, Mattie Joyner, Vince Leseney, Madison Levy, Christina Licarione, Alaina Vi Maderal, Abbie Ruff, Michael A. Sylvester, Ty Taylor and Sean Watkinson. West Side Story will be choreographed by Amy Reynolds Reed and feature set design by Kimberly Powers, costume design by Jeffrey Meek, lighting design from Helena Kuukka and music direction from Jan McDaniel. Anthony Risi will serve as sound designer, and Julie Meyer will be production stage manager.

 

The Civic season concludes with In The Heights, guest directed and choreographed by Michael Balderrama. This groundbreaking, vibrant musical won the Tony Award for Best Musical for Lin-Manuel Miranda and his dynamic creative team responsible for Broadway's most talked about breakout hit Hamilton. This spirited musical features a contemporary Latin-flavored score and high-energy, hip-hop dance moves. Experience the close-knit neighborhood of Washington Heights, where the windows are always open and the breeze carries the rhythm of three generations of music. The production is a collaboration between Lyric and ZACH Theatre.

 

In The Heights stars Fernando Acevedo (Kevin Rosario), Celeste Castillo (Carla), Keith Contreras-McDonald (Usnavi De La Vega), Vincent J. Hooper (Benny), Gina Marie (Daniela), Theresa Medina (Abuela Claudia), Cristina Oeschger (Nina Rosario) Nicole Paloma Sarro (Camila Rosario) and Alicia Taylor Tomasko (Vanessa). It also features Danny Burgos, Gabriella Enriquez, Nicolas Garza, Greer Gisy, Domanick Hubbard, Jorrel Javier, Dainique Jones, Derrick Medrano, Paul Sanchez, Deiondre Teagle, Lianne Valerio and Alaina Vi Maderal. The production features music direction by Allen Robertson, scenic design by Anna Louizos, costume design by Scott Westervelt, lighting design by Helena Kuukka and sound design by Anthony Risi. Julie Meyer will serve as the production stage manager.

 

"I'm looking forward to our summer collaborations with the fantastic ZACH Theatre in Austin," Baron said. "I think audiences in both cities are going to have a blast celebrating the music of Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins as well as experience Lin-Manuel Miranda's infectiously joyous musical, In The Heights. But don't worry, while our theatres might get along, the football rivalry is still strong across the Red River."

 

Lyric at the Civic season tickets are available and start at just $102. For additional information, call (405) 524-9312 or visit www.LyricTheatreOKC.com

 

About Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma

Founded in 1963, Lyric is Oklahoma's leading professional theatre company. For more than 50 years, Lyric has produced classic and contemporary musicals and plays featuring both nationally known Broadway stars and local favorites. Under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Michael Baron and Managing Director Jim Reynolds, Lyric produces large-scale, fully orchestrated musicals at the Civic Center Music Hall each summer, as well as full-scale productions at the Plaza Theatre during the spring, fall and winter. Lyric's ThElma Gaylord Academy is a professional training ground for students ages 5-18, offering classes in all aspects of musical theatre. Academy students have the opportunity to perform in two full-scale productions each year on the Plaza Theatre stage. Lyric is a member agency of Allied Arts. Lyric Theatre is a 501 (C)(3) non-profit organization. For more information, visit www.LyricTheatreOKC.com.

 

About ZACH Theatre

A non-profit organization, ZACH creates intimate theatre experiences that ignite the imagination, inspire the spirit, and engage the community. As Austin's leading professional producing theatre, ZACH employs more than 300 actors, musicians and designers annually to create its own diverse array of nationally recognized plays and musicals under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Dave Steakley and Managing Director Elisbeth Challener. Each year, ZACH serves nearly 120,000 Central Texans - 60,000 of which are children and youth who participate in our education and outreach programs, as well as inspiring camps and classes. ZACH Theatre is honored to host private and community events across the beautiful rental-ready spaces on our three-stage campus located in the heart of Austin. Founded in 1932 and in its 84th season, ZACH is the longest continuously running theatre company in the state of Texas, and one of the 10 oldest in the country. Visit www.zachtheatre.org for more information.

 

 

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