Photo Flash: Oklahoma City Repertory Theatre Presents MY FAIR LADY

Oklahoma City Repertory Theatre, in partnership with the University of Oklahoma's A. Max Weitzenhoffer School of Musical Theatre, will present, just in time for Valentine's Day, MY FAIR LADY with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. MY FAIR LADY, based on Bernard Shaw's PYGMALION, tells the story of the transformation of a Cockney flower girl to a lady of society.

Starring in the CityRep/OU Music Theatre production is Jonathan Beck Reed (The 39 Steps, A Tuna Christmas; August: Osage County), who is recreating the role of Professor Henry Higgins, a role Mr. Reed has played to national and international acclaim. Also featured in the production is Rebecca Ashton as Eliza Doolittle. Ms Ashton is a student in the University of Oklahoma's A. Max. Weitzenhoffer School of Musical Theatre program. Also joining the cast are Michael Jones (August: Osage County; The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, The Fantasticks) as Colonel Pickering, Steve Emerson (The Fantasticks, A Christmas Carol, The 39 Steps) as Alfred P. Doolittle, and Sean McGee (CityRep Debut, OU Musical Theatre) as Freddie Eynsford-Hill. The cast includes Beth Adele (A Year With Frog and Toad), Lane Fields (Next to Normal, A Year With Frog and Toad, Tuesdays with Morrie), Charlotte Franklin (Little Me, The Laramie Project), Molly Cason Johnson (CityRep Debut), Andrew Kolsow (CityRep Debut, OU Musical Theatre), Dorcas Leung (CityRep Debut, OU Musical Theatre), Cory Lingner (CityRep Debut, OU Musical Theatre, Connor McCollum (CityRep Debut, OU Musical Theatre), Kasiani Menas (CityRep Debut, OU Musical Theatre) and Chelsea Stavis (CityRep Debut, OU Musical Theatre).

Director of the production is Shawn Churchman (LITTLE ME, THE BIG BANG, THE SANTALAND DIARIES, THE 39 STEPS), who started his career as a singer/actor and has performed in over 70 musicals and plays across the country. A graduate of Oklahoma City University with a degree in Vocal Performance, Shawn has performed Off-Broadway, at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. He was a cast member of one of the first companies of Forever Plaid and studied acting in NYC with Austin Pendleton and Uta Hagen. He has directed Off-Broadway, at Regional theatres and Opera companies across the country. As a writer, he created the libretto for Storyville, a 2004 O'Neill Music Theatre Conference participant. Shawn is a proud member of the Society of Directors and Choreographers as well as Actors Equity Association.

Choreography is by Lyn Cramer, who is a member of the Society of Directors and Choreographers has created shows for Lyric Theatre Oklahoma and Casa Mañana. A teacher and choreographer for three decades, Lyn is a Weitzenhoffer Endowed Professor specializing in tap, jazz and theatre dance styles. She was named the 2005 Irene and Julian J. Rothbaum Presidential Professor of Excellence in the Arts by the Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts. Lyn received her Master's degree from the University of Texas in directing. She has released ten instructional tap videos with Cathy Roe Productions and her jazz choreography is included in Roe's "Learn to Teach" and "Choreography Club" videos. In 2004, Lyn was honored with the Chicago National Association of Dance Masters Artistic Achievement Award.

Musical Director for the production is Dr. Harold Mortimer, is a Fulbright Scholar as well as director and music director of the South African premiere of Spring Awakening. Harold's director/music director or performance credits include Anything Goes; Batboy; Carousel; The Fantasticks!; The Full Monty; I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change,;The Music Man; My Fair Lady; Oklahoma!; Smokey Joe's Café; The Sound of Music; Sweeney Todd; Thoroughly Modern Millie; The Wild Party (Lippa); and The World Goes Round. Harold has taught across the country and the world, including Tshwane University in South Africa. He holds a Weitzenhoffer Endowed Professorship and received a Doctorate degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Washington. Scenic Design is by Amanda Foust (Next to Normal), Lighting Design by Tristan Decker (Lysistrata, August: Osage County), Costume Design by Aaron Patrick Turner (Next to Normal, The Last Night of Ballyhoo, August: Osage County), Sound Design by W. Jerome Stevenson (Next to Normal) and Steve Emerson (August: Osage County, Next to Normal) and Properties Design by Jon Haque (The Last Night of Ballyhoo, Next to Normal). Dwight Sandell (CityRep Debut) is the Production Stage Manager.

Tickets are $8 for Students, Teachers and Military Personnel (with ID), $20 (groups of eight or more), $30 (matinees) and $35 (evening performances), and may be purchased by calling the Civic Center Music Hall Box Office at 405.297.2264 or 1.800.364.7111.

Tickets may be purchased online through the CityRep website at www.cityrep.com, or through the Civic Center Music Hall Box Office website at www.okcciviccenter.org.

FlexPass Sales and Reservations can be made by calling the CityRep Ticket Hotline at 405.848.3761. MY FAIR LADY is sponsored by the Kerr Foundation. Season Sponsors are the Oklahoma Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Richard P. Dulaney Foundation.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:

Friday, February 10, 2012 7:30 pm Preview Performance
Saturday, February 11, 2012 1:30 pm Preview Matinee
Saturday, February 11, 2012 7:30 pm Opening Night
Sunday, September 12, 2011 1:30 pm Matinee

There is a Special Performance on Tuesday, February 14, 2012, Valentine's Day, at 7:30 pm. Complimentary deserts and coffee will be served before the performance and at intermission, completing your Valentine's Day Treat.

The Schedule continues as follows:

Friday, February 17, 2012 7:30 pm Performance
Saturday, February 18, 2012 1:30 pm Matinee
Saturday, February 18, 2012 7:30 pm Performance
Sunday, February 19, 2012 1:30 pm Matinee

CityRep (Oklahoma City Repertory Theatre), under the leadership of Founding Artistic Director Donald Jordan, is one of only two Equity professional theatre companies in the state of Oklahoma, and as such provides a vital service to our community by presenting programming that is reflected in major arts communities around the country-and to our Oklahoma professional theatre artists by providing an Oklahoma venue for employment and an artistic home. CityRep operates under an agreement with Actors' Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States.

Photo Credit for Wendy Mutz, Mutz Photography.

Michael Jones, Rebecca Ashton and Jonathan Beck Reed

Michael Jones, Rebecca Ashton and Jonathan Beck Reed

Jonathan Beck Reed and Rebecca Ashton