Okoboji Summer Theatre Announces Its 61st Season - Stephen Brotebeck Joins as Artistic Director

The Okoboji Summer Theatre (OST) is proud to announce the nine productions for its 2018 season:

GODSPELL (By John-Michael Tebelak & Music By Stephen Schwartz)
LEAVING IOWA (By Tim Clue and Spike Manton)
I OUGHT TO BE IN PICTURES (By Neil Simon)
ANNIE (By Thomas Meehan & Music By Martin Charnin & Charles Strouse)
THE MIRACLE WORKER (By William Gibson)
NOT NOW, DARLING (By Ray Cooney and John Chapman)
A GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGING (By Rodgers & Hammerstein II)
OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS (By Joe DiPietro)
THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE (By Richard Morris & Dick Scanlan. Music By Jeanine Tesori, & Lyrics By Dick Scanlan)

In addition, the Boji Bantam Children's Theatre performances include: Junie B. Jones is Not a Crook (June 20-23), Sideways Stories from Wayside School (July 4-7), Go, Dog. Go! (July 18-21), and Stuart Little (Aug. 1-4).

For its 61st season, OST is proud to announce Stephen Brotebeck as the new artistic director, with Resident Actor Rob Doyen joining as associate artistic director. "We are delighted to have Stephen Brotebeck joining us. He's directed several beautiful productions at OST and on our Stephens College campus, and been involved with two Broadway productions: Peter and the Starcatcher and Ghost: The Musical. We are dedicated to showcasing the best and brightest talent in the business and he will be a great addition to our company," notes Ruth Ann Burke, executive director. "It is a great honor to be following in the footsteps of the inspiring past leaders of the Okoboji Summer Theatre. Carrying on the rich tradition of training the next generation of theatrical artists in a professional theatre setting is one that is unique and special to Okoboji and Stephens College and it is a duty that I take on with great excitement and pride," states Brotebeck.

In addition to his work on Broadway, Brotebeck has directed the New York premieres of John Minigan's Breaking The Shakespeare Code and Miranda Jonte's St. Francis (Excellence in Directing Award) at the New York International Fringe Festival in addition to the Off-Off Broadway productions of Greasemonkey, The Shark Play and The Maltese Walter. Regionally, Brotebeck has directed at The Kennedy Center, The Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival, Imagination Stage and Farmers Alley Theatre. Brotebeck is currently on faculty at San Diego State University where he is an Assistant Professor in the MFA Musical Theatre program and has directed multiple musical revues in collaboration with The Old Globe including Lesser Know Loesser, New Musical Voices, and Working Women. At San Diego State, Brotebeck recently directed the San Diego premiere of Enchanted April: A New Musical Romance by Charles Leipart and Richard B. Evans in December of 2017.

Ticket prices are $22 (musicals) and $20 (non-musicals). Groups of 10 or more receive a $2-per-ticket discount.

Curtain times are 8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, with matinee performances at 4:30 p.m. Saturday and 6 p.m. Sunday. Saturday evening (8 p.m.) performances will be available at the two-for-one ticket price for all ages. The matinee performances at 4:30 p.m. Saturday and 6 p.m. Sunday are two-for-one tickets for senior citizens, ages 65 and older. There will be a 4:30 p.m. performance on Wednesday, July 4th.

The Okoboji Summer Theatre is owned and operated by Stephens College and has been a proud member of the Iowa Great Lakes community since 1958. This summer, OST celebrates its 61st as a professional summer-stock company, featuring advanced students at Stephens College participating as a part of their BFA program and professional guest artists from across the country creating nine main-stage productions and four Boji Bantam Children's Theatre productions in 10 weeks each season.

Founded in 1833, Stephens College is the second-oldest women's college in the country, with coeducational graduate and adult undergraduate programs. The College prepares students to become leaders and innovators in a rapidly changing world. Stephens engages lifelong learners in an educational experience characterized by intellectual rigor, creative expression and professional practice, in an environment supported by accomplished faculty and dedicated graduates. The Stephens College Theatre program is ranked #6 in the nation by The Princeton Review.

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