From Page 1
Oklahoma City FRIDAY, Friday, January 31, 2020, Page 2
Children delight to Lyric’s ‘The Cat in the Hat’ “The Cat in the Hat” Lyric Theatre Based on the book by Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel) Directed and Choreographed by Adam Immerwahr By Franci Hart Theatre Critic Children were delighted with the magic of “The Cat in the Hat.” They were overjoyed to see their favorite story come to life on stage. A true test of the chil-
dren’s acceptance of any production is audience sound. The children laughed when appropriate, cheered when needed and were still and silent so they would not miss anything. The production was a visual delight with exceptional comic actions. Hats off to the talented ensemble: Eli Bradley, Kaleb Michael Bruza, Katelyn Curtin, Kalyn Glover, Ari Shapiro, Lexi Windsor, and especially to Josiah Brooks, the cat. Puppets manipulated
with the puppeteers in sight portrayed all the characters and fantasy elements, except the cat. The simple, yet effective use of puppets created a fantasy world that the children loved. They howled with delight as the cat continued to balance more and more items, then finally fell. They loved Thing One and Thing Two flying their kites and creating mayhem though out the house. And they especially loved the cleanup machine.
OKC From Page 1 Center, Sept. 27-Oct. 3. The 2020-21 season begins with “Mean Girls,” a musical cowritten by Tina Fey. Cady Heron may have grown up on an African savanna, but nothing prepared her for the vicious ways of her strange new home: suburban Illinois, Gray said. Soon, this naïve newbie falls prey to a trio of lionized frenemies led by the charming but ruthless Regina George. But when Cady devises a plan to end Regina’s reign, she learns the hard way that you can’t cross a Queen Bee without getting stung. Shows are Sept. 813 at the Civic Center. Following “Okla-
Brooks was energy personified with his never stop motion. His naïve, con man, was played to perfection especially his disappointment with the children not accepting his fun, then his delight in being able to put everything back together again. Dr. Seuss’ “The Cat in the Hat” was first published in 1957 when Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel) was challenged to write a more entertaining primer for young readers. Geisel liked to tell about how he
homa,” OKC Broadway audiences will delight to “My Fair Lady.” Boasting such classic songs as “I Could Have Danced All Night,” “The Rain in Spain,” and “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly,” “My Fair Lady” tells the story of Eliza Doolittle, a young Cockney flower seller, and Henry Higgins, a linguistics professor who is determined to transform her into his idea of a “proper lady.” Performances of “My Fair Lady” are Oct. 27Nov. 1 at the Civic Center. “Dear Evan Hansen” is called “one of the most remarkable shows in musical theater history” by the Washington Post. A letter that was never meant to be seen, a lie that was never meant to be told, a life he never dreamed he could have. Gray said Evan Hansen is about to get the one thing he’s always wanted: a chance to finally fit in. “Dear Evan Hansen” is the deeply personal and profoundly contemporary musical about life and the way we live it. Shows are Feb. 2-7, 2021 at the Civic Center. Disney’s “Frozen” is “an unforgettable magical adventure,” Gray said. “Frozen” is the timeless tale of a family pulled apart by a mysterious secret. As one sister struggles to
was frustrated with the word list he had to choose from for his book. So, he scanned the list until he found two that rhymed. Thus, the title, “The Cat in the Hat.” Geisel said, “ It is the book I’m proudest of because it had something to do with the death of Dick and Jane Primers.” “The Cat in the Hat” will play at Lyric’s plaza theater through Feb. 3. Young children will love its fantasy, energy and fun.
find her voice and harness her powers within, the other embarks on an epic journey to bring her family together once and for all. “Frozen’’ is “an unforgettable theatrical experience filled with sensational special effects, stunning sets and costumes, and powerhouse performances.” “Frozen” takes the stage of the Civic Center March 11-21, 2021. After an incredible record-breaking run on Broadway, Audience Choice Award winner “Pretty Woman: The Musical” is coming to Oklahoma City! “Pretty Woman: The Musical” is brought to life by a powerhouse creative team representing the best of music, Hollywood, and Broadway, Gray said. Featuring direction and choreography by two-time Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots, Legally Blonde), an original score by Grammy winner Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance (“Summer of ’69,” “Heaven”), and a book by the movie’s legendary director Garry Marshall and screenwriter J.F. Lawton, “Pretty Woman: The Musical” will lift your spirits and light up your heart, Gray said. “Pretty Woman: The Musical” plays the Civic Center April 2025. The 2020-21 season
concludes with the ever-popular “Wicked.” “Wicked,” the Broadway sensation, looks at what happened in the Land of Oz, but from a different angle, Gray said. Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another young woman, born with emerald-green skin — smart, fiery, misunderstood and possessing an extraordinary talent. When she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships — until the world decides to call one “good” and the other one “wicked.” Performances of “Wicked” will be at the Civic Center May 1230. As a season special, OKC Broadway will also present the Blue Man Group, Nov. 1315, at the Civic Center. It’s everything you know and love about Blue Man Group —signature drumming, colorful moments of creativity and quirky comedy — the men are still blue but the rest is all new, Gray said. Featuring pulsing, original music, custommade instruments, surprise audience interaction and hilarious absurdity, join the Blue Men in a joyful experience that unites audiences of all ages. For more information on OKC Broadway, visit www.okcbroadway.com.
SIAS From Page 1 opera lover, Sias is well-known for his philanthropy, particularly his vast contributions to the cultural landscape of Oklahoma, his home state. “I started listening to the Metropolitan Opera on the radio when I was 10-yearsold,” Sias said. “The importance of the broadcasts during those long Kansas winters in the small town of Fredonia cannot be overstated. I learned to appreciate not only opera but all music.” “I wanted to do something that would have some meaning, not just to me, my city, my state, or my country, but to the world. The Saturday afternoon radio broadcasts accomplished that dream.”
