Exposition

is the official magazine of the Tulsa Performing Arts Center.

PUBLISHER Jim Langdon EDITOR Amanda Nichols COVER DESIGN Andrea Maduro CREATIVE DIRECTOR Madeline Crawford ADVERTISING SALES Rita Kirk

110 E. Second St., Tulsa, OK 74103 918-596-7122 • TulsaPAC.com

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Mark Frie CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Jen Alden VP OF OPERATIONS Bryan Clemons VP OF DEVELOPMENT AND ENGAGEMENT Sara Phoenix DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMMING Terri McGilbra DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS Amanda Nichols TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Scott McLarty DIRECTOR OF TICKETING SERVICES Jeff Newsome DIRECTOR OF PATRON SERVICES Tosha Hollis DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Jeremy Stevens

TULSA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER TRUST CEO Mark Frie CHAIR Billie Barnett CO-CHAIR Julie Smith TREASURER Jen Alden SECRETARY Laura Creekmur

TRUSTEES Billie Barnett, Ken Busby, Mayor G.T. Bynum, Linda Frazier, Taylor Hanson, Carlye Jimerson, Jay Krottinger, Will Matthews, Stacy Robinson, Glenda Silvey, Peggy Simmons, Julie Smith, Lori Decter Wright EMERITUS TRUSTEE Robert J. LaFortune

INTERMISSION is published monthly by

Publisher of TulsaPeople Magazine 1603 S. Boulder, Tulsa, OK 74119

For advertising information, Tel. 918-585-9924, ext. 240, Fax 918-585-9926.

No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the Tulsa Performing Arts Center: 918-596-2366, anichols@tulsapac.com. exposition FROM THE CEO

May and June at the TPAC welcome two events that are very near and dear to my heart. In May, I am so thrilled to be able to partner with Celebrity Attractions in celebrating the best of high school musical theatre talent with the Discovery Awards. The Discovery Awards are part of the Broadway League’s National High School Musical Theatre Awards® (the Jimmy Awards®), a national celebration of outstanding student achievement, recognizing individual artistry in vocal, dance and acting performance and elevating the importance of theatre arts education in schools.

Ours was the first program of its kind to be hosted in the state of Oklahoma, and, this year, we have 19 schools from across northeast Oklahoma participating. Students will spend a week at the TPAC, working with two industry legends. Tony awardwinning actress Faith Prince and Tony nominated actor Lara Teeter will lead the students for the week. Teeter is also the head of musical theatre for Webster Conservatory in St. Louis.

At the end of that week, two students will be chosen to represent Oklahoma at the national event in New York City. Those two students will spend the week working with industry professionals and will make their Broadway debuts in the Jimmy Awards. It’s very important to me that we give students opportunities that they might not otherwise have, and the Discovery Awards are a vital part of that.

The title of the Discovery Awards is a tip of the hat to my past affiliation with Discoveryland, the national outdoor home of Rodger’s and Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma!” I had the honor of performing the role of Jud Fry for hundreds of performances, and it’s an experience that has stayed with me throughout my career.

In June, a newly reimagined “Oklahoma!” will make its way to the Chapman stage as a part of Celebrity Attractions’ Broadway season. I’ve seen this show twice, and I will tell you that it is NOT the version of “Oklahoma!” that I performed. It’s a very different adaptation, and it will polarize Green Country audiences. It is a piece of theatre that will stir conversations and opinions for weeks after you see the show.

In the end, isn’t that what theatre should do? I hope to see you often here at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center during the summer months; there will be so many great things gracing our stages!

Enjoy the Show,

Mark Frie

Mark Frie

At home on the field and on the stage.