Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma Introduces 2019 Season

Nine Spectacular Shows Set for Plaza Theatre, Civic Center Music Hall

Lyric Theatre promises to take patrons on a journey next season from the plains of Nebraska to the steps of the White House and from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood to the deck of an infamous cruise liner.

Lyric’s 2019 season includes three productions at the intimate Lyric at the Plaza, 1725 NW 16 St., – Girlfriend (Feb. 27-March 17), Bright Star (April 3-20), and Frost/Nixon (Sept. 4-22) – and three productions at the grand Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N Walker Ave., – Singin’ in the Rain (June 25-30), Disney’s Newsies (July 9-14) and Titanic (July 23-28).

Starting Lyric’s 2019 season is Girlfriend, a romantic comedy inspired by ‘90s icon, Matthew Sweet’s alternative rock album of the same title. In collaboration with Signature Theatre in Washington D.C., Lyric presents the regional premiere of this vibrant, funny and heart-warming coming of age love story. College-bound jock, Mike, and self-assured, Will, rush into summer love in small-town Nebraska. The production features an all-female rock band.

Written by Sweet and Todd Almond, Girlfriend will be directed by Matthew Gardiner, director of Lyric’s 2017 West Side Story. Starring in the show will be Jimmy Mavrikes (Will), who is making his Lyric Theatre debut and Ian Marcontell (Mike), last seen in Lyric’s summer 2018 production of Mamma Mia!

In early April, a southern story of hope, Bright Star, will make its Oklahoma debut. With book and lyrics by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, the production will be directed by Michael Baron, Lyric’s Producing Artistic Director. This sweeping tale of love and redemption is set against the rich backdrop of the 1920s and ‘40s in the American South.

Propelled by an ensemble of onstage musicians and dancers, Alice’s powerful tale of love, life and hope unfold in a rich tapestry of deep emotion and beautiful bluegrass-inspired melodies. Starring in the production are Blight Voth (Alice Murphy), Michael Isaac (Jimmy Ray Dobbs), Vince Leseney (Daddy Murphy), Zak Reynolds (Daryl Ames), Stephen Hilton (Daddy Cane), Patty Irwin (Margo Crawford), Jessica Tate (Mama Murphy), Jonathan Beck Reed (Mayor Dobbs), Lexi Windsor (Lucy Grant) and Ken Singleton (Billy Cane). The cast’s ensemble features Joseph Campbell, Marcus Canada, Jessica Martens and Carly Ann Moore.

In June, Lyric heads downtown for its “Summer at the Civic” starting with the return of the beloved Singin’ in the Rain. Celebrate Hollywood’s Golden Age with this romantic, musical-comedy classic. Dance, laugh and sing along to a memorable score featuring splashy production numbers, all while it magically rains on the entire Civic Center Music Hall stage. Written by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, Singin’ in the Rain features music and lyrics by Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed and will be directed by Baron with choreography from Lyn Cramer.

Up next at the Civic Center, Lyric invites audience members to “seize the day” with Disney’s Newsies, based on the story of the New York City newsboy strike of 1899. Incredible dancing and rousing anthems raise-the-roof in this tale of a spirited crew of rag-tag orphans winning the hearts of a nation. With music and lyrics by Jerry Herman and book by Michael Stewart, Lyric’s Associate Artistic Director Ashley Wells will direct the energetic production with choreography by Amy Reynolds-Reed. 

The summer season culminates with the spectacular Tony Award-winning Best Musical production Titanic. The engineering feat of 1912 takes center stage in this stunning and stirring production, based on real people aboard the legendary ship. Titanic retells the hopes and dreams of her passengers who each boarded with stories and personal ambitions of their own, all innocently unaware of the fate awaiting them. Lyric’s production will include a choir of more than 100 performers featuring Canterbury Voices, and Oklahoma City Philharmonic’s new music director Alexander Mickelthwate will serve as conductor. Titanic was written by Peter Stone, with music and lyrics by Maury Yeston. Baron will direct.

The season returns to the Plaza Theatre in the fall for the thought-provoking play Frost/Nixon. Featuring direction from Baron, politics and the press collide infamously in this production based upon David Frost’s 1977 landmark interviews of former President Richard Nixon. What happens behind the television cameras is just as engaging as in front where image is king and the stakes have never been higher.

Frost/Nixon will star Oklahoma favorites D. Lance Marsh as Nixon and Matthew Alvin Brown as Frost. This dramatic look at the Nixon presidency through post-Watergate interviews is sure to leave you on the edge of your seat and have you talking about the ending long after it is over.  

Additionally, Lyric will produce three season add-on shows – the children’s favorite Curious George and the Golden Meatball (Jan. 23-Feb. 17), the adult favorite The Rocky Horror Show (Oct. 9-Nov. 2) and the holiday classic Lyric’s A Christmas Carol (Nov. 29-Dec. 24), all at the Plaza Theatre. 

Following the highly successful productions of James and the Giant Peach and Junie B. Jones-The Musical, part of Lyric’s Theatre for Young Audiences Series, everyone’s favorite mischievous monkey will come to life on stage in January. Lyric presents Curious George: The Golden Meatball, an adventure-filled family musical directed by Lyric’s Matthew Sipress.

George takes you through an exciting journey where he learns more about Rome and meatballs and the “secret ingredient” to cooking. Based on the books by Margret and H.A. Rey and the play owned by Universal Stage Productions, it features music by John Kavanaugh and the book and lyrics from Jeremy Desmon. 

Let’s do the time warp again! Back by popular demand, one of Lyric’s biggest hits of all time – The Rocky Horror Show – returns in an all-new production directed by J. Robert Moore. Whether you are a Rocky virgin or it is part of your soul, join us for “a night you will remember for a very long time.” All performances are in the evenings with special midnight performances on the weekends.

Closing the year, Oklahoma’s favorite holiday tradition, Lyric’s A Christmas Carol, returns for its ninth year – opening the day after Thanksgiving. In Charles Dickens’ timeless tale, three magical ghosts whisk the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge away on an unforgettable adventure of transformation and redemption. Jacob Marley, Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim, The Fezziwigs and a host of unforgettable characters spring to life in Lyric’s spectacular production sparking the holiday spirit in audiences of all ages.

Directed by Baron, the show will feature choreography from Wells. Brian Hamilton will serve as music director with lighting design by Westin Wilkerson, set design by Kimberly Powers and costume design by Jeffrey Meek. Brad Poarch will serve as sound designer for the production, with props designed by Courtney Strong. 

Season tickets are available for all six mainstage productions starting at just $222 per person. For more information, visit LyricTheatreOKC.org or call Lyric’s box office at (405) 524-9312.

Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma was founded in 1963 and is the state’s leading professional theatre company. Lyric produces classic and contemporary musicals, new works, and plays featuring artists from Oklahoma and around the nation. Shows are presented at two Oklahoma City venues — the intimate Plaza Theatre and in the summer at the grand Civic Center Music Hall. Lyric is a nonprofit member theatre of the National Alliance for Musical Theatre and Allied Arts. For more information, visit www.LyricTheatreOKC.org.

Copyright The Gayly – January 24, 2019 @ 10:20 a.m. CST.