Two Big Hits
By Jeff Shultz

An off- Broadway play and a holiday classic will be the final premiere
events of 2007 for the Pauls Valley Arts Council. “We’re very excited about these two events. Our fall theatrical production and the Oklahoma City Philharmonic’s Christmas concert have become family entertainment traditions at this time of year,” said Dr. Lanny Stanley, PVAC Board President. Both events will be held at the Pauls Valley High School Auditorium, Stanley noted.

“The arts council is always appreciative of the Pauls Valley schools
and the partnership we’ve had with them over the past three years. The high school auditorium is a great venue for many of our events,” he added.

Photos by Jim Richardson, Peter Jordan The Pauls Valley Arts Council will end 2007 with two big productions. Above, cast members Lisa Lantz, Erin Black, Tara Dyson and Vicki Rennie rehearse a scene from the PVAC’s production of “Steel Magnolias.”

The first of the two shows will be the off-Broadway play Steel Magnolias, performed by the PVAC’s Not Quite Ready For Broadway Players. Steel Magnolias, which inspired the popular movie by the same name, is set in a Louisiana beauty shop and revolves around the six women characters in Robert Harling’s play. Directed by Tim Smith, a veteran of theatrical productions in Pauls Valley, said rehearsals for the three-act play are on schedule for the production’s November 15 opening night.


“We are at a very special place in the development of this production,” he said. “With many of the costumes, set pieces, the set itself, lighting and sound effects in place and being refined, the cast and crew are in a place where they can spend quality rehearsal time delving into the subtleties of the story.”

“This is most unusual for a community theater production, and we could not be this far along without the dedication of this wonderful team. My hats are off to them.” Cast members are Vicki Rennie as Truvy Jones, the owner of the beauty shop; Tara Dyson as Shelby Eatenton-Latcherie; Erin Black as Annelle Dupuy-Desoto; Shannon Myers as Clairee Belcher; Elisse Varner as Quiser Boudreaux; and Lisa Lance as M'Lynn Eatenton.

The play will be performed November 15-18 with nightly performances at 7:30 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Two matinees will also be on tap for Saturday and Sunday with both matinees starting at 2 p.m.

Photos by Jim Richardson, Peter Jordan The second production will be the annual OKC Philharmonic Christmas concert, “A Very Merry Pops.”

For the third consecutive year, the Pauls Valley Arts Council is honored to welcome the Oklahoma City Philharmonic to Pauls Valley on Wednesday, December 19. “The Philharmonic’s annual Very Merry Pops Christmas concert has become a holiday tradition in Pauls Valley and one many from this area look forward to each year,” said Stanley. Guest artist for this year’s concert will be Destan Owens, a graduate of Oklahoma City University and an Oklahoma native.

Owens has appeared on Broadway in Rent and Chicago and was featured in the national tour of Smokey Joe’s Cafe. He has also appeared in the Emmy winning sitcom 30 Rock and is a cast member in the Beatles inspired film Across the Universe. Owens will appear with the Philharmonic orchestra and the Philharmonic Pops Chorale performing timeless holiday classics such as Angels We Have Heard On High, The Christmas Song and Santa Claus Is Coming To Town. Other selections from the concert include With A Christmas Heart, The Wexford Carol and Canticle of Joy.

Tickets for the holiday concert will go on sale November 26. Look for more information on ticket prices in an upcoming issue of the Daily Democrat.