Theatre Tulsa launches 91st season

Theatre Tulsa has announced its annual kickoff of its new season, with a party for theatre fans, a hit musical and a special opening night.

The long-lasting theatre, now in its 91st season, will open with a kickoff party for fans and supporters Sept. 12 from 5:30-7:30 at Girouard Vines in downtown Tulsa.

“This is our annual party for the local theatre community. Our subscribers, donors, volunteers and fellow theatre people are all invited to celebrate the start of another exciting season,” said Sara Phoenix, artistic director of Theatre Tulsa.

The program will feature complimentary wine and hors d’oeuvres, plus live music and performances from the cast of “Legally Blonde: The Musical,” which opens the season.

To RSVP for the event, click here theatretulsa.org/rsvp to register. Admission to the party is free, but reservations are required.

Not long after the party dies down, Theatre Tulsa will premiere “Legally Blonde: The Musical” for a two-weekend run beginning Sept. 20-29.

The show, a Broadway musical adapted from the hit romantic comedy starring Reese Witherspoon, tells the story of Elle Woods, a lovable ditz who tries to win back her boyfriend by earning a degree from Harvard Law.

The show, one of the largest in Theatre Tulsa’s history, features a cast of 43 actors, 18 crew members, nearly 40 set pieces and more than 200 total costume changes.

“We wanted to start the season with a huge, fun, rocking musical that would entertain a wide range of ages,” said Phoenix, who is also the director and choreographer of the show. “We are going full blast to show off Tulsa’s amazing local talent.”

The opening night of “Legally Blonde” will also feature a special partnership with Turn Tulsa Pink, a nonprofit group that supports local grassroots charities that provide cancer services. The group and its supporters will have a special “Pink Premiere” at the opening performance. Everyone attending is encouraged to wear pink.

“We are so grateful to Theatre Tulsa for recognizing Turn Tulsa Pink at opening night of ‘Legally Blonde.’ This is a fun, ultra-pink show and so are we,” said Judi Grove, founder and director of Turn Tulsa Pink. “We encourage everyone to come to opening night and get your pink on.”

Along with the opening night partnership, “Legally Blonde” has also cast Turn Tulsa Pink’s official mascot Mavis Pearl as the English bulldog Rufus in the show. Mavis often attends Turn Tulsa Pink events with Grove, who credits the dog’s popularity with raising $15,000 for the organization.

“Mavis has her own huge fan base, so we’re giving them another reason to join us at the Pink Premiere of ‘Legally Blonde,’ Grove said

To purchase tickets to Legally Blonde, contact the Tulsa PAC box office at (918) 596-7111 or myticketoffice.com

For questions or more information about Theatre Tulsa and its upcoming shows and programs, call 918-587-8402 or email info@theatretulsa.org

Theatre Tulsa is the longest continuously-operating community theatre west of the Mississippi River, and the seventh oldest in the United States.

Since 1922, Theatre Tulsa has been a part of the culture of Tulsa. Theatre Tulsa has entertained the community through the Depression, World War II and the disaster of two fires.

Theatre Tulsa has been responsible for bringing hundreds of productions to Tulsans. It premiered the first-ever community theatre productions of “Our Town” (1939), “All My Sons” (1947), the musical “Brownstone” (1985), “Miracle on 34th Street: A Musical  Adaptation” (1993 – an original musical written for Theatre Tulsa), “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” (2003) and the first American production of “Pitmen Painters” (2011).

Theatre Tulsa received the city’s first Tulsa Award for Theatre Excellence (TATE) for its production of “Up the Down Staircase” in 2009. The company received additional TATE awards in 2013 for its production of “Boeing-Boeing” and its collaborative youth production of “Hamlet.” Theatre Tulsa was named “Oklahoma’s Community Theatre of the Year” by the Oklahoma Community Theatre Association in 2011, and received its OCTAVision award in 2013.