Allied Arts

Name and Title: Erika Huffman, Director of Public Relations and Marketing
Organization Name: Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma
Organization Phone Number and Web Site: (405) 524-9312, www.LyricTheatreOKC.com    

Give us the gist of your organization, Twitter-style (that means 140 characters or less).  Lyric Theatre produces excellent professional musical theatre, nurtures artistic talent, promotes collaboration among the arts, and enriches the lives of Oklahomans.

What does your organization bring to Central Oklahoma?  Since 1963, Lyric has amazed audiences with stellar professional classic and contemporary musical theatre featuring both nationally known Broadway stars and local favorites, all produced and performed right here in Oklahoma.

In addition to the Civic Center season, Lyric also produces smaller-scale musicals and plays and holds workshops and staged readings for the development of new musical theatre works at the Plaza Theatre.

Also, Lyric’s Thelma Gaylord Academy helps empower future generations of children by teaching them the skillful art form of musical theatre and offers arts outreach programs to public schools free of charge. 

List a few things that your organization is looking forward to in the coming year. We have six shows slated for 2010. 

Our first two, SNAPSHOTS and DRIVING MISS DAISY, round out our “Lyric at the Plaza” season.  We are really excited about SNAPSHOTS because Stephen Schwartz, the man behind PIPPIN, WICKED and GODSPELL is coming to Lyric Theatre to help us out with this one-of-a-kind show. This production weaves together songs from Schwartz’ musicals past with new songs created for the show to tell the story of a couple who fall in love all over again while looking through photographs of their memories together. It’s a brand-new concept and we are really looking forward to it, especially since it is right around Valentine’s Day. 

Our “Lyric at the Civic Center” season includes PUMP BOYS & DINETTES, CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, 42ND STREET, and BUDDY: The Buddy Holly Story.  We are eagerly anticipating CHITTY especially, as this will be the first time anyone has ever flown a car on the Civic Center stage!  We think our Civic season is one of the best things about summertime in Oklahoma City and we hope everyone joins us there.

How can people get involved with your organization?  There are several ways to share your time and talents with us at Lyric:

• The Lyric Theatre Associate Board plans several events throughout the year, including opening night parties, holiday celebrations, and the renowned Lyric Indian Taco booth at the annual Festival of the Arts. The Associate Board also assists in donor-related events, such as the nightly reception at the Civic Center during Lyric's summer season.  
• The Lyric Understudies is made up of men and women ages 40 and under who cultivate a love of theatre and passion for Lyric in the Oklahoma City community.  Social events are planned throughout the year that coincide with Lyric productions. Membership is open to anyone 40 and under who enjoys a night out with good food, friends, and excellent theatre.  is made up of men and women ages 40 and under who cultivate a love of theatre and passion for Lyric in the Oklahoma City community.  Social events are planned throughout the year that coincide with Lyric productions. Membership is open to anyone 40 and under who enjoys a night out with good food, friends, and excellent theatre. 
• We also have ushering opportunities available at our Plaza Theatre. 
• If you want to keep up with what is going on at Lyric, you can follow us on Twitter (@LyricTheatreOKC), become a fan of Lyric on Facebook (Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma), or check out our new YouTube channel (LyricTheatreOKC).    

Name your favorite piece of art or art performance.  It’s difficult to choose which performance is my favorite because every show at Lyric has its own life and its own personality. Each of our productions is innately unique and this makes them hard to compare to one another. 

But, if I were forced to choose, I would say that our 2007 performance of ONCE ON THIS ISLAND has been my favorite thus-far. It’s an absolutely beautiful, touching show that emitted such a positive energy throughout the audience. That’s the one that still stays with me.