Lyric Theatre Announces Its 2010 Summer Season, Kicks Off 6/22

Lyric Theatre, Oklahoma's premiere professional theatre company, introduces its 2010 Lyric at the Civic Center Summer Season. Lyric will start off the 2010 season in June, with Pump Boys & Dinettes (June 22-26), followed by Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (July 6-10), 42nd Street (July 20-24) and BUDDY: The Buddy Holly Story (August 3-7). These shows will be performed at The Civic Center Music Hall in Downtown Oklahoma City at 201 North Walker Avenue. For ticket information call (405) 524-9312 or visit www.lyrictheatreokc.com.

In June, Lyric's summer season opens with the Tony Award Best Musical nominee Pump Boys & Dinettes. This toe-tapping show is charming musical tribute to life along the open road. This
entertaining musical is performed and orchestrated on the Civic stage by the actors themselves. Lyric's performance of Pump Boys & Dinettes will be under the direction of David Lutken. David Lutken enjoys a varied career as a director, actor and musician. David's Broadway credits include Inherit the Wind, Ring of Fire, The Civil War and The Will Rogers Follies as well as numerous music appearances at Carnegie Hall and the New York City Opera as well as internationally in Europe. David Lutken also played the title role in Lyric's 2009 production of Woody Sez. David will not only direct this charming, up-beat show this summer, but he will also be playing the role of Jim, one of the fun-loving pump boy.

Fresh from the Broadway stage, Lyric presents the first Oklahoma premiere of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Based on the book by Ian Fleming and much loved 1968 film starring Dick Van Dyke, the incredible adventures of this out-of-the ordinary car that flies trough the air and sails the seas is reaching a new generation through an enthralling and enchanting stage musical. Lyric is bringing the Broadway stage to you by using the original Chitty Chitty Bang Bang staging, choreography, sets, and costumes. Oklahoma City's own Matthew Alvin Brown will be playing the role of Caractacus Potts, the loving father of two who takes us on this wild journey. You might recognize Matthew from his role as Seymour in Lyric Theatre's 2009 summer show Little Shop of Horrors. Matthew's credits include High School Musical 2, The Music Man, Rainbow Around the Sun and Fiddler on the Roof. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang will be directed by New York's own Ray Roderick. Ray has performance in the original Broadway performances of Crazy for You, Wind in the Willows, Grind and Cats as well as directing the Off-Broadway shows The Ark, and The Prince and the Pauper.

Lyric's production is also unique in that it features 40 performers, ages 8 through 14, who will participate in Lyric's "Camp Phantasmagorical" program. For three weeks, these young actors will train in the art of musical theatre and prepare for their debut on the Civic Center stage as part of the show's Children's Ensemble.

Lyric brings to the stage the Tony Award winning Best Musical, 42nd Street. Get caught up in the excitement of the young chorus girl Peggy Sawyer, who arrives on Broadway with wide eyes and high hopes. Set during the Depression Era, 42nd Street celebrates the romance and magic of show-biz with musical theater classics in the biggest musical extravaganza of the year. Oklahoma's own local talent will be featured in this widely known musical. Lyric's summer showing of 42nd Street will be danced by students from Oklahoma City University, University of Oklahoma, University of Central Oklahoma as well as Edmond and Oklahoma City high school students. 42nd Street will be directed and choreographed by Oklahoma resident, Lyn Cramer. Lyn has been a teacher and choreographer for three decades, and also a Weitzenhoffer Endowed Professor of Musical Theatre Dance
at the University of Oklahoma. Lyn's credits include Cabaret, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Smokey Joe's Cafe, Urinetown, Nine, Aida, Five Guys Named Moe, A Chorus Line and West Side Story.

Closing the Lyric Summer Season will be the rock n' roll musical BUDDY: The Buddy Holly Story. In 1959, the life of the man who forever changed the face of popular music was tragically cut short. Today, the smash hit musical tells the story of Buddy Holly and his incredible rise to fame in a show that features over twenty of his greatest songs including "Peggy Sue", "That'll Be The Day", "Oh Boy", "Everyday" and "La Bamba". The second act falls deep in rock n' roll fans hearts as it recreates the night of Buddy Holly last concert performance on February 2, 1959 at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. He and two other stars, the Big Bopper and young Ritchie Valens, depart on a small plane during a blizzard, a fateful decision that places them in musical history books in an unexpected and tragic way. This high-energy, infectious rock-n-roll musical will leave you with a smile on your face and a spring in your step. Lyric's Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story will be under the direction of DJ Salsbury. DJ's credits include regional and national performances of The Will Rogers Follies, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Numsense, The Full Monty, Anything Goes, Cats as well as directing Lyric's 2008 production of Seven Brides for Seven Brother's.

Lyric at the Civic Center 2010 season Title Sponsor is Chesapeake Energy Corporation. Presenting Sponsor is The Oklahoman, with additional season support provided by Kirkpatrick Foundation, Inasmuch Foundation, Allied Arts, the Oklahoma Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Season tickets for Lyric's summer season are now on sale and start at $89. Single tickets will be available to purchase starting Monday, May 24 at 9 a.m., starting as low as $29. Performances are on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at 8:00 p.m. and Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. To purchase tickets go to www.lyrictheatreokc.com, call (405) 524-9312, come by Lyric Theatre's ticket office located on 1727 NW 16 St., Oklahoma City, Okla, or call the Civic Center Box office at (405) 297-2264.

 

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