CityRep Founding Member Jackie Abel West Passes Away

On May 4. 2010, CityRep lost a driving force in in our creation and current success, and Oklahoma City lost a pioneer of our theatrical community when Jackie Abel West made her transition from this life.

In 1962 Jackie joined the volunteer force working to start a summer musical theatre company, which eventually became Lyric Theatre. In her 22 years with Lyric, Jackie was a major and guiding force in its success. She created the original box office set-up and procedures, staffing and supervising it for the next nine years. In her first 17 years as a volunteer and Board Member, she was President of the Lyric Guild for two years, and Vice President of the Board of Directors for two years. In 1980 Jackie became Executive Director of the organization, where she served until 1984, leading an enthusiastic, exciting and very successful period of Lyric Theatre history. Jackie also lent her energy and expertise to many other arts organizations in Oklahoma City. For 35 years she worked on the Arts Council of Oklahoma City's Festival of the Arts, chairing almost every volunteer committee available at one time or another. In the mid-70's Jackie helped to create and build The Company, the volunteer arm of the Oklahoma Theatre Center (now Stage Center), serving as President for the first three years. She also served on the Board of Jewel Box Theatre for two terms, and on the Board of the Arthritis Foundation. In 2000, Jackie became a Founding Member and architect of the Board of Directors of Oklahoma City Repertory Theatre, a fully-professional, Equity-affiliated theatre company, serving as the first President of the Board. She was particularly proud of the fact that CityRep ended each of their eight seasons to date in the black, an accomplishment that is a direct result of Jackie's board development and leadership. Jackie's professional career also included serving as Executive Director of the Oklahoma Cancer Information Service, State Director of Public Relations for Weight Watchers of Oklahoma, and Marketing Representative for INTEGRIS Health. She volunteered as a Water Safety Instructor for the American Red Cross for 35 years, and taught over 3,000 children to swim from her backyard pool. In the 1990's Jackie underwent a series of surgeries and reconstructions to relieve oncoming symptoms of osteoarthritis. She would often share with her doctors that "that knee was shot on the concrete steps of Stage Center - that shoulder went to hauling ice at the Arts Festival - I got that back injury because of a fall at Lyric". The history of Oklahoma theatre was buried in the bones of this remarkable and truly amazing architect of Oklahoma City theatre. In lieu of flowers Jackie asked that memorials be made to: The Humane Society of Central Oklahoma or Oklahoma City Repertory Theatre, P.O. Box 1913, OKC, OK 73101. A celebration of Jackie's life will be held in Kirkpatrick Auditorium on the campus of Oklahoma City University at 2:00 pm on June 5, 2010.

'When you feel your song is orchestrated wrong,
Why should you prolong your stay?
When the wind and weather blow your dreams sky-high,
Sail away, sail away, sail away!
- Noel Coward

If you would like to honor Jackie's memory with a donation in her name to CityRep, you can donate securely online by visiting our website at www.cityrep.com, or you can mail your donation to CityRep, PO Box 1913, Oklahoma City, OK 73101.

 

 

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