Auditions Saturday January 14 and Sunday January 15, 2022 at 5:00pm

Auditions!

NorthArk Drama will have auditions for Five Women Wearing the Same Dress, on Saturday January 14 and Sunday January 15, 2023 at 5:00pm at the Lyric Theater. For more questions, please click to email us or call 870-391-3504.

The Requirements

Doors will open at 4:30pm. Only those auditioning may be present.

Auditions will consist of sides from the script, chosen by the director.

NorthArk Drama will have auditions for Five Women Wearing the Same Dress, on Saturday January 14 and Sunday January 15, 2023 at 5:00pm for ages 17 and up ONLY. For more questions, please click to email us or call 870-391-3504.

The Story

Five Women Wearing the Same Dress is by Alan Ball. Cast is 6 women, 1 man.

Show dates: May 3-6, 2023 at 7:00pm and May 7, 2023 at 2:00pm at the 1929 Historic Lyric Theater.

During an ostentatious wedding reception at a Knoxville, TN estate, five reluctant, identically-clad bridesmaids hide out in an upstairs bedroom, each with her own reasons to avoid the proceedings below. They are Frances, a painfully sweet but sheltered fundamentalist; Mindy, the cheerful, wise-cracking lesbian sister of the groom; Georgeanne, whose heartbreak over her own failed marriage triggers outrageous behavior; Meredith, the bride’s younger sister, whose precocious rebelliousness masks a dark secret; and Trisha, a jaded beauty whose die-hard cynicism about men is called into question when she meets Tripp, a charming bad-boy usher to whom there is more than meets the eye. As the afternoon wears on, in this cramped bedroom above the wedding, these five identically dressed women talk, laugh, argue, cry, console one another, and slowly become friends and joyously discover a common bond in this wickedly funny, irreverent, and touching celebration of the women’s spirit. 

Thank you for supporting the Arts and good luck!

He’s BACK! Albert Cummings — Sunday September 11, 2022 at 7pm — #LiveAtTheLyric!

Albert Cummings Returns to the Lyric with his newest album and, as you’d expect, it’s a
TEN!
Sunday September 11 at 7PM

The blues is best served up live, with an enthusiastic audience and a killin’ band, and that’s exactly what guitarist Albert Cummings does[…]. Cummings effortlessly shifts from chimney subdued stylings to raucous roadhouse raunch to soaring yet stinging lead lines, driving his audience to frenzy in all the right places.” – Guitar Edge Magazine

From full on, straight ahead hard-edged to mellow-without-being-prissy, Blues-rock guitar with lyrical mastery is headed back, in all its glory, with local favorite The Hedley Lamar Band opening, to the historic Lyric Theater, as Harrison, Arkansas enjoys “TEN” on Sunday, September 11 at 7:00 PM, for which tickets are now available.

Rave reviews are hitting for TEN. “The opening track is pure Cummings blues/rock power. With Ten, it’s not so much the blending of genres that speaks the loudest but it’s the songs themselves…With powerful vocals and harmonies, Albert proves his talent…Albert Cummings gets a 10 on Ten.” – Rock and Blues Muse

Entertaining audiences from his phenomenal guitar work to his incredibly impassioned lyrics and overall songwriting prowess – one thing has certainly become clear about Albert Cummings’s music: he is far more than simply just the guitarist or the bluesman he’s often painted as by fans and the media alike. He offers the complete package.

Albert Cummings
Albert Cummings, Live at the Lyric, 9/11/22 @ 7pm

Though undoubtedly a masterful guitar player who burst onto the blues-rock scene in the early 2000s and almost immediately began gaining praise in that realm, his latest live release “Live at the ‘62 Center” and his new studio album, “TEN,” further portray not only his versatility as singer/songwriter and live performer but as an artist first and foremost.

While generally performing live as a trio, the true spontaneity and creative spirit of these albums show Albert’s mastery of the whole art form, as he put together a newly formed version of his usual trio that afternoon of the October 2016 recording, along with keyboards and backing vocals that hint at just how massive Albert’s talent for composition and improvisation really is. With longtime friend and Grammy Winner Jim Gaines behind the soundboard, what comes through in both sight and sound is an incredible journey into the live performance world and true artistry of one of today’s most seasoned musicians.

“His muscular guitar work is simply outstanding. He’s a great blues singer as well, with passion for the tunes inherent in his full-throttle approach.”

– Rock and Blues Muse on Live at the ‘62 Center

Like many greats before him who’ve been painted into a corner as merely great blues players, or guitar players, or singers, Cummings seeks to rise above these labels and be praised for the devotion to his overall craft as a true musician. In artist terms, he’s sought to be known for ‘the overall pallet of his music’, rather than one specific color. From greats like Eric Clapton to the more recent stylings of John Mayer, his artistic integrity has allowed him to focus on the big picture, writing songs from the heart rather than catering to his specifics strengths as a singer, guitarist, or bandleader (all of which he does impeccably, however!).

His musical journey began when young Albert first picked up a guitar – learning the requisite three chords from his father, but later switched over to banjo at the age of 12 after becoming a bluegrass fan. After hearing the early recordings of Stevie Ray Vaughan, he was impressed by the sheer virtuosity of the artist, and following his first chance to see him live while in college in Boston he returned to the guitar with a new outlook and resolve.

“He attacks his axe with unbridled ferocity and deep soulfulness… his depth and expression are matched only by his terrifying technique and tone.”

– Guitar One

The whiz-kid carpenter began his ascent to masterful blues rock guitarist at age 27, with his first public performance on guitar. As he continued to grow in his newfound passion, he landed on the Northeast blues circuit with his first band Swamp Yankee. Then, in 1998, after walking into a Northeast Blues Society open jam, Cummings won the right to compete in the Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge the following year. By 2000, his debut single “The Long Way” was released to rave reviews, and began opening new doors for the artist. Bluesprint magazine said it was “a barrage of guitar pyrotechnics that calls to mind a grand mix of the styles of past masters like Albert King, Freddie King, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimmie Hendrix.”

Albert Cummings
Albert Cummings, Live at the Lyric, September 11, 2022, 7pm

His first big opportunity came in the form of a chance to work with Double Trouble, the late Stevie Ray Vaughan’s rhythm section. So taken with Albert’s fire and passion were bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton that they volunteered to play on and produce his solo debut recording, 2003’s self-released From the Heart. Recorded in Austin, Texas, it featured Cummings fronting Double Trouble (including Reese Winans) in their first recording project since Stevie Ray’s passing. Having begun his musical journey in part due to Vaughan’s inspiration, it seemed Cummings’ passion had brought him full-circle.

Cummings’ soulful and explosive approach to blues and rock then caught the attention of Blind Pig Records (Muddy Waters, Jimmy Vivino, Elvin Bishop), which signed him to a multi-album deal. On his label debut, True to Yourself, released in 2004, Cummings was again joined by bassist Tommy Shannon. Recorded by producer extraordinaire Jim Gaines (Santana, Stevie Ray, Buddy Guy), the all-original release showcased Albert’s rapidly developing songwriting chops and deeply emotional vocals as well as stunning guitar pyrotechnics, fully showcasing his well-rounded talents.

 “a barrage of guitar pyrotechnics that calls to mind a grand mix of the styles of past masters like Albert King, Freddie King, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimmie Hendrix. – Bluesprint Magazine

Soon tours and shows with blues legends B.B. King, Johnny Winter, Buddy Guy and others brought Albert’s music to a much larger audience.

His second release, Working Man (2006), also produced by Jim Gaines, furthered a growing focus and maturity both in Albert’s stinging, incisive guitar work as well as in his fluently idiomatic songwriting, leading Billboard Magazine to exclaim “This recording is the calling card of a star who has arrived”

2008 saw Albert’s first live album “Feel So Good,” recorded at the historic Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield, Massachusetts which has hosted everyone from Will Rogers to Al Jolson. The audience was so enthralled and supportive they became part of the performance in a way that’s rarely heard. As AllMusic put it, “It sounds like it was one hell of a party that night.” Music Connection also called it “one of the best live albums recorded in a long time.”

Albert Cummings
Albert Cummings, Live at the Lyric, 9/11/22 @ 7pm

As he continued to grow, playing with the likes of legends from B.B. King (who called dubbed him “a great guitarist”), Johnny Winter, Buddy Guy, and many more – Cummings built on not only his all-around songwriting and musicianship but his guitar playing skill as well. Using his knowledge to give back to fellow guitarists wanting to advance in their craft, he released the instructional DVD “Working Man Blues Guitar” in 2011. His next album, 2012’s self-released “No Regrets” followed as a return to his true musical roots, poignantly capturing the core of his influences and displaying the impact that R&B, Rock, Soul, Country, and the Blues have had on both his playing and writing. It debuted at #1 on iTunes music charts in the USA, Canada, and France.

Now, as he continues writing and performing, relentlessly devoting effort to his craft, Cummings is ready to continue on his ever expansive musical journey in support of his new album, “Ten,” scheduled with opener local band The Hedley Lamar Band at the historic Lyric Theater on the Harrison, Arkansas square for Sunday, September 11 at 7:00PMTickets are now available.

tickets

Become a Patron of the Arts!

It’s OAC Membership Time!

It’s time to renew your membership in the Ozark Arts Council (or to become an OAC member for the first time) by visiting Join.TheLyric.org!

History has taught us that the most vibrant societies are produced by giving, not by taking—and the very most vibrant are those that have a thriving and active Arts community! Having such a thriving Arts community has always been a matter of patronage, and it is no different today.

It’s a New Season

In a time when many are still struggling, some may think the Arts a luxury, something only of which those with ‘extra’ time and money on their hands may partake. Often, people feel that it’s too lofty a pursuit for communities that are rooted in farms and factories and retirees. But both history and statistics tell us that these contentions are untrue: the Arts are what help such communities survive!

The very nature of the Arts is to be both welcoming and challenging, to bring you in and to lift you up…and in a time of upheaval and widespread dissatisfaction, isn’t that exactly what you want to encourage and support? The Lyric and the OAC’s Member Organizations provide a place full of experiences that put all of the noise of this world’s discontent aside, a place that welcomes you into a moment where you neither have to be consumed with the woes of the world, real and imagined—or even what you’re going to make for supper, or find on your next day at work. For all of the ‘escapism’ that television promised, it is no match for joining with the rest of your community in a place where all that divides us is set aside and a team of volunteers seeks to be their best selves and to help us, at least for a few hours, to be ours.

This is what membership in the OAC promotes, so please consider becoming part of a community that truly builds community…that welcomes, educates, enjoys, and feasts on those things in our culture that build better people, stronger communities, and the general promotion of love and joy: please join the Ozark Arts Council today!

Below, you can find the perks that come from being an OAC member (with some fun new swag!), but we also want to hear from YOU! What would YOU like to see as a perk from being an OAC member? Email in**@oz**************.org and let our Executive Director know!

Some OAC Membership Perks

  • Early Bird Ticket Sales: For most events, we are able to offer tickets to our members between a few hours and a few days before they go on sale to the general public, so you have a better chance of getting your favorite seat.
  • No Ticketing or Card Fees: We consider your investment in the OAC as what provides us the ability to have ticketing and card processing in the first place, so we give you a code to eliminate fees when you purchase online (and enter the code for you if you purchase them in advance in person or over the phone).
  • Super Popcorn Discount and Collectible Bucket: While we are introducing a new giant-size popcorn for anyone to save on popcorn (and on trips to the concessions stand!) on a per-event basis, we are also introducing a refillable and reusable bucket with our logo and our theme for the year on it. Buy a popcorn for all of the year’s events in advance!
  • Special Merchandise Offers and Discounts: Promotional and event mugs, shirts, window clings (and who knows what else?!) are being developed to help you help the Lyric to thrive and to allow you to remember and celebrate fun times at the Lyric once you return home.
  • Season Passes (and Discounts): All our members have been able to buy Season Passes to productions by the Theatre Company of the Ozarks…and now we’re adding Northark Drama and HHS Theatre productions, as well! Members who join at the $100 level or above also get discounts on season passes, with discounts growing along with membership donations.
  • The Arts Investor Appreciation Pass: Take the lead in providing plays, concerts, or both by making a Membership donation that helps us keep booking artists and paying rights and royalties, and we will provide you free passes that allow you to come and check on your investment.
    • A Theatre Investor ($500) receives a code for two free tickets to every play in our season!
    • A Concert Investor ($750) receives a code for two seats at every concert we produce.
    • An All the Arts Investor ($1,200) receives two tickets for every concert and every play we put on!

Please Note: There may be some events that we do not produce, those that are via a rental arrangement by an outside organization or that are a fundraiser for another nonprofit. We keep these to a bare minimum…and if we can work out a contract with them to get you seated for free, we will do so, and we will let you know in advance. Examples of such events: the recent Buffalo River documentary; the Ozark Rape Crisis Center’s lip sync battle; the Ozarks Dynacom Five Star Talent Contest.

Auditions Friday August 12 and Saturday August 13, 2022 at 6:00pm

Auditions!

We will have auditions for Wait Until Dark, on Friday August 12 and Saturday August 13 at 6:00pm. For more questions, please click to email us or call 870-391-3504.

The Requirements

Doors will open at 4:45pm. Only those auditioning may be present.

Auditions will consist of sides from the script, chosen by the director.

We will have auditions for Wait Until Dark on Friday August 12 and Saturday August 13 at 6:00pm for ages 18 and up ONLY. One part for a child aged 10-12 ONLY will begin at 5:00pm. For more questions, please click to email us or call 870-391-3504.

The Story

Wait Until Dark is by Frederick Knott. Cast is 8 people.

Show dates: September 29-30, October 1-2, 2022

Rehearsals begin: August 23, 2022–4 days per week

More info to come soon!

Thank you for supporting the Arts and good luck!

Almost, Maine, January 26–28 at 7pm, January 29 at 2pm! #LiveAtTheLyric!

The Theatre Co. of the Ozarks and
the Ozark Arts Council Present:

January 26–28 at 7pm, January 29 at 2pm! #LiveAtTheLyric!

 

The Theatre Co. of the Ozarks and The Ozark Arts Council present Almost, Main performed at the Historic 1929 Lyric Theater January 26–28 at 7:00pm and January 29 at 2:00PM. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and students, and $8 for children, when bought in advance; prices rise $3 if purchased at the door—$11 for children, $13 for seniors and students, and $15 for adults.

Welcome to Almost, Maine, a place that’s so far north, it’s almost not in the United States. It’s almost in Canada. And it’s not quite a town, because its residents never got around to getting organized. So it almost doesn’t exist. One cold, clear, winter night, as the northern lights hover in the star-filled sky above, the residents of Almost, Maine, find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected and hilarious ways. Knees are bruised. Hearts are broken. But the bruises heal, and the hearts mend—almost—in this delightful midwinter night’s dream.

“ALMOST, MAINE is a series of nine amiably absurdist vignettes about love, with a touch of good-natured magic realism…witty, romantic, unsentimental. A beautifully structured play, with nifty surprise endings (most but not all of them happy).” —NY Times. “Sweet, poignant, and witty. Nearly perfect. ALMOST, MAINE’s charm is real. [It] packs wit, earns its laughs and, like love, surprises you.” —NY Daily News. “Mega-hit ALMOST, MAINE lands somewhere between Norman Rockwell and Our Town. Unabashedly unhip. There is no pretense of an edge here—the show offers a sweetness and decency that’s become rare at the theater. At this point, it’s a welcome breath of fresh air.” —New York Post.

Join us at The Lyric for Almost, Maine, January 26–28 at 7:00PM, January 29 at 2:00PM #LiveAtTheLyric. Tickets on sale SOON for OAC Members! Tickets for non-OAC Members to open shortly after. Become an OAC Member at Join.TheLyric.org!

 

OAC Ticketing Link

White Christmas, December 1–3 at 7pm, December 4 at 2pm! #LiveAtTheLyric!

NorthArk Drama, HHS Theatre Troupe 2715, and
the Ozark Arts Council Present:

December 1–3 at 7pm, December 4 at 2pm! #LiveAtTheLyric!

 

NorthArk Drama, HHS Theatre Troupe 2715, and The Ozark Arts Council present White Christmas performed at the Historic 1929 Lyric Theater December 1–3 at 7:00pm and December 4 at 2:00PM. Tickets are $18 for adults, $15 for seniors and students, and $12 for children, when bought in advance; prices rise $3 if purchased at the door—$15 for children, $18 for seniors and students, and $21 for adults. Veterans and Active Duty Service Members receive a discount by choosing the Veteran discount ticket.

Veterans Bob Wallace (Bannon Jones) and Phil Davis (Isaiah Wallis) have a successful song-and-dance act after World War II. With romance in mind, the two follow a duo of beautiful singing sisters, Betty (Maci Bright, understudy Savana Tolbert) and Judy (Brinkley Brewer, understudy Ella Domino) Haynes en route to their Christmas show at a Vermont lodge, which just happens to be owned by Bob and Phil’s former army commander, Henry Waverly (Matt Hamblin). Though the General is retired, he must now contend with a failing inn, a has-been-but-still-aspiring actress, Martha (Jenna Wilson), and his precocious granddaughter, Susan (Allyson Hyatt). When Bob and Phil decide to bring their whole crew down to help the General out with a huge Christmas show, new romances will begin, old friendships will be rekindled, and everyone will learn that sometimes, things really can be fixed with a little Theatre in your life. Ensemble cast includes both veteran and novice students of Theatre: Malachi Baker, Jude Bilbee, Emma Bock, Angie Briggs, Valeria Carbajal, Camron Edwards, Lashayla Engel, Lilly Mangrum, Melissa Mao, Tracy Mao, Kamyron Lefebvre, Wyatt Mahoney, Brycen Myers, Andi Jo Parrish, Lexi Poor, Chasity Price, Natalie Sims, Eric Stubbs, Logan Wilson, Karma Wooten, and Rilee Young.

For those who love the movie, the play will give you a double treat, because of the sub-plots and character development, plus the greater involvement of beloved-but-minor characters (especially Susan and Martha!). With a dazzling score featuring well-known standards including “Blue Skies,” “How Deep Is the Ocean” and the perennial title song, White Christmas is an uplifting musical that will surely get you in the holiday spirit!

Join us at The Lyric for White Christmas, December 1–3 at 7:00PM, December 4 at 2:00PM #LiveAtTheLyric. Tickets on sale NOW! Become an OAC Member at Join.TheLyric.org!

 

OAC Ticketing Link

Wait Until Dark, September 29–30, October 1 at 7pm, October 2 at 2pm! #LiveAtTheLyric!

The Theatre Company of the Ozarks and
the Ozark Arts Council Present:

Wait Until Dark, a Suspense Thriller

September 29–30, October 1 at 7pm, October 2 at 2pm! #LiveAtTheLyric!

The Theatre Company of the Ozarks and The Ozark Arts Council present Wait Until Dark, performed at the Historic 1929 Lyric Theater September 29–30, October 1 at 7:00PM and October 2 at 2:00PM. Tickets are$12 for adults, $10 for seniors and

students, and $8 for children, when bought in advance; prices rise $3 if purchased at the door—$11 for children, $13 for seniors and students, and $15 for adults.

A sinister con man, Roat (August Gideon), and two ex-convicts, Mike (Joe Cotton) and Carlino (Lexi Knight), are about to meet their match. They have traced the location of a mysterious doll, which they are much interested in, to the Greenwich Village apartment of Sam Hendrix (James Melton) and his blind wife, Susy (Katie Blessing).

Sam apparently had been persuaded to transport the doll across the Canadian border, not knowing several grams of heroin were sewn inside.

When the woman is murdered the situation becomes more urgent. The con man and his ex-convicts, through a cleverly constructed deception, convince Susy that the police (Fred Lutz, Chasity Price) have implicated Sam in the woman’s murder,

and the doll, which she believes is the key to his innocence, is evidence. She refuses to reveal its location, and with the help of a young neighbor (Emma Pruitt), figures out she is the victim of a bizarre charade. When Roat kills his associates, though, a deadly

game of cat and mouse ensues between the two. Susy knows the only way to play fair is by her rules, so when darkness falls she turns off all the lights leaving both of them to maneuver in the dark until the game ends.

Join us at The Lyric for Wait Until Dark, September 29–30 and October 1 at 7:00PM, October 2 at 2:00PM #LiveAtTheLyric. Tickets on sale NOW!

OAC Ticketing Link

To eliminate ticketing and card processing fees
become an OAC Member at Join.TheLyric.org!

Meet the Cast!

My name is Chasity Price and I’m excited to do this play…one thing that the people need to know is that I have autism and I have a love for theatre. Here’s to a good show!

Police woman #2 is the type of cop that is not afraid of anything and she doesn’t care who did what and as long as the killer is put up, every thing is chill.

Fred Lutz is very excited about being in this production. This is his first Lyric experience. Fred has had numerous acting parts but this is the first dark and serious play in which he has been cast. Fred wants to thank his wife Sue for her encouragement.

Policeman 1 is a typical New York policeman that is called out on varied calls to bring calm and restore peace out of chaos. He is taken aback by this call, however, by its darkness and bodies.

I’m Lexi Knight and my world is a stage!—well, since I was 7/8. Acting is my greatest passion and hope to one day see my name in lights! When I am not at home (the Lyric) I am educating and attending to the needs of tiny humans, or at my place of residence watching shows, reading, sewing, or yes blasting showtunes!

Carlino isn’t the sneakiest thief in the night. He is greedy, clusmy, and easily distracted. After all, he is a first grade dropout. He has an interest in photography and also loves food, so the worst thing he will do is raid your fridge, which is probably what got him arrested in the first place!

Joe Cotton says…

“I have been in a few plays, but this is my first non-musical, non-comedy play. Looking forward to my first drama. Acting in the Lyric always brings back good memories. Just remember that the actors are the face of the play, but nothing happens without the backbone of the play, the unseen movers and shakers that make the play happen.

“Mike Talman is your typical con-man, but he makes the unforgivable mistake of developing sympathy for the mark. This is the first film that truly scared the ‘you know what out’ of me that I watched back in the late sixties, at the historic Lyric Theater. Let the suspense begin!”

Today’s “Meet the Cast” is a special one. This person stepped into a role about two and a half weeks prior to opening night. He’s had less than half the amount of time to become his character than the rest of the cast, and we think he’s doing spectacularly! Meet James Ian Melton, playing the role of Sam Hendrix.

A Harrison resident all my life, I have participated in Theatre Company productions doing a variety of roles since I was about 14. My acting work experience was playing “Howard,” the Haint of Mutton Hollow, for about 16 years at Shepherd of the Hills, Branson, Missouri. After not doing acting for several years, I’m trying to get back into it.

Sam Hendrix is a loving husband, who married Susy after an accident had taken her eyesight. He is a perfectionist and a photographer, who wants to see the best in himself and everyone around him. When returning from a photography trip, a woman at the airport asks Sam to hold a doll, that he didn’t know was full of heroin, and she would get it from him later—which leads to other sinister activities.

Emma Pruitt says…

“I am 12 years old and The Lyric is like a second home to me as I have been doing plays regularly since I was 5. I feel this is my biggest and most important role yet. I am excited and honored to be playing the part of Gloria. My dream, when I grow up, is to be on Broadway! Thank you to the directors and all the other amazing castmates! Here’s to a great show!

Gloria, the little girl upstairs plays a very pivotal role in the play. She is a headstrong, bratty, stubborn, and adventurous child. Although she loves Sam, she and Susy don’t always see eye to eye. Gloria gets them all into a big predicament when she takes a toy doll that doesn’t belong to her.

My name is August Gideon and I currently reside in the Branson area. I have always enjoyed art, especially music, but after accepting my first role in “The Shepherd of the Hills Outdoor Drama,” I became addicted to acting. After some encouragement from my friends and family, I decided to branch out to community theater. I am thrilled to be part of this cast and it is a true honor to share the stage with so many talented individuals.

Harry Roat, Jr. is a con man who takes great pleasure in manipulating people. He is a violent mysterious individual who will stop at no end to get what he wants. If you look past the manipulation and the violence you see him for what he really is, an actor who uses his talent for evil.

Kt Blessing is a sixteen-year veteran of the Lyric stage. You may recognize her from past performances as Rizzo (Grease), Philia (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum), and Rosencrantz (Hamlet), among many others. Kt would like to thank the amazing cast and directors of Wait Until Dark for all their hard work, and would like to thank her family and friends for all their support during this whirlwind production.

Susy Hendrix is newly married and recently blind. She is still learning how to navigate the world in the dark. And in Wait Until Dark, she has to use her wits and resourcefulness to try to outsmart the conmen invading her home.

 
OAC Ticketing Link

Auditions Monday, May 18 and Tuesday May 19 at 7:00pm

Auditions! But carefully…

As we slowly reopen Arkansas, our patrons’ health and well-being is first and foremost on the OAC’s mind. After much discussion, we have come to, what we hope, will be the safest measures for our volunteers and audience, while still bringing you the quality entertainment you deserve. So, to do that, we will be postponing Nunsense II to September (dates to be announced soon!), and moving into some more plays that have fewer cast and crew so that we can continue practicing social distancing. We will have auditions for the first of these shows, Always a Bridesmaid, on Monday, May 18 and Tuesday May 19 at 7:00pm. Please closely read the guidelines below that we have set in place for these auditions and the rehearsals to follow. For more questions, please click to email us or call 870-391-3504.

The Requirements

Doors will open at 6:45pm. Only those auditioning may be present.

The following Social Distancing and sanitation guidelines will be followed at auditions and rehearsals. If you feel sick or have had a fever within the last 24 hours, please do not attend.

  1. Temperature will be taken of everyone coming to auditions and rehearsals, keeping a log of names and temps, and if anyone has a fever, they must immediately go home; as well as asking the screening questions (have you been out of the state, have you been sick, have you been in contact with anyone who has COVID-19, etc).
  2. Everyone must wear masks at all times. Please wear your own clean mask.
  3. Scripts for cold reads will not be shared. Each person auditioning will get a copy of audition material to use and it will be disposed of at the end of evening auditions.
  4. Everything will be disinfected before and after each night of auditions.
  5. Everyone must maintain 6 ft distance at all times.
  6. Only cast and crew may be present during rehearsals. No other family members or children.
  7. Children under 18 will not be cast and will not be allowed at auditions or rehearsals, in order to adhere to ADH guidelines. Children under 18 will be able to attend the performances.

The Story

Always a Bridesmaid is a Jones Hope Wooten Southern Comedy. Cast is 6 women.

Kari—20s—Kind-hearted Southern charmer
Libby Ruth—-late 40s, hopeless romantic, sweet country woman, plain spoken
Sedalia—60s—- gregarious, energetic hostess of wedding venue
Monette—late 40s—kinda flashy, kinda trashy, voluptuous southern flirt,
Charlie—late 40s—-tree hugging, Birkenstock wearing, Southern free spirit
Deedra—late 40s—headstrong dry wit, no-nonsense Northern transplant attorney

Characters ages are relative—no one under 18 will be cast.

Show dates: June 25-28
Rehearsals begin: May 25–4 days per week

Thank you for supporting the Arts and please be safe and healthy.

Live streaming concert with Chris Dees TONIGHT (May 1) at 7:00pm

Live streaming concert with Chris Dees TONIGHT (May 1) at 7:00pm

We know you’re stuck at home and trying to find anything to keep you occupied. Fortunately, so are we! Until we can get back to our normal schedule, bringing you Nunsense II and the “Rock the Word” concert, our job is still to bring our area quality entertainment; and, to that end, we will stream our first live concert, to the comfort of your own house, featuring local artist, Chris Dees! Join us Friday, May 1 at 7:00pm at the OAC’s Facebook page to hear Christopher Dees’s smooth vocals and rockin’ chords. <–Click for the link!

It is a free concert, but there will be a link for your donations, should you so wish. <–Click for the link!

ALL donations will go to keeping the Lyric Theater open for many years to come!

Note: You do NOT have to have a Facebook account to watch this concert! Just Click Here!

You can feel even closer to us and stop by from 6:00-8:00pm for some to-go nachos, hot dog, beer, or wine!

Chris Dees is a talented and accomplished local guitarist, with a mixed style from rock to blues to pop. He has been involved with Fever Blue and headed up Dees & Friends. He was also lead guitar in the Ozark Arts Council/NorthArk Drama productions Footloose and Grease! Chris will be taking requests through the evening.

Thank you for supporting the Arts and please be safe and healthy.