Oklahoma City Repertory Theatre, or OKC Rep, has had a renaissance over the past few years. In July of 2024, Emily Comisar took the reigns as Executive Artistic Director and has been steadily guiding OKC Rep forward by bringing exciting, innovative works to the Te Ata Theatre at Oklahoma Contemporary. Its mission is to “produce live theater that builds community, creates conversation and inspires us all,” and the current season is set to do exactly that.
The first play of the season is the New Los Angeles Repertory Company’s production of Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground, written by Richard Hellesen. This touring presentation, running from Oct. 21 to Nov. 1, stars actor and Tony winner John Rubinstein as President Dwight D. Eisenhower as he looks back on his life from his childhood through World War II and on to his two terms as president. Comisar said, Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground contemplates what makes an American President great, and will leave audiences of all political persuasions thinking about their own role in shaping the future of our country.”
From Feb. 25 to March 7, the Pulitzer Prize-winning play Primary Trust by Ebony Booth will take the stage. Primary Trust tells the comedic story of Kenneth as he navigates personal growth, friendship and new beginnings after his world of routine comes to a crashing halt.
The final staged show of the season is Proof by David Auburn, from April 22 to May 9. Proof is both a Pulitzer and Tony winner about Robert—a genius, though unstable, mathematician—his daughter Catherine and his former student Hal. After Robert passes away, groundbreaking mathematical proof is found within his desk of scribbled-in workbooks. The aftermath is a fierce debate over who deserves recognition as author, as Catherine claims the ideas were hers alone. This drama explores the thin line between genius and madness, family sacrifice and the true meaning of proof.
From June 24 to 27, OKC Rep will host its second annual RepFest Play Reading Festival, bringing three of the best contemporary American plays to audiences without the use of a set or costumes. Focusing on storytelling, the actors use their voices, energy and body language to bring these plays to life in an exciting and unforgettable way. “RepFest is a celebration of plays which invites audiences into our team’s decision-making process on which shows to produce in future seasons,” Comisar said. “Last year’s readings were electric, and we are thrilled to bring the festival back for a second season.”
If you have not yet had the pleasure of seeing a play under Comisar’s leadership, this is the time to do so. “This season’s plays are captivating,” she said. “They’ll have you on the edge of your seat and will leave you thinking about them for days. Every show is meant to spark conversation, inspire and, of course, entertain.”
For more information on Oklahoma City Repertory Theatre, visit okcrep.org.
