Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park (OSP) is the creation of executive producer Jack O’Meara and artistic director Kathryn Huey O’Meara McGill. Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park’s purpose is to provide Oklahoma with quality stage productions in unique and exciting environments at a reasonable price and to nurture cultural growth in Oklahoma through classical and theatrical projects. OSP benefits the area further by supplying a theatrical arts training center for the area’s young people as well as providing residencies through the Oklahoma Arts Council’s Artist-in-Residence program.

In July and August of 1985, Oklahoma theatergoers enjoyed a first — free Shakespeare outdoors. The crowds began in small numbers in July for Twelfth Night and grew steadily larger each weekend, reaching 500 in number each night by the end of August’s Midsummer Night’s Dream production. In its first summer, OSP entertained some 6,000 citizens. Although an admission fee was charged for the first time during the summer of 1988, over 12,000 people attended the performances.

Since then, OSP has delighted thousands of people with Shakespearean productions such as Romeo and Juliet, The Merchant of Venice, The Merry Wives of Windsor, As You Like It, The Comedy of Errors, The Taming of the Shrew and Much Ado About Nothing, to name only a few.

Because of the success of their summer programs, OSP added “Winter’s Classics” seasons and these have included stagings of Goldoni’s Servant of Two Masters, Goldsmith’s She Stoops to Conquer, Moliere’s Tartuffe, Synge’s The Playboy of the Western World, Dumas’ The Three Musketeers, and an original adaptation of Dickens’ David Copperfield.

OSP also participates in the Oklahoma Touring Program sponsored by the State Arts Council of Oklahoma. In 1991, a new amphitheatre in Edmond’s E.C. Hafer Park was completed with the assistance of a major grant from the Edmond Women’s Club.

For tickets/information, call: 405-340-1222
Hours to call: 24-hour information line
Tickets are available at the park. Reservations are not accepted.
Visit their Web site at: http://www.telepath.com/okshkspr/