BWW Stage Mag Celebrating 30 Years of Shakespeare in the Park - Gaslight Theatre Stage Mag

Gaslight Theatre presents

30 Years of Shakespeare in the Park

 
By William Shakespeare
 
 
 

 

 
   
 
 
 
 
 

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The History of

Shakespeare in the Park

 

Gaslight’s Shakespeare in the Park began in 1994 when several members of the Gaslight Theater Board of Directors (Dave Abbott, Carmen Ball, Catherine Johnston, & Mary McDonald) realized that Gaslight had the talent capable of presenting successful Shakespeare productions equal to those they had seen elsewhere. 

In 1994, Gaslight chose the Government Springs Park hillside as an ideal location. Through a partnership with the City of Enid and Friends of Government Springs and local financial sponsors, the first play was presented free as a gift to the public. Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Mary McDonald, was presented in June,1995. The set was simple; actors performed in front of sheets speaking into microphones on stands.  Much Ado drew audiences of over 1200 people. The City of Enid was so impressed with the attendance and this new use for Government Springs Park, that in 1996, the city added a Performance Pavilion for theatrical use. In 1996, Twelfth Night took place on that pavilion stage, again free to the public. 

As Gaslight’s Shakespeare in the Park productions gained notoriety, additional funding has brought improvements: solid flats, floor microphones, headsets, improved light and sound boards, etc. 

Throughout our 29 previous seasons, we have presented 19 different Shakespeare plays. More than 25,000 people have seen over 450 different actors cross this stage. Tonight’s performance of Hamlet, directed by Bailey Wilson, is our “Toast to 30 Seasons” of the longest-running free Shakespeare in Park in the state of Oklahoma!

Thank you for joining in our celebration! 
Shakespeare 30th Committee

In Memory

And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest...

 

Dave Abbott – co-founder, actor, director
Mike Burk – set construction
John Chambers - actor
Bobbi Donaldson - actor
Susie Hume - assistant director
Wendy Hunter - actor
Mike Kilman - actor
Jim Nay- musician
Gene Riggs- set design, actor
Todd Smith - actor
Nick Sumpter - actor
Tammy Wilfong – actor

Sponsors

Multimedia

1995 - Much Ado About Nothing
1995 - Much Ado About Nothing 1995 - Much Ado About Nothing
1995 - Much Ado About Nothing 1997 - MacBeth
1997 - MacBeth 1997 - MacBeth
1997 - MacBeth 1997 - MacBeth
1997 - MacBeth 1998 - As You Like It
1998 - As You Like It 1998 - As You Like It
1998 - As You Like It 1998 - As You Like It
1998 - As You Like It 1999 - Hamlet
1999 - Hamlet 2001 - Taming of the Shrew
2001 - Taming of the Shrew 2002 - Romeo and Juliet
2002 - Romeo and Juliet 2002 - Romeo and Juliet
2002 - Romeo and Juliet 2003 - A Midsummer Night's Dream
2003 - A Midsummer Night's Dream 2003 - A Midsummer Night's Dream
2003 - A Midsummer Night's Dream 2004 - The Merchant of Venice
2004 - The Merchant of Venice 2004 - The Merchant of Venice
2004 - The Merchant of Venice 2004 - The Merchant of Venice
2004 - The Merchant of Venice 2004 - The Merchant of Venice
2004 - The Merchant of Venice 2004 - 10th Anniversary Reunion
2004 - 10th Anniversary Reunion 2004 - The Merchant of Venice
2004 - The Merchant of Venice 2005 - A Comedy of Errors
2005 - A Comedy of Errors 2005 - A Comedy of Errors
2005 - A Comedy of Errors 2005 - A Comedy of Errors
2005 - A Comedy of Errors 2006 - King Lear
2006 - King Lear 2006 - King Lear
2006 - King Lear 2006 - King Lear
2006 - King Lear 2006 - King Lear
2006 - King Lear 2007 - Love's Labours Lost
2007 - Love's Labours Lost 2007 - Love's Labours Lost
2007 - Love's Labours Lost 2008 - Richard III - teen pre-show
2008 - Richard III - teen pre-show 2008 - Richard III
2008 - Richard III 2008 - Richard III
2008 - Richard III 2008 - Richard III
2008 - Richard III 2008 - Richard III
2008 - Richard III 2008 - Richard III
2008 - Richard III 2009 - The Tempest
2009 - The Tempest 2009 - The Tempest
2009 - The Tempest 2009 - The Tempest
2009 - The Tempest 2010 - Julius Caeser
2010 - Julius Caeser 2010 - Julius Caeser
2010 - Julius Caeser 2010 - Julius Caeser
2010 - Julius Caeser 2011 - MacBeth
2011 - MacBeth 2011 - MacBeth
2011 - MacBeth 2011 - MacBeth
2011 - MacBeth 2011 - MacBeth
2011 - MacBeth 2011 - MacBeth
2011 - MacBeth 2012 - Antony and Cleopatra
2012 - Antony and Cleopatra 2012 - Antony and Cleopatra
2012 - Antony and Cleopatra 2012 - Antony and Cleopatra
2012 - Antony and Cleopatra 2012 - Antony and Cleopatra
2012 - Antony and Cleopatra 2012 - Antony and Cleopatra
2012 - Antony and Cleopatra 2013 - Much Ado About Nothing
2013 - Much Ado About Nothing 2013 - Much Ado About Nothing
2013 - Much Ado About Nothing 2013 - Much Ado About Nothing
2013 - Much Ado About Nothing 2013 - Much Ado About Nothing
2013 - Much Ado About Nothing 2013 - Much Ado About Nothing
2013 - Much Ado About Nothing 2014 Marked Our 20th Anniversary of Shakespeare in the Park
2014 Marked Our 20th Anniversary of Shakespeare in the Park 2014 - Hamlet
2014 - Hamlet 2014 - Hamlet
2014 - Hamlet 2014 - Hamlet
2014 - Hamlet 2014 - Hamlet
2014 - Hamlet 2015 - Othello
2015 - Othello 2015 - Othello
2015 - Othello 2015 - Othello
2015 - Othello 2016 - Taming of the Shrew
2016 - Taming of the Shrew 2016 - Taming of the Shrew
2016 - Taming of the Shrew 2016 - Taming of the Shrew
2016 - Taming of the Shrew 2016 - Taming of the Shrew
2016 - Taming of the Shrew 2017 - Titus Andronicus
2017 - Titus Andronicus 2017 - Titus Andronicus
2017 - Titus Andronicus 2017 - Titus Andronicus
2017 - Titus Andronicus 2017 - Titus Andronicus
2017 - Titus Andronicus 2017 - Titus Andronicus
2017 - Titus Andronicus 2017 - Titus Andronicus
2017 - Titus Andronicus 2017 - Titus Andronicus
2017 - Titus Andronicus 2018 - Romeo and Juliet
2018 - Romeo and Juliet 2018 - Romeo and Juliet
2018 - Romeo and Juliet 2018 - Romeo and Juliet
2018 - Romeo and Juliet 2018 - Romeo and Juliet
2018 - Romeo and Juliet 2018 - Romeo and Juliet
2018 - Romeo and Juliet 2019 - A Midsummer Night's Dream
2019 - A Midsummer Night's Dream 2019 - A Midsummer Night's Dream
2019 - A Midsummer Night's Dream 2019 - A Midsummer Night's Dream
2019 - A Midsummer Night's Dream 2020 - Twelfth Night
2020 - Twelfth Night 2020 - Twelfth Night
2020 - Twelfth Night 2020 - Twelfth Night
2020 - Twelfth Night 2020 - Twelfth Night
2020 - Twelfth Night 2021 - Juluis Caesar
2021 - Juluis Caesar 2021 - Juluis Caesar
2021 - Juluis Caesar 2021 - Juluis Caesar
2021 - Juluis Caesar 2021 - Juluis Caesar
2021 - Juluis Caesar 2021 - The Tempest
2021 - The Tempest 2021 - The Tempest
2021 - The Tempest 2021 - The Tempest
2021 - The Tempest 2021 - The Tempest
2021 - The Tempest 2021 - The Tempest
2021 - The Tempest 2022 - MacBeth
2022 - MacBeth 2022 - MacBeth
2022 - MacBeth 2022 - MacBeth
2022 - MacBeth 2022 - MacBeth
2022 - MacBeth 2022 - MacBeth
2022 - MacBeth 2023 - Hamlet
2023 - Hamlet 2023 - Hamlet
2023 - Hamlet 2023 - Hamlet
2023 - Hamlet

Multimedia

2016 - Taming of the Shrew - An interview with "Kate" and "Petruchio"
2017 - Titus Andronicus - A promo video of "Maria"

Shakespeare 30th Celebration Committee

Shakespeare 30th Celebration Committee

 

Mary McDonald, chair

Frank Baker

Carmen Ball

Tiffany Harvey

Jake Krumwiede

Karen Loughman

Heather Palmer

Catina Ley Sundvall

Bailey Wilson

Donors

Very Special Thank You to our

Shakespeare in the Park

Financial Sponsors

City of Enid 
Ezzell & Shepherd
Harris Foundation
Diane & Jon Ford
Park Ave Thrift
Security National Bank of Enid
Enid Arts Council
Arts Council of Oklahoma
National Endowment Arts

 

Thanks to Additional Supporters


Muncy Photography
Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center
Enid Symphony Orchestra 
Phillip Whitaker Photography
Enid News & Eagle
Joshua Good
Michael Dotson
Dr. Daniel Washburn

Guestbook

Tell us your memories of Shakespeare in the Park!

Sponsors

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