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

Photos

1995 - Much Ado About Nothing
1995 - Much Ado About Nothing1995 - Much Ado About Nothing
1995 - Much Ado About Nothing1997 - MacBeth
1997 - MacBeth1997 - MacBeth
1997 - MacBeth1997 - MacBeth
1997 - MacBeth1998 - As You Like It
1998 - As You Like It1998 - As You Like It
1998 - As You Like It1998 - As You Like It
1998 - As You Like It1999 - Hamlet
1999 - Hamlet2001 - Taming of the Shrew
2001 - Taming of the Shrew2002 - Romeo and Juliet
2002 - Romeo and Juliet2002 - Romeo and Juliet
2002 - Romeo and Juliet2003 - A Midsummer Night's Dream
2003 - A Midsummer Night's Dream2003 - A Midsummer Night's Dream
2003 - A Midsummer Night's Dream2004 - The Merchant of Venice
2004 - The Merchant of Venice2004 - The Merchant of Venice
2004 - The Merchant of Venice2004 - The Merchant of Venice
2004 - The Merchant of Venice2004 - The Merchant of Venice
2004 - The Merchant of Venice2004 - 10th Anniversary Reunion
2004 - 10th Anniversary Reunion2004 - The Merchant of Venice
2004 - The Merchant of Venice2005 - A Comedy of Errors
2005 - A Comedy of Errors2005 - A Comedy of Errors
2005 - A Comedy of Errors2005 - A Comedy of Errors
2005 - A Comedy of Errors2006 - King Lear
2006 - King Lear2006 - King Lear
2006 - King Lear2006 - King Lear
2006 - King Lear2006 - King Lear
2006 - King Lear2007 - Love's Labours Lost
2007 - Love's Labours Lost2007 - Love's Labours Lost
2007 - Love's Labours Lost2008 - Richard III - teen pre-show
2008 - Richard III - teen pre-show2008 - Richard III
2008 - Richard III2008 - Richard III
2008 - Richard III2008 - Richard III
2008 - Richard III2008 - Richard III
2008 - Richard III2008 - Richard III
2008 - Richard III2009 - The Tempest
2009 - The Tempest2009 - The Tempest
2009 - The Tempest2009 - The Tempest
2009 - The Tempest2010 - Julius Caeser
2010 - Julius Caeser2010 - Julius Caeser
2010 - Julius Caeser2010 - Julius Caeser
2010 - Julius Caeser2011 - MacBeth
2011 - MacBeth2011 - MacBeth
2011 - MacBeth2011 - MacBeth
2011 - MacBeth2011 - MacBeth
2011 - MacBeth2011 - MacBeth
2011 - MacBeth2012 - Antony and Cleopatra
2012 - Antony and Cleopatra2012 - Antony and Cleopatra
2012 - Antony and Cleopatra2012 - Antony and Cleopatra
2012 - Antony and Cleopatra2012 - Antony and Cleopatra
2012 - Antony and Cleopatra2012 - Antony and Cleopatra
2012 - Antony and Cleopatra2013 - Much Ado About Nothing
2013 - Much Ado About Nothing2013 - Much Ado About Nothing
2013 - Much Ado About Nothing2013 - Much Ado About Nothing
2013 - Much Ado About Nothing2013 - Much Ado About Nothing
2013 - Much Ado About Nothing2013 - Much Ado About Nothing
2013 - Much Ado About Nothing2014 Marked Our 20th Anniversary of Shakespeare in the Park
2014 Marked Our 20th Anniversary of Shakespeare in the Park2014 - Hamlet
2014 - Hamlet2014 - Hamlet
2014 - Hamlet2014 - Hamlet
2014 - Hamlet2014 - Hamlet
2014 - Hamlet2015 - Othello
2015 - Othello2015 - Othello
2015 - Othello2015 - Othello
2015 - Othello2016 - Taming of the Shrew
2016 - Taming of the Shrew2016 - Taming of the Shrew
2016 - Taming of the Shrew2016 - Taming of the Shrew
2016 - Taming of the Shrew2016 - Taming of the Shrew
2016 - Taming of the Shrew2017 - Titus Andronicus
2017 - Titus Andronicus2017 - Titus Andronicus
2017 - Titus Andronicus2017 - Titus Andronicus
2017 - Titus Andronicus2017 - Titus Andronicus
2017 - Titus Andronicus2017 - Titus Andronicus
2017 - Titus Andronicus2017 - Titus Andronicus
2017 - Titus Andronicus2017 - Titus Andronicus
2017 - Titus Andronicus2018 - Romeo and Juliet
2018 - Romeo and Juliet2018 - Romeo and Juliet
2018 - Romeo and Juliet2018 - Romeo and Juliet
2018 - Romeo and Juliet2018 - Romeo and Juliet
2018 - Romeo and Juliet2018 - Romeo and Juliet
2018 - Romeo and Juliet2019 - A Midsummer Night's Dream
2019 - A Midsummer Night's Dream2019 - A Midsummer Night's Dream
2019 - A Midsummer Night's Dream2019 - A Midsummer Night's Dream
2019 - A Midsummer Night's Dream2020 - Twelfth Night
2020 - Twelfth Night2020 - Twelfth Night
2020 - Twelfth Night2020 - Twelfth Night
2020 - Twelfth Night2020 - Twelfth Night
2020 - Twelfth Night2021 - Juluis Caesar
2021 - Juluis Caesar2021 - Juluis Caesar
2021 - Juluis Caesar2021 - Juluis Caesar
2021 - Juluis Caesar2021 - Juluis Caesar
2021 - Juluis Caesar2021 - The Tempest
2021 - The Tempest2021 - The Tempest
2021 - The Tempest2021 - The Tempest
2021 - The Tempest2021 - The Tempest
2021 - The Tempest2021 - The Tempest
2021 - The Tempest2022 - MacBeth
2022 - MacBeth2022 - MacBeth
2022 - MacBeth2022 - MacBeth
2022 - MacBeth2022 - MacBeth
2022 - MacBeth2022 - MacBeth
2022 - MacBeth2023 - Hamlet
2023 - Hamlet2023 - Hamlet
2023 - Hamlet2023 - 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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