Our Mission
Oklahoma Children's Theatre provides extraordinary live theatre and interactive educational experiences for young audiences. We inspire young people to visualize their potential, enhance family relationships and invest in the future of our communities.
Performances
Regular Season
Each year we present a diverse season, with great show options for Pre-K through 6th grade. All productions are performed in one of three performance spaces on the OCU campus. We do approximately 70 performances per season, including both daytime weekday field trip performances and weekend performances for families.
Co-Productions with TheatreOCU
We normally do 1 co-production per season; this show is usually more mature and are geared for 5th grade and up. These are part of our regular season as well as part of the TheatreOCU season, and roles are cast primarily with OCU students.
Touring
Each year we produce a dedicated touring show that travels throughout the state to approximately 25 to 30 different communities. We're proud of our work in bringing the arts to the Oklahoman children in more rural communities, that are often too far away to make a field trip to visit us. Our touring show is also available to travel to local schools and libraries, providing an affordable group theatre experience.
Education
Camps
We host one-week camps throughout the summer and during all seasonal school breaks (spring, fall, and winter). Each session caters for young people aged 5-13 years old and provides our students the opportunity to experience and learn in a diverse performing and visual arts based environment.
Young Company
Young Company is OCT’s year-round student production program. Young actors love taking to the stage alongside their directors, adult actors, and technical staff, working to bring productions of full-sized adventure to life. Through a diverse and exciting production season, Young Company offers countless opportunities for children and teens to experience the excitement of the theatre as they hone their craft, develop new skills, overcome challenges, and make new friends in a safe and encouraging production environment.
Outreach
In-school residency programs
Each year we offer educational outreach residencies in local schools that teach theatre skills as well as creative thinking and teamwork through an arts education curriculum. Each program concludes with a final performance for invited friends and family. Educational outreach programs are provided at no or minimal cost to the school.
Page to Stage
Page to Stage is a traveling, short-term workshop series for Title I schools which teaches literacy, comprehension, and “reading for meaning.” Each participating class has three workshops in their classroom with an OCT teaching artist that focus on vocabulary and plot using a well-known story. A production of that story is then brought to the school, with each student in the class receiving a copy of the book on which the play was based. Our Page to Stage program is provided free to participating Title I schools through the generous support of program sponsors.
Tickets and transportation facilitation
Each year OCT provides limited bus and ticket packages for local area Title I schools, made possible through generous donations from individual and corporate sponsors.
Fundraising
Fairy Tale Ball
Our annual fundraising event is a one-of-a-kind gala in OKC. It’s a dazzling, fun and fantasy filled evening for the whole family! Imagine spinning through the ground level doors of the Chase Tower into a world filled with games and play areas for adults and children.
Everywhere you look you see all your favorite princesses, knights in shining armor, dragons, fairies, princes, kings and queens along with many more storybook characters.
Formal dinner for the adults follows, along with dinner and entertainment events for both children and tweens. The whole family rejoins at the end of the night for an unforgettable fairytale dance party.
Mentoring
OCU Internships
Each semester we employ up to seven part-time student workers from the OCU campus, which provides practical education and experience in working for a professional theatre company. Our student workers have the opportunity to learn teaching skills as well as gain experience in box office management, set and props construction, PR, and many other areas that will benefit them when they graduate and are employed by theatre companies elsewhere.
Youth Advisory Board
Our Youth Advisory Board, known as the YAB, is made up of young people aged 12-16, who want to remain involved with our organization, even if they've aged out of our programs. The Youth Advisory Board is a self-lead teen leadership group that is advised by OCT administrative staff and serves its surrounding community of students, families, and educators.
Teen Volunteers
Each year we provide opportunities for teens to volunteer as part of our seasonal camp programs. Our teen volunteer program provides a safe and engaging environment that focusses on teaching young people important life skills through an internship styled program. Our teen volunteers are responsible and motivated teens aged 14-16 years old, who work alongside our campers, teaching, and administrative staff in our camp programs. Volunteers learn leadership skills, gain professional experience, are presented with creative opportunities, solve problems, and socialize in a safe and structured environment. Our volunteers are primarily ex-students who have aged out of our regular classes but want to stay involved with our organization.