UCO theatre features wide variety of performances for 2015-16

Tickets for the University of Central Oklahoma’s (UCO) Mitchell Hall Theatre 2015-16 performing arts season are now on sale. The upcoming season puts variety center stage.

“This year’s season is jam-packed with exciting, innovative works, some world premieres, some Oklahoma premieres and a handful of classics,” said Meghan Brasuell, director of Mitchell Hall Theatre, located on the campus of UCO in Edmond.

The season features dance, music, music theatre, opera and theatre arts performances with special highlights including the Tony Award-winning musical My One and Only; the Oklahoma premiere of the school-shooting drama EchoBoom; the classic telling of The Odyssey; guest artist Carter Pann with the UCO Symphony Orchestra, George Frideric Handel’s opera Serse: and the world premiere of the UCO dance adaptation of West Side Story titled Side Story: Just West of the Musical.

“Side Story will feature original choreography from Central’s Department of Dance creatively interpreting the entire story via dance to the musical backdrop of the UCO’s top jazz band performing Stan Kenton’s instrumental jazz rendition of the classic musical,” Brasuell said.

The Mitchell Hall season will also include the Broadway Tonight series – a guest performance series that features the music and dance industry’s top performing artists. This year’s series includes performances by NYC Cabaret artist Klea Blackhurst, the dance duo Chicago Tap and Broadway veteran Linda Eder.

“Our main mission at Mitchell Hall Theatre is to provide outreach and entertainment to the community, and that’s exactly what this season does – from special outreach performances designated to Edmond school students to our traditional season open to the community,” Brasuell added.

New this season is the Central Arts card, which offers cardholders a $5 discount per ticket on up to four tickets per show for the majority of performances at Mitchell Hall. The Central Arts card can be purchased for $25 through the Mitchell Hall Box Office.

“If a family of four attends one performance, the card has already almost paid for itself,” Brasuell said.

Mitchell Hall will also pair with the Melton Gallery, UCO’s art gallery, for “Meet Me at the Melton,” a free gallery viewing after Sunday matinees at Mitchell.

“A lot of the time, the amazing student and faculty artwork and Melton’s own collection match the themes and ideas discussed in the performances we offer at Mitchell,” Brasuell said.

“Plus it gives our patrons the chances to experience the visual arts as well as the performing arts in one afternoon.”

A listing of performances and tickets for Mitchell Hall Theatre performances are available by visiting www.mitchellhalltheatre.com or calling the Mitchell Hall Box Office at (405) 974-3375.

Mitchell Hall Theatre is located at the corner of E. Main Street and University Drive on the UCO campus, 100 N. University Drive, Edmond, OK 73034.

The Gayly – September 19, 2015 @ 4:50pm.