Gaslight Theatre facts for kids
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Enid Community Theatre
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The Gaslight Theatre
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| Address | 122 N. Independence Enid, Oklahoma |
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| Opened | 1966 |
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| http://www.gaslighttheatre.org | |
The Gaslight Theatre is a community playhouse in Enid, Oklahoma. It's a nonprofit group, which means they put on shows for the love of acting and storytelling, not just to make money. The group started in 1966 and was first called the Enid Community Theatre.
Today, they perform in a cool, historic building called the Billings Theatre. This building is part of the Enid Downtown Historic District. The theatre group puts on about ten different plays every single year for everyone to enjoy!
Contents
History of the Theatre
The Enid Community Theatre was created in 1966. At first, they didn't have a permanent home. They performed in some interesting places, including an old TV studio and later a converted warehouse.
In 1989, the group found its forever home. They moved into and fixed up a building at 221 North Independence. This building had a long history with entertainment. It was built way back in 1924 to be the Billings Theatre. It hosted live shows like vaudeville, which were popular variety shows with singers, dancers, comedians, and magicians.
Over the years, the building also became a place to see movies. It was home to several movie theaters, like the Criterion Movie House and the Cinema Twin, before the Gaslight Theatre group brought live plays back to its stage.
What Can You See at the Gaslight?
The Gaslight Theatre is always busy with exciting shows and events for all ages.
A Year Full of Plays
Every year, the theatre presents ten different productions. This includes five regular plays and a big summer musical. They also offer dinner theatre at a nearby event center, where you can enjoy a meal while you watch the show.
For a special treat, the group performs Shakespeare in the Park for free in Government Springs Park. It's a great way to see a classic play outdoors!
Programs for Young People
The theatre has special programs just for young actors. A group called Gaslight Teens puts on a play every year. There is also a summer drama camp where kids can learn about acting and put on their own show.
In 2018, the theatre opened a smaller, second stage called The Turpin at Gaslight. It's a "black box theater," which is a simple, square room that lets the audience get closer to the action. It was named after Dr. Jerry Turpin, who was an actor, director, and big supporter of the theatre for many years.
Celebrating the Community
The Gaslight Theatre is powered by volunteers from the community. People help out both on stage as actors and backstage with costumes, sets, and lights.
To thank these amazing volunteers, the theatre holds an awards show every year called the "Charlie Awards." The ceremony is named after Charles Norman Duff, another person who supported the theatre for a long time. It's their special night to celebrate everyone's hard work.
See also
External links
- Official Gaslight Theatre website: http://www.gaslighttheatre.org
