Oklahoma City Repertory Theater

PROJECT PURPOSE

Oklahoma City Repertory Theater (OKC Rep) is a civic institution that presents theater artists and stories meant to respond to the issues affecting the citizens of Oklahoma City. We are dedicated to championing new ways of making theater, supporting innovative artists, and growing the cultural ecology of Oklahoma City. We are finalizing plans for the 2022-2023 season with 3 original productions and 3 presentations of national/international artists. This season of work will also feature collaborations with local artists, cultural organizations, and public intellectuals. OKC Rep is the only theater in Oklahoma that premieres this kind of work. The core values guiding our organization are: -Civically-Engaged: We believe in empowering our local community through relevant stories and connections with artists. Our theater will be a cultural cornerstone of OKC. -Equitable: We believe in fostering an inclusive and nurturing community for artists, theater workers, and audience members. -Sustainable: We intentionally strategize for human, financial and environmental sustainability. -Excellence: We strive to produce exceptional work, with a high standard for quality and professionalism in all aspects of our organization. -Inventive: Our work expands the definition of theater. Our creative process and administrative systems are consistently re-imagined, adapted, and improved.

EVIDENCE

The work we present and produce celebrates differences and complexities in culture, rejects bigotry, stimulates re-thinking, and creates space for community. We believe Oklahoma needs a theater with these aims. The theater we champion spurs ideas, starts conversations, and inspires positive change in our community. We champion radical inclusion in our theater and within our staff by curating work from a diverse array of artists, bringing once-disempowered stories to light, and we have implemented anti-racism practices in our hiring. We also believe our theater season will be a source of pride for Oklahoma City.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

The theater industry has been deeply impacted by the pandemic. OKC Rep has gone without programming for two years due to it; thus the administrative staff, the performers/artists and technical staff have gone without employment during this time. This season will create many opportunities for artists and theater workers to get work. Our new artistic director is rigorously working to diversify the artists and the audience in a meaningful way. People from underprivileged communities have less access to the arts, and we believe that culture belongs to everyone. To answer this, there are heavily discounted tickets for all performances so those experiencing barriers to entry due to financial constraints can still have the opportunity to experience high quality theater. This broad audience will be made up of people from all over the city, from all income brackets, and from different backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, belief systems, and political lines. The pandemic has made society increasingly more isolated, and our programming will bring people together in a literal sense, while also being a place for unity and connection. Social isolation is linked to depression, and we believe our programs will feed the human spirit and bring our community back to life.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

OKC Rep will gauge the effectiveness of the programming through: 1. Attendance to performances and events, including repeat attendance. We will assess audience demographics as the season progresses to reach a broader and broader audience. 2. Social Media followers and interaction: including increased followers, accounts reached, and cross promotion posts. 3. Number of collaborations and partnerships with regards to panels, events, and newsletter cross-promotions. 4. Number of newsletter subscribers. 5. Number of donors. We will use our donor database, web-based email marketing service, audience surveys, social media performance tools, and ticketing software to manage data and produce reports.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma