Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park (OSP) is a year‑round producing arts organization dedicated to creating accessible, high‑quality classical theatre and educational programming for audiences across Oklahoma. Founded in 1985, OSP has grown into one of the state’s most enduring cultural institutions, offering performances, training programs, and community engagement initiatives that make Shakespeare and classical literature relevant, vibrant, and available to all. Our programming is designed to meet the needs of a diverse audience, support local artists, and strengthen the cultural landscape of Oklahoma through performance, education, and community connection.

Our Campus and Performance Venues

OSP operates its own dedicated campus in the historic Paseo Arts District, the oldest arts district in Oklahoma City. This campus includes two performance venues:

• The Shakespeare Gardens Amphitheatre, a 200‑seat outdoor performance space designed specifically for classical theatre. The amphitheatre provides a unique, intimate environment for audiences to experience Shakespeare under the open sky, continuing OSP’s long tradition of outdoor performance while offering improved accessibility, stability, and artistic control.

• The Shakespeare Studio Black Box, a 55‑seat indoor theatre that supports smaller productions, workshops, staged readings, educational showcases, and community rentals. This flexible space allows OSP to produce work year‑round, expand programming beyond the summer season, and provide opportunities for emerging artists and students to perform in a professional environment.

These venues serve as the home for OSP’s mainstage productions, educational programs, community events, and rental partnerships with schools and other arts organizations.

Mainstage Productions

OSP produces a season of professional theatrical productions each year, primarily focused on the works of William Shakespeare but also including adaptations, contemporary re‑imaginings, and other classical texts. Productions are led by professional directors, actors, designers, and technicians from Oklahoma and the surrounding region. OSP provides paid opportunities for local artists, contributing to the vitality of the state’s creative workforce.

Our productions incorporate high‑quality design elements including lighting, sound, costumes, props, and scenic work, all of which support our commitment to artistic excellence. We produce work that is rooted in tradition yet responsive to contemporary audiences, often incorporating modern staging, diverse casting, and educational framing to deepen audience engagement.

Performances at the Shakespeare Gardens Amphitheatre and the Shakespeare Studio Black Box draw thousands of audience members each year. These productions serve as a cultural touchstone for the community, offering accessible entry points into Shakespeare’s works and providing opportunities for audiences to experience theatre in a relaxed, welcoming environment. Many performances are offered at low or no cost, ensuring that financial barriers do not prevent community members from attending.

Educational Programming

Education is a core pillar of OSP’s mission. Our educational programming is designed to make Shakespeare approachable, enjoyable, and meaningful for learners of all ages. Through workshops, residencies, classes, matinees, and youth programs, OSP reaches students across Oklahoma City and beyond.

Day with Shakespeare – Annual Student Matinee at OCCC VPAC

Each year, OSP presents Day with Shakespeare, a large‑scale student matinee at the Oklahoma City Community College Visual and Performing Arts Center. This program serves approximately 1,000 students from across Oklahoma, offering access to a professional Shakespeare production that supports curriculum goals in English language arts, literacy, and social‑emotional learning. For many students, this event provides their first experience of live theatre.

Youth Classical Theatre Conservatory (YCTC)

Each summer, OSP offers the Youth Classical Theatre Conservatory, an intensive training program for teenagers. YCTC teaches Shakespeare, acting, voice, movement, text analysis, and ensemble building. Beyond theatrical skills, the program emphasizes confidence, public speaking, interpersonal relationship development, collaboration, and leadership. Students work with professional teaching artists and culminate their training in a public performance.

Shakespeare Lab – Mobile Outreach

OSP’s Shakespeare Lab is a mobile outreach program that brings master classes, workshops, and Shakespeare instruction directly to schools, libraries, community centers, and partner organizations. Shakespeare Lab also welcomes groups to OSP’s campus for on‑site workshops. This flexible program allows OSP to reach communities with limited access to arts education and to tailor instruction to the needs of each group.

Shakespeare Studio – Weekly Adult and Emerging Artist Training

The Shakespeare Studio is an ongoing weekly deep dive into acting Shakespeare, designed as a complement to the summer YCTC intensive. Adult learners, emerging artists, and university students participate in text work, scene study, voice training, and performance practice. This program strengthens Oklahoma’s artistic workforce by providing consistent, high‑quality training opportunities.

Master/Apprentice Teaching Model

OSP maintains an ongoing master/apprentice teaching model in which professional actors and master teaching artists mentor emerging artists. Apprentices receive instruction, coaching, and on‑the‑job training through participation in productions, educational programs, and workshops. This model supports workforce development and helps cultivate the next generation of Oklahoma theatre artists.

University Partnerships

OSP works closely with every major university theatre program in the state, including:

• University of Oklahoma (OU)

• Oklahoma State University (OSU)

• University of Central Oklahoma (UCO)

• Oklahoma City University (OCU)

Through these partnerships, OSP provides professional development opportunities for university students, including acting roles, backstage positions, internships, apprenticeships, and collaborative productions. These partnerships strengthen the pipeline between academic training and professional theatre in Oklahoma.

Community Engagement and Rentals

OSP’s campus serves as a community hub for the performing arts. In addition to our own programming, we make our venues available for rentals to schools, theatres, and community organizations. Recent renters include:

• Casady School

• Crossings Christian School

• The Jewish Theatre of Oklahoma

• TheatreCrude

These rentals provide local organizations with access to professional‑quality performance spaces and expand OSP’s impact within the community.

OSP also offers free or low‑cost community engagement events such as staged readings, talkbacks, actor Q&As, public classes, and collaborative programming with local cultural institutions. These events foster dialogue, build community, and make the arts accessible to all. OSP also hosts seasonal community events, including an emerging annual fall festival that brings families, students, and neighborhood residents together for performances, workshops, and arts activities.

Artist Support and Workforce Development

OSP is committed to supporting Oklahoma’s artistic workforce. We provide paid opportunities for actors, directors, designers, stage managers, technicians, and teaching artists. Our productions serve as a training ground for emerging artists and a professional home for experienced practitioners. Through mentorship, skill development, and collaborative opportunities, OSP strengthens the local arts ecosystem.

Organizational Mission and Impact

OSP’s mission is to produce professional, innovative, and accessible Shakespearean theatre that enriches the cultural life of Oklahoma. Our programming expands access to the performing arts, fosters community connection, supports local artists, provides high‑quality educational experiences, and celebrates the enduring relevance of Shakespeare’s work.

Each year, OSP serves thousands of audience members, students, and community participants. Our programming reaches families, educators, young people, seniors, and individuals who may not otherwise have access to live theatre. We are committed to maintaining affordability, accessibility, and artistic excellence across all programs.

Year‑Round Organizational Activity

Beyond performances and classes, OSP maintains year‑round operations that include production planning, artist hiring, community partnerships, fundraising, donor engagement, volunteer coordination, board development, and strategic planning. These activities ensure that OSP remains a stable, sustainable, and impactful arts organization capable of serving the community for decades to come.