From 'Mary Poppins' to 'Jersey Boys,' here's what OKC's Lyric Theatre is staging in 2024

Oklahoma's official state theater is galloping into 2024 with a new one-man show that was a big hit off-Broadway.

Lyric Theatre is getting its 61st season off to a fast start right out the gate Feb. 15-25 with the sought-after "Small," a wild ride of an autobiographical story written and performed by jockey-turned-dancer Robert Montano.

Coming off a 60th anniversary season that set multiple records, the nonprofit Oklahoma City professional theater is starting "Small" but planning a big seven-show 2024 lineup, ranging from a rollicking jukebox musical ("Jersey Boys") and fresh takes on iconic family favorites ("Mary Poppins," "Cinderella" and "Once on This Island") to an affecting and anticipated new musical ("King of Pangaea") and a million-dollar yuletide classic ("A Christmas Carol").

"We're really leaning into 'what's a really interesting story?' Whether it's an adaptation of a classic work or it's a brand-new story about someone's life, I think people want to have some kind of human connection," said Producing Artistic Director Michael Baron.

"When we first started post-pandemic, (people were) like, 'I want to be entertained. I want to be entertained in any way possible.' And I think now people want to still be entertained, but to go out and have something with more meat to it that makes it special — and that they'll talk about later."

What shows broke ticket sale records for Lyric Theatre in 2023?

Although season subscription sales are still down compared to pre-COVID levels, Lyric set new records with three 2023 shows. Last spring, the theater's OKC professional premiere of the hilarious hit "The Play That Goes Wrong" romped to record-breaking ticket sales to become the highest-selling play in Lyric's long history. In summer, the company's expansive revival of "The Sound of Music" became Lyric's top musical for revenue generated.

And the triumphant new production of "A Christmas Carol" not only sold more tickets than it ever had before but also became the highest-selling show in the history of Lyric's Plaza District theater, outstripping "The Play That Goes Wrong." Those new ticket sales records are encouraging signs as Lyric continues to recover from the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Subscription (sales) have increased dramatically from the renewals of last year and the year before. They were down 30%. I think now we're up to (them being down) 20%," Baron said. "And this year, we've got a huge slate of shows."

Behind the scenes, Lyric also has huge plans, from hosting the National Alliance for Musical Theatre's spring conference in April to building out a recently purchased 40,000-square-foot facility to house and grow the theater's scenic, costume and props studios.

Here's a look at what Lyric is putting on stage in 2024 in its own 278-seat Plaza Theatre and at the 2,477-seat Civic Center main stage:

'Small'

When: Feb. 15-25.

Where: Lyric’s Plaza Theatre, 1725 NW 16.

An add-on to Lyric's five-show mainstage season, Robert Montano's one-man show roams from the famed Belmont Park racetrack, where he launched his first career as a professional jockey, to Broadway stages, where he became a professional dancer and even worked with stage legend Chita Rivera in "Kiss of the Spiderwoman" and "Chita Plus Two." Rivera, who died last month at age 91, backed Montano and his first staged reading of "Small," said Lyric Executive Producer Ashley Wells.

In spring 2022, "Small" had its world premiere with Penguin Rep Theatre, in Stony Point, New York, and in summer 2023, it debuted off-Broadway, where it was an immediate hit. Montano is coming to OKC directly from People’s Light theater in Pennsylvania, where "Small" has been such a smash that the run was extended.

"It's gonna go everywhere. It's such a captivating story — and it's 90% about being a horse jockey and only 10% about Broadway," Baron said. "I would compare it to a Martin Scorsese film ... in that it has that richness of (depicting) the horse track. But it also has elements of competitive wrestling, cheerleading or any sport that requires you to control your body."

'King of Pangaea'

When: March 20-April 7.

Where: Plaza Theatre.

Lyric will continue its long-running New Works Initiative with the first show of its subscription season, a new musical that Baron said is akin to Mitch Albom's best-seller "Tuesdays with Morrie" meets Maurice Sendak's cherished children's book "Where the Wild Things Are."

"King of Pangaea" is the first musical from Martin Storrow, a prolific Jewish poet, artist and songwriter based in Los Angeles, who penned the book, lyrics and music based on his own experience. The "fantasy musical memoir" follows 21-year-old Christopher Crow as he suffers a sudden, shattering loss and then travels back to the imaginary island of his childhood, hoping to find answers that will put the pieces of his life back together.

"It's told through magical realism. Elijah the prophet is a character in the show ... and through parable, he learns how to deal with grief," said Baron, who is directing the production. "The music is 100%, from beginning to end, crushingly, beautifully honest and sweet. ... It's a really special show, especially for us to get to do it this soon."

In collaboration with Atlanta's Aurora Theatre, Lyric is staging the first fully realized production of "King of Pangaea." The workshop of the musical enthralled audiences at the National Alliance for Musical Theatre's fall 2022 Festival of New Musicals, and Lyric's production will coincide with the alliance's spring conference in OKC.

'Mary Poppins'

When: June 25-30

Where: Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N Walker.

Lyric will launch its 2024 "Summer at the Civic" three-show season with a “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” comeback for the enchanted nanny. With its script by Oscar winner Julian Fellowes ("Gosford Park"), the Tony Award-winning musical is based on the groundbreaking 1964 Disney film as well as P.L. Travers' beloved book series.

The 2015 staging of "Mary Poppins" was one of the most successful shows in Lyric's six-decade history, so the theater is bringing in a seasoned creative team for the new production, which will be directed by Lyn Cramer and choreographed by Vincent Sandoval.

"Neither of them have done the show before, and we have a brand-new set, which is totally spectacular, by Kimberly Powers," Baron said. "It's a fresh look at a show that everyone loves, and it has all the songs and amazing dancing."

'Jersey Boys'

When: July 9-14.

Where: Civic Center.

With Wells directing, Lyric will stage for the first time the Tony-winning musical biopic of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. The musical showcases the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame vocal group's classic hits like “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Sherry,” “My Eyes Adored You,” “Walk Like A Man,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You" and more.

"I just love the show. My entire family loves the show: My mom loves the show; my kids love this show. I'm just so excited to work on it — and who doesn't love the Four Seasons?" Wells said.

"I think everybody likes to see origin stories ... and I love how this is told, because you get a snippet of how it's told through each one of the guys' different point of view at different times. That's different as opposed to just a regular jukebox musical, where you just get that one lens of the storytelling."

'Cinderella'

When: July 30-Aug. 4.

Where: Civic Center.

Lyric is again teaming with Deaf Austin Theatre as well as the Zach Theatre in Austin, Texas, to make the magic of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Tony-nominated musical fairy tale, which features the memorable songs “In My Own Little Corner,” “Impossible” and “Ten Minutes Ago."

Directed by Baron and Deaf Austin Theatre Artistic Director Brian A. Cheslik, the show will be performed simultaneously and seamlessly in English and American Sign Language. They previously helmed the innovative retelling of the familiar fairy story last year at the Zach Theatre.

Broadway and television star Sandra Mae Frank, who is deaf, will return to OKC to star in "Cinderella." Known for her performances in the 2015 Broadway revival of "Spring Awakening" and in the 2018-2023 NBC series "New Amsterdam," Frank previously appeared in Lyric's 2016 staging of "Fiddler on the Roof" and 2018 OKC premiere production of "Fun Home."

"When Sandra sings 'In My Own Little Corner,' there's no vocals: She's just singing with sign language, and the violin is doing the melody. So, you can sing along if you're hearing to what she's doing or not. But it's really wonderful and fascinating and beautiful," Baron said.

"The first day tickets were on sale for the show, our box office gets a call from a woman practically in tears of happiness, saying, 'I can't believe you're doing this show. I couldn't be more excited.' ... And we're excited, too."

'Once on This Island'

When: Sept. 18-Oct. 6.

Where: Plaza Theatre.

Lyric returns to the Plaza Theatre in fall to revisit the eight-time Tony-nominated musical, which bowed on Broadway in 1990.

The show is based on Trinidadian author Rosa Guy's 1985 novel "My Love, My Love: or The Peasant Girl," a Caribbean reimagining of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy story “The Little Mermaid.”

With its book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, the musical centers on Ti Moune, a peasant girl who rescues Daniel, a rich boy from the other side of their island, and falls in love with him despite the island’s societal norms. Guided by the arrogant island gods, who take bets on her success, Ti Moune embarks on a fearless journey to reunite with the man who has captured her heart. The music by Stephen Flaherty sets the show to a lively Calypso beat.

"When that show first came out, my cassette of 'Once on This Island,' I could not play it enough. Wore it out. I was Ti Moune every day at the top of my lungs," Baron said with a laugh.

Lyric last staged "Once on This Island" in 2007, a decade before the show won the Tony for best revival of a musical. Monique Midgette, who helmed Lyric's 2023 production of "Ain't Misbehavin'," will direct.

'A Christmas Carol'

When: Nov. 23-Dec. 27.

Where: Plaza Theatre.

In keeping with yuletide tradition, Lyric will close its 61st season with its faithful retelling of Charles Dickens' treasured "Ghost Story of Christmas" as an add-on production. After performing the play outdoors at Harn Homestead for three years during the pandemic, the nonprofit theater received a $1 million gift from Devon Energy to help create a festive new indoor production back inside the Plaza Theatre.

Lyric debuted its new "Christmas Carol" — including a new set, costumes, lights, sound effects and staging — last year.

"It was successful in all the ways we wanted it to be. ... It was very technically ambitious, and it worked every single night. So, that was wonderful. I think that the expectations were high with the gift that we were given, and I feel like we achieved that expectation and more," Baron said.

"The audiences, they came back in droves, and there were a lot of new families. ... So we're looking forward to it again this year."

For more information, go to https://lyrictheatreokc.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: 'Mary Poppins' to 'Jersey Boys,' what's coming to OKC's Lyric Theatre