Behind the Curtain of Oklahoma! - A Luminary Member Exclusive
The Tulsa PAC’s production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! struck a chord with the community, and TPAC’s Luminary Circle members stole a peek behind the curtain before the trill of the trumpets rang out on opening night.
Members gathered in the Tulsa PAC’s Second Street lower lobby for a glass of champagne before taking their seats in the Norman Theatre for an exclusive preview. They watched as the cast of 32 went through their warm-up regimen led by choreographer Jen Alden. Each cast member took their time to drop into their character in both body and spirit before Grayson Schreiber, who played Will Parker, regaled them with stories of his adventures in Kansas City. Ruby Shadley and Conor Jordan, playing Laurey and Curly, then gave donors an up-close performance of “People Will Say We’re in Love” (Reprise).
Ruby Shadley (Laurey) and Conor Jordan (Curly) performing “People Will Say We’re in Love”
“The talent here is amazing. Every time you hear the song ‘Oklahoma!’, it just brings you a lot of pride,” said Luminary member Stephanie Wheeler, reflecting on the evening. “You have to sing along. You have to clap your hands and ‘Yeehaw!’ with the gang.”
Members then heard from director Pete Otis, music director Cathy Venable, and choreographer Jen Alden. After the Q&A, each cast member shared a bit about themselves before inviting Luminary members to sing along to the title song “Oklahoma!” and close out the night with their biggest “yee-ow!”
Cathy Venable (left), Pete Otis (center), and Jen Alden (right) answer questions about Oklahoma!.
While Luminary members enjoy perks such as donor previews, LaFortune Studio bar and lounge access, social mixers, and more, members also get to savor the feeling of knowing their financial contribution truly makes a difference in the community.
Member Sandi Tilkin says to be a Luminary means to be deeply involved in supporting TPAC programs. “The PAC does much to expose the Tulsa community to all kinds of entertainment, appealing to a variety of different audiences,” says Tilkin.
Luminary Circle is not just another society or club—it is a community where members’ contributions directly impact TPAC programming. Funds support programs such as:
Broadway Senior which connects adults 60+ with the joy of Broadway by giving them the opportunity to present a short musical each year.
Any Given Child which provides Tulsa Public Schools students the opportunity to take part in free educational theatre through live performances produced in-house at TPAC.
Brown Bag It, a casual afternoon concert series, offered free-of-charge to the Tulsa community and featuring Oklahoma's finest professional musicians.
These are just three examples of the fourteen programs that TPAC offers, and Luminary members help support them all.
What does the Luminary Circle mean to our members? For Anna Tran, it’s a way to "sustain creativity and enrich the community." For Teresa Dillon, it’s about "helping the arts reach everyone!"
If you would like to join us at future donor previews and bring the arts to all, start your Luminary Circle membership at