Encore! Theatre Arts is a 501(c)(3) non-profit theatre company that was founded in 2009 and incorporated in February 2010 by husband-wife team, Joshua and Mindy Barker.
Our mission is to foster an appreciation for live theatre and make high-quality theatre productions more accessible in the Tulsa community through affordable ticket prices. In addition to low ticket prices, we offer further discounts to groups and individuals such as Girl & Boy Scouts of America, Red Hat Society, Big Brother & Big Sisters, as well as students, seniors, children, police officers, fire fighters, and veterans. We also regularly invite individuals from such organizations as Family & Children Services, DHS, and Owasso Baptist Home and to see our productions for free. Read more
You Make a Difference Award
Family & Children Services
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Accomplishments
Through the generous support of donors, sponsors, and volunteers, we are able to produce some of the highest-quality productions in Tulsa while maintaining the lowest ticket prices.
Our 2010-2011 inaugural season consisted of:
- The Jungle Book (Tulsa Performing Arts Center, September 2010)
- The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (Tulsa Little Theatre, November 2010; recognized by Family & Children Services with the You Make a Difference Award. Every child that attended the charity performance went home with a Christmas gift)
- The Magician's Nephew (Tulsa Little Theatre, January 2011)
- Steel Magnolias (Tulsa Little Theatre, February 2011)
- Fame (Tulsa Little Theatre, April 2011; featured on Groupon with half price tickets available to the public)
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (John Williams Theatre of the Tulsa PAC, July 2011; in conjuction with Tulsa SummerStage, made possible through a grant from the Tulsa PAC Trust)
- Alice in Wonderland (Tulsa PAC, August 2011; a smashing success with sold-out performances at the Tulsa PAC)
In addition to receiving Family & Children Services' You Make a Difference Award, Encore! Theatre Arts is also recognized in Oklahoma Magazine's Best of the Best 2011 for our summer theatre camps.
What We Offer
Encore! Theatre Arts offers year-round acting classes for children ages 4-18. This includes group classes, private lessons, workshops, and summer camps. High school and college students earn community service hours by serving as counselors and assistant teachers in many of these programs.
We hold open auditions for our productions for the community to get involved. Our casts include young children making their stage debut, teenagers who dream of a career in theatre, young adults who hold or are working towards a theatre degree, older adults with years of experience, and everything in between. The wide range of ages and experiences creates a fun, educational, and unique experience for everyone involved, and allows us to produce the best productions possible.
Facilities
Our 3,000 sq-ft. facility includes a studio that serves as classroom and rehearsal space, a workshop for building sets and props, and office space.
Most of our productions are performed in the Liddy Doenges and John H. Williams Theatres of the Tulsa Performing Arts Center, with occasional productions at Tulsa Little Theatre.
Rubye Awards
Encore! Theatre Arts hosts an annual awards banquet in the style of the prestigous Academy Awards. We recognize stand-out performances from actors of the previous season as well as show appreciation for the time and dedication of our valued volunteers and sponsors.
The first annual Rubye Awards in September 2011 was held at Chimi's Mexican Restaurant. Three limos transported all of the Rubye Award nominees, courtesy of First Class Limousines of Tulsa and the evening was hosted by FOX23 News Anchor, Ron Terrell. For details and photos of the 2011 Rubye Awards, click here.
Board of Directors
Encore! Theatre Arts, Inc.
1302-B E. 15th St.
Tulsa, OK 74120
(918) 850-4210
Info@EncoreTulsa.com
Joshua Branson Barker President & Artistic Director
Encore! Theatre Arts: A Christmas Story (Director, Set Design, The Old Man),Wait Until Dark (Director, Harry Roat, Set Design, Fight Choreography, Costume Design), Alice in Wonderland (Director, Mad Hatter, Set Design, Costume & Makeup Design), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Director, Willy Wonka, Set Design, Costume Design), Fame (Director, Ralph Garcy, Set Design), Steel Magnolias (Director, Set Design), Magician's Nephew (Director, Aslan, Set Design, Pyrotechnics Technician), The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (Director, Set Design, Combat Choreography, 2010: Aslan, Father Christmas, 2011: Peter Pevensie), The Jungle Book (Director, Shere Khan, Set Design, Makeup Design).
Joshua directs and designs the sets for Encore's productions. He has been involved in the Tulsa theatre community for 14 years and has won numerous service awards for his work in theatre, such as Family & Children Services' You Make a Difference Award.
Since he was young, Joshua has loved entertaining and making others laugh through his voices and imitations, such as Elmo, the Grinch, Cowardly Lion, Andy Kaufman, Arnold Schwarzeneggar, and Elvis Presley. In high school, Joshua developed a passion for directing and set design, and began directing at local community theatres at the age of 19. He studied theatre at Holland Hall and through college while continuing to contribute to the Tulsa theatre community.
Joshua would like to thank Tulsans for their endless support.
"In particular, thank you for voting Encore! Theatre Arts as Best of the Best of 2011 in Oklahoma Magazine. We are still a new theatre company, and you have helped us grow faster than we could have dreamed. We value your support, and we will continue to strive to please you, our audience, with fun and entertaining productions for years to come!"
Mindy Barker Vice-President & Director of Education
Encore! Theatre Arts: A Christmas Story (Director, Light & Sound Design, Mother), Wait Until Dark (Susy Hendrix, Costume Design, Sound Design), Alice in Wonderland (Director, Tweedledum, Sound Design), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Director, Mrs. Beauregarde, Sound Design, Dance Choreography), Fame (Director, Miss Berg, Sound & Costume Design), Steel Magnolias (Shelby, Light & Sound Design, Costume Design), Magician's Nephew (Director, Queen Jadis, Light & Sound Design), The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (Director, White Witch, Light & Sound Design), The Jungle Book (Director, Sound Design).
Mindy teaches the company's acting classes and co-directs many of the productions. She enjoys sharing a passion for theatre with her husband Joshua as well as with everyone she works with at Encore.
Mindy has been performing since she was very young, starting with piano at the age of 5. She has won awards at regional and state competitions for piano, speech, and drama (monologue, duet, and competitive one-act play) as well as service awards for her work in the theatre community, such as the You Make a Difference Award from Family & Children Services.
"It is such a blessing to entertain, motivate, and inspire people through theatre. I am thankful for the donors, sponsors, and volunteers that have helped us grow and touch more lives with each production."
Lynn Hannath Secretary & Donor Manager
Tamara Faylor Production Assistant
John Barker PR Manager
Jared Barker Treasurer Assistant
Polly Nobles Board Member / Sponsor
