On the Town: Route 66 play explores Oklahoma’s past and present

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In the next year you’re going to be hearing a lot about the famous “Mother Road” that cuts through Oklahoma on its historic route between Chicago and Santa Monica, California.

Route 66 is celebrating the centennial of its creation as part of the U.S. Numbered Highway System.

Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma is exploring that theme with its new production “Mother Road,” which opens Tuesday, April 2, and runs through April 19. That nickname for Route 66 came from John Steinbeck in “The Grapes of Wrath,” detailing the fictional Joad family’s trek from Oklahoma to California to escape the Dust Bowl and to find a better life.

Michael Baron, Lyric’s producing artistic director, noted in an interview “The Grapes of Wrath” follows a fictional family, but its story is based on interviews with real people. The play, by celebrated playwright Octavio Solis, continues the story of the Joad family and descendants, bringing it back to Oklahoma.

Baron first met Solis at the William Inge Theatre Festival in Independence, Kansas. The play premiered at Oregon Shakespeare Festival and has been shaped and performed in Berkeley, California; and Washington, D.C. Oklahoma City University students staged it late last year in partnership with Lyric. Those students will be this cast’s understudies, Baron said.

Baron said the story deals with Oklahoma’s legacy, which includes its homestead farming culture. It’s also about a road trip along Route 66; the playwright used his own road trip experiences in the play.

“It’s an epic story about Oklahoma and Oklahomans, and it bridges the gap from the Oklahomans that lived here during the Dust Bowl and the ones that live here now,” Baron said.

Baron also compared it to the style of filmmaker Quentin Tarantino, with fights and mystery and physicality, but more realistic. He noted the action-packed play also features a Greek chorus and lyrical elements.

Jerome Stevenson directs. For tickets, go to lyrictheatre.org.

Lighting the way

Sunbeam Family Services celebrated nearly 120 years of supporting children and families and advocacy during its annual Shine the Light fundraiser Thursday night at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.

The organization also honored Dr. Marny Dunlap with its Aspire Award, which recognizes community champions.

Dunlap is a professor of pediatrics and section chief in general and community pediatrics at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. She is heavily involved in the national Reach Out and Read organization and president of the Oklahoma chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. She also serves as child and adolescent health medical director at the Oklahoma State Department of Health.

Honorary chairs were Gail and Gary Huneryager, with Megan Gold as emcee. Radiant sponsors were the Inasmuch Foundation and Nedra Funk, followed by a long list of Brilliant sponsors. Match sponsors were the Arnall Family Foundation, Inasmuch and Roger and Phyllis Strong.

“We love the work that Sunbeam does. It’s an amazing story – as old as statehood – 1907 – and continues to feel very critical, … especially when it comes to early education” Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt told the sold-out crowd.