Theatre as a catalyst

“I’m somebody who thinks of theatre as a place for everyone,” says Kelly Kerwin, the new artistic director for Oklahoma City Repertory Theater.

Kelly is also somebody who believes places for everyone can be thought of as theatre.

In May 2022, OKC Rep presented an original, site-specific experience, “Of A Mind.” Guided by a live narrator and set to a score of local voices, stories, sounds and music, audiences gathered as a group for an outdoor walking experience through parts of downtown Oklahoma City that are often missed.

The exploration of mindfulness, urban ecology and social interaction demonstrated innovative (and authentic) ways theatre can help activate nighttime experiences in cities of all sizes.

Listen in on this 24-minute podcast with OKC Rep’s Kelly Kerwin.

24 minutes from 24HourNation
Season 001, Episode 004

Topic: In this podcast, hear innovative (and authentic) ways theatre can help activate nighttime experiences in any size city.
Guest: Kelly Kerwin, Oklahoma City Repertory Theater
Host: Randall White, 24HourNation
Recorded: Jun 2, 2022
Mixed: Jun 10, 2022
Posted: Jun 10, 2022

Kelly Kerwin began her tenure as OKC Rep’s Artistic Director in July 2021. She comes to OKC Rep after over four years at The Public Theater, where she was the Associate Producer for the Under the Radar Festival and The Public’s Devised Theater Working Group.​

At The Public, she line-roduced the world premiere of “Girl from The North Country” and Tony Kushner’s revised A” Bright Room Called Day, “among others.

Kelly has been on the artistic staff at Yale Repertory Theater, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Atlantic Theater Company, The House Theatre of Chicago, Chicago’s Collaboraction, and she was the Co-Artistic Director for the Yale Cabaret’s 46th Season.

She also helped establish Chicago’s Salonathon, a weekly series specializing in underground performance.

Kelly has a BFA from the Theatre School at DePaul University and an MFA in Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism from the Yale School of Drama, where she received The Pierre-André Salim Prize – awarded to the graduating student who shows distinct promise of raising the standard of practice in the field.