Give to Your Community Theatre

The Grove Community Playmakers, Inc. was founded by Suzanne and Jim Boles in 1995. The success of the first production convinced the participants that there was a place for theatre in the Grand Lake area. A Board of Directors was organized and a 501(c) (3) tax status was obtained.

A Policy Governing Board of Directors, comprised of five community leaders, guide the organization and help The Playmakers’ Management Team create more demand for the quality theatre provided by this award-winning community theatre. A committed group of long-term volunteers continues to operate as volunteer staff members on a Management Team, supplying and managing all Playmaker programs. One of the founders acts as Artistic Executive, supervising all Playmaker programs and the Management Team. Seven community leaders with specific expertise act as Advisors to The Playmakers.

1. An annual Season usually consist of three or four productions for the public, many of them intergenerational productions with youth, young adults and older adults. One hundred thirty-two plays in our 27 years have given our area wide community a balance of comedy, drama, mystery, musicals, and youth plays.

2. A Readers’ Theatre, mostly short comedies, but sometimes one-acts, give actors of all ages the fun of performing without having to memorize or having too many rehearsals. Ninety-six performances of plays in this format have been presented at local restaurants, for organizations and some are staged, though actors still carry scripts, at the Playmakers’ theatre.

3. Quality Dance classes began in 2021 using a multi-disciplinary curriculum for girls and boys.

Different styles of dance are taught by integrating them creatively. For example, beginning with basic ballet movements, exercises and vocabulary, the student then learns to adapt ballet basics to other styles such as lyrical, jazz and hip hop and create their own short routine.

Classes for boys integrate athletic skills and masculine dance movements to teach boys how to avoid injuries in sports. The curriculum includes basic dance movements & exercises, stretches and splits, jumps and turns, safe falls and acrobatic tricks.

4. Youth theatre classes begin with “Creative Development”, coed classes for 4 and 5-year old children. Theatre arts are emphasized more in coed classes with 6 to 8-year old children. Youth, 9 yrs. old through high school, are taught theatre arts in separate classes for boys and girls, bringing them together for youth productions and giving them the opportunity to perform in regular season productions and readers’ theatre plays and events. They may choose to learn design and/or technical skills rather than performing.

5. “Off Broadway Cabaret” events are scheduled at various time throughout a season based on different themes and entertainment. These are small fund-raising programs.

6, The Playmakers Legacy Awards are held every two years. This elegant event recognizes the gifts of talent, skill, passion and perseverance from a few among us. They have created legacies for us to enjoy and from which we can learn. They value the arts, especially theatre, and with them we can move forward by creating other gifts, through which The Playmakers can nurture, grow and lead others to a quality of life that we value for our community.

2006 Theatre of the Year, honoring a community theatre that has made the biggest impact upon their community through continuous productions each year.

2009 OCTA Vision Award, given for the planning and implementation of a substantial long-term project, the Comprehensive Youth Theatre Program.

Bravo Award, which honors a theatre’s exemplary volunteer, to Judy Bradley, Marge Chowning, Linda DuBois, Linda Fracek, Vicki King,Sandy McCabe, Judy Moritz, Karon Wheat, and Tonna Zuech.

2011 OCTA Hall of Honor to Suzanne Boles of the Grove Community Playmakers. It is the highest honor and most distinguished award that OCTA presents. It recognizes the outstanding contribution to the development of community theatre in Oklahoma and her heart-felt desire for the progress and success of OCTA.

2015 JEANNE ADAMS WRAY SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD to Tom Sanders, business supporter of the Playmakers since 1995. The award is given to those selected people who are not working directly with community theatre in Oklahoma, but have or are making contributions to its progress.