THIS IS OKC.
Southern Plains Productions, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, professional arts-production company serving Oklahoma City. We seek to reimagine live theatre with innovative artistic experiences that spark conversations and bring our community together.
ABOUT
Workshops, Classes & Private Coaching Opportunities!
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Unleash Your Creativity!
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Join Southern Plains Productions' THE STUDIO! for virtual classes on Zoom.
Discover a new world of innovative storytelling, writing, directing, performance and even business.
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Classes for all skill levels – from beginners to industry professionals.
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Learn from top experts in their fields and people who have "been there and done that."​​
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Walk away with tools, solutions and advice that will increase your success in the arts!
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Check out our private coaching (see below)! New classes coming in Fall 2024!!
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***PLEASE NOTE***
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TIMES LISTED ARE CENTRAL TIME ZONE (CST)
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ALL CLASSES AND COACHING SESSIONS ARE VIRTUAL USING THE ZOOM PLATFORM.
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All PRIVATE COACHING SESSION DATES AND TIMES WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE STUDENT AND THE INSTRUCTOR.
CURRENT CLASSES
YOUR ARTISTRY; YOUR VOICE
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Los Angeles-based filmmaker and actor, Yuchi Chiu will work with students as they develop their individual voices as artists.
You will learn about and implement various tools needed to navigate the industry like the business owner you are. By the end of the course, you will leave with a set of goals and an action plan in place, ready to take the next steps!
Instructor: Yuchi Chiu
Sessions: 4 plus one individual check-in after last class
February 6, 13, 20, & 27
6 pm - 7 pm CST
LIMITED SPACE! PERSONALIZED ATTENTION!
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OUTSIZED: THE HUMMINGBIRD IN LORE AND LITERATURE:
A CREATIVE-NONFICTION WORKSHOP
One of Oklahoma's most prolific nature writers, John Gifford, leads this intensive for those seeking to create literary art.
The smallest of birds, hummingbirds have enormous appetites and metabolic rates, a tremendous mystique, and they figure prominently in the folklore of Native cultures across the Americas. They’re also an ideal subject and inspiration for the literary essay. Spend an hour meditating on the miracle that is the hummingbird and using what you learn to begin creating literature that illuminates, awes, and inspires.
Instructor: John Gifford
Sessions: 1
February 24
11 am - 12 pm CST
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FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY! ALL LEVELS WELCOME.
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MOCK PROD: FROM PITCH TO PERFORMANCE
Journey through the director’s process from conception to completion with one of New York City's most exciting young directors, Cameron King.
Students will get the chance to choose a play, create a concept, and pitch that idea to a panel of theatrical professionals from around the country. The class will then rearrange around the chosen play, transitioning into a pre-production design process, script preparation, and rehearsal table work. Participants will step into the shoes of producers, designers, dramaturgs, and actors, getting a front row seat to everything that happens before rehearsals begin.
Instructor: Cameron King
Sessions: 8
February 20, 22, 27, & 29
March 5, 7, 12, & 14
5 pm - 7 pm CST
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LIMITED CLASS SIZE; AMAZING NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY!
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A NEW PRO'S GUIDE TO THE CENTRAL OKLAHOMA THEATER INDUSTRY
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Are you considering staying in Oklahoma to pursue your acting career in theatre?
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Are you in OKC now but having a difficult time navigating all the "ins and outs" of the theatre industry?
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Would you just like to know more about how the OKC theatre market works?
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Get an overview of the Oklahoma Theatre Industry like never before from OKC's seasoned professional, Ashley J. Mandanas! Learn about what is specifically expected of you from different professional theatres in Oklahoma, and gain an understanding of the Industry ecosystem from a current working pro with over two decades of experience.
Instructor: Ashley J. Mandanas
Sessions: 1
February 26 OR March 11
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm CST
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FANTASTIC NETWORKING IN THE OKC MARKET!
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FINANCIAL ACUMEN FOR ARTISTS
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Designed specifically for creative minds, this course is tailored to empower artists with the essential skills and knowledge needed to successfully navigate the financial aspects of their careers.
In this engaging and practical class, participants will delve into the world of personal and professional finance, gaining insights that are crucial for sustaining a thriving artistic practice. Whether you're a visual artist, musician, writer, or performer, understanding the financial landscape is fundamental to turning your passion into a sustainable profession.
Instructor: Ellen Gifford
Sessions: 1
March 7
6 pm - 7 pm CST
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RARE OPPORTUNITY FOR ARTISTS!
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THE ART OF THE VIRTUAL AUDITION
Do you wonder if you are wearing the right thing for the camera?
Do you stress over your audio and video set up?
Get expert advice from OKC's own stage and screen actor, Ashley J. Mandanas! Students will prepare a 1-minute monologue and/or song to present virtually, as if they are auditioning for a show. Ashley will provide feedback, tips and tricks to slay that next video audition!
Instructor: Ashley J. Mandanas
Sessions: 1
March 18
5:30 pm - 7 pm CST
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GREAT CLASS TO GET A FRESH PERSPECTIVE!
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INSTRUCTORS
CAMERON KING
Cameron King is a theatre artist who works with a strong base in collaboration, through the philosophy that a happy audience starts with a healthy team. Born and raised in New York City, Cameron has been directing professionally since 2016. She attended Carnegie Mellon’s School of Drama where she wrote, produced and directed both at the university and with her own theatre companies. Cameron has spent summers in St. Louis as the Directing Intern for The Muny, and in London observing the development of The Prince of Egypt musical on the West End. Her work has been seen around the country at TheaterLab, Ars Nova, Bay Street Theater, and more. For Southern Plains Productions, Cameron was the proud director of Lizzie: The Rock Musical at the Tower Theater, and Silent Sky at the Kirkpatrick Planetarium. Cameronking.org
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ASHLEY J. MANDANAS
Ashley J. Mandanas has been acting professionally on stage and screen for over two decades. With a BFA in Musical Theatre from OU’s prestigious program, and having worked historically and recently with the majority of the professional theatres in OKC again and again, Ashley is ready to share the ins and outs of this small-but-thriving theatre community.
JOHN GIFFORD
John Gifford is a writer whose work explores our relationship with the natural world. His subjects frequently include food and agriculture, fish and wildlife conservation, rural lifestyles, and the environment. He is the author of Red Dirt Country: Field Notes and Essays on Nature, Pecan America: Exploring a Cultural Icon, and a forthcoming title, Landscaping for Wildlife. His nonfiction has appeared in Southwest Review and The Atlantic, and has been cited in The Best American Essays and The Best American Sports Writing anthologies.
YUCHI CHIU
Yuchi Chiu is a filmmaker and actor based out of Los Angeles. He started his professional career as a high school special education teacher in Chicago. After five years in the classroom, he transitioned into acting full-time. Theatre credits include: Once (Writers Theatre); Botticelli in the Fire (First Floor Theatre); The Chinese Lady (Southern Plains Production, Cincinnati Playhouse and Timeline Theatre, u/s). TV Credits include: Chicago Med (NBC) and Dark Matter (Apple TV+, upcoming). He also has experience working on commercials at the local, regional, and national levels. Combined with his passion for teaching and student development, Yuchi hopes to continue working with artists as they develop their voice in this ever-changing industry.
ELLEN GIFFORD
After nearly three decades of working in the corporate space helping humans understand their retirement and financial strategies, and more than two decades married to an artist, Ellen Gifford is an expert at navigating personal and professional finance. Through a combination of information sharing, interactive exercises and resources, Ellen demystifies financial concepts by providing artists with the tools they need to make informed decisions and thrive in their creative pursuits. Ellen finds joy in cultivating artistic brilliance through the understanding that financial acumen propels careers to new heights. Ellen is a professional life coach and the executive director for Southern Plains Productions. She holds a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in finance.
AVA MINGO
Ava Mingo is an actor, director, and producer based out of New York City. Being a recent graduate from a BFA program herself, not only did she experience the same whirlwind that is the BFA audition process, but she understands the complicated feelings surrounding this next chapter of an artist’s journey. She works with students to find specificity in their material and celebrate their individuality as artists. In New York, Mingo is the co-founder of Dartboard Productions and serves as the company’s director of communications and outreach. She attended Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists in St. Paul, Minnesota and is a recent graduate of Carnegie Mellon University’s BFA Acting program (Class of 2022).