Beth Leonard from the Okoboji Summer Theatre spoke to the Iowa Great Lakes Rotary on Wednesday, July 1. Beth entertained the group with interesting facts about the Okobojii Summer Theatre and its upcoming performances this summer.
 

The Okoboji Summer Theatre is owned and operated by Stephens College in Columbia, MO. Their season consists of 9 plays in 10 weeks at the summer theatre with an additional 4 children's productions at Boji Bantam Theatre. Each play is done with only 10 days of rehearsals.

Students in the Stephens program complete their BFA in Theatre in 3 years, including 2 summers at OST. They each earn 12 credits for each summer. There are 48 students this summer, a record number. All are 19-20 years old and consist of 12 men and 36 women. The performances also include 55 guest artists this summer.

Students audition in April for roles and are cast the same day for all summer performances. Students do everything from being in the shows, to set work, to dishes and cleaning of their dorms. Sunday morning through Sunday at 5 pm is the only time off the students have during the week.

This year OST is offering "Service Saturday Nights" which allows service group members to purchase 2 tickets for the price of 1 for Saturday night shows.