Blackbox Theatre presents “Six Years Old” -

From 8 – 10 p.m. on Thursday, April 7 through Saturday, April 9, Oklahoma City University’s School of Theater will present their Stage II play, “Six Years Old” in the Blackbox Theatre. The play is directed by Associate Professor of Stage Management, Courtney DiBello, and follows the life and questionings of Adalaide, a six-year-old. The play centers on gender identity and how it can be frustrating to find yourself at such a young age.

When asked about the significance of the subject matter professor DiBello said “We need to see ourselves in the stories we consume. This play is about allowing your identity to be accepted and ‘seen.’ This act of acceptance is the truest form of love. Today’s world is afraid and we have so much to be afraid of. But the solutions to our problems can start from acceptance and love. “Six Years Old” asks the audience to be a part of the community and to ‘see’ or accept the members of that community… to love.”

Being a Stage II play, there is less design and technical flare, but professor DiBello said “it allows Stage II production to focus on its mission; to highlight acting, directing, and the text, and deemphasizes the need for production values.”

The scheduling is tight, pushing students, “[We have] 4 weeks rehearsing, up to 20 hours per week, split up into 5 days. During the 5th week, we spend 3 days in the theatre adding lights, sound, and costumes to the show,” DiBello said.

Cast List:

Adalaide…………………………………………………………….Sarah Filek Kim…………………………………………………………… Miranda Moore Dewey…………………………………………………………………Josh Eliot Amy………………………………………………………………..Kristen Chua Dr. Janet………………………………………………………….Abigail Jolliff Ms. Ramona……………………………………………………… Ella Carson u/s Adalaide………………………………………………….. Ryleigh Baker

u/s Kim……………………………………………….. Phoebe Westbrooks

Amy, Janet, Ms. Ramona Swing………………………Brittany Fisheli

Featured Performer……………………………………….Penny Barnett

DESIGN & PRODUCTION TEAM

Artistic Producer…………………………………… Hal Kohlman*

Managing Producer ………………………….Courtney DiBello* Director……………………………………………Courtney DiBello

Assistant Director ………………………… Christian Donnerson

Lighting Design …………………………………………..Ivy Walker

Sound Design…………………………………………Abby Templer

Stage Manager ………………………………………….Grace Neal

Light Board Operator………………………………Kate Hartigan

Run Crew…………………………………………….. Ethan Whalen