
Performance May 18, 19, 20 & 25, 26, 27
Tickets 918-587-5030Auditions for Superheroes Unite

June 4th & 5th at 7 p.m. Performances July 27, 28, 29 & August 3, 4, 5







Fast Facts
On Saturday nights the Tulsa Spotlight Theatre stages The Drunkard, a hilarious melodrama. The family-friendly evening includes a variety show called the Olio and an audience sing-along of old-time tunes.
Seating is cafe-style. Food and beverages may be ordered and will be served to your private table.
Doors open at 7 p.m. The show ends around 10 p.m.
Kids $12, Seniors $17, Adults $20.
The Drunkard and the Olio

It began on Nov. 14, 1953 and has never stopped! That’s how The Drunkard became America’s longest-running play. More than 3,000 Tulsans have participated on or offstage. More than a quarter-million have seen the show, making it a laughter-filled Tulsa tradition in which temperance triumphs and evildoers receive their merited fates. There are even tomatoes to throw at the villain!
The director is Tony-nominated writer-actor Joe Sears of Greater Tuna fame! “Today the play is performed in historical form as it was in the early days but with added salt and pepper fun for modern audiences to enjoy,” Mr. Sears says.
Doors open at 7 p.m. A singalong of old-time popular songs begins at 7:15. The show starts at 7:30 with the Olio: dancers, musicians, jugglers, magicians, or comedians. The play begins at 8 p.m. and concludes around 10 p.m. with the audience and cast singing God Bless America.
The auditorium is set up like a beer garden. Audience members are seated at private tables, which is why reservations are so important. During intermissions our serving crew will bring your order of made-to-order sandwiches, chips, beer, wine, coffee, and soft drinks.
How about an exclusive special performance for your workplace, club, or organization? Specials can be arranged for any night except Sunday.
Surprise Celebrities

Starting with Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett on April 12, 2014 the Tulsa Spotlight Theatre began featuring “Surprise Celebrities” — individuals of note who will perform as the opening act of our Olio. Many such acts are scheduled for various Saturdays, but we won’t tell ahead of time if there is one nor who it is! Come and be surprised. And if YOU are a big name in Tulsa — talented or otherwise — contact us for you chance to be part of the series. We can even help you come up with an act!
Surprise Celebrity Honor Roll | |
04-12-2014 | Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett |
04-19-2014 | Tulsa County Commissioner Ron Peters |
04-26-2014 | Tulsa University Professor Joseph Rivers |
05-03-2014 | Writer/Author Connie Cronley |
05-10-2014 | Pianist Dorothy McFadden |
05-17-2014 | “First Lady of Country Fiddle” Jana Jae |
05-24-2014 | KTUL Meteorologist Jennifer Zeppelin |
05-31-2014 | KWGS Station Manager Rich Fisher |
06-07-2014 | All Souls Choir Director Rick Fortner |
06-14-2014 | South Lakewood Baptist Church Minister Donald Morrow |
06-28-2014 | KOTV Channel 6 Personality LeAnne Taylor |
07-12-2014 | Flamenco Guitarist Lon De Ada |
08-09-2014 | Zoo lady Terrie Correll & friends |
08-16-2014 | Guitarist Joesf Glaude |
08-23-2014 | Vocalist Janet Rutland |
09-20-2014 | Philbrook’s Rand Suffolk |
11-15-2014 | Actor/Math Teacher Jeff Gaffen |
11-22-2014 | Bama Companies CEO Paula Marshall |
11-29-2014 | Oklahoma Aquarium COO Teri Bowers |
1-24-2015 | Vocalist Cynthia Simmons |
2-14-2015 | Vocalist Emily Chappell |
5-16-2015 | Vocalist Angie Cockrell |
Audience Feedback
Volunteer
We couldn’t have thrived for 60+ years without the more than 3,000 Tulsans who participated as cast or crew along the way!Perhaps after seeing our show, you might want to be part of the fun! Our all-volunteer organization has plenty of opportunities. Auditions for The Drunkard are held the first Wednesday of every month, 6:30 p.m. at the theatre. Olio auditions are held occasionally when announced.
In order to hear about auditions for our children’s plays or the Olio, please subscribe to our e-mail announcements.
Eager to get involved? Call 918-587-5030
Ticket Prices
$12.00 for children under 13.
$17.00 for seniors (62+)
$20.00 for adults (13+)
Groups of 10+ adults save $3/ticket.
Seating is cafe-style. A table will be arranged for your group. Therefore, advance reservations are essential!
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Backstage Graffiti

Hours and Contact Info
1381 Riverside Drive
Tulsa, OK 74127
Business hours are 1 – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday. At other times please leave a message.
Accessibility
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Accessible parking, seating, and bathrooms are available at the Tulsa Spotlight Theatre. Please make your need known when making reservations. |
Private Events
Your event can happen here! Let the Spotlight host your wedding, music recital, CD release party, homeschool graduation, photoshoot and more! Film crews have made movies here.
Having a fundraiser? For a tax-deductible donation, we will provide the building and entertainers for your charity fundraiser. You will sell the tickets and keep the proceeds.
Directors, Officers, Staff
The Drunkard and the Olio, the Spotlight Children’s Theatre, and the Tulsa Spotlight Theatre/Riverside Studio are functions of Tulsa Spotlighters, Inc., a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit organization recognized by the IRS in September 1957 and incorporated in Oklahoma on May 7, 1962.
Ted Reeds, VP Facilities
Bob Roberts, VP Program Operations
Don Gilmore, Treasurer
Ken Busby
Mark Gawey
Matt King
Julie Miner
Priscilla Mayfield
Leslie Shelton
Shirley Gilmore, Director of the Children’s Theatre
Jere Uncapher, Office Manager
Covenant, Mission, Vision, Values
Spotlighters acknowledge the opportunities we enjoy, and recognize our responsibility to pursue excellence, on stage and off.
We owe this to our audiences, our children, the heritage with which we are charged, and to each other.
In a spirit of festive collaboration, we volunteer to
- Preserve responsibly and promote public use of our iconic building;
- Educate young performers through scholarships, performing opportunities, workshops, and training, and
- Perpetuate America’s longest-running play.
We provide the historic stage on which generations of Tulsans live their dreams.
- Stewardship of resources
- Respect
- Artistic excellence
- Opportunity for personal development
- Integrity
- Service to others
- Teamwork
Approved by task force members Larry Cochran, Scott Pendleton, Bill Jensen, Julie Skye, Patti Mullen.
Oct. 21, 2014
Reservation Request
Children’s Theatre Classes
- Tips on Auditioning – taught by Jami Harris Shine
- Sensational – How to develop the character – taught by Monica Sallaway
- Putting on the Make Up – taught by Racheal Yadon
2017-18 Spotlight Children’s Theatre
Tulsa Spotlight Theatre/Jennifer Carlson collection
Thirty boxes of disorganized paper archives posed no challenge to Jennifer Carlson. The Museum Management intern from Tulsa University seemed to fall in love with the mess. She visited week after week for well over a year to sort and groom the files into what is sure to prove a very valuable historical record for Tulsa.
Mere months before passing away unexpectedly in July 2017, Jennifer had completed the project and had transferred the last acid-free box into a new special collection at the downtown public library. In honor of her devotion, at our request the library has designated it as the Tulsa Spotlight Theatre/Jennifer Carlson collection.
The collection may be explored in the special room on the third floor of the library. It is also listed in the online catalog, if you know where to look: MyTCCL / Research and Learn / Local History. Then click the Digital Collections tab, and then scroll down to Finding Aids Collection.