Company History

Oklahoma City Repertory Theater was established in 2001 by founding company members Ruth Charnay, Jonathan Beck Reed, Charlotte Franklin, Kirk Rogers, Marcellus Hankins, James Tyra, Michael Jones, Russell Webster, Elaine Pfleiderer, Jackie West, Michele Wilson, and founding Artistic Director Donald Jordan. Over the next two decades, OKC Rep produced 77 productions, including classic revivals of plays and musicals, regional premieres, and co-productions with area universities. Under Jordan’s tenure, OKC Rep received several awards including recognition from Actors’ Equity (2010), the Governor’s Arts Award (2011), and the American Theatre Wing named OKC Rep among its National Theater Awards in 2012.

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After twenty years as OKC Rep’s artistic director, Jordan announced that he would retire in 2021.  On July 31, 2021, Jordan’s retirement party was hosted at the historic Colcord Hotel where many of his friends, colleagues, and collaborators from the past two decades came to share stories and celebrate his new title: Artistic Director Emeritus.

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On July 6, 2021, Kelly Kerwin became OKC Rep’s second Artistic Director and led the theater through the pandemic. Reenvisioning OKC Rep's mission, core values, and staffing structure, and she worked to make all aspects of OKC Rep more equitable, diverse, inclusive, and accessible.  The company now has a presenting/producing model and champions artists from Oklahoma City and around the globe. ​

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After three transformative years, Kerwin ended her tenure at OKC Rep in June 2024. At that time, the Board of Directors created the position of Executive Artistic Director. OKC Rep's then Managing Director, Emily Comisar, assumed the new role in July 2024.