OUR STORY
Ozark Actors Theatre (OAT), is a hidden jewel in the rolling hills of the Ozarks. OAT is one of four professional summer stock theatres in out state Missouri. Located in Rolla, OAT is a non-profit organization. Founded in 1987 by Gail Andrews-Hintz, a Rolla native returning from New York, and F. Reed Brown; along with a founding Board of Trustees consisting of citizens from Rolla, Cuba, Waynesville and other communities in south central Missouri, the desire of these interested citizens was to bring quality live professional theatre to the Ozarks.
OAT first opened its doors to area audiences in 1988 with the production of Godspell in the historic converted First Baptist Church known as the Cedar Street Playhouse. In 1989 Ozark Actors Theatre achieved status as an Equity Small Professional Theatre affiliated with the national union of professional actors and stage managers.
The Cedar Street Playhouse became the permanent home of OAT in 1993 when the facility was available for purchase. Launching a successful campaign for the purchase of the building, the Board was also able to add permanent theatre seating and long-awaited air conditioning. In 1996, operations had grown to the point where the first full-time managing director was employed. Since that time, OAT has remained as a positive presence in south central Missouri with its continued growth. Today the Cedar Street Playhouse is in use year round by not only the OAT Company, but also other area groups, providing quality live entertainment, classes and other events for this area.
Since its inception, OAT has received financial assistance from the Missouri Arts Council and has produced more than 100 shows, including a wide range of comedies, dramas, full-scale musicals, and musical reviews. OAT draws tourists from throughout the state and beyond. The education program, OAT Jr., offers Summer Theatre Academy for ages 6-16. In recent years, OAT has produced holiday shows, fundraisers, and launched a Performing Arts Series that brings an even wider variety of performing arts to the community.
Providing professional theatre for over 30 years...
At Ozark Actors Theatre, we believe the performing arts are one of the most positive and powerful transformative forces in people’s lives.
Ozark Actors Theatre exists to enhance the cultural life and livability of our community through the presentation of professional performing arts and the offering of performing arts education and training.
We consider submissions from writers, directors, designers, and technicians on a rolling basis. Occasionally, we have specific calls which we will post here and on sites like OffStageJobs.com.
If you would like to submit your portfolio for consideration, please email Suzanne Withem at swithem@ozarkactorstheatre.org.
ELF 2019
Ozark Actors Theatre operates on a Small Professional Theatre agreement with Actors Equity Association, and employ both Union and Non-Union performers. For out of town performers, we do provide housing in Rolla during the length of your contract.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Consistent with our overall mission to enhance the cultural life and livability of our community, we affirm our ongoing obligation to ensure that all of our offerings will be conceived, executed, and presented in a fashion designed to increase access, participation, and enjoyment by all in our community. Recognizing that the arts have not always been welcoming of difference, we are undergoing an intentional effort to increase diversity, equity and inclusion in our hiring, casting, and selection of shows so that all may benefit from our mission.
In response to questions raised about culturally insensitive content performed in our history of productions. A 2011 Ozark Actors Theatre production of “Lend Me a Tenor” included a racially offensive depiction of a minority. We sincerely apologize for any offense caused by this production and take ownership of the mistakes we made in the past. Ozark Actors Theatre is using this situation to better ourselves as an organization, establish a comprehensive diversity plan, and solidify our practice of inclusive casting and hiring. We embrace the opportunity to learn and grow from past mistakes and to ensure our organization is inclusive and accessible to all. Our doors are always open to discuss this and any other matter.