Setting the stage
Myriad Gardens prepares for Shakespeare
Myriad Gardens prepares for Shakespeare

By Bryan Dean

Published: June 13, 2007

The actors won't be the only ones getting attention when Shakespeare in the Park kicks off its summer season Thursday in downtown Oklahoma City.

The venue, Myriad Gardens' Water Stage, is in the midst of a $2 million facelift.

Workers were putting finishing touches on the first phase of improvements Tuesday, including new seating, new lighting and a sound system.

As supporters considered renovating the Water Stage, Shakespeare in the Park seemed like the perfect event to showcase the changes, said Michael Laird, chairman of the Myriad Gardens Foundation Board.

Laird said the most visible change will be 210 chair-back seats, which will replace concrete bleachers.

"It's always been a great venue, but it's very difficult to sit on hard and often hot concrete for very long periods of time,” Laird said.

The first phase of construction cost $450,000. In addition to the chair-back seats, the project added metal bleacher seating for 100. A new concession stand and a new railing between the stage and seats are being added, too.

The changes also will make the performance more comfortable for the actors, architect Jim Loftis said.

"The stage itself has a rubberized surface, so it's not as hard on the actors,” Loftis said. "We've worn out several actors on this stage with the old concrete.”

The first performance at the renovated Water Stage will be "A Midsummer Night's Dream,” at 8 p.m. Thursday.

Donors are footing the bill for the project. The two largest donors are the Inasmuch Foundation, with a $300,000 donation, and Devon Energy, which gave $250,000.

The Myriad Gardens Foundation has raised $840,000 so far for the project, which is expected to cost between $2 million and $2.5 million once the second phase is completed.

Loftis said the second phase of construction will begin after Shakespeare in the Park's summer season ends. The most noticeable change will be awnings covering the stage and the crowd.

"In the fall, we are going to put a fabric canopy piece around to try to break the sun and the heat and give a little protection from light rain,” Loftis said. "It's not designed to stop water from getting in here but it should provide shade.”