Whether it’s a mad caper murder mystery, adorable children or a pop musical filled with martial arts, the 2026 Stroud Arts Festival has a little something for everyone.
In its third iteration, the festival is back and only growing. This year, it features four events -- “Drop Dead!” a murder mystery dinner theatre directed by Lusetta Fennell; “A Warrior’s Choice,” a YA original musical written by Sheree’ Morris and directed by Quincy Morris; “Adventures in Toyland,” an original children’s theatre workshop production written by David Timmons; and a story-telling event featuring Marilyn Hudson.
At its core, the festival shows that community theatre is thriving in rural Oklahoma, bringing together actors, directors and more from Stroud, Cushing and beyond, as well as pushing them into new horizons.
“I think it should grow and grow and grow,” said Howard Houston, a retired drama teacher who plays Victor LaPue in “Drop Dead!”. “When I retired from Arizona, I told my friends, I want to get involved in community theater. I hope that that’s a possibility. And this is ideal. I never thought in my wildest dreams that Oklahoma would have a very thriving community theater all over the place.”
For Chris Reed from Cushing who plays Dick Scorsese in “Drop Dead!”, being involved in community theatre is phenomenal.
“I have felt, any theater I’ve been involved with, I’ve felt nothing but supported and encouraged. Michelle (Music, stage manager) in particular has believed in me and pushed me to do things that I didn’t think I could do and it hasn’t just helped in my personal life, it’s helped in my professional life,” he said. “I mean, just pushing me to try and do new things. So, it’s meant a whole lot to me, personally.”
Chevy Carter, who plays stage manager Phillip in the show said that festivals like this are so important for small towns as Oklahoma isn’t exactly known for being an entertainment state.
“We’re not like New York or L.A… And I think it’s really important to do stuff like this. I didn’t even know Stroud Arts existed until getting involved with this,” he said. “Especially as a kid growing up who loved stories and TV and movies, like, the Cushing community theatre was such a big part of my teenage years. And so, I think it’s really important, and I think it’s awesome.”
Carter added that he enjoys the ridiculousness of the play, which happens to be about a group of hasbeen actors putting on a