ARTS & CULTURE
Art leaders THE VANGUART WAS FOUNDED WITH A SIMPLE MISSION: TO BE AN ARTISTIC FRONT LINE FOR BLACK EXPRESSION IN OKLAHOMA THEATER. By Matt Dinger
Regina Lane makes no secret of lucky to be the fact that the subjects The able to pay Vanguart — the theater company artists, she founded — brings to the stage something this season are ones that have afit ’s not fected her personally. what we “The purpose of starting The want it to Vanguart was to create and be until our promote opportunities for African numbers American artists,” Lane said. “We get up, so certainly weren’t trying to exclude that’s why anyone. We noticed that, as vibrant it’s imporand robust as the artistic scene is tant that From left, Kamron McClure, Deonna Cattledge, La’Charles Purvey, Regina Lane and Rod Porter. Photo provided. here in Oklahoma, a lot of really we have retalented Black artists tend to have lationships like these so that we can Oklahoma City Theatre Company thing with the ‘Pieces’ trilogy is, I to go out of the state for their get butts in seats.” over the years. wanted to deal with suicide and talent to be showcased. So what Lane has three children who “This is what I called my depression and a Black family we wanted to do was make sure have all gone to Heritage Hall and ‘Pieces’ trilogy. So there are three because you don’t see that on telethat we had a stage for African they’ve allowed The Vanguart to plays, of course, in a trilogy. The vision. You don’t see that in plays,” American artists. use their 350-seat theater for refirst one was called Pieces of Her,” he said. Starting in 2019 with a hiatus hearsals and performances. Purvey said. “Pieces of Her dealt Purvey said you don’t have to for the COVID-19 pandemic the “They wanted to deepen their with a young lady, she was a visual have seen the first two to apprecifollowing year, The Vanguart rerelationship with the community artist. She suffered from depresate the final panel in the triptych. turned last summer. that surrounds them, which is a sion. She got pregnant out of “They’re going to see easter eggs “We did two shows during the very diverse community, not only wedlock and she felt so guilty and stuff that we put in there that summer. One was called The racially but also assists socioecoabout getting pregnant out of they’ll remember, but they don’t Exonerated about six individuals nomically … That has allowed us wedlock that the church turned have to have seen the other two to who had been exonerated after to really keep costs down and yet its back on her and she ended up enjoy the show,” he said. more than 20 years in the prison have the facilities of a professiontaking her own life. So we see that Lane also hopes the play helps system in America al theater,” she in the play. We’re also introduced start conversations. and it’s based on a said. to her son Isaiah who we’ll also “Especially in the Black comtrue story. And then “We also have see in this third one … The second munity, we are a resilient people, the second show was what we call our one is called Pieces of Him and I but we also struggle with mental Shaking the Mess Out ‘Black carpet exsort of consider it a prequel.” health and so more and more as of Misery, which was perience,’ so in Pieces of Her is set in the present people begin to talk about these an all female cast of the foyer of every day, while Pieces of Him takes place things, and remove the stigma, Black women kind of show, we feature in 1960s Louisiana and revolves people are getting help. I’m in set in the south. That a Black artist. So around the life of a young gay artist therapy every two weeks. Our one w a s rea l ly our artist for this who suffers from depression. family has dealt with suicide. I popular. And so this summer is Sunee “In Pieces of Us, I kind of bring have a brother who died by suicide, year, we’ve opened Rice. She’s a everything back around full circle, and it was just not something we up with Honky by visual artist and so some characters have grown up. talked about growing up, but it is Greg Kalleres, and so she ha s We have the main character of absolutely a part of our conversathat show is really a several paintOpal, who is now the matriarch of tion. I think part of what my play about the lanings that are the family, and Opal has this half brother struggled with so much guage around racism hanging up in sister who has traveled the world. was the fact that it wasn’t talked and then our second the lobby, you She’s an actress, she’s very sucabout,” she said. show for the summer can purchase cessful, but they don’t really have The Vanguart hopes to have season is Pieces of Kamron McClure and Regina Lane. Photo provided. them, and so we a relationship. Well, this half sister another show before the end of the Us,” Lane said. really try to make comes home and tells Opal that year, but has not solidified the The theater company owns no it a full experience for all of our she’s sick,” Purvey said. details as they eye crossing into location nor does it have an office. guests,” Lane said. “I like to talk about things that nonprofit status with a board of “Most community theater in Pieces of Us is the final installpeople sweep under the rug. I’ve directors next year. Oklahoma is unpaid people who are ment in a trilogy by local playnever been afraid to talk. I think Pieces of Us runs from July 28 passionate about their craft, volunwright LàCharles Purvey, who in talking about things, once we get through Aug. 7. Tickets are $30 for teering our time. We like to partner addition to being the artistic direcit out in the open, we can do somegeneral admission and $40 for VIP. with our artists, and they get a flat tor has also authored nearly a thing about it, and then we can Visit thevanguart.com rate plus a percentage of the box dozen plays performed by the likes make it better, so I’m never afraid office sales. … We’ve been really of Poteet Theatre and the to talk about anything. And the ART S & CULTURE OKGA Z ET TE .COM | J U LY 2 7, 2 0 2 2 19
