Muskogee Little Theatre Celebrates 10 Years in Its Downtown Home |
A theatre anniversary ribbon cutting ahead of The Crucible’s October run |
Muskogee Little Theatre marked ten years in its downtown home on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, with a ribbon cutting that put the people behind community theatre in the spotlight.
The celebration at 311 South Third Street recognized a building anniversary and the continuing work of a nonprofit that has been part of Muskogee since 1972.
I attended the gathering and photographed guests in the lobby, where people visited beneath framed acknowledgments of the supporters who helped make this space possible.
Executive Director Laura Hazen offered brief welcoming remarks to those gathered, addressing current and former board members.
Isabel and Bob Cockle, two original founding board members who helped establish Muskogee Little Theatre in 1972, were present for the celebration.
Hazen also shared a personal connection to the theatre’s history: Bob Cockle had been her dance instructor and helped her develop toward a professional career.
She also recalled the theatre’s previous physical locations, placing the current building’s anniversary within its longer history.
Those pictures tell a simple part of the story: a theatre is a place where neighbors come together, even when there is no performance underway.
A decade downtown
The ribbon cutting was scheduled for 4 p.m., with the public invited to join the anniversary gathering.
At Third and Columbus in the Depot District, the theatre’s current home has now served the community for a full decade.
That milestone offers a reason to look beyond the stage and appreciate the relationships that sustain a local arts organization.
Performances may be what audiences remember most, but a community theatre also depends on the people who prepare, organize, support and welcome.
The anniversary is an opportunity to recognize that shared effort and the value of having a place for it here in Muskogee.
A story that began in 1972
Muskogee Little Theatre’s history reaches back much further than its current building.
Founded as a nonprofit community theatre in 1972, the organization has spent more than five decades making performing arts part of local life.
Its early home grew from an effort to preserve the cafetorium of the former Sequoyah Elementary School and adapt it for theatre.
That beginning reflects a familiar community instinct: seeing possibility in a space and working together to give it a new purpose.
Today, Executive Director Laura Hazen leads an organization whose mission centers on creativity, self-expression and artistic excellence.
Theatre also invites audiences to encounter different perspectives, follow difficult choices and share the experience of a story unfolding in the same room.
For local residents, that means an arts experience close to home and an opportunity to support the talent and effort within their own community.
The next curtain rises October 2
The anniversary arrives just ahead of Muskogee Little Theatre’s production of The Crucible, opening Friday, October 2.
Arthur Miller’s play takes audiences into the Salem witch trials, where accusations and fear place individual conscience under pressure.
It is a dramatic way to follow a celebration of the building with the work that gives the building its purpose.
Performances are scheduled for October 2 and 3 at 7:30 p.m., October 4 at 2 p.m., and October 8, 9 and 10 at 7:30 p.m.
Readers should check the theatre’s ticket page for current availability before making plans.
Keep the community in community theatre
Buying a ticket is one practical way to support a local stage, and inviting someone along can turn a performance into a shared evening out.
Residents interested in becoming more involved can contact the theatre about current opportunities and the ways their skills might fit.
The September 30 gathering gave us a moment to recognize ten years in this downtown home.
The next production gives us a chance to help carry that story forward.
Congratulations to Muskogee Little Theatre on this anniversary and to the people whose work keeps local stories coming to life. |
 Executive Director Laura Hazen (center) with founding board members Isabel and Bob Cockle at Muskogee Little Theatre’s 10th-anniversary building celebration on September 30, 2026. Photo: Kelvin Brown / Three Forks Media. |
Muskogee Little Theatre: Facility & Visitor Questions
Where is Muskogee Little Theatre located?
Muskogee Little Theatre is at 311 South Third Street, Muskogee, Oklahoma 74401, at Third and Columbus in downtown’s Depot District.
When did the current theatre building open?
The current downtown facility opened in 2016; its tenth anniversary was celebrated with a ribbon cutting on September 30, 2026.
What spaces does the theatre facility include?
The facility was designed with a main auditorium of approximately 270 seats, a flexible black box theatre, an orchestra pit, dressing rooms, a green room, a catering kitchen and a lobby.
What should visitors know about hours and accessibility?
Hours vary by performance; check the specific show listing before visiting.
For wheelchair seating, entrance access or other accommodation needs, contact the theatre before booking so staff can confirm arrangements for your visit.
Where can I find tickets and current performance details?
Use the official ticket page for dates, showtimes and ticket availability, and the theatre website for information about the organization.
Facility information checked October 1, 2026.
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