“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Today, I had the privilege of taking one of our young Poteet Theatre actors, Matthew, down to Langston’s Western Wear in Stockyards City. His mother and I picked out a cowboy hat for him. Now, this was no ordinary cowboy hat. This was the hat for Curly McLain, the lead male character in “Oklahoma!” And Curly needed a sharp lookin’ hat!
The theatre staff wanted to thank Matthew for all his hard work, and for the kindness he shows to everyone else in the production. He is especially kind to the younger cast members and is a wonderful example for them to look up to. He is a gentle giant, but when he must “turn it on” for the stage, he brings the suave and daring demeanor of Curly McLain to life.
When you go shopping for a cowboy hat at Langston’s, you get to meet Gary, the hat fitter. He’s very good at what he does, and he selects a crease style for your hat that will fit your head and personality. Today, Gary said, “This young man will look good in a style like Glen Ford wore, but… you probably don’t know who Glen Ford was.” He winked and kept working on steaming and shaping the felt hat. When Gary finished, he set the hat on the young man’s head, and it looked fantastic. Our young ‘Curly’ will be one of the sharpest lookin’ cowboys west of the Mississippi.
Actors don’t often get to keep a piece of their costume, and when they do, it is a real honor and something they can cherish from a special time in their career. So, it was especially meaningful to present Matthew with this gift. He earned this hat from being devoted to his craft, his fellow cast members, and his instructors. His kindness has been a gift to all. Hopefully, he will use this hat in many future performances as “Curly McLain!”
– Logan Fish, Director of Arts Programming & Edmond Campus Hospitality
