BRANDON PT DAVIS
August 5, 2023 marked the opening of my 40th production at Okoboji Summer Theatre—a milestone that still feels surreal to write. I was 38 at the time, and somehow it had become my 15th season with the company. Time compresses when you think back on the shows, the late nights, and the many students and artists I've had the privilege to work alongside.
Two people have been constants every single summer: Michael Burke, Director of Production, and Ruth Ann Burke, Executive Director. They are the anchors of this theatre, and working with them year after year has shaped not only my career, but my understanding of what summer stock can be at its best—rigorous, communal, and deeply human.
Forty productions is a number I never could have imagined when I first arrived. More than the milestone itself, I'm grateful for the friendships, mentorship, and sense of community that Okoboji has built around the act of making theatre.
