Meet the Director: Christopher Parks

In the world of theater, where imagination meets reality, directors play the pivotal role of bridging these realms. They bring stories to life with a blend of creativity, passion, and leadership. At the heart of Trike Theatre’s latest production, Journey to Oz, stands Christopher Parks. As a visionary director, his unique approach and innovative thinking promise to transport audiences directly into L. Frank Baum’s beloved universe. 

As we prepare to embark on this enchanting Journey to Oz, take a few minutes to learn more about Director Christopher Parks. 

What is your involvement with Trike Theatre?

I am a friend of Trike Theatre, one who has been working with the company as a director and playwright on various projects for more than ten years. I love to come back often because Kassie, Fran, Paul, and their team have the same values that I do. They want to create exciting types of theater experiences that engage children and families in ways they never expected, but will also never forget.

What inspired you to direct Journey to Oz? What are some messages or feelings you’d like the audience to take away from this event?

Now, more than ever, audiences want to immerse themselves in the art they come to see. They want to play and experience activities that make them think and have fun with one another. Parents, teachers, and children are constantly looking for ways to change the expectations of how they teach, learn, and interact with one another, and wow, we have so much fun providing an out-of-the-box performance where they sing, dance, and pretend together on a Journey to Oz.

When considering the production, from the look, mood, and costumes–what world do you want to create?

This play is a celebration of the original creators of the Land of Oz, written by L. Frank Baum and illustrated by W.W. Denslow. What inspired them to come up with this new kind of Wonderland is at the heart of the turn-of-the century costumes, props, and scenery, which invites everyone to a library full of books and ideas of what a “modern-day” folk tale could be when ideas come from 19^th-century hardware store circulars, the Chicago World’s Fair, and children’s book illustrations.

How does the demographic of the actors that you work with influence the creative process? How do your actors learn from each other?

Northwest Arkansas is home to an amazing pool of talented theater practitioners, many of whom are associated with the University of Arkansas’s professional theater program. The actors and production team on this show are all adults, and are a mix of U of A graduates, mentors, and other people from around the state and the country who have been doing TYA (Theatre for Young Audiences) for many years. We are especially honored to have Kassie Misiewicz, the founder of Trike, featured in our acting ensemble.

In your opinion, for which audience is this show best suited?

This is a show that we hope resonates with all ages, and we hope that on the way home, everyone is excited to speak about their favorite moments of storytelling immersion, whether it’s about a part they played themselves, or watching someone else do something. Whether it was inspiring, or just fun to watch, we hope it makes them want to see more theater performances and participate in storytelling, either at home or anywhere.

Get ready to experience Parks’ vision for audience members to play a part in the magic that unfolds in this Journey to Oz. We hope that you’ll join us for a unique performance this March!