There are thousands of theaters in America, but only one place has had plays running for more than 70 years without interruption, and it is in Tulsa.
“The Drunkard” is a unique play from Tulsa, and the only one to run on stage in the history of the United States, celebrating its 73rd season this year.
More than 3,000 people have been involved, onstage or offstage, and approximately 250,000 people have watched the performance, according to Spotlight Theater statistics. The traditions and atmosphere of the play have been preserved from its premiere to the present day, passed down through generations.
The secret of its longevity lies in the relevance of its themes, which keep the original script, audience interaction, and the constant rotation of actors, making every performance unique. The audience is not just watching a performance; attendees can also participate in the interactive, and everyone has an opportunity to be involved in “The Drunkard” cast as actors, backstage assistants, costume designers, and in many other roles.
The production’s roots date to the 1950s, when members of Tulsa Little Theater staged small performances to support scholarships and local artists. Richard Mansfield Dickinson later adapted the melodrama into a shorter stage version.
He planned to do a limited run, but it quickly became a sold-out tradition. The first performance at the Spotlight Theater was in November 1953, and the show has never stopped running since.
The play is a classic-style melodrama with comedic elements, built around moral themes. Set in the small town of Cedarville, it tells the story of Joe Morgan, once a respected man whose life is gradually affected by alcohol, as well as his devoted wife, Fanny, and their innocent daughter, Little Mary, who pleads with her father to return home.
Meanwhile, Willie Hammond, a wealthy yet impressionable young man, becomes entangled in temptation and manipulation. Through its heightened characters and dramatic storytelling, the play offers an allegorical reflection on personal choices and the challenges individuals may face.
To capture the spirit of the theater across generations, the TCC Connection spoke with the theater’s director, one of its youngest actresses, and its oldest actor.
Richard Robertson is one of the few people who embody the history of “The Drunkard” more than anyone else. At 92 years old, he has spent more than half a century on the Spotlight Theater stage.
“I’ve got 50 years already,” he says with a smile. “If you say it quickly, it doesn’t sound like much.”
He recalls that when he first began preparing for the role of Joe Morgan, he rehearsed for nearly a year before being allowed to perform it. “Some people said, ‘no, he’s not ready,’ and some people said, ‘yes, he is ready.’ At any rate, I learned Joe Morgan.”
Over the decades, he has played multiple roles in the production and still rotates between them when needed.
“I have an arrangement with the people who make the schedule. I say, I’ll play any of the four roles.”
He continues to perform as Willie Hammond, the young hero, despite the character being decades younger than he is.
“I still play Willie Hammond, the hero, who is about 28. And I just love playing that role in an emergency.”
He admits that time eventually catches up with everyone.
“Sooner or later, you’ve got to quit. Otherwise, you’ll have a heart attack in the third act,” he jokes.
But for now, there is no substitute for the stage. “I plan to act as long as I can, and I don’t have any substitute for being on stage because I do love it so.”
Behind the scenes, the theater’s continuity depends on leadership as much as performance. The current director’s, Mark Roberts, journey began unexpectedly.
“My very first day at Spotlight Theatre was actually when I brought my daughter here to audition,” he recalls. “It was my first time ever being inside the theatre, and I honestly had no idea what to expect.”
At the time, he had no intention of stepping onto the stage himself.
“I immediately said no, I had never acted before, I was very shy, and I didn’t think I could do it,” he says. Encouraged by his family, he auditioned anyway. “I decided to audition just to prove how bad I was, hoping they would reject me.”
They didn’t. Over the years, he performed four different roles and later became president of the theater’s board. After the previous director retired, he was asked to take over leadership.
In May 2026, there will be 35 years since his first visit.
Roberts is trying to balance between acting and directing, but sometimes it can be demanding.
“When I’m acting, I love being on stage, but I often catch myself wanting to peek through the curtains,” he admits. “I feel like I’m doing two jobs at once.”
The director’s greatest responsibility is to protect the play’s legacy.
“This play has been performed here for 73 years, and it’s essential that it remains true to its original form,” he explains. With a rotating cast that changes almost weekly, consistency is critical.
“Each line must remain consistent so that cues work no matter who is on stage. Our goal is that what the audience sees today is exactly what they would have seen 73 years ago.”
While Roberts works to preserve the original spirit of the production, a new generation is learning to carry it forward for future audiences.
Little Mary, the innocent daughter whose emotional moments anchor the story, is portrayed by one of the theater’s youngest performers, Michael Crawford. She began performing at Spotlight Theater at 15, shortly after moving to Tulsa. Although she had already been involved in theater for eight years, starting over in a new city was intimidating.
“I was terrified at first. I’m very shy. I don’t really like talking to people first. Whenever someone gets me going, I’ll talk, but it was very hard at first because I didn’t know anyone,” she says. “I was fresh on the scene, and I was learning a brand-new part in a theater that I wasn’t too familiar with.”
Despite the fear, she committed to the role of Little Mary and learned the script in just a few weeks. Her debut came in late November, a date she still remembers clearly.
Now, she performs almost every Wednesday and Saturday and says the production has become a major part of her life.
“It’s pretty much taken my life, and I’m happy about it. I just really love it here. It feels like family.”
And although she admits she might be curious to try another role one day, her heart remains with the one that started it all.
“I love Little Mary so much. I don’t want to be any other role.”
From a 92-year-old actor with 50 years on stage to a performer who began at 15, Spotlight Theater continues to bridge generations. What remains unchanged is not only the script, but the passion of those who bring it to life week after week.
Supported largely by volunteers, the production welcomes anyone interested in becoming part of the cast, on stage or behind the scenes. Performances take place every Saturday, and the theater continues to open its doors to both returning audiences and new members of the community.
For more information, visit https://www.tulsaspotlighttheater.com/the-drunkard-is-the-oldest
