Welcome to Grace Ann Productions

Grace Ann Productions, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)3 performing arts organization with a broader mission to bring hope and personal transformation through the performing arts, hence Grace Ann Productions’ motto is “Touching Hearts Through the Arts.”

Founded in March of 1998 by E. Kirby, Jr., Grace Ann Productions’ has produced Broadway-quality performances in Tulsa, as well as traveling productions that have toured nationally to cities, such as San Francisco & Los Angeles, California; Dallas, Texas; Oklahoma City; and New York City, as well as abroad to the following countries: London, England; Stockholm, Sweden; Sydney, Australia; Benin City, Nigeria; and Tokyo, Japan.

Past dramatic works have included: “The Wiz”, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”, “Children of Eden”, “Godspell”, “Into the Woods”, “Ragtime”, “Annie”, “The Last Five Years”, “Big River” with ASL, “Assassins”, “Children of a Lesser God”, “Oliver!” with ASL, “Urinetown”, “Company”, “Jesus Christ Superstar” with ASL, “Ain’t Misbehavin’”, “Disney’s High School Musical”, “Footloose”, “Six Degrees of Separation”, “Altar Boyz” and “Closer”.

Partnerships with other Oklahoma organizations, include the Governor’s Safe School Summit, “Whatcha’ Gonna Do About It” project along with Grace Ann Productions’ "Touching Hearts through the Arts" elementary and high school assembly program. This musical assembly program encourages students as well as educators to create love, compassion and empathy through the art of genuine communication, thereby creating safe havens for education.

E. Kirby, Jr., Grace Ann Productions and Kirby Kasting’s founder and current Artistic Director, is more than a singer, dancer, actor, director, producer, author, entrepreneur, and missionary of the arts . More than a teacher or motivator. He is all of these things, but more than anything, he seems like a salesman.

He’s selling dreams in Tulsa, OK.

Sure his classes offered at Kirby Kasting and Grace Ann Productions include acting, art, ballet, ballroom, hip-hop, jazz, voice, piano and musical theatre. But ask him what his organization specializes in and he’ll tell you it’s music, health and spirit.

What he’s teaching, he’ll tell you, is life skills.

It’s a disservice to say that this is a performing arts agency and you come here to our studio and learn the arts,” said Kirby, a New York native whose extensive credits include appearing in the musical hit “A Chorus Line” on Broadway. “I believe our job is to teach people to have options. The biggest dilemma is when people feel they have no options; that’s when they give up.

I allow the arts to support people in experiencing new levels of artistic expression, and that’s not just limited to your conventional singing, dancing and acting. That’s geared toward your CPA who needs to tap into their creative side, or a parent who is needing to find a creative outlet.”

The services that Kirby and his instructors offer are as varied as the age of the students - from 4 to 89 - who come to his studio, currently located off of 8th & Peoria just East of Downtown in Tulsa’s Historic Pearl District.

It’s Kirby’s dream that someday his clients will attend classes in a new performing arts center that he hopes to build. His vision is a 400-seat theater in addition to classrooms, the kind of place where one could train by day and perform by night, using regional talent to feature famiy-oriented entertainment on a year-round basis.

“The biggest thing that I see that Tulsa doesn’t have is a place where we can see our own on stage, and it’s quality, and it’s exciting,” Kirby said. “What are dance studios having to do constantly? They’re having to rent facilities “for performances). And often the case is that the facility to rent is too large. What’s really needed is a place that’s mid-sized, intimate. There are lots of places that people would love to use, but they either can’t afford it or they can’t fill it.”

In addition this facility would provided year-round residency for visiting artists from around the world taking part in Grace Ann Productions’ Artist Recovery program. This program provides hurting and misplaced artists, both visual and performance, an opportunity to renew their spirit in today's hectic world. By pouring back into themselves by giving them an opportunity to create before returning to their homes to further enrich their communities.

“Winners do what losers won’t. They do,” Kirby said. “I’m an optimist, and I’m a dreamer. My belief is that if you can see it, you can dream it, and you can do it.”

Ann Elizabeth Kirby

June 9, 1945 - July 2, 2011

Greetings, Grace Ann Productions’ family. On July 2, 2011, Ann Kirby, mother of Artistic Director E. Kirby, Jr., returned home to Heaven after a courageous 25 year battle with cancer. Ann passed peacefully at her home in Southern Maryland. Ann Kirby co-founded Grace Ann Productions, which is her namesake, and continued her support quietly behind the scenes. Some of you were able to know her more closely as she travelled on a number of Grace Ann’s touring productions, including “Children of Eden” to England, “Godspell” to Sweden and additional tours to New York City. Ann Kirby has always been a pillar and an inspiration to our company and will be greatly missed and remembered. A special memorial fund has been created in her honor.

E. Kirby, Jr. with his mother, Ann Kirby co-founder of Grace Ann Productions.