On the Town: Show could mean jobs, positive exposure for state By: Lillie-Beth Brinkman The Journal Record July 27, 2021
Lillie-Beth Brinkman
Two native Oklahomans with a love for their home state and a love of musical theater have an idea to promote both in a big way.
Charles Jones II and Regina Dowling have almost all the pieces in place to launch a reality television competition called
Opening Night America, which will showcase new musicals for a broad audience. They’ve picked the four musicals for the first competition. Kristin Chenoweth, the Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress, singer and star who was one of Dowling’s classmates and friends at Oklahoma City University, has already signed on as a celebrity mentor. They know the format of the 13-episode show and how they’re going to highlight the musicals and the work of the creative teams behind them.