Harmon leaving Lawton Community Theatre Dec. 31

Chance Harmon is leaving his post as managing director of Lawton Community Theatre on Dec. 31.

Harmon announced his departure to the LCT Board of Directors at its monthly board meeting Nov. 20. Harmon has accepted the position of artistic and technical director at Backdoor Theatre in Wichita Falls, Texas.

“Although I will be physically relocating to Texas, I will continue to cheer on LCT and its dedicated team from across the river,” Harmon said in a statement. “The challenges we faced, such as the hardships brought by the COVID-19 pandemic and several bouts of storm damage to our facility, only strengthened our friendship, resilience and determination.”

Harmon has been with Lawton Community Theatre since December 2019. During his time with LCT, Harmon faced unprecedented times with the pandemic, but managed to keep the theater financially stable while charging the mindset the theater was only going through a long intermission and that the spotlight would shine on the LCT stage once again, board members said.

Soon as the theater was able to produce shows safely again, Harmon was instrumental in bringing new quality theater to Southwest Oklahoma, and gave his direction to the theater’s productions of “The Last Five Years,” “Always Patsy Cline,” “Annie” and “Cabaret”, board members said. He also appeared in several roles in the theater’s and other community productions, including LCT’s “Annie” and “The Wizard of OZ,” along with “Reefer Madness” produced by Blue Moon and “Footloose” at Elgin High School. Harmon also dedicated time to assisting other directors, building sets, recording videos/audio — anything that benefitted the theater and the community as a whole.

Harmon was active in broadening LCT’s reach by drawing in new audiences or unfamiliar faces to the theater’s stage by enhancing the theater’s marketing, networking and being involved in the community and local schools, board members said. He assisted retired Lawton Public Schools teacher and LCT board secretary Janice Bear in conducting and hosting a traveling audition workshop to various LPS schools. He directed shows and taught theater at Elgin Public Schools. He volunteered to assist with shows put on by various local dance studios. He consistently assisted the McMahon Memorial Auditorium with any production the auditorium hosted. Harmon also was a volunteer with Arts for All, including the organization’s annual festival and gala, along with the Lawton Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce, and its committees for the Oklahoma Arts Conference and Holiday In the Park.

During his time at LCT, Harmon served as a teaching artist panelist for creative aging, grant panelist and conference moderator/panelist for the Oklahoma Arts Council. Harmon was instrumental in building the theater’s relationship with the McMahon Auditorium Authority and ensuring LCT’s future home at the National Guard Armory.

“I am optimistic about LCT’s future,” Harmon said, “particularly with the new partnerships forged with the McMahon Auditorium Authority and the continuing grant opportunities from the Oklahoma Arts Council and Arts for All. These institutions will undoubtedly contribute to the continued success and growth of Lawton Community Theatre. I also want to express my deepest gratitude to the Lawton Fort Sill community for their support and camaraderie. I am confident that under new leadership, LCT will flourish and reach new heights.”

Board President Melissa Beck said Harmon was a godsend to Lawton Community Theatre.

“He came to us at just the right time and got us through the pandemic without any significant losses,” Beck said. “He has touched all our hearts in so many ways. Backdoor Theatre is so lucky to have him, but he has assured us that he is nearby and we will still be seeing quite a lot of him. We look forward to his continued presence in the Lawton arts community.”