Arts @ St Luke’s began 11 years ago as the Summer Arts festival in the Christian Life Center with the successful production of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Godspell, The Fantastiks and Nunsense. Arts @ St Luke’s Executive Director Jason Johnston designed a 140 seat theater in what had been the St. Luke’s youth recreation center, and on March 11, 1999, St Luke’s Little Theatre opened with Neil Simon’s Barefoot inthe Park, directed by David Palmer.

The story of the Poteet Theatre would be incomplete without a word about its namesake, Cindy Poteet, wife of David Poteet, a former St Luke’s Associate Pastor.   She shared her love of musical theater and leadership ability in directing You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Godspell, and Forever Plaid, as well as vibrantly portraying Mother Superior in Nunsense. Sadly, Cindy passed away during the theater fundraising drive and in her honor Arts @ St Luke’s dedicated the Cynthia L. Poteet Little Theatre on March 3, 2001. In their new home, Arts @ St Luke’s brought productions such as Ten Little Indians, Harvey, Cotton Patch Gospel, I’ll Be Home for Christmas and Annie Get Your Gun to the congregation and community audience.

During the 2004 and 2005 season, the theater gained tremendous growth, bringing more and more people in from the congregation and community as actors and audience. In June of 2004, Ben Hall entered his production of Eleemosynary in the Oklahoma Community Theatre Festival and took 2nd place, “Production of Honor.” In late 2005, we added actor, dancer, director and choreographer Sara Phoenix and actor, singer, musical director and vocal coach Jay Prock to “semi-permanent” Production Staff. In early 2005, City Youth Theatre, inc. began to regularly produce in the Poteet, and now stages several youth productions each year, ranging from student directed plays to originals from some of the CYTi youth to large cast musical reviews.

 In August of 2005, Jay Prock, succeeded Jason Johnston as Executive Director of Arts @ St Luke’s.  As the artistic team grows, the future of great entertainment here at the Poteet is exciting and bright.