Capitalizing on the talent of the university's students, the gifted faculty, and the
abundance of Tahlequah tourists during the summer months, the River City Players (formerly
known as the University Players) hosted their first season in 1983. C.H. Parker, now-retired
Northeastern State University instructor of speech and theater, and the late Joe Davis,
NSU jazz studies director, created the script for the River City Players first production,
Ferlin's Folly or Dolly Goes to Dixie. Combining the best of popular music, Broadway
hits, gospel, and everything in between, River City Players quickly became one of
the most popular shows produced by NSU.
In 1995, C.H. Parker met Tim Gilliam, a young
country and bluegrass musician who had recently returned to Tahlequah from performing in
Nashville to pursue a degree in mass communication at Northeastern State University.
From that initial meeting sprung the nexus for Downtown Country, the university's
annual Branson-style show showcasing live country music. The first year's Country
Fare evolved into NSU's Downtown
Hoedown, and eventually became known as Downtown Country. Downtown Country has hosted a number
of talented artists over the years, including NSU alumnae, 2005 American Idol
winner and country music superstar Carrie Underwood. Around the year 2000, the two casts
joined marketing and box office efforts to combine as one series known as the Stars
in the Summer. In 2013 the cast returned to the name River City Players,
however the legacy of Downtown Country is still continued through the country performances
of the River City Players. Now in its 32nd season, River City continues to showcase
our talented performers and brings audiences back year after year.
