Original musical written to celebrate Fort Gibson's bicentennial

FORT GIBSON, Okla. — The City of Fort Gibson is celebrating its bicentennial with an all-new original musical written and composed by Fort Gibson natives.

“Even though it looks like not much of a town, there’s a lot of history in this town. It’s the oldest town in Oklahoma, we’re very important to the history of this state, and to the nation,” said Beth Brannon, the writer of the show.

The show titled, “Vivia, a New Musical,” takes us back to 1824. It’s a project that started two years ago to honor and celebrate the city’s 200-year anniversary. Everything from the script, the lyrics and the music are all written and produced by Fort Gibson originals.

The final rehearsals are underway for the debut of special production celebrating Fort Gibson.

“For us this just a celebration of, 'hey, it’s been 200 years, we’re still here, Vivia’s still here, maybe,' but yeah for us it’s celebrating our community, who we are as a people,” said Brannon.

Beth Brannon teaches English at Fort Gibson High School. She wrote the musical that tells the legend of Vivia Thomas. A young debutant in Boston who was said to follow the soldier she loved after he left her to head to Fort Gibson.

“She follows him here, the story goes, dressed as a man, she enrolls as a soldier to be near him, and find him, but unfortunately, when she gets here, he’s in the arms of a Cherokee maiden. The legend says it made her so angry she shot him,” said Brannon.

According to the legend, Vivia’s ghost walks the grounds of the national cemetery. Brannon says the tale let her write an entertaining piece while also sharing the city’s rich history.

“We live in the center of some very important history. The Trail of Tears ended here. Western expedition, this was as far west as you could go back in the day,” said Brannon.

Two-hundred years of history being brought from center stage. More than two dozen students are part of the production.

“To get to represent our town in such a beautiful way and to tell such a beautiful story, too is just awesome. I’m grateful to have the chance to be a part of it,” said Emma Perdue.

Senior Emma Perdue is playing the role of Vivia. She says it’s been fun to create what she thinks Vivia would have been like.

“To really bring life to her, to someone we doesn’t know who she truly was or what her story is, but to give her a story that’s worth telling and I think brings good things to her name and gives her a good legacy, I think is really special,” said Perdue.

It’s a one-of-a-kind show that’s bringing Fort Gibson’s past to a new light that’s been humbling for everyone involved.

“Two-hundred years is a long time. It’s crazy to think I get to be a part of the bicentennial and put on a show to entertain people and tell the story that really not everyone knows, and really let people be entertained by us,” said Easton Wicks, who’s playing the role of Graham.

For two years, Brannon has been working on the production. An experience unlike any other.

“I say if you didn’t believe in a God before now, you should, because some little English teacher in Oklahoma wrote a musical and there’s no other explanation to me,” said Brannon.

The first performance is Thursday afternoon for the elementary school. Curtain calls are Thursday night at 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Ticket information can be found here .