Mausoleum Stories set for October 20-22

Oct 11, 2022

White Rose Cemetery’s popular “Mausoleum Stories” will be held Oct. 20-22 this year, featuring several local actors portraying “characters” from Bartlesville’s past.

The event is an innovative way to tell the stories of people who are buried at the City-owned cemetery and to allow their voices to be heard — in many cases, long after they’re gone. The life stories are told by actors who wear period costumes, representing the time that their person lived.

Shows will begin at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 20, and Friday, Oct. 21, and at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 22, at the White Rose Mausoleum, located at 804 W. 11th Street.

The characters featured this year, and the actors portraying them, are:

  • Warnie Smith, a 1920s prize fighter with a mean left jab, portrayed by Ben Pauls
  • Bartlesville’s own equal rights pioneer, Dorothy Toalson, portrayed by Joanie Elmore
  • Tom Mardis as the train robbing outlaw Grover Durrill
  • Kevin Mnich as Nelson Carr, the first white man in Indian Territory
  • Jason Elmore as Guardian of the Book of Life

Mausoleum Stories began as “The Notables,” a showcase event during Bartlesville’s OK Mozart music festival. Since then it has taken many forms. The script was written by Marilyn Johnson, who passed away earlier this year.

“Marilyn has been writing the scripts for Mausoleum Stories since 2008 and has written and directed many of the past performances,” said Bartlesville Public Library/Cemetery Director Shellie McGill. Sadly, this year’s performance is her last script.”

McGill said library staff finds those being portrayed either by suggestions from others familiar with the program, or through finding a particularly interesting obituary or newspaper article in the library archives.

“The research is then given to Marilyn to use for the script,” she said. “She had a way of bringing these local pioneers to life in a way that you not only learn about them, but you also get a glimpse of Bartlesville and the greater world during their lifetime.”

McGill said the event’s director, Tom Mardis, has been an integral part of putting Mausoleum Stories together as well.

“Tom is a former White Rose Cemetery board member, and he wears many hats,” McGill said. “With casting, directing, costuming and staging; he helps bring to life the people and stories of Bartlesville’s past.”

Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased at the Bartlesville Public Library circulation desk. The library is located at 600 S. Johnstone Ave. Proceeds from the event will benefit cemetery beautification projects.

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