Annawyn Shamas

2024 Distinguished Alumni

B.A. '56/M.S. '73 Theatre

Annawyn Shamas and her brother, Burris, were born in Seminole, Oklahoma, in the 1930s. Her parents, Evelyn and M.J. DeBenning, moved the family to Stillwater in 1941. In high school, Annawyn competed in speech and was elected Girls’ State Governor.

An enrolled member of the Chickasaw Nation, Annawyn attended what was then Oklahoma A&M College in the early ’50s. She served as president of the College Theatre Guild and received both a Best Actress Award and Outstanding Speech Award. She credits Olive Hilles and Vivia Locke — two key figures in the theatre department at the time — for their guidance.

In her 68-year community theatre career, Annawyn has directed and acted in over 90 productions spanning six states. She served as president of the Oklahoma Community Theatre Association, performed as a professional puppeteer, taught theatre at OSU, worked on several theatre boards, founded five theatre companies, and won numerous acting and directing awards.

Named one of Littleton’s honored citizens, she directed three shows invited for international performance. She received multiple accolades for her Tulsa Little Theatre productions of "Quilters" and "We Bombed in New Haven", the latter receiving the first winner honor at Oklahoma State Theatre Competition.

Annawyn’s favorite roles include Juliet in “Romeo and Juliet,” Amanda in "The Glass Menagerie" and Mary in "All the Way Home."

Annawyn and her husband, Jim — who himself had a successful pipeline career — are the parents of three children: Laura, Jimmy, Jr. and Ellen.