OCCC Cultural Programs Staff

Lemuel Bardeguez

Director of Cultural Programs

Lemuel Bardeguez performs the duties of General Manager of the OCCC Visual and Performing Arts Center and the Artistic Director of OCCC’s Touring Attractions program, the OCCC Performing Arts Series. Mr. Bardeguez has over twenty-five years’ combined experience in executive-level administration, market development, community arts, touring and presenting, community and economic development, arts administration, venue management, and performing arts. Before arriving at Oklahoma City Community College, Mr. Bardeguez served as the Oklahoma Arts Council Community Arts Program Director where he provided direction for the agency’s Community Arts and Touring Artists Roster Programs and provided technical assistance in grant writing, community arts programming, nonprofit board-development, and strategic planning.

Mr. Bardeguez is an accomplished classical saxophonist, orchestral and wind ensemble conductor, and music educator and holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Oklahoma State University, and a Master of Music degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He has served on the faculties of Oklahoma State University (Stillwater, OK), Oklahoma City University (Oklahoma City, OK), Bethel Public Schools (Bethel, OK), and the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra (Milwaukee, WI). He is a graduate of the Oklahoma Arts Council’s Leadership Arts program (2009) and has served as an expert grants panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts, and various State Arts Agencies. Mr. Bardeguez has served on the board of directors of the South Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, the Central Oklahoma Workforce Innovation Board, and the Cultural Development Corporation of Central Oklahoma. He is a member of the Southwest Performing Arts Presenters (SWPAP) consortium and the Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP).

John Farrell

Stage Manager

As a Journeyman of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Mr. Farrell worked with Oklahoma City performing arts programs for over fifteen years. After four years in the Marine Corps, he returned to Oklahoma City to become Assistant Stage Manager for the Civic Center Music Hall.  After the Civic Center reopened in 2001, Mr. Farrell was promoted to Operations Manager. In 2012 he began work part-time as a Stage Tech at OCCC, working productions in the Bruce Owen Theatre and assisting in the opening of the VPAC Theatre. He was hired in February, 2014 as Stage Manager, responsible for the VPAC and Bruce Owen Theatres.

Chuck Riley

Coordinator of Events & Educational Activities

Mr. Riley is responsible for Front of House and volunteer usher needs for the Visual and Performing Arts Center, and the Bruce Owen Theater. He also oversees scheduling and promoting Educational Activities for the Cultural Programs Department. Previously he worked for 34 years with The Hertz Corporation in various roles, from application development to project management. He is a recipient of The President’s Volunteer Service Award – Bronze Level. Mr. Riley attended San Diego State University, and is also a certified Six Sigma Green Belt.

Ben Williams

Cultural Programs Box Office Manager

Ben Williams performs all duties related to ticketed events, as well as marketing those events, for OCCC Cultural Programs. Mr. Williams has over 20 years’ experience in box office management, having previously served as Ticket Operations Manager for Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma. He was instrumental in Lyric’s move from OCU to the Civic Center Music Hall, as well as the opening of their own theater, offices and Academy in the Plaza District.

Mr. Williams is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma with a degree in Vocal Music Performance. He has performed extensively with Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, Music Theatre of Wichita, Discoveryland!, Fiesta Texas, Malmo Park in Malmo Sweden, as well as multiple appearances with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic.