Instructions for a Séance

Instructions for a Séance

Jan. 22-23, 2026

For one week in January Katie Bender — playwright, performer, mom — hosted a series of séances with OKC Rep to contact Harry Houdini to teach her how to escape her life. And maybe you have things you want to escape from?

Instructions for a Séance was a playful yet poignant exploration of motherhood, artistic ambition and the urge to escape. Inspired by the Houdini archives at the Ransom Center, Séance was a 70-minute theatrical gem: compact, gleaming and utterly unforgettable.

Artist Bio
Katie Bender (she/her/hers) is a playwright, performer and theater maker. Recent performance credits include Instructions for a Séance at Amphibian Stage, The Alley All New Festival and The Playwrights’ Center; and NEXT YEAR PEOPLE at Fusebox Festival. Her plays include Judith, SHE WOLF, The Survivors/Los Sobrevivientes, Instructions for a Séance and Howling, Texas. Katie’s work has been developed and produced all over the country. She was a Jerome Fellow and is currently a Core Writer at The Playwrights Center. She received her M.F.A from The University of Texas.