McSwain’s longtime performer Jae L. Stilwell, along with the Crossover Band, entertain McSwain patrons each month, performing everything from country renditions of favorite songs to classic hits. Jae L. and the Crossover Band have more than 30 years of experience in the music business and performing. The group was established in 2009 and have performed at numerous venues and events, including the KSBI Oklahoma Live show.
Chandler Elliott was born and raised in Ada, Oklahoma. He graduated from the Academy of Contemporary Music, a branch of the University of Central Oklahoma, with a degree in commercial music. Elliot started playing the guitar when he was 13, taking lessons with Greg Griffin for more than five years. He first began performing at the theater in 2016. During high school, he started volunteering at the Jae L. & Crossover shows where he learned all aspects of the music industry from his mentors, Jae L. Stilwell and Mitch Sasseen. He now serves as the theater’s production coordinator and is thankful for all the blessings God has given him.
Debbie Allen’s musical roots run deep, sharing the stage with duet partner and cousin Jae L. Stilwell for more than 30 years. Allen and Stilwell have appeared on numerous stages across Oklahoma, Louisiana, Tennessee and Texas, receiving multiple awards, including Duet of The Year and Group of The Year. Along with Jae L., Allen has opened for several top country music artists including T.G. Sheppard and Porter Wagner.
As a longtime local performer, Allen has been given the opportunity to enjoy what she loves most in life, being home with her family and entertaining the music fans who enjoy their Saturday night outings at the McSwain Theatre.
Deni Stubbs started playing rhythm guitar at the early age of 10 in her father’s western swing band. She later transitioned to the bass guitar. After high school, she traveled on the road for 10 years and opened for Johnny Paycheck, George Jones, David Frizzell and Shelly West, David Allen Coe and other notable artists.
After losing her father in an automobile accident, Stubbs moved to Oklahoma. In 1988, she began her career with KWTV News 9, met the love of her life, Stewart Stubbs, and started a family. Music is a big part of her life. She enjoys studio session work, playing in local Opry-type music shows and performing with the band Overdrive, which will always hold a special place in her heart. The McSwain Theatre has been such a blessing in her life. She is grateful to work with talented musicians who share the same passion of making wonderful music.
Stubbs has two daughters, a son-in-law and two sweet grandsons who keep her busy. She is retired and loving life with her husband.
Gary Bryan has been associated with the McSwain Theatre since 1995, where he has performed with the McSwingers and now Crossover.
Bryan began performing in bands in junior high, playing at rodeos, civic functions, and a few high school proms. Later, Bryan became a member of the Sundowners Band, playing shows across Oklahoma and Texas for nearly 20 years. Bryan is currently playing drums for Overdrive, Pauls Valley Opry, El Reno Opry, and the McSwain Theatre. He also plays for several tribute artists. Bryan and his wife Cheryl have been married for 39 years and have a daughter, Madison, son-in-law Blake and a 5-year-old granddaughter, Karsyn.
Ada native Greg Griffin has been with the McSwain Theatre since 2004 as an acoustic guitar and bass player. With more than 30 years’ experience, Griffin's musical talents are heavily influenced by his large family of musicians.
Griffin has performed a wide range of music, including rhythm and blues, jazz, rock, gospel and country. In addition to playing with Crossover, he has performed with the Jeff Sibble Band and enjoys teaching private music lessons.
Griffin and his wife, Laurie, live in Stratford, Oklahoma, where he plays with the praise and worship team at Stratford Freewill Baptist Church.
Born and raised in Ada, Oklahoma, Jae L. Stilwell has shared her gift of music with audiences since the first grade. Together with her cousin, Debbie Allen, they have made numerous appearances on television, radio and live stages. A veteran to the music scene, Stilwell has performed with country music legends Faron Young, T. G. Sheppard and Lee Greenwood. Since 1992, Stilwell has managed the McSwain Theatre.
Family comes first to Stilwell and her bio wouldn’t be complete without mentioning that she is married to Mitch Sasseen, has two sons, Brandon and Brad, two daughters-in-law, Laura and Kristin, and nine grandchildren, Sydni, Cameron, Carson, Henry, August, Violet, Maxton, Berklea and Lincoln.
Jody Teeter has been involved with music since he was 10 years old. A part of the early McSwain band from 1995-2003, Teeter has returned to the McSwain as a member of Crossover. An accomplished musician, Teeter has been the rhythm guitarist, background vocalist and band leader for a variety of performers, including Katrina Elam and Nashville Star 2005 winner Ericka Jo. Teeter has served as bassist for Philip Bauer’s Johnny Cash tribute, a Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton tribute show and up-and-coming country music artist Clancy Davis. Teeter also spends his time entertaining and playing with the band Overdrive.
Teeter lives in Lindsay, Oklahoma, with his wife, Chastity.
Kenny Anderson started playing drums in church at the age of 5 for his dad who is a monster guitar player and sister who plays bass. He fell in love with the guitar at the age of 14 and never looked back!
Anderson has been playing the lead guitar for over four decades for many artists and Opry shows in Oklahoma, including the Oklahoma Opry, El Reno Opry and Pauls Valley Opry. He has also served as band leader for St. Luke’s in Edmond for more than a decade.
Anderson has one son, Christopher, a daughter-in-law, Staci, and two beautiful grandchildren, Laila and Gabriel. He enjoys life with his beautiful fiancé, Ann Wilkerson.
Sonya Stokes has been the stage assistant for the McSwain Theatre since 2010. She enjoys putting the live shows together and meeting the needs of guests. She has met many well-known artists, and working with them has been a highlight of her job. She cherishes the many friendships she has made during her time with the theater.
As part of a musical family, music is at the center of every family gathering. Stokes is the choir director and worship leader at the Church of the Nazarene and has been for 30 years. She has enjoyed the progression of the styles of music over the years but will always maintain a heart for southern gospel music.
Stokes is senior vice president at Vision Bank in Ada. She has been a banker for 30 years with the last 16 at Vision Bank. She enjoys taking care of her customers and helping co-workers find the best possible solutions for their customers. She has been married to her husband, David, for 40 years. They have two children – Taylor Stokes and his wife Alexis, and MaKenzie Stokes. They are also proud grandparents of their 6-year-old grandson, Doc Addison Stokes.
Susan Oden grew up hearing her grandfather fiddling with friends in the garage. She learned the fiddle from her grandfather and by age 12, Susan was a regular in the Oklahoma Opry band. Susan has since played with artists everywhere and is energized by yearly study under virtuoso Mark O’Connor. She has performed at the Oklahoma Opry, the Rodeo Opry, the Pauls Valley Opry, The Bobby Bennett band and now as a member of the Crossover band at McSwain Theatre. Oden's favorite times are spent with Jae L. & Crossover.
Tara Scott began performing at the McSwain Theatre in 2008 and joined the McSwain band, Crossover, in 2010. Raised in a musical family, Scott sang in a family gospel group at the age of 10.
She has been a regular cast member and backup vocalist at venues such as the Wichita Theatre, Opry Station, the Oklahoma Opry and the Rodeo Opry. She enjoys singing with talents such as Clancy Davis and Overdrive, a band she has been a member of since 2008.
Scott works as a speech language pathologist in Duncan, Oklahoma, where she lives with her husband, Chad, and three children, Aiden, Eli and Ava Claire.
Wayne Morton has entertained audiences for more than three decades. An original member of the McSwain Musical Theatre from 1992-1997, Morton returned home to the McSwain in 2006.
Morton plays the pedal steel guitar, fiddle and the dobro. Morton is an active member of the Oklahoma Steel Guitar Association and has also performed on stages across the United States, including Oklahoma Opry and the Rodeo Opry, as well as Nashville's premier country music hot spots, like Legends Corner, the Douglas Corner Cafe and the Broken Spoke. In 2009, he performed in Norman, Oklahoma, at the Sooner Theatre's production of “Always Patsy Cline.”
Wayne has three personal instrumental CDs and an instrumental album “Sleepwalkin' in Wayne's World.” He has two children, seven grandchildren and lives with his wife, Debbie, in Tishomingo, Oklahoma. Between he and his wife, they have five children and nine grandchildren.
Zach Sutton was born in El Reno, Oklahoma and raised in Mustang, Oklahoma. He started playing the piano when he was 7 years old. He learned to read music but also taught himself how to play by ear and how to play various genres ranging from jazz and country to gospel and pop with some light classical and even blues influences along the way. His greatest piano influences are Floyd Cramer, Scott Joplin, Nat King Cole, Hargus "Pig" Robbins, Gordon Mote and Mark Reighard. He enjoys making music with various friends and bands including the Crossover Band, spending time with friends and family and fishing with his buddy Gary Bryan.