Author: mitchmuse

Global communicator, Journalism, Entrepreneur, Web editor, Blogger, Freelance writer, Jazz enthusiast

Oklahoma Community Theatre Association distributes awards

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date August 1, 2009

Awards distributed during the 2009 Oklahoma Community Theatre Association Conference in Tulsa in July were:

Doobie Potter, Oklahoma City
HALL OF HONOR is awarded when there is deemed a worthy recipient. Criteria include the nominee’s contributions to state and local community theatre, involvement in all aspects of theatre work, and OCTA.

Oklahoma Arts Council
JEANNE ADAMS WRAY SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD is given to those selected people who are not working with community theatre in Oklahoma, but have or are making contributions to its progress.

Shonda E. Currell, Elk City
BILL CRAWFORD MEMORIAL AWARD is given on very special occasions to a person or member organizations in recognition of services and devotion to OCTA and its theatres.

Grove Playmakers, Grove
OCTAVISION is given to an OCTA member theatre which has established and successfully accomplished a substantial long-range goal.

Ardmore Little Theatre, Ardmore
THEATRE OF THE YEAR is given in to an OCTA member theatre, operating within a Board of Directors structure, which has accomplished at least 10 continuous seasons with at least two productions each. This is the most prestigious award a theatre can receive in Oklahoma and is the equivalent to the Governors Arts Award.

OCTA SPOTLIGHT AWARDS: Outstanding Volunteers nominated from their theatre
Connie Stuart – Theatre Tulsa
David Gray – Heller Theatre
David Thompson – The Stage Door, Yukon
Judy McGlasson – Theatre Bartlesville
Sherry Whisman & Karyn Maio – Sapulpa C.T.
Vicki King – Grove Playmakers

arts comedy commentary Nightingale Theater. Tulsa

Stand-up Comedy convenes this Sunday at Tulsa’s Nightingale Theatre

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date August 1, 2009

On the first Sunday of the month, A Murder of Comics presents their Stand-Up Comedy Showcase at the Nightingale Theatre, 1416 E 14th Street, Tulsa, OK. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., show starts at 8 p.m. Admission is $5. For more information, call (918) 633-8666. A Murder of Comics feature comedians from all sorts of backgrounds. Topics range from topical news to relationships, social commentary, satire, and even anthropology!

Alice arts Nightingale Theater. Tulsa theatre

Monica Huggens Dance Theatre presents “Project Alice” this weekend

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date August 1, 2009

“Project Alice” is an interpretation of Lewis Carroll’s famous work. This
full-length production features a collection of tap, jazz, ballet, modern,
hip hop and historical dance which seduce the audience into ‘becoming’
Alice. Stage combat, ariel performance, poetry and acting are all performed
by local artists.
Production times are at 8 p.m. today and Aug. 1, 2 p.m. Aug. 2 and 8 p.m. Aug. 7-8 at the Nightingale Theatre, 1416 E 14th Street, Tulsa, OK. Admission is $18 adults, $12 student, $10 children. For more information, call (918) 633-8666.

God prayer reflections

Mitch’s Reflection: A Prayer of Thanks

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date July 30, 2009

Saw this in a little devotional book I have called “Enjoying God Who Satisfies.” It touched me because in the midst of always asking God for certain things, there is a time where we all should simply give him thanks for the little things in our lives.

“A Prayer of Thanks”
Dear Lord God,
just as I am I come to you:
when my mind is battered with worries;
when my spirit aches with loneliness and hurt;
when my heart grieves for those I love;
when my body is weary with tiredness and pain.
I come to you.
You always receive me.
You shelter me in the storm;
you love and heal me;
you pour out your Spirit like rain on my dry soul.
You satisfy my every need.
Thank you, O Lord God.

jazz music national Ramsey Lewis releases september

Ramsey Lewis to release new album Sept. 29

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date July 28, 2009

Pianist/bandleader Ramsey Lewis will release “Songs From the Heart: Ramsey Plays Ramsey” on Concord Records. The CD will contain a refined collection of 12 new originals that he composed over a period of two years.
The collection includes music from two commissioned world premiere performances at the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, Ill. Eight songs come from the 2007 ballet score “To Know Her,” written for the Joffrey Ballet Company and four pieces come from 2008’s “Muses and Amusements” suite performed with the Turtle Island Quartet.
“Songs From the Heart: Ramsey Plays Ramsey” features eight pieces with bassist Larry Gray and drummer Leon Joyce, and four piano solo performances. The project marks a turning point in Lewis’ storied career – now as a composer.

arts jazz music Pete McCann releases

Guitarist Pete McCann to release “Extra Mile”

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date July 24, 2009

New York guitarist and composer Pete McCann will release his fourth solo album “Extra Mile” on Nineteen-Eight Records.
McCann is joined by alto saxophonist John O’Gallagher and Henry Hey on keyboards, as well as his long-time collaborators bassist Matt Clohesy and drummer Mark Ferber. These ten originals demonstrate McCann’s deep roots in jazz while allowing him to branch off into the diverse sound-worlds he’s loved since his youth.
McCann, a native of Eau Claire, Wis., has worked with artists as diverse as Kenny Wheeler, Dave Liebman, Lee Konitz, Kenny Garrett, Peter Erskine, Gary Thomas, Greg Osby, Brian Blade, and the Maria Schneider Orchestra.

arts Circle Cinema theater tulsa

“Phèdre” premieres at Tulsa’s Circle Cinema on Saturday

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date July 24, 2009

Nicholas Hytner’s production of “Phèdre” by Jean Racine, in a version by Ted Hughes, will convene at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 25 at Circle Cinema, 12 S. Lewis, Tulsa.
Helen Mirren leads a brilliant cast that includes Margaret Tyzack and Dominic Cooper (“The History Boys”).
“Phèdre” is about a woman named Phèdre who is consumed by an uncontrollable passion for her young stepson and believing Theseus, her absent husband, to be dead, confesses her darkest desires and enters the world of nightmare. When Theseus returns alive and well, Phèdre, fearing exposure, accuses her stepson of rape. The result is powerful drama.

academy Ada arts Chickasaw Nation Oklahoma theatre tribes youth

Chickasaw Nation Summer Camp commences July 20-31

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date July 21, 2009

The Chickasaw Nation Department of Arts in Education will be conducting the Chickasaw Summer Arts Academy (CSAA), July 20-31 on the campus of East Central University in Ada, OK.

Each year, CSAA offers an opportunity for hundreds of Oklahoma students, ages 8 to 19, to evaluate and develop their creative potential. Formal training in visual arts, acting, writing, video production, music and dance are offered during the academy.

Capping off the intensive academy will be two Fine Arts Showcases at 6 p.m. July 30 and July 31 at ECU’s Dorothy Summers Theater. A gallery walk-through and reception will begin at 5 p.m. each night. Doors to the Dorothy Summers Theater will open at 5:45 for the performance art showcases. The public is invited to attend these free performances.

For more information, call (580) 272-5520.

arts Darkwood Motion Pictures film Muskogee younglings youth

Darkwood Film Arts Institutes’ Kid Summer Film Camp produces movie

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date July 21, 2009

“Younglings,” a Darkwood Film Arts Institutes production, will be shown at Tulsa’s BareBones Script 2 Screen Film Festival and Conference in October.
“Younglings” is based on the story of five teens and pre-teens attending the school for young Jedi trainees who are saved from Anakin Skywalkers dark side demeanor and deadly light saber (“Episode III Revenge of the Sith”) by being shoved into the Allseer (a transport and time machine) by Jedi Master Daymor and sent 2.5 million light years away and 567 years into the future, landing on current day Earth in the city of Muskogee Oklahoma.
“We had a pretty diverse group of kids this summer, from ages 8-15. We wanted to teach them about loss, loyalty and change as we showed them how movies are made,” said Oscar Ray, the Institutes chief instructor and the creator of “Younglings.”
“The kids are all familiar with the ‘Star Wars’ stories. Some would be considered ‘Star Wars’ trivia experts, so we figured an original story with familiar characters would be a good teaching and training tool and a good way to get them to look at how they handle their own emotions. The story also allows us to engage them with visual and special effects.”

arts Broken Arrow students summer theater tulsa

Broken Arrow Community Playhouse presents Youth Theatre production

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date July 15, 2009

The Broken Arrow Community Playhouse (BACP) is proud to present a summer
Youth Theatre production, “Nottingham: A Totally Teen Musical,” based on book by
Flip Kobler and Cindy Marcus with music by Dennis Poore and lyrics by
Flip Kobler. Show times are 7:30 p.m. are July 18 and 25 and 2 p.m. July 19 and 26. General admission is $8. No reservations are necessary. Youth Theatre productions are not part of regular season. Season tickets may not be used for this production.
Bruce Webb directs this 1960s musical sensation based on the
Robin Hood legend. A creative cast of young artists ages nine to 12th grade work to light up the BACP stage.
Synopsis: It’s 1961, and life is just swell at Nottingham High. Unless you come
from the wrong side of the tracks, that is. John Prince, class president
and big man on campus, keeps the rich Normans happy by stealing from the
poor Saxons. But things are about to change when Robin Loxley comes back
to spend her senior year at her old school. And she (Yes, SHE!) is one
cat who will fight for justice. With the help of Little John-the former
all-state quarterback-and a team of not-so-merry men, Robin sets off to
stop the awful Normans and their hateful schemes.
For more information, call the BACP box office at (918) 258-0077. The Broken Arrow Community Playhouse is in The Main Place, 1800 S. Main, Broken Arrow.
Produced by special arrangement with Pioneer Drama Service Inc. The
Broken Arrow Community Playhouse is a member of the Oklahoma Community
Theatre Association and the Tulsa Area Community Theatre Alliance.