Sapulpa Community Theatre presents “The Premature Corpse,” a crime thriller with lots of twists and turns. The scene is a hotel room, where-in the audience will meet a man in the government witness protection program and his not-so-loving wife. Throw in the wife’s lover, who is also the husband’s accountant and best friend, who would also just as soon see the husband killed by the mob, and a gung-ho government agent who is determined to protect his witness at all costs, or so it seems.
Performances are Friday, Sept. 11 through Sunday, Sept. 13 and Sept. 18-20. Evening performances are 8 p.m., and matinee performances are 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and children.
Sapulpa Community Theatre is funded in part by the Oklahoma Arts Council and The National Endowment for the Arts. Sapulpa Community Theatre is a member of Oklahoma Community Theatre Association, the American Association of Community Theatres, and the Tulsa Area Community Theatre Alliance. For more information, call (918) 227-2169, or send an e-mail to stheatre@sbcglobal.net.
Category: Oklahoma
Saxophonist Grady Nichols will make his Autumn Jazz concert debut at 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13 at the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame, 111 E. First Street (Upper Level), in Tulsa. Performing with Nichols is his outstanding band, with guest vocalist, Krista Branch, of American Idol fame.
Tickets are $15 adults; $10 seniors, Jazz Hall Members and College Students; and $5 students older than 12 years old. Attendees can purchase tickets at the door
or call the Jazz Hall to make table seating reservations ($20 each). Call on/before Friday each week by 5pm at (918) 281-8609.
There is free parking in the Grand Central Parking Lot (across from the entrance
of the Jazz Depot).
Mark Temple, board president of the Liberated Arts Center (BLAC) Inc., appointed Orville Prince as chairman of the 2010 Charlie Christian International Music Festival. The festival is scheduled to be held in early June 2010.
Soul Bowl Party in the Park kicks off the beginning a serious effort to fund a memorable experience for the 25th year of the festival.
“The idea behind the Soul Bowl Party in the Park is to give the community an opportunity to come together in a fun filled evening of hearing great music and seeing new talent as they enter into a little friendly competition in a T-Shirt contest that will benefit some high school in the area,” Prince said. “At the same time, it should be fun to see folks display their pride in their alma maters.
“I think the community is ready for this event. In fact, if we are as successful as we think, we will make it an annual event,” he concluded.
Temple indicated that in an act of strengthening the organization, several new board members will be seated in October prior to Oct. 18’s Ailey II performance at Rose State Performing Arts Center.
“We expect a big year for BLAC, Inc.,” Temple said. “In fact, it is exciting to me that so many people are coming forward asking to be involved with BLAC. It is amazing to me that in 2010, BLAC, Inc. will celebrate 40 years, the festival will celebrate 25 years, and we will celebrate 15 years of being a partner in the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Partners in Education Program. There is no doubt it will be a year of celebration.”
For more information about BLAC, Inc. and its activities, call (405) 524-3800.
Two male actors (ages 20-30 something) are needed for the Broken Arrow Community Playhouse production of “Crimes of the Heart.” Performance dates are Oct. 23,24, 29 and Nov. 1, 2009. The playhouse is located on 1800 S. Main Street, Broken Arrow.
The characters being cast are Doc, a nice, regular guy who was once in love
with one of main female characters, and Barnett, an enthusiastic young lawyer
that is defending another female lead. Director Teresa Bringle will be
holding second auditions for the two roles at 5 p.m. Sunday Sept. 6. She can
also arrange an audition by appointment, if necessary. Both roles will not
require a full-blown rehearsal schedule but will require actors to be
available for tech week and performances.
For more information, please call (918) 258-0077 or send an e-mail to BACPTheatre@aol.com. Please include contact information and any scheduling conflicts.
The Broken Arrow Community Playhouse is seeking a full-size Skeleton to use in the upcoming production of “The Sunshine Boys.” The play runs from Sept. 13, 2009.
BLAC (Black Liberated Arts Center) Inc. will host Soul Bowl Party in the Park from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12. at Washington Park, located at Northeast Fourth and High Streets in Oklahoma City.
The event will feature new musical artists on the Discovery stage. Among those local talents scheduled to appear are Born in November, Lil Dezzy, Roderick Pugh and jazz vocalist Miss Muffy. Miss Muffy is the granddaughter of the late, legendary bandleader Leslie Sheffield.
“Our community has been asking over the years for BLAC, Inc. to showcase new talent, and we see this event as the perfect opportunity to introduce new faces in a relaxed setting,” Anita Arnold, executive director of BLAC Inc. said. “Washington Park is special in the hearts and minds of many in the city because of the wonderful historic significance and pleasant memories of the past.”
According to Arnold, there will be an area High School T-shirt competition. The high school that has representatives wearing most T-shirts will have a $500 donation given to the school by BLAC, Inc. The participant who wears the oldest T-shirt will have $250 donated to their school. Everyone is encouraged to wear a T-shirt that represents their high school alma mater.
The evening will end with the featured artist – Tulsa jazz saxophonist Eldredge Jackson. Picnic baskets, blankets and lawn chairs are allowed. BLAC Inc. will sell beverages during the event. No beverages of any kind are allowed in the park – particularly alcoholic beverages. The public is invited, especially alumni members of all local high schools. Event tickets are $10 and are on sale now at the following locations in Oklahoma City: Capitol Square Station, KM66, Learning Tree Toy Store, Charlie’s Jazz, Rhythm and Blues Store and at BLAC Inc. offices. For more information, call (405) 524-3800.
Participants are invited to opening reception of Heller Theatre‘s new space from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28. Come check out the new theatre, then stick around for previews of shows from the coming season, door prizes, snacks, music from local artists, and artwork by Marty Coleman.
Ben Sumner hosts the evening. Heller Theatre @ Henthorne located at 4825 S. Quaker in Tulsa, OK. For more information, call (918) 746-5065 or e-mail parktheater@cityoftulsa.org.
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
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.
Direct descendants of U.S. Territorial Marshals that served out of the district court of the famous Judge Parker have combined forces to produce a movie about their ancestors. Screenwriter Lyndon McGill, great-grandson of U.S. Deputy Marshal John McGill and independent film producer Oscar D. Ray Sr., great-grandson of U.S. Deputy Marshal Rufus Cannon will produce the movie “Stairway to Heaven.”
The screenplay, which follows the exploits of John McGill’s last days as a deputy marshal is based around actual events and real people and is a dramatic and action packed account of life during one of the most dangerous times and places in the old West.
The story takes place in Oklahoma and Indian territory during the late 1800s and will be shot entirely on location. Perennial cowboy favorite Sam Elliott has been offered the part of John B. McGill.
“For people back east Oklahoma and Indian Territory was the true wild west and more western gunfights occurred in the twin territories than any other place in the old West. As a matter of fact more U.S. Marshals were killed in a 50-mile radius of Muskogee OK than in any place in the nation” says ShIronbutterfly Ray, co-producer and Unit Production Manager for the film. Ray is also the executive director of the BareBones International Independent Film and Music Festivals.
The story, considered a cross between films “Tombstone” and “Unforgiven,” is scheduled to begin production in the spring 2010.
Other talent being considered for key roles in the film are Ryan Merriman,(“Lonesome Dove-Comanche Moon”) and Jane Seymour(“Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman”).
Spotlight Children’s Theater, 1381 Riverside Drive in Tulsa, is proud to present “EXCALIBUR! The Story of Young King Arthur,” a drama based on the ancient British legend of King Arthur, directed by Catherine Christie.
Participants will enjoy a lighthearted look at the life of Arthur (Shawn Fisher) before he became the famed King of Camelot. See Merlin (Tyler Robins) in all his magic and mystery and discover how Arthur came to be in the care of Sir Ector (Clayton Bradshaw) and Lady Enid (Elizabeth Medrick). And, don’t forget the villain. Morgan Le Fay (Kathryn Hartney), Arthur’s own aunt and Merlin’s former student, is going to do everything she can to thwart Merlin’s plans for the young king.
Performances are June 25-28 2009; Thursday and Fridays at 7:30 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays at 2 p.m. For more information, call Spotlight Children’s Theater at (918) 587-5030.