Category: Oklahoma

Categories
music Oklahoma Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame performances tulsa United States world

Barron Ryan pays tribute to fathers at Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame

Barron Ryan, a Tulsa native, an OU music grad and half of the exquisite Ryan and Ryan piano duo (with his father, Oklahoma Jazz Hall inductee Donald Ryan), will take center stage to showcase his amazing piano talent at 5 p.m. Sunday, June 20, 2010, at the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame, 111 E. First St. in Tulsa, OK. General admission is $15 or $10 for seniors and students. Table seating is available for $20 per person. For more information, call (918) 281-8600 or go to http://www.okjazz.org/.


Click here for tickets or call us at 918-281-8600. You can also buy tickets at the door the night of the event. Doors will open at 2pm.
Categories
auditions henthorne performing arts center Oklahoma performances theater tulsa United States

Open Auditions for Heller Shorts – Off, Off Brookside Short Play Festival on Saturday, June 19, 2010

Open auditions will be held for Heller Shorts – Off, Off Brookside Short Play Festival at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 19, 2010, in the Henthorne Performing Arts Center, 4825 S. Quaker in Tulsa, OK. All age ranges of men and women are needed, from late teens to seniors
Performances of the eight selected short plays will run from Thursday, Aug. 12, 2010, through Saturday, Aug. 15, 2010.
Actors will be asked to read cold and should be available for callbacks on Monday, June 21, 2010, when they will read for specific roles. Actors may be cast in more than one play, if they wish. Limit three roles maximum per actor.

The eight plays to be cast are:

“Jogging Memories” by Susan Apker

“iZombie” by Kendra Blevins

“Miranda’s Warning” by Nona Charleston

“Dirty Shorts” by Stephanie Colburn

“Shorts” by Steve Credell

“Check, Please” by Marilyn Gates

“The Manhattan Arrangement” by Jeffrey S. Wetterman

“Cheering” by Michael Wright.

The plays selected were read and rated by a panel of judges. Only plays by playwrights from the Green County of Oklahoma were considered.
Heller @ Henthorne is located in the Henthorne Performing Arts Center at 4825 S. Quaker. For more information, call (918) 746-5065 or visit www.hellertheatre.com.
Heller Theatre and the Henthorne Performing Arts Center are part of the Park and Recreation Department of the City of Tulsa. Heller has been producing contemporary plays since 1981.

Categories
arts Grove grove community playmakers Oklahoma performances theater United States

Grove Community Playmakers present production “The Crane Wife”

Grove Community Playmakers present “The Crane Wife” at 7:30 p.m. tonight, Friday, Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday performances and 2 p.m. Sunday matinees today through June 27, 2010, at The Playmakers, 121 W. Third St., Grove, OK. The recommended minimum age level is elementary school age.
According to a news release, “The Crane Wife” is based on an ancient Japanese folktale, adapted for the stage by Barbara Carlisle. She has has formed the story into a stirring theatrical experience, with lovely imagery, stylized choreography, and a mixture of narrative and theatrical conventions adapted from Japanese theatre. This haunting tale is unlike any other Playmaker production and will entertain adults and children alike. The music by David P. Newsome underscores the stylized movement of the Village Chorus who use narration, masks, puppets, and mime to tell the tale. The play is produced with assistance from The Oklahoma Arts Council and by special arrangement with Anchorage Press Plays.
Carlisle writes for a multigenerational audience so that children and adults can experience theatre together. The minimum age for this production is elementary school students.
 The cast of adults and youth include Villagers: Ashley Davidson, Jimmie Gwin, Hailee Gwin, Jaxson Oakley, Meghan Stowe and Sunny Uttley. The role of the peasant, Kokuro is performed by Justus Fletcher. Kirby Williams portrays the Crane Wife. Dancers are Emma Lawson and Kennedy Tackkett. Josh Fletcher and Bob Brogdon take turns in the role of a Samurai.
 The Playmakers have chosen to put the play in the Heian period, somewhere between the 9th and 12th centuries. Marge Chowning has designed the period clothing for the cast with historical accuracy as a guideline. Dennis Neff has produced the sound track. Masks and puppets are made by Flora Elmore and Vicki King. Set and prop construction is by Jimmie Gwin with set decoration is by Jonathan Elmore. Lighting is designed by the director, Suzanne Boles, with technical assistance from Keith Klickman.
 For more information, call (918) 786-8950 or e-mail 1groveplaymakers@sbcglobal.net. Adult tickets are $15 including tax; students (first through 12th-grade) are $8 including tax. Tickets are available online. Pay What You Can Afford seats are available at most performances. 


Categories
Broken Arrow Broken Arrow Community Playhouse Oklahoma production theater tulsa United States

Broken Arrow Community Playhouse presents “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” in June 2010

The Broken Arrow Community Playhouse (BACP) continues to present the revised version of a favorite for the whole family “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” based on the Comic Strip “Peanuts” by Charles M. Schulz, book, music and lyrics by Clark M. Gesner, additional dialogue by Michael Mayer, directed by Jana Ellis with music direction by Justin Rosser and choreography by David Rickel. Performance dates are at 8 p.m. June 10, 11 and 12 and at 2 p.m. for Sunday matinee June 13.
This version of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” was produced on Broadway in 1999 and starred Broken Arrow native Kristin Chenoweth as Sally. This version is not just the same play with two new songs; all the music and dialogue of the show have been reworked, the incidental music, dance music, vocal arrangements and orchestrations are all new. The cast includes Amanda Steen Lizano, Lauren Casey, Lance Whitlow, Ian Weddle, David Moreland and Seth Paden.
“You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” opens as Charlie Brown stands alone as his various friends give their various opinions of him, each calling him a “good man.” Charlie Brown is happy and hopeful as usual, but nevertheless wonders if he really is what they say. He decides to find out how he can really become a good person. This day in his life and the lives of his friends takes us through it all; love, aspirations,dreams, disappointment and frustration. Join us as we watch Charlie Brown, Sally, Lucy, Schroeder, Linus and Snoopy come to the realizations of what truly makes them happy.
Ticket prices are $13 for adults, $10 for seniors, $9 for students, and $6 for children 12 and younger. For more information, go to www.bacptheatre.com.
Reservations for the production may be made by calling the BACP box office at (918) 258-0077. The BACP is in The Main Place at 1800 S. Main in downtown Broken Arrow. 
Produced by special arrangement with Tams Witmark Music Library Inc. This production is made possible in part by grants from the Oklahoma Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. The Broken Arrow Community Playhouse is a member of the Oklahoma Community Theatre Association and the Tulsa Area Community Theatre Association.

Categories
arts Grace Ann Productions Love Letters Oklahoma production tulsa United States

Grace Ann Productions present “Love Letters” this summer in Tulsa

Grace Ann Productions present “Love Letters” at 5 p.m. each Sunday for the following dates (June 6, June 13, June 20, June 27, July 11, July 18, July 25 and  August 1, 2010). Location is at Village at Central Park, 1125 E. 8th St. in Tulsa, OK. 
Wry and poignant, “Love Letters,” written by A. R. Gurney, is a play told entirely through letters. From the first scrawled valentines of childhood, to the last guilty goodbyes, “Love Letters” envelops us in a unique nostalgia. Rediscover youth’s innocence, the fears and fancies, the goals and dreams all contained within the pages of their lifelong relationship … the letters that were at its very root.
Tickets are Adults $15 and $12 for seniors/students. The play, directed by E. Kirby, Jr., stars Ann Archer as Melissa (June 6-27), David Carpenter as Andy and Laura Mathy as Melissa (July 11-August 1).
For more information, call (918) 491-3410.

Categories
blues contemporary jazz Oklahoma Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame Rick Gill's J3 Acoustic Jazz and Blues Band tulsa United States

Rick Gill’s J3 Acoustic Jazz and Blues Band takes the stage at the Jazz Depot on Sunday, May 16, 2010

Rick Gill’s J3 Acoustic Jazz and  
Blues Band, considered one of the most popular jazz and blues groups to hit the stage at the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame‘s Depot, this quartet play a variety of jazz standards, blues and popular tunes. The band will perform at 5 p.m. Sunday, May 16, 2010,  Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame (The Jazz Depot), 111 E. First Street (Upper Level), in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Attendees will hear Rick Gill on guitar and vocals, Jack Wolf on piano, Damon Daniels on drums, and Doug McDuffie on bass. General admission is $15 or $10 for seniors and students. Table seating is available for $20 per person. Click here for tickets or for more information, call (918) 281-8600. You can also buy tickets at the door the night of the event. Doors will open at 4 p.m.
Categories
Amir Gwirtzman jazz Oklahoma Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame tulsa world world jazz

Amir Gwitzman performs at Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame’s Jazz Depot on Saturday, May 15, 2010

Israeli jazz musician Amir Gwirtzman will play a veritable “United Nations” of 20 wind instruments in a unique layering format that will amaze attendees at an 8 p.m. show on Saturday, May 15, 2010, at the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame (The Jazz Depot), 111 E. First Street (Upper Level), Tulsa, Oklahoma.  This is a special one-man show that you do not want to miss.  
This show is presented by the Schusterman Visiting Artist Program in cooperation with the Jewish Federation of Tulsa. 
General admission is $10 and $5 for students  A few front-row table seats will be available for $20 each.  For more information, call (918) 281-8600 or click here for tickets.


Categories
charlie christian international jazz festival contemporary jazz festivals music Oklahoma Oklahoma City United States

It’s Grady Nichols vs. Straight Ahead in Battle of the Bands on Friday, June 4, 2010

In what is sure to be a heated “Battle of the Bands,” internationally renowned saxophonist Grady Nichols and his band will take on Detroit’s best known all-female quintet, Straight Ahead, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 4, 2010, at Regatta Park located just south of downtown Oklahoma City.

From small-town Midwest beginnings to the big time, Grady Nichols enjoys an audience as broad as his musical taste.  The recording star has opened for artists such as Ray Charles, Luciano Pavarotti, Jay Leno, The Temptations, The Righteous Brothers, Al Green, O’Jays and so many more including Wayman Tisdale, Roy Clark, Kim Waters, and Bob James.
Out of Detroit’s lively jazz scene, an all-female quintet, Straight Ahead, emerges and they have shown themselves to be powerful and imaginative composers and arrangers.  The Straight Ahead sound ranges from mainstream jazz, R&B, ballads, avant-garde to Brazilian funk.  The group has opened for many greats including Nina Simone and Nnenna Freelon.  In 1990, the group recorded their first album for Atlantic Jazz, “Look Straight Ahead” which made the Billboard Contemporary Jazz top 20 list.  Two other albums followed, “Body and Soul” and “Dance of the Forest Rain.”  
Mark Temple, president of the board of directors of Black Liberated Arts Center (BLAC) Inc. said in a news release, “It will be a lot of fun and a great way to continue the celebration of our 25th annual Charlie Christian International Music Festival.”
Tickets are $5 and may be purchased at Capitol Square Station, Charlie’s Jazz, Rhythm and Blues Store, Hopkins Hair Enterprises, KM66 and Learning Tree Toy Store in Oklahoma City.  For more information call (405) 524-3800 or visit www.charliechristianfestival.com.  Sponsors of the Charlie Christian International Music Festival include BancFirst, EMSA, City of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Arts Council, Oklahoma Breast Care Centers, Inc., Oklahoma City Beautiful, Oklahoma Department of Tourism, and University of Central Oklahoma.  

Categories
arts auditions Oklahoma Owasso Owasso Community Theater Company Robin Hood United States

Owasso Community Theater Co. sets auditions for “Robin Hood” in May 2010

Owasso Community Theater Company will be having open auditions for children/teens ages 6-18 for “Robin Hood”. Auditions are scheduled at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 15, 2010 and 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 18, 2010, at the Owasso Public Library. Performances are scheduled Sept 9-11, 2010. The cast will include 14 or more children/ teens (male and female).
For more information, e-mail kay.neldon@octok.org or call (918) 237-1656.

Categories
BLAC Inc. Black Liberated Arts Center Inc. charlie christian international jazz festival contemporary jazz jazz Oklahoma Oklahoma City United States

Contemporary jazz artist Najee to headline 25th annual Charlie Christian International Festival in June 2010

Black Liberated Arts Center (BLAC) Inc. announced today that contemporary jazz artist Najee will headline the 25th annual Charlie Christian International Jazz Festival at 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 5, 2010, at Regatta Park in Oklahoma City, OK.
With three platinum and five gold albums, Najee (born Jerome Najee Rasheed) is one of the pioneers of what is commonly known as contemporary jazz.  A native of Queens, New York, Najee began his career playing clarinet and later saxophone and flute.  While in high school, he began studying under the direction of Jimmy Heath, Frank Foster, and Billy Taylor at Jazzmobile in Harlem.  Najee also studied flute with Harold Jones at the Manhattan School of Music. 
Najee, along with his brother Fareed, attended the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston with a concentrated study in performance and composition. The brothers moved back to New York and were asked to tour with the R&B songstress Chaka Khan. 
After the release of his debut album “Najee’s Theme” in 1986, Najee embarked on a U.S. tour with Freddie Jackson.  “Najee’s Theme” went platinum and was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1987.  Najee’s sophomore album “Day by Day” also went platinum.  These albums were followed by “Tokyo Blue” and “Just an Illusion.”  In 1994, Najee recorded “Share My World.” 
Najee’s 1995 recording on EMI records was dedicated to one of his favorite artists and good friend, Stevie Wonder.  It was titled “Najee Plays Songs from the Key of Life: A Tribute to Stevie Wonder.” 
In 1998, Najee produced “Morning Tenderness.”  He is the recipient of many awards. Over the years, Najee has worked with may great artists such as Quincy Jones, Patti LaBelle, George Duke, Lionel Richie and Prince. 
Tickets are $20 in advance, $30 at the gate. Tickets may be purchased online at ProTix or at any Buy for Less store.  For more information, call (405) 524-3800 or go to www.charliechristianfestival.com.