In 1978, Richard Weisman, a close friend of Andy Warhol and an avid art collector, commissioned Warhol to paint portraits of 10 famous athletes. After creating Polaroid portraits of each athlete, Warhol used his signature screen-printing method to transfer the photos to a 40-by-40-inch canvas where he’d add his final touches with acrylic paint. While most of Warhol’s works consisted of rock stars and fashion idols, this series included some of the greatest athletes the world had seen to that point, including NBA’s Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, golf’s Jack Nicklaus, figure skater Dorothy Hamill, boxing great Muhammad Ali and football’s O.J. Simpson. On Thursday, April 16, patrons can enjoy refreshments, a cash bar and live music on Oklahoma City Museum of Art’s Roof Terrace from 5 to 11 p.m. to celebrate the opening of Warhol: The Athletes. Beginning at 6 p.m., hear from the collector himself, Richard L. Weisman, and at 7:30 p.m. enjoy Andy Warhol Screen Tests that feature Salvador Dali, Bob Dylan, Dennis Hopper, Nico and Factory icon Edie Sedgwick; both events will take place in the Samuel Roberts Noble Theater. For more information, visit www.okcmoa.com.
In this triple bill performance, audiences will get to see three different works as they premiere in Oklahoma, with Nine Sinatra Songs being a first for the Oklahoma City Ballet. “We prove the art of ballet is much more than tutus, tiaras and Tchaikovsky,” the ballet’s website says about the show. Moby’s techno sounds will fill the theater as Play arrives on stage. As the dancers march, slide, scoot and accelerate to choreography by Houston Ballet Artistic Director Stanton Welch, the audience will experience, through sight, sound and movement, the crowded streets of urban life. As Dear Miss Cline takes over, Pasty Cline’s famed country music, originally choreographed for Smuin Ballet, will bring San Francisco choreographer Amy Seiwert’s brilliance back to Oklahoma City. And finally, Nine Sinatra Songs will uses Twyla Tharp’s genius choreography, set to the incredible Frank Sinatra, that brings ballet, modern dance and ballroom to the stage. For more information, visit www.okcciviccenter.com.
Jay Krottinger and Ryan Tanner, founders of Square 1 Theatrics.
In 2012, Jay Krottinger and Ryan Tanner formed a new Tulsa theater company: Square 1 Theatrics. During the last three years, the company has seen tremendous growth. Its talents were first applauded in 2013 when Krottinger and Tanner won Tony Awards for the production of Pippin. Now, two years later, they’re bringing home two more prestigious awards.
As co-producers of Memphis The Musical, Square 1 Theatrics’ first international production, Krottinger and Tanner can now add to their trophy case two Olivier Awards, London theatre’s most respected award that’s been celebrating its theatre industry since 1976.
On Sunday, April 12, London’s Royal Opera House in Covent Garden filled with those anxiously awaiting the reveal.
“It was pretty extraordinary,” Krottinger says of the ceremony. “It’s still a little bit surreal.”
Among nine total nominations, making it the year’s most nominated production, Memphis The Musical won Best Sound Design for Gareth Owen and Best Theatre Choreographer for Sergio Trujillo.
Premiering in London’s West End in October 2014 and turning Shaftesbury Theatre’s stage into the underground dance clubs of the 1950s, Memphis’ rave reviews parallel the sentiment; The Huffington Post called it “the hottest show in London,” The Sun said, “If you don’t give it a standing ovation then maybe it’s time to get your hearing checked” and TheatreGuide.London called the production, “A big, brassy tune-full, dance-full, showstopper-full broadway musical.”
Krottinger made sure to acknowledge that these awards are not just Square 1’s.
“We share them with our constituents and Tulsa,” he says. “We couldn’t do it without the Tulsa community and those involved in supporting our efforts. This wouldn’t have been possible without our investors and their support and belief in what we do.
Olivier Award Nominations
Best Sound Design – Gareth Owen (Winner)
Best Costume Design – Paul Tazewell
Best Theatre Choreographer – Sergio Trujillo (Winner)
Autograph Sound Award For Outstanding Achievement In Music – David Bryan, Joe DiPietro, Tim Sutton and the Memphis Band
Best Actor In A Supporting Role In A Musical – Rolan Bell
Best Actor In A Supporting Role In A Musical – Jason Pennycooke
Man and his best friend will experience major bonding time this weekend at Tails on the Trail, a benefit for Best Friends of Pets, an organization dedicated to reducing pet homelessness and overpopulation in Oklahoma City. A 5k will kick off at 9 a.m., and a one-mile walk will commence at 10 a.m. All participants are encouraged to bring their dogs for the fun. Exhibitors will also showcase the latest and greatest in products for pets. The event will take place at Oklahoma City’s Wheeler Park, 1120 S. Western Ave., in Oklahoma City. For more information on the event, or to become an exhibitor, visit www.bestfriendsokc.org.
In the 1990s, Toni Braxton set radios aflutter with a series of hits, including “Breathe Again,” “Another Sad Love Song” and “Unbreak My Heart.” Though radio plays have ebbed, Braxton continues to tour and sing those classic R&B hits, along with newer songs released on subsequent albums. She has also experienced successful forays into Broadway, reality television and publishing, having written Unbreak My Heart: A Memoir, which was published in 2014. Braxton will bring her successes and hits to Winstar World Casino, 777 Casino Ave., Thackerville, Saturday. Tickets begin at $45 and can be purchased at the door or online at www.winstarworldcasino.com.
The Tulsa Botanic Garden has created a wonderland for families called the Children’s Discovery Garden. Taking up almost two acres of land, the garden offers its visitors beautiful walkways, plant life and scenery. The focal point of the garden, the Stream Valley, gets its water from the Spring Giant, a 15-foot stone face that you can enter through a hidden grotto. There is also a Meadow, offering exploration along its trails, and a Tree Fort, which allows guests to look out into the garden from its highest viewpoint. The second of four gardens to undergo construction, the Children’s Discovery Garden offers its explorers experience-based, hands-on learning opportunities. On Saturday, April 18, take the whole family to Tulsa Botanic Garden for the Discovery Garden’s groundbreaking ceremony and celebration. There will be kite making and flying as well as other arts and craft activities. Your child can even make his/her own Spring Giant mask – a feature of the garden. Pack a picnic lunch and enjoy it with others around the garden’s lake. The celebration will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. with special guests. For more information, visit www.ocbg.org.
“Reagan” by artist Andy Thomas, 2008, oil on linen. Courtesy Gilcrease Museum.
Thru April 18 –
It’s that time of year again: Gilcrease Museum pulls out all the stops for its annual exhibition and art sale, Rendezvous Artists’ Retrospective. Sculptor Walter Matia and painter Andy Thomas are this year’s featured artists and will offer new works for buyers and collectors, alongside artworks spanning their artistic careers. Both artists will be inducted into the Rendezvous Hall of Fame during this year’s festivities. The art sale, honoring Matia and Thomas, will take place Friday, April 17. Audiences are asked to join the museum at 6 p.m. for a preview and hors d’oeuvre buffet, with a 7:30 p.m. art sale draw to follow. Other events included in this exhibition are the Rendezvous Master Class, April 13-16, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; two artist talks on Friday, April 17 – Thomas will speak at 10:30 a.m. and Matia at 1:30 p.m.; and Brunch with the Artists on Saturday, April 18, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information about Matia and Thomas or the Rendezvous Artists’ Retrospective, visit www.gilcrease.utulsa.edu.
Ready to embark upon its second year, Tulsa Roots Music Bash is officially an annual event. This year, the seven hours of music and fun that echoes from downtown Tulsa’s Guthrie Green will take place on Saturday, April 18. From 2:30 until 9:30 p.m., music from all over the world, including Latin, R&B, reggae, West African, Middle Eastern and other rocking genres, will entertain audiences alongside activities, community booths and local food and brews. Featured artists include the Los Lonely Boys, Latin rock; The English Beat, British ska; Rocky Dawuni, African reggae and rhythms; Joe Driscoll & Sekou Kouyate, hip-hop meets African polyrhythm; Calliope Circus performance art; and Perizad of Elysium Bellydance. There will be a kids arts and crafts tent hosted by Zarrow Center from 2:30 until 4:30 p.m., and Oklahoma craft beers will be flowing at Lucky’s on the Green. Enjoy good music in good company at one of Tulsa’s newest happenings. The bash is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.tulsarootsmusic.org or www.guthriegreen.com.
Monday night, fans got to hear a rowdier side of the The Voice’s 20-year-old, blond-haired country cutie, the last country artist on Team Blake. Corey Kent White, a Bixby native, will bring a more modern country sound to the stage Monday night as he tries to secure a spot in the Top 10.
“This song is going to have a lot more energy than the last song,” he tells us. “[It] is a little more geared for a younger audience, a little edgier.”
Last week, White sang his way into the Top 12 with his Tuesday night performance of “Make You Feel My Love.” Positive feedback from the judges and wild applause from the crowd may have helped ease White’s nerves for the Wednesday night reveal, which he says was less stressful than some of his other moments on the show. But, he hopes fans won’t stop voting because he made it into the Top 12. Continuing through each week is not a sure thing, he says.
“That is definitely not the case with all these talented artists,” he adds. “Download all 41 times and not just 10.”
White says he has been blown away by the support and feedback he’s received from fans, crediting much of this journey to them.
“It’s more than I ever expected,” he says. “It’s great having them come through for you like that.”
And during these stressful, hectic and schedule-packed weeks, he enjoys the downtime when he can connect with his fans and share this experience with them. Although he hasn’t taken any seriously yet, the marriage proposals he’s received from fans always bring that smile we all love to his face.
“They’re fun to read,” he laughs. “This whole process can be a stressful thing, and seeing that kind of stuff on Twitter lightens my day.”
White has had a lot of success connecting with fans on this year’s season of The Voice, a daunting task for the contestants that the coaches continually say is so important, not just to win the competition, but to have a successful career in the music industry; connecting with people is what it’s all about. That seems like a natural talent for White, his love for music shines on stage when he plays. The audience can see that, and it’s reflected in votes and White’s thus-far success.
“America has an incredible way of seeing through people trying to be something they’re not,” he says. “What I look for in people I surround myself with is authenticity.”
Another component making this experience meaningful for White is his family and their support. It’s so important to have someone to share this stuff with, he says.
“My family has been amazing throughout this whole process,” he adds.
With contestants being allowed to have two friends or family members in the audience each week, White’s mother and grandfather have been his cheering squad most of the time.
“They’ve had to take off work,” he says. “They’ve been so selfless.”
This week, White’s father, who came out to support him during The Voice blinds, will be cheering him on in the crowd for the first time.
“I’m pretty happy I get to bring him out this time to support me and watch live,” he says.
White’s parents have always been fans. When he decided to move to Nashville after high school to pursue his music career, his parents were behind him all the way.
Now, with his success and exposure on The Voice, White is on the fast track to his dream: a career in country music. Before auditioning, he was playing the college circuit throughout the south and had prepared himself for another five to 10 years of putting in a lot of work to get to where he wanted.
“This opportunity has sped up everything,” he says.
White’s main focus for the last couple years has been writing music. Many of the artists he loves are great songwriters, and that’s what really influences him and his music.
Artists who’ve helped shape his sound – a list that evolves while discovering new musicians, he says – include Willie Nelson, George Strait and newer artists like Dierks Bentley and Eric Church.
“I would absolutely love to be on stage with Garth Brooks,” he adds. “Three minutes on stage with him and I’d be better [as an artist].”
There are five ways to vote Corey Kent White through to the Top 8, and each fan can vote 41 times:
