For once, getting your kids to sit still isn’t going to be a problem, because they don’t have to. Instead, they’re asked to get up and dance along with some of their favorite Sesame Street friends who hope to teach them some new moves. The whole gang has traveled all the way from Sesame Street to the Cox Business Center Arena’s stage. This “up-close, interactive experience” will keep audience members of all ages smiling for the entire show – you may even break a sweat. And adults, we’ve been told you’ll appreciate the professional staging, cleverly written script and recognizable music selection. Join Elmo, Bert and Ernie, Cookie Monster, Big Bird, Abby Cadabby, The Count, Oscar The Grouch and the rest of the crew, and let’s dance! Secure your spot now for a March 27-29 showing at the Cox Business Center Arena in downtown Tulsa, 100 Civic Center. Tickets range from $20-$60 all depending on how close to the action you want to be. Kids aged 1 and older are required a ticket. For more information, visit www.coxcentertulsa.com
Bricktown St. Patrick’s Day Block Party & Parade: All ages are welcome to this free St. Patrick’s Day extravaganza, held outdoors on the corner of Oklahoma Avenue. Enjoy the OKC St. Patrick’s Day Parade from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with music to follow. The Chevy Stage entertainment lineup includes Timothy O’Brien and The Celtic Cheer from 1 to 4 p.m.; Dino and Friends from 4 to 6 p.m.; Attica State from 6:30 to 8 p.m.; Empire Grey from 8:30 to 10 p.m.; and Nicnos from 10:30 p.m until midnight.
O’Connell’s St. Patrick’s Day 8k: The 16th annual O’Connell St. Patrick’s Day 8k is back for another year of running, fun and prizes. Taking place at 769 Asp Ave., Norman, O.K., the race will benefit Special Olympics of Oklahoma and will also include a 1-mile fun run. For more information, visit http://www.sook.org.
Tulsa
St. Patrick’s Day Run: The 33rd annual St. Patrick’s Day 5k is presented by RunnersWorld Tulsa. On Saturday, March 14, enjoy a 1-mile fun run at 8:30 a.m. and a 5k at 9:15 a.m., at 3900 S. Peoria Ave, to benefit the Special Olympics Oklahoma. For more information, visit http://www.sook.org.
Broken Arrow
Shamrock The Rose: From 11 a.m. until 11:55 p.m., join the Broken Arrow community in the Rose District for the 2nd annual “ShamROCK the Rose.” A block-party style festival with music, vendors, food trucks and obviously green beer, Shamrock the Rose welcomes all for a fun-filled day. This family-friendly event will take place in the Rose District on Main Street from the Farmer’s Market to Broadway.
Bartlesville
St. Paddy’s Day March Madness: Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at the Bartlesville Community Center from 7 p.m to 10 p.m. Enjoy a live auction, march madness participation games, green beer, Irish food, a giant screen for NCAA games and live music by Kilkenny Road. Tickets are $75/person or $800 for a table of eight. For more information, visit www.okmozart.com.
Shamrock the ‘Ville: This downtown Bartlesville St. Patrick’s Day celebration benefits Mary Martha Outreach and includes a 5k race, 1-mile fun run and couch race – decorated couches on wheels. Registration is from 7:30 – 8:45 a.m. The 5k begins at 9 a.m., and the fun run starts at 9:15 a.m. For more information, visit www.shamrocktheville.com.
Brian Posehn has a dry, almost monotone voice, a memorable characteristic that adds to his bald and bearded look and perfected comical timing – attributes distinguishing him from other comedians and putting an exclamation at the end of his punch lines. A talented comedian, as well as actor and writer, Posehn uses relevant, imaginative and unique tactics that break through comedy clutter. Among his classic stand-up numbers, his humor has found its way onto a long list of popular shows including The Sarah Silverman Program, Comedians of Comedy, Mr. Show, Just Shoot Me, Seinfeld, NewsRadio, Everybody Loves Raymond and Friends. The big screen has welcomed him onto The Devil’s Rejects and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, among others. He put his comedy onto the pages of The Last Christmas, his first graphic novel that released back in 2006, and he’s written episodes for multiple television programs. You may even recognized him from his brief, yet hilarious, appearance in Californication; I won’t mention his character’s unfortunate condition. This funny man will take the Academy of Contemporary Music’s stage, at the University of Central Oklahoma, on Thursday, March 12. The show will begin at 8 p.m. For more information, visit www.acm.uco.edu.
Tulsa’s American Theatre Company will bring wide smiles to audience members’ faces with this comedy by Tracy Letts. Superior Donuts shares the story of a friendship that saves the owner of a doughnut shop, Arthur Przybyszewski, from sadness and despair. When an upbeat, young African-American becomes his assistant, wanting to bring life into the broken-down doughnut shop through music and healthy food options, more than just the shop gets restored. A play that focuses on the relationship between the owner, a former 1960s radical, and his assistant, Franco, Superior Donuts will raise your spirits, leaving you with light-hearted sentiments. Letts is a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright. You may recognize some of his works, including August: Osage County, Bug and Killer Joe.Superior Donuts will play at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center March 6-14. For more information, visit www.tulsapac.com.
Third Day arrives in Tulsa just 10 days after releasing its latest album, Lead Us Back. A Christian rock band focusing its long career on rock music that shines a light on the members’ spiritual beliefs, Third Day is more excited than ever to share its music. “Lead Us Back is a really special album for us – we feel like this is one of the strongest batches of songs we’ve ever recorded,” guitarist Mark Lee said in an interview with Billboard. Band members Mac Powell, David Carr, Mark Lee and Tai Anderson launched their Soul on Fire Tour March 5 with their performance in Boston, Mass. The sixth stop on their tour, Third Day will arrive in Tulsa right out of the gate, fresh and energized. A talented career has earned Third Day top honors including 30 No.1 radio singles, eight million albums sold, four Grammys, an American Music Award and multiple ASCAP honors. Touring with the band are Ellie Holcomb and Peter Furler, who will perform different shows on the scheduled tour. Don’t miss Third Day’s show on Friday, March 13 at Tulsa’s downtown Cox Business Center. For more information, visit www.coxcentertulsa.com.
Jason Alexander, also known as Seinfeld’s George Costanza, arrives in Oklahoma City on March 13 and 14 at the Civic Center Music Hall. Presented by the OKC Philharmonic Pops Series, the show, coined An Evening with Jason Alexander, will combine Alexander’s humor with selections from his favorite Broadway musicals. His talents will be accompanied by the music of the symphony orchestra. Uncover a side to Alexander that many have not seen as he sings, dances and jokes across the Civic Center stage. Before securing himself a spot on Seinfeld, Alexander graced stages on Broadway with roles in Merrily We Roll Along by Stephen Sondheim, The Rink by Kander & Ebbs, and Broadway Bound, Accomplice and Jerome Robbin’s Broadway by Neil Simon. The latter earned him the 1989 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. See Seinfeld’s sidekick in a whole new role under the spotlight. Alexander is a great entertainer and knows his way around a stage. Audiences have two opportunities to see this one-of-a-kind performance: Friday, March 13, and Saturday, March 14 at 8 p.m. For more information, visit www.okcciviccenter.com.
Vanilla Ice, also known as Rob Van Winkle, the voice behind 1990 chart-topping “Ice, Ice Baby,” is still in the spotlight today. On top of touring and playing music, he has recently been presenting audiences with another passion. Showcasing his interest and talents in remodeling and renovation, he’s made it to a fourth season as the host of his own television series. The Vanilla Ice Project, airing on the DIY Network, has Vanilla Ice and his crew fixing and flipping homes. Music, still a big part of his life, continues to bring Vanilla Ice to stages around the country. He recently performed with other classic names in hip-hop at the Selma Anniversary Concert on Sunday, March 8, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the historic march on Selma. The likes of Biv DeVoe, Flava Flav, Doug E. Fresh, MC Lyte, D-Nice and Rick Ross also took the stage in celebration. On Saturday, March 14, Vanilla Ice will be at the Grand Hotel & Resort in Shawnee. Fans hope to hear some of his classics including “Play that Funky Music,” “Ninja Rap” and “Rollin’ in My 5.0” among other favorites. For more information about this show, visit www.grandresortok.com.
Dennis Miller plays a lot of different hands. During a long career in front of an audience, he continues to land on stages, screens and radio channels as a stand-up comedian, writer, actor, producer, commentator (in sports and politics) and radio and television personality. Always ahead of current events, Miller covers relevant and trending topics with a fresh style, many times adding a distinctive, comical flavor. Currently a host of his own self-titled, nationally syndicated radio show, Miller speaks with big names in entertainment, journalism, sports and politics. During his rise in the industry, he’s held roles on Saturday Night Live, House of Cards, What Happens in Vegas, Joe Dirt and Murder at 1600, to name a few. Miller has written countless comedy specials and TV movies and series. He is a comedian to be reckoned with, who The New York Times called a “smart aleck” with an “uncommonly sharp eye,” saying he “reaches a bit farther than most comedians for the scorching comment.” Now, Dennis Miller, a top peg on the comedy ladder, will be in Tulsa for one night only. On Sunday, March 15, applause will welcome him to The Joint stage at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino at 8 p.m. Tickets are $40-$50. For more information, visit http://www.hardrockcasinotulsa.com/.
Shen Yun brings vibrant colors, costumes and culture to the stages it preforms on through dance and music, taking its audiences on an exploration of more than 5,000 years of Chinese culture. Classically trained dancers as your tour guides will unravel an age-old civilization and the legends, tales and traditions that inspire and strengthen its core. Assisted by a talented orchestra and stunning stage designs and scenes, Shen Yun’s dancers will awe their audience through incredible and athletic leaps, turns, flips and spins, while telling the story of a rich cultural past and pending future. Through this powerful and vivid performance, Shen Yun Performing Arts, based out of New York, aims to education, re-stimulate and honor Shen Zhou, or the Divine Land as China was best known as before the communist regime of the last 60 years has worked to weaken the heart of its culture. On Tuesday, March 17, a breathtaking journey will captivate viewers inside the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. The voyage will set forth at 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.tulsapac.com.
The world-renowned sounds of Santana will send waves of wonder and applause through the Oklahoma City Civic Center Music Hall on Tuesday, March 17. During his more than 40-year career, his hands have made groundbreaking discoveries exploring the guitar, and his talented musical mind has proven his power of mixing together genres and generations. Santana’s big career started in the late 1960s just as it should, in historic venues; the Fillmore in San Francisco being one of them. In 1969, he released his debut LP Santana and found a spot on stage at the Woodstock festival – gaining the attention of a global crowd. All it took was Santana charming the strings on his guitar to ignite the audience and the world with his sounds. Santana has sold more than 100 million records, has won 10 Grammy Awards and in 1998, the group secured itself into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Just last year, Santana released his latest album, Corazon. Infused with the mastery of some well-known artists in Latin music, Corazon is certified U.S. Latin Double Platinum and was the top selling Latin Music album in the United States for six consecutive weeks. The talents of ChocQuibTown, Lila Downs Gloria Estefan, Fabuloso Cadillacs, Juanes, Ziggy Marley, Miguel and more can be heard as the record spins. Santana shares his latest sounds, and his obvious classics, with Oklahoma City’s anticipating fans. The music begins at 8 p.m., and tickets start at $79.50. For more information, visit www.okcciviccenter.com.
