This musical comedy will have you laughing throughout the entire show. Pageant, a hilarious beauty contest, unlike one you’ve ever seen, has six contestants, played by an all male cast, dreaming of being crowned Miss Glamouresse. And it gets better: Each night of the show, audience members get to choose the winner of the coveted tiara. There is sure to be a mix of joy and sorrow between contestants, and you’ll see it all unravel on stage. Swimsuit, talent and gown competitions will steer the show, and these beauty queens – Miss West Coast, Miss Texas, Miss Industrial Northeast, Miss Great Plains, Miss Deep South and Miss Bible Belt – will put on quite the show at Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, 1727 NW 16th St., Oklahoma City opening Wednesday, Jan. 28, and running through Sunday, Feb. 15. The 2004 and 2006 productions of Pageant were extremely successful, and Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma expects nothing less in 2015. Tickets start at $25 and can be purchase at www.lyrictheatreokc.com.
Known as notable contributors to the “Red Dirt,” sound, blending country and rock, Oklahoma natives Randy Crouch, Tom Skinner and Chuck Dunlap will be making a stop in Tulsa on their rare, four city Pioneers of Red Dirt tour. The “Red Dirt” sound is named after the color of the soil found in Oklahoma, specifically centered in Stillwater, although a separate subgenre out of Texas exists as well. Featuring one of the “World’s Greatest” rock n’ roll fiddlers, Crouch; one of the most widely recognized founders of the “Red Dirt” genre, Skinner; and the well-known, Stillwater acoustic singer/songwriter, Dunlap, this group of men will come together to deliver a one-of-a-kind Oklahoma experience. Performing at the Vanguard Music Hall, 222 North Main St., in downtown Tulsa, don’t miss these three pioneers, of a popular genre, on Friday, Jan. 30. The show starts at 8 p.m., and tickets range from $5-$10. For more information, visit www.thevangaurdtulsa.com.
David Gonzalez, a well-known actor, writer and performer, has produced a never before seen version of the classic favorite: Sleeping Beauty. This production has been traveling across the nation and will make a one-night-only stop in Tulsa at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. Utilizing rhymed verse and live music, this magical storyline will unravel for audience members in a fresh take on the original. This never before seen rendition will take the stage on Friday, Jan. 30, at 7 p.m., so be sure to catch Gonzalez’s “funky” princess receive her awakening kiss.
Photo courtesy Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Oklahoma.
Photo courtesy Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Oklahoma.
Saturday, Jan. 31 –
Benefitting the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Oklahoma, a Taste of Tulsa will feature a wide variety of Tulsa’s finest foods available for guests to sample and enjoy. Held on Saturday, Jan. 31, at 6:30 p.m., the Grand Ballroom inside the Cox Business Center will be full of the most enticing aromas, friendly chatter and unending laughter, as previous years have shown. With silent and live auctions, a wine pull and live music, dance the night away while supporting a charitable organization, whose mission is to provide children facing adversity with life-long, cherished relationships. With individual tickets priced at $250 as well as multiple sponsorship opportunities, be sure to dress up in your most glamorous attire. Don’t miss a great opportunity to sample some of the most delectable food in Tulsa. To see a list of participating restaurants, as well as live and silent auction items, visit www.atasteoftulsa.org.
As a prominent figure in the world of comedy and television, Kathy Griffin has embarked on another world tour that will make a stop in Thackerville, Oklahoma on Saturday, Jan. 31. With a distinct style of comedy, Griffin continues to make an unforgettable impact on the world of entertainment. As a two-time Grammy award-winner and a six-time nominee, Griffin’s comedy has earned her an enormous fan following from all over the world. Last year, after winning “Best Comedy Album” at the 56th Annual Grammys, Griffin joined Whoopi Goldberg and Lily Tomlin as the only female comedians to be awarded such honors. Some of Griffin’s recent achievements also include hosting the annual CNN New Years Special with CNN’s own Anderson Cooper, her recent joining of Fashion Police, setting a Guinness world record for writing and staring in 20 televised stand-up specials and hosting her own late night talk show, Kathy. As Griffin makes a stop in Oklahoma at Winstar Casino, fans couldn’t be more excited for her always unusual, edgy and hilarious show. The laughter will begin promptly at 8 p.m. For more information, visit www.kathygriffin.net or http://www.winstarworldcasino.com/
Jack White, famous rock musician and wildly known as frontman for the duo, The White Stripes, started down the road of a solo career in 2011 when the group went separate ways. His current world tour will make its way from Nashville, Tenn., to the McCasland Field House at the University of Oklahoma in Norman at the beginning of February – an added stop on the tour’s roster. Having been a member of a number of different bands, as well as his recent, successful solo career, White has recorded many top singles and albums that went on to win him a total of eight Grammy awards. Preforming in cities all over the world, there is record of White being an unbelievable showstopper. The audience at the McCasland Field House will undoubtedly hear hits from White’s Billboard toping solo albums, Blunderbuss and Lazaretto. He released his debut solo album, Blunderbuss, in 2012 and followed it with Lazaretto in 2014. Lazaretto won White the record for largest sales for a vinyl since 1991. Having released several chart-topping rock singles over the past four years, Rolling Stone has recognized White on its list of “The 100 Greatest Guitarists Of All Time.” With an eccentric, world-renowned rock style, White’s unforgettable performance is the thing to see on Monday, Feb. 2, in Norman. For more information, visit http://www.ou.edu/sga/cac.html
On Sunday, Feb. 1 – a changed date from the original Jan. 30 – Cain’s Ballroom will welcome to its stage four brothers from South Africa, whose last name matches that of their band: KONGOS. Tulsa’s Cain’s Ballroom is the band’s second stop on their North American tour behind Dallas, Texas. As part of their Lunatic Tour 2015, KONGOS will give fans an intriguing show featuring a unique set list that includes several South African alternative/rock songs. The band has already claimed fame overseas, managing to top several South African charts, and they are on the path to leaving a similarly, big mark in the U.S. with their unique style of music. With resent U.S. tours alongside Kings of Leon, Young the Giant and Alice In Chains and now their Feb.-March, North American tour, KONGOS continues to capture the hearts of many. Their popular hit, “Come With Me Know,” and its catchy rhythm, continues to climb the charts even with its initial release being over three years ago. KONGOS has also gained traction in the music world with the help of popular TV shows and movies that have used the band’s music. Don’t miss this opportunity to see one of the newest, up-and-coming bands in the U.S., that has earned wildly positive praise around the rest of the world. Coined as one of the “10 New Artists You Need To Know” by Rolling Stone, last February, KONGOS may no longer be a “new” artist but is still at the top of the watch list. For more information, visit www.cainsballroom.com.
A new traveling exhibit out of GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles is touring the country and will make an early stop on its tour at Woody Guthrie Center, the first museum in the country affiliated with GRAMMY Museum. That exhibit: Ladies and Gentlemen…The Beatles. This year marks the 51st anniversary of The Beatles’ arrival in the U.S., and the huge impact the band had on the music and culture of the time is examined within the exhibition. The Woody Guthrie Center strives, through its exhibits and events, to show how music has influenced the world, and this new exhibition, opening Wednesday, Feb. 4, fits well inside that goal. “As social history, Beatlemania turned America upside down, inspiring new ideas in music, fashion, art, literature, film, even politics. Little in America was untouched by The Beatles in the 1960’s,” says curator Bob Santelli, Executive Director of the GRAMMY Museum. Ladies and Gentlemen…The Beatles began its tour last year at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts and will continue to travel the nation through the summer of 2016. Don’t miss it as it stops in Tulsa for a limited time only. For more information, visit www.woodyguthriecenter.org.
UCO Campus architect David Stapleton stands in front of Old North, one of the state’s oldest building dedicated to higher education. Photo by Brent Fuchs.
Old North Tower, a revered icon at the University of Central Oklahoma, is undergoing a multimillion dollar renovation that will give the building a new lease on life.
When David Stapleton, UCO’s architect and director, toured the building in 2000, he saw a structure begging for help.
“The floors were like trampolines,” he recalls. “The closer you got to the center of a room, the bigger the bounce. The structure was overloaded. I questioned what the builders were doing in 1892 when they constructed Old North for $50,000.
“There were no Lowe’s or Home Depots in that era. The builders used whatever was available on trains passing through Edmond,” Stapleton adds. “Old North was architecturally and structurally decrepit. Its flaws seemed to come from the timbers. As wood distorts, it sags, stretches and cracks. It gives a warning that says, ‘You shouldn’t be here.’”
The building was first deemed derelict in 1906.
“Decrepit is a nice word to describe the structure,” Stapleton says. “The four-story building was cobbled together with inadequate materials, even for that era. Floor and ceiling heights were inconsistent. Most of the workmen were likely unskilled in construction.”
UCO President Don Betz recalls that 2000 visit to Old North 14 years ago.
“I was provost then, and after touring the building, [Stapleton] and I decided it needed to be closed for safety reasons,” Betz says.
“In late 2000 it became apparent the exterior could be repaired,” Stapleton says. “However, the interior was a major issue. When the building closed in July 2001, planning studies began regarding renovation.”
Demolishing Old North seemed unthinkable. Its rich history resonates with students, faculty and alumnae.
“Old North opened Jan. 3, 1893, as a Normal School to train teachers. It was one of the earliest buildings in Oklahoma devoted to higher education,” Betz notes. “The men and women who first came here arrived with a passion for training teachers.”
Through the years, Old North was frequently repaired. In 1996 and 2006, two bond issues provided $5.5 million for exterior repairs. The third phase has received $6 million; $800,000 is needed for completion.
Randy Ross, a UCO Foundation Board member, and Dr. Lee Beasley, campaign co-chairman, take pride in UCO’s landmark symbol. Both attended classes in Old North and enjoy representing the college as alumnae.
Betz became UCO president in 2011 and made Old North a completion priority for UCO’s 125th anniversary, which will be celebrated in December. Occupancy is scheduled for 2016.
When completed, Old North will house classrooms, conference areas and historical displays that will fill the 40,000-square-foot structure. With a nostalgic nod to history, several areas will resemble a 125-year-old building.
“I want to see this building alive again with the hopes and dreams of students who will leave UCO with a great education and a great experience in a unique building,” Stapleton says.
“Looking up at the clock tower reminds me of Old North’s historic role as a seat of higher learning from the first days of Oklahoma Territory,” says Betz, “and of the continuing responsibility we embrace to offer exceptional education and access to those we serve every day.”
