Friday, June 28-Saturday, June 29

The Tulsa Performing Arts Center Trust and VFW Productions sponsor two nights of banter, discussion, and entertainment with well-known Oklahoma writers Barry Friedman and John Wooley. These two friends both have large success and accomplishments under their belts. Friedman began his career as a comedian and evolved into a praised writer with his books Road Comic and Funny You Should Mention It as well as his gift for radio and print commentary. Wooley’s success lays in his many projects – nonfiction books, novels, comics, movies and plays, not to mention his volume of articles as a journalist and contributing editor for Oklahoma Magazine along with many years as host of the Western swing radio show Swing on This (KWGS 89.5 FM). Slouching Towards Barnsdall: Wisdom and Whining from John Wooley and Barry Friedman features them at their wry and witty best as they focus on the culture, history and politics of the land we call home. Look for the show at the Charles E. Norman Theatre, 110 E. Second St. on Friday, June 28, and Saturday, June 29. Show begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased at www.tulsapac.com.

Friday, June 28, 8 p.m.

The popular magic duo Penn & Teller perform at The Joint in the Hard Rock Tulsa Hotel & Casino on Friday, June 28, at 8 p.m. The pair has been entertained audiences since the 1970s. This Friday they will show Oklahomans why their special brand of comedy and illusions is such a hit in Las Vegas and why it has earned them each a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The two have also performed on Broadway and appeared on several television shows, including their long-running Showtime series “Penn & Teller: Bull—-!” Don’t miss your chance to see them in your own neck of the woods. You may miss out on a trip to Sin City, but tickets are cheaper here at $45-$65 a person (compared to $75 and up at the Rio, where the duo’s show has had a permanent home for 11 years). Also, make sure to hang out after the show – Penn and Teller usually stay late to meet their fans. It may be then that you can find out what the oft-silent Teller’s voice really sounds like (although, this is not a guarantee). The Hard Rock is located at 777 W. Cherokee St., Catoosa. You must be 21 or older to enter. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.hardrockcasinotulsa.com.

Thursday, June 27-Saturday, June 29

An old-fashioned family festival awaits in downtown Bixby with picnics, lemonade, a talent show, carnival and games. The annual Green Corn Festival got its start when Clyde Miller, a well-known produce grower, had a particularly good corn crop and decided to have a celebration with his pickers and packers. It ended up being a hit with the whole town, and the Green Corn Festival began. Organizers have attractions planned for everyone to enjoy. In addition to music, food, arts and crafts and games, there will be a youth talent show on Friday, June 28, at the Community Center and a parade the following morning. After a fun day of playing, enjoy a relaxing spin on the Ferris wheel to unwind. The festival will be held south and east of 151st Street South and Memorial Drive in Bixby from Thursday, June 27-Saturday, June 29. For a complete schedule and more information visit www.bixbyoptimist.org.

Saturday, June 29, 7:30 p.m.

Hit music groups NKOTB, 98 Degrees and Boyz II Men play at the Chesapeake Energy Arena, 100 W. Reno Ave., Oklahoma City, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 29. The twelve heartthrobs of boy-bands-past have teamed up for this summer tour that they are calling “The Package Tour.” The show should be an awesomw combination of new music, old favorites and boy-band dance moves that will make their now grown-up fans giddy all over again. Also, this is the first tour for 98 Degrees since Nick Lachey and the crew reunited last year. So, all you ‘80s and ‘90s kids break out your slap bracelets and Guess jeans for the show. Tickets are $26.50-$89.50, available now at www.chesapeakearena.com.

Tuesday, July 2, 7 p.m.

“Bieber Fever” won’t go away with a dose of medicine; it will only get stronger when the Biebs himself comes to Oklahoma City. Justin Bieber will showcase his catchy pop tunes and dance moves at the Chesapeake Energy Arena, 100 W. Reno Ave., on Tuesday, July 2. At only 19, Bieber continues to expand his discography with danceable hits. His “Believe Tour” celebrates his third studio album that features songs such as “As Long As You Love Me” and “Beauty and a Beat.” The show begins at 7 p.m. with opening acts Hot Chelle Rae and Mike Posner. Tickets ($35.50-$95.50) can be purchased at any Ticketmaster outlet, at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone, 800.745.3000. For information, visit www.chesapeakearena.com.

Wednesday, June 30-Sunday, Sept. 29

Philbrook Museum of Art exhibits Remainder, the recent work of seven young women sculptors to watch. See the abstract pieces by Diana Al-Hadid, Rachel Beach, Rachel Foullon, Kate Gilmore, Heather Rowe, Erin Shirreff, and Allyson Vieira along with drawings, video, prints and photographs. The exhibit – difficult to categorize yet deliberately assembled – will last from Wednesday, June 30-Sept. 29. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. (8 p.m. on Thursday). Philbrook is located at 2727 S. Rockford Road, Tulsa. For more, go to www.philbrook.org.

Friday, June 28-Sunday, June 30

The worlds of independent art, literature and comic books collide for the three-day event, SoonerCon 22: Beyond Thunderdome. This convention will be at the Reed Conference Center, 5800 Will Rogers Road, in Midwest City. The fan-operated gathering brings sci-fi and fantasy artists, writers, actors and directors to town to visit with fans plus more for displays and discussions. Featured guests include authors C.J. Cherryh, Tim Powers and Selina Rosen. Opening ceremonies begin on Friday, June 28, at 6 p.m. followed by an art show and fundraiser. Saturday, June 29, has even more excitement in store with art and charity auctions, a masquerade/costume contest and a dance. The convention comes to an end at the closing ceremony on Sunday, June 30, at 4 p.m. Tickets are in the form of memberships. Advance memberships are $15 daily or $35 for the weekend. You can also buy tickets at the door for $20 daily and $45 for the weekend. To find more information or to purchase advance memberships, visit www.soonercon.com.

Opens Friday, June 28

The Hopi Indians come from the southwestern U.S., but their works of art will be on display starting Friday, June 28, through Sunday, Sept. 15. The Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 555 Elm Ave., on the University of Oklahoma campus in Norman will host the exhibition Hopituy: Hopi Art from the Permanent Collections. Katsina figures (not “dolls,” as they have been mistakenly called) are handcrafted objects representative of the deities of the Hopi culture and ceremonial dancers honoring them; and this collection shows 170 objects in woodcarving, basketry and painting relating to the deities and the katsina dancers. Different media, such as wood figures, paintings and ceramics, will be highlighted. Admission into the museum is free. Friday hours for the exhibition are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. To read more about the exhibition and see the museum’s weekly hours, visit www.ou.edu/fjjma.

Saturday, June 29, 11 a.m.

The Dodgebrawl Challenge returns to Tulsa after a successful 2012 debut. The BOK Center, 200 S. Denver Ave., Tulsa, hosts a not-so-average dodgeball tournament on Saturday, June 29. Last year, more than 50 teams participated in this fun event, and tournament coordinators look to top that number this year with more teams, video displays, and unique lighting. Teams with six members will enter a double elimination tournament. The top three teams win prizes for their chosen charities. Awards will also be given to the teams with the best name and most “original” uniform. Registration is closed, but spectators can come out as players (who have undoubtedly seen the 2004 comedy movie DodgeBall) ruminate on Patches O’Houlihan’s five rules of the game: “Dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge!” Admission is free. Tournament begins at 11 a.m. To learn more, visit www.bokcenter.com.

Continues

Wayne White is best known as the creative butter behind the zany characters on the hit children’s show Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, but the illustrator/cartoonist/animator/puppet designer has long since become known also for his esoteric vision and artwork. The Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, shares a bit of the eccentric and fascinating White with the exhibit Halo Amok, a cubist-inspired rodeo made of large-scale cowboy, pony and bovine-like puppets – moveable sculptures made from wood, cardboard, glue and other common materials. In White’s hands, the ordinary turns fun and stare-worthy. You won’t find any “do not touch” signs here: Visitors get to control the three puppet figures with a tug of the ropes. Halo Amok is the sixth installment of OKCMOA’s New Frontiers Series for Contemporary Art and remains on exhibit through Sept. 1. Visit www.okcmoa.com for a schedule of related programs booked for August (including a live performance by White titled Yer Supposed to Act All Impressed on Aug. 29). OKCMOA hours are 10-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday (open until 9 p.m. Thursday) and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free for museum members and $5-$12 for others.