Oklahoma Magazine August 2023

The New Frontiers of

Education

Exploring the paradigm shift

Native America

Yancey Red Corn discusses Killers of the Flower Moon

PLUS: Arts Preview Outstanding High School Seniors

LOOKING FOR SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES?

At OSU, opportunities are abundant. We provide great scholarship programs to help you elevate your success and academic excellence. Apply by Nov. 1 to be considered for most competitive OSU scholarships. apply.okstate.edu

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A Spotlight on Native America

One of the most integral parts of Oklahoma’s success is the influence of Native American nations. The state’s 39 tribes work to strengthen the fabric of Oklahoma through culture, entertainment, education, business and infrastructure. We dig into new developments on the horizon, explore the recent move of the Native American Hall of Fame, and chat with Yancey Red Corn, who appears in the upcoming film adaptation of Killers of the Flower Moon.

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The New Frontiers of Education

Hybrid class models. Micro-internships. The rise of artificial intelligence. The world of higher education is constantly shifting – and leaders work diligently to keep up. We dive into the potential demographic cliff coming mid-decade, alongside the ways colleges are prepping students for the modern day workplace and the true worth of a college degree.

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Outstanding High School Seniors

If you believe the next generation will save the world, surely some of these students will be involved. We highlight a handful of now collegiate freshmen from Oklahoma, nominated by leadership from their high schools.

50 An Influx of Inspiration

Arts companies, museums, concert venues and other creatives have planned spectacular 2023-2024 seasons, filled with world premiere performances, compelling concerts and exciting exhibitions. We explore offerings around Tulsa and OKC.

Yancey Red Corn discusses Killers of the Flower Moon

AS OKLAHOMA’S FLAGSHIP RESEARCH UNIVERSITY,

we’re intent on providing affordable academic excellence for students while serving our state through discovery and creativity.

With 18 colleges and the state’s only comprehensive academic hospital, the University of Oklahoma is ready to cultivate and empower those who can positively affect change in their communities.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve surely heard about the movie adaptation of Killers of the Flower Moon. Yes – the one directed by Martin Scorsese, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, filmed right here in Oklahoma. What you may not know is that Scorsese hired a variety of Osage Nation members to ensure the story was depicted correctly. One of them, Yancey Red Corn, sits down with Oklahoma Magazine to discuss his experiences on set (page 28). You’ll also hear from a variety of the state’s tribal nations, get infrastructure updates and explore the Native American Hall of Fame.

For many, August can be bittersweet. On one hand, you’re waving goodbye to summer and its many freedoms. On the other, a new season of learning commences. In our annual Education feature, we discuss the potential demographic cliff for college-aged students, alongside updates on AI and how today’s scholars are assimilating into the modern workplace (page 35). Along those lines, our Outstanding High School Seniors feature will surely inspire you ... or make you wonder what the heck you were doing at age eighteen compared to these high-achievers (page 42).

August also welcomes our Arts Preview, where we peek into upcoming showcases, exhibitions, concerts and other creative endeavors (page 50).

Other must-reads include our review of the newly opened Cabin Boys Brewery (page 56); a look at aquatic adventures to beat the heat (page 8); and a highlight of co-working spaces around Oklahoma – one of which helped us out during the Great Tulsa Blackout of 2023 (page 14).

Happy August, Oklahoma – cooler days are coming.

Mary Willa Allen Managing Editor

What’s

PRESIDENT AND EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

DANIEL SCHUMAN

OKLAHOMA OKLAHOMA OKLAHOMA

PUBLISHER AND FOUNDER

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MANAGING EDITOR

MARY WILLA ALLEN

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40UNDER TM

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2023

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THE STATE

The Dog Days of Summer

Although August is known for its intense heat, you don’t have to melt into a puddle like the Wicked Witch of the West every time you step outside. Oklahoma has dozens of water parks, over 200 lakes and 78,000 miles of rivers that offer a refreshing reprieve from the dog days of summer. From lounging by the pool to whitewater rafting, there are myriad nearby aquatic activities to enjoy.

Boating

Appreciate the beauty of Oklahoma’s natural scenery and wildlife on a boating sojourn. Grand Lake, Lake Eufaula, Lake Keystone and Lake Tenkiller are just a few of Oklahoma’s boating destinations, providing plenty of opportunities to fish, swim and participate in water activities. No matter which lake you choose to

visit, there are several shops and marinas that offer daily or hourly boat rentals to lake-goers, along with any additional equipment needed. When choosing a watercraft, it’s a good idea to consider how you plan to spend your time on the water. Pontoons, for example, can comfortably seat large parties, whereas ski boats have less space but can reach higher speeds, making them perfect for skiing, wakeboarding and tubing.

In Afton, Sail Grand Waterfront offers a variety of watercraft rentals, from ski boats to yachts. Visitors are encouraged to make advanced reservations and arrive early to check-in. When operating a watercraft, safety is key. All boat operators must be 18 years or older and have a valid driver’s license. Shops generally require all passengers to take a life vest with them.

Scuba Diving

Although Oklahoma is a landlocked state, it has a surprisingly robust scuba diving community. Tim Knight, owner of Nautical Adventures Scuba, says that he serves up to 100 divers on summer weekends at Lake Tenkiller. Part of what makes Lake Tenkiller a popular scuba diving spot is its Dive Park, which features a sunken school bus, helicopter and other interesting artifacts.

To get started, Nautical Adventures Scuba encourages beginners to try out its Intro to Scuba Diving course, which it holds in an indoor, heated pool. No experience is required, and the course is suitable for anyone ten years or older. The shop also offers a three-day certification class that allows people to dive virtually anywhere.

“Once you’re certified, you can dive anyplace in the world, from Lake Tenkiller to Cozumel, Mexico,” says Knight. Nautical Adventures Scuba is currently putting on its third annual summer dive event, Bonaire or Bust, which will run through the end of August. Divers compete for prizes, including the chance

Yes, it’s wildly hot outside, but aquatic adventures are around every corner to help you beat the heat.

RiverSport in OKC presents a bevy of water-based activities, from kayaking to canoeing, rafting and even surfing.

Photos by Georgia Read

to win a spot in a group diving trip to Bonaire, off Venezuela’s coast in the southern Caribbean.

No matter your experience level, Knight encourages others to give scuba diving a try.

“We’ve worked with kids as young as ten years old to… [people] in their 70s,” he says. “Scuba diving is a non-impact, relaxing activity that anyone can do yearround.”

Swimming

Did you know that swimming is the most popular recreational activity in the United States for children and teens? With a set of goggles, some inflatables and dive toys, you can keep your kiddos entertained for hours. If you don’t have a personal pool, grab your swimsuit, a beach towel and some sunscreen, and check out one of Oklahoma’s themed waterparks.

Originally opened in 1984 as Big Splash, Paradise Beach in Tulsa touts a Lazy River, a wave pool and a childrendesignated swimming area called Toddler’s Paradise. Visitors can rent cabanas, tubes and lockers onsite to make the most of their day.

The Water-Zoo Indoor Water Park in Clinton opened its doors in 2012, making it Oklahoma’s first and only indoor water park. The 28,000-square-foot facility features glass walls, a retractable roof and high-powered fans that help keep the park’s water and air temperatures comfortable all year round.

Rafting, Kayaking and Canoeing

Rafting, kayaking and canoeing are ideal for groups of adults that crave a sense of adventure. Rafts can accommodate large numbers and generally provide a stable, gentle experience on the water. On the other hand, kayaks and canoes are less likely to get stuck in shallow waters and can cover long distances more quickly than rafts.

The stretch of the Illinois River that runs through Tahlequah is a hotspot for these water-based activities. With class II rapids, the Illinois River has a moderate current with few obstacles that require some navigation, making it accessible to beginners and families. The length of the trip can vary from six to 70 miles depending on the starting checkpoint. Popular rental shops in the area include Eagle Bluff, All American Floats and Diamondhead.

If you’re looking for a more thrilling experience, RiverSport in Oklahoma City

offers whitewater rafting and kayaking on class II-IV rapids.

“Our whitewater venue is ranked among the best in the entire world,” says Mike Knopp, RiverSport’s executive director.

Its world-class facility has been selected as the site for the ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships in 2026. To prepare for one of its whitewater experiences, Knopp recommends that participants wear comfortable clothing, closed-toed shoes, and drink plenty of water.

Rowing

Originating as a form of transportation in ancient Egypt, rowing has evolved into a recreational and competitive sport that is chock full of health benefits. Because it

requires synchronization, rowing is also a great team-building activity.

RiverSport offers rowing classes for people of all ages. Its Learn to Row course takes place on the Oklahoma River, teaching beginners techniques, water safety and boat handling. More experienced rowers can take advanced lessons at RiverSport’s National High Performance Center.

Visitors should take advantage of RiverSport’s wide range of water sports and activities when they purchase day passes or annual memberships.

“It’s so inspiring to see people come out and get active while having fun,” says Knopp. “Being able to enjoy the water and engage in so many activities is a real differentiator for Oklahoma.”

FAITH HARL

A Novel Idea

Book clubs open readers up to new worlds.

Reading can open up new worlds, introduce new ideas and take a participant on exciting adventures. One way to get in the habit of reading more is by joining a book club.

“I think being able to discuss things that are happening in books, and different characters that inspire us or unnerve us for some reason, with others … helps us realize we’re not alone,” says Leanne Cheek, the reader services coordinator with the Pioneer Library System, which has 12 branches serving Cleveland, McClain and Pottawatomie counties.

And speaking of public libraries, they’re a great place to start when looking for a book club. Pat Cawiezell, buyer and author program coordinator at Magic City Books in Tulsa, suggests libraries and independent bookstores as a place to search – no matter where you live. He also suggests checking with your work place, faith community or other civic organization to see if any book groups are meeting.

“I think the biggest thing is there’s no right or wrong way to do a book group,” says Lunden England, former librarian and current marketing and communications specialist at PLS. “It’s just have fun and go with it, and if the book’s a small piece or if the book’s a large piece, that’s awesome either way. Don’t be intimidated by a book group.”

Starting your own group with friends is also an option. PLS offers book discussion kits on loan to help. These kits include a dozen copies of a book, plus a binder with discussion questions and other relevant information to get you started on the right track. There are many to choose from with book genres to interest any reader.

“A book club allows you to be in one place with a group of people that have all read the same book, and to be able to engage with it that way and discuss,” says Cawiezell.

There are many ways to run a book club. After all, some clubs may be more serious about the literature and some may be more focused on the social components. It’s a win-win either way. More public book clubs, typically the ones run by libraries or bookstores, tend to focus more on the book, experts say, as that is the part that galvanizes the group together. But sometimes, book groups can give an already established group of friends a reason to stay in touch.

“One of the things a book club can do is keep you connected to [a] group [of people], and it’s month in and month out,” says Cawiezell. “Ultimately, being able to connect with other people while you’re reading, which can be a very solitary experience, is exciting.”

BONNIE RUCKER

TIPS FOR RUNNING A BOOK CLUB:

Cawiezell of Magic City Books had several tips for running a successful club.

• Meet at least monthly. Less frequent meetings means there’s too much time between gatherings, especially since some may have to miss occasionally.

• Stick to discussion around the book everyone read – don’t let conversation veer off onto other books that some may not have read.

• Different groups choose the next book to read in a variety of ways, but it is helpful if everyone has some say in what is read.

• Discuss any topics that are off limits for the group – such as overly sad material, horror, politics or other specific topics.

• Bring some discussion questions to each meeting, but be sure to listen as people talk. Once the discussion gets going, the interesting topics will reveal themselves.

Book clubs are a great way to stay well-read, connect with others and learn about new topics. Photo courtesy Magic City Books

Picture yourself at TU!

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Preparing for Emergencies

Severe weather can happen at any time – but the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management is here to help.

This past June, on Father’s Day Weekend, northeast Oklahoma experienced what is referred to as a “derecho.” This term references a long-lasting squall line of severe storms that produces winds of greater than 58 mph, along a path longer than 240 miles. Tulsa and its surrounding communities experienced some of the strongest winds, with gusts topping out near 100 mph.

Oklahoma can experience all sorts of severe weather, as well as other environmental disasters that can pose significant threats to both person and property. These can range from spring and summer tornadoes to flashflooding, hail, and winter weather events like ice storms or blizzards. The state also has its share of wildfires, earthquakes and high wind events.

The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (ODEMHS) is charged, among other critical tasks, with preparing Oklahomans for these severe weather and environmental emergencies, and for providing help after these events have happened. Keli Cain, public affairs director for the department, offers some helpful tips that could prevent loss of life and help citizens deal with present and future incidents.

Preparing your home for natural disasters is a great way to start.

“Ensure your roof is secure with impactresistant shingles and roof strappings to anchor the roof to the walls,” Cain says. “You can make sure damaged trees or limbs are

removed, and plant new trees away from the house so they won’t cause damage later. Secure objects outside the house that could be thrown into the house by winds, and secure manufactured homes to a foundation with anchor bolts.”

Other tips include installing an above- or below-ground safe room, or ensuring you have a designated area inside the home during severe weather, like a bathroom or closet on the ground floor with no outside walls or windows.

“Finally, check your insurance policy to make sure you have the coverage you need in case you do have damage from a natural disaster,” she says. “This includes adding a flood insurance policy if you live in a floodplain.”

Being proactive and enacting general safety measures should be high priority.

“In Oklahoma, severe weather can be any time of year. So it’s important to stay weather aware,” says Cain. “Spring may be our most active season for tornadoes and flooding, but as we’ve seen, storms don’t stop at the end of May. Identify your safe place ahead of time so you will know where to go at home, work and school. If you live in a mobile home or an upper floor in an apartment complex, make plans to stay with a friend or family member on active weather days, and get there early. Don’t try to leave your home for other shelter in the middle of a severe storm, because you can be injured in transit.”

Other tips include having a communications plan to make sure family members can

reunite after a storm; keeping storm supplies handy, like flashlights, batteries, sturdy shoes and gloves; and organizing/storing important medications and paperwork close at hand.

JEFF THOMPSON

HOW TO HELP YOUR COMMUNITY

So, who can help Oklahomans during and after severe weather events and other natural disasters?

“Anyone and everyone has the ability to help,” says Cain. “You can help friends prepare for severe weather, invite neighbors or friends to stay in your storm shelter during a storm, share information about storm safety and resources, or help neighbors with clean-up after a storm occurs.

“For those who want to help out in a more organized way, there are dozens of churches and volunteer agencies that provide assistance with various disaster relief activities like sheltering, feeding or clean-up, and they are always looking for new volunteers or cash donations to help support their cause.”

Visit okvoad.org/current-members to find an organization to volunteer with.

Take to the Open Road

With summer in full swing, there’s nothing quite like a scenic drive through the state. Oklahoma harbors a plethora of destinations for your viewing pleasure – whether you want to drive, bike or hike, this list should have you covered on all things picturesque.

Mt. Scott Service Road

Located inside the Wichita Mountain Refuge in Lawton, this service road had some truly stunning views from the top. The paved, three mile path leading to the top has a steep incline, so be prepared to hustle your way up. Be aware that Friday through Sunday, hikers must be off the road by noon, as cars and bikes have exclusive access during that time.

Wichita Mountains Scenic Byway

Located off Loop W. of Apache on Highways 19, 58, 115 and 49 in Lawton, the byway contains all kinds of beautiful vistas for your eyes and your camera to enjoy. There are also plenty of wildlife viewing opportunities, including bison and the endangered black-capped vireo.

Talimena National Scenic Byway

Located off Highway 1 and 271 in Talihina, this 54-mile route is built for gallivanting through some of the state’s most wonderful locales. On top of all the sights you can take in, there is also camping, hiking, backpacking, mountain biking and horseback riding, available year-round.

Cherokee Hills Scenic Byway

Located off State Highway 82 and State Highway 10 N. in Tahlequah,

this location is perfect for anyone wanting to soak in years of history as well as capitalize on some striking photo opportunities. After you’ve taken in the sights, the Illinois River sits right nearby and is perfect for canoeing, rafting or kayaking, all of which are perfect ways to cool off from the summer heat.

Historic Route 66

Located statewide, the well-known Mother Road is perfect for anyone looking for varied points of historic interest. With 426 miles to cover, you’ll have your work cut out for you. Along the road you’ll also encounter museums, more than 120 historic road signs and spectacular views from one of the original highways built in the US.

The Kiamichi Trace

Located off Highway 271 in Hugo, this path was once a military trail connecting Fort Smith and Fort Towson. There are plenty of mountains, rivers and pine forests. The Kiamichi River and the footpath along its banks also serve as a historical reminder of the route that Indigenous people traversed years ago.

Osage Nation Heritage Trail

Located off Highway 60 in Ponca City, the 70-mile long path contains some of the state’s most magnificent landscapes. Wild horses and buffalo roam the land, just begging to be photographed, and the surrounding hills used to be home to nefarious gangs in the 1920s and 1930s. If you want to see some old estates of historic oil barons like Frank Phillips or Harry Sinclair, those are also in this area and perfect for a quick pit stop.

DREW JOSEPH ALLEN

Whether driving, biking or hiking, scenic views can be found around the state.

Whether you’re traversing on foot, on a motorcycle or in a car, scenic byways and highways lend themselves to spectacular Oklahoma views.

Photo courtesy the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department

Working Together

Coworking spaces foster community and bolster small businesses.

As the appeal to work remotely increases, so does the popularity of coworking spaces.

Whether clients are looking for a private office, conference room, sound proof studio or a single desk in communal work space, Oklahoma’s coworking spaces offer solutions for a variety of situations.

One of Oklahoma City’s coworking spaces, Workflow, provides all the basic office needs such as WiFi and printers, but proudly offers non-traditional amenities too, such onsite creative workshops and inspirational qigong – a form of martial arts.

Still, the question lingers: why are clients choosing a coworking space over the comfort of their own homes?

Workflow’s co-founders, Ginger Casper and Chelsea Banks, offer some insight.

“Just because you can work from home doesn’t mean home is the best place for your work,” says Banks. “Home – the place where you rest – isn’t the place where you should produce an output.”

Lori Zeller opened Elevate, a coworking space in Tulsa, and echoes this sentiment in her own journey as a professional working from home. She emphasizes the tug she felt between her personal life as a wife and mother and her professional life as a small business owner. She realized she needed to

accomplish her professional goals in a different space; she needed to find a distractionfree space where she could successfully work for a few hours a day.

“The reality of a 5-year lease agreement, high rent, plus utilities and many other overhead expenses created a new set of challenges in my business. I looked around me and realized that I was paying an enormous price for the professional environment that I desired,” she says. “I realized that so many people share similar struggles, particularly when navigating a remote or hybrid work culture.”

What is a Coworking Space?

Coworking spaces are built and designed for a variety of clients and occasions. Entrepreneurs and remote workers, start-ups, hosts of special events, clubs or groups, creatives and companies in the midst of a move all seek coworking spaces. The appeal? Flexibility and utility.

“Our approach is to intersect with all the needs. We have to make sure the people are comfortable in the space,” says Banks. “We offer what you need. We created this space for the human in mind.”

Workflow, Elevate and other coworking spaces share a common goal: investing in their communities. The locations also open

their doors to the community in times of crisis; most recently, Zeller lent a helping hand during the June power outages in Tulsa by offering major discounts to businesses in need of workspaces.

“We’re so grateful to have been able to provide for the need,” she says. “We’re grateful to those who found us and that we forged new friendships in the business community. When I consider the value of coworking, this experience will always stand out as an example of why I do what I do. It’s about people, and when you take the time to care for them well, business just works better.”

Coworking spaces offer more than a room or an office. They offer community and creative energy to serve as a catalyst to help professionals keep and maintain their momentum. Many offer membership programs paid monthly or annually, or clients can choose to purchase hour, day or weekly passes.

“My encouragement for people is to take ownership of their own needs,” says Banks. “Of course you need a printer and basic office needs, but you also may need help to grow your professional dreams. Community is fundamental to mental and professional health. You always have this creative power –you just need space to unlock it.”

CHLOÉ ZOELLNER

At Elevate Coworking in Tulsa, employees can rent everything from a single desk to a studio or conference room. Photos courtesy Elevate Coworking

Exploring All Black Towns

All-Black towns represent a unique component of Oklahoma history.

The prevalence of all-Black towns in Oklahoma, most widespread between 1865 to 1920, represents a truly unique time period in American history. Although the Greenwood District, commonly called Black Wall Street, is well known as a Tulsa staple, there were – and continue to be – a plentiful amount of towns that were started and run by Black communities.

“African American ex-enslaved people of the Five Tribes in eastern Oklahoma were allotted land by the Dawes Commission,” says Larry O’Dell, a state historian at the Oklahoma Historical Society. For protection and economic security, these residents often stayed close to each other.

“They would choose land near each other and many times, a town or community would evolve, especially along railroad lines,” says O’Dell.

Entrepreneurial prosperity was a quick side effect. Farming communities led the way to support businesses, schools and churches, combining to form towns that thrived. Word spread quickly and more residents migrated to Oklahoma.

The Land Run of 1889 also encouraged growth in Black communities within the state.

“In western Oklahoma, Black people would make the land runs and settle near each other – and a town or community may evolve or be created by a town site company,” says O’Dell.

Edward P. McCabe, a political figure from Kansas, helped to found the town of Langston. He utilized traveling salesmen and newspapers to circulate information about the newly formed municipality. The town still houses Langston University, formed in 1897, and it remains the only historically Black college in the state. Although the goal of an all-Black state was never realized,

over fifty towns were created, many of which still exist today.

“Boley was the most successful, largest and most popular,” says O’Dell. “Its location on the train line, the number of African Americans in the area, and the advertising throughout the south had the population in 1911 at 4,000.”

Unlike many other Black towns at the time, Boley was somewhat isolated from others of its kind and became a center of regional business. It grew to become one of the wealthiest Black towns in the United States and had two banks, including the first nationally chartered bank to be owned by a Black person, plus three cotton gins and its own electric company. It was also home to two colleges, Creek-Seminole College and Methodist Episcopal College, which both closed in the 1920s due to economic downturns.

Booker T. Washington visited Boley and proclaimed it to be the finest Black town in the world, incorporating it into many of his speeches.

Although many of the original all-Black towns have faded, thirteen still exist today.

“Boley is making a resurgence; the other towns seem to be just holding on,” says O’Dell.

Large towns like Clearview have had their populations dwindle over the years, but they haven’t disappeared just yet.

“Senator Kevin Matthews is working to help create cultural tourism to get people to the towns,” O’Dell continues.

Matthews hopes to add some locations in Oklahoma to the U.S. Civil Rights Trail, which includes historically significant areas important to the movement of racial equality.

DREW JOSEPH ALLEN

Pictured here are members of the town council in Boley, one of Oklahona’s most prosperous all-Black towns. Photo courtesy the Oklahoma Historical Society

A Man of His Word

Longtime manager and booking agent

Last month in this space, I wrote about the Tulsa-based nonagenarian country-music impresario Jim Halsey, manager of the Oak Ridge Boys for the past half-century and a continuing force in the music business. This time around, I’d like to devote the column to another longtime manager and booking agent who, like Halsey, is still out there in the trenches doing good work.

Ray Bingham, now nearly halfway through his eighties, began booking acts around 1960, after going to work for Leon McAuliffe at the famed steel-guitarist’s Cimarron Ballroom in Tulsa. (Interestingly enough, McAuliffe was the first act a teenaged Jim Halsey booked in Halsey’s hometown of Independence, Kansas, back in 1949.) Bingham went on to not only manage country-music performers Red Steagall and Billy Parker, among others, but also to be instrumental in the careers of such star acts as Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire and Becky Hobbs. He remains especially fond of what he calls “real country music” and Western swing – the kind McAuliffe and his former boss, Bob Wills, helped make famous throughout the world. Artifacts in frames on the walls of Bingham’s ranch house office in rural Claremore bear witness to the latter: There’s a 78 rpm record of Bob Wills’ greatest hit, “San Antonio Rose,” for instance as well as what looks to be handwritten sheet music for “Blub’s Twist,” a regional hit in the ’60s for Bob’s brother Johnnie Lee Wills.

Western swing – and, to a great extent, “real country” – is dance music, and a few years ago, when Ray Bingham’s words last appeared in this column, he said that the biggest change he’d seen come over the country-music business was the rise of casino stages and the decline of dancehalls, especially those in smaller towns.

“There were honky-tonks at every intersection in Oklahoma,” he recalls. “That’s how it was for years. We’d have six

or seven Saturday night dances going. That’s slowed down a lot, but you still have some of those places, and if you bring Gene Watson or Moe Bandy or one of those type acts in, you’ll sell your venue out almost every time. People want to hear the real country music, and real dance music. Gene sells out every dancehall he plays this side of the Mississippi. Moe Bandy does as well. We find a lot of those kinds of jobs for them, those kinds of venues.”

It’s no coincidence, he adds, that the singers he mentions enjoyed their greatest popularity in the ’90s, when country music really took off and the influence of both radio and record labels were at an all-time peak.

“I think that people like Moe and Gene, T. G. Sheppard and David Frizzell will always have places to play, because there are people who want to hear that kind of music,” he explains. “We don’t have another bunch like those guys coming along, so they have to fill that void.”

What is coming along, Bingham says, is Red Dirt music, that lyric-based, Oklahoma-brewed combination of country and rock that began in the late ’80s in Stillwater. Earlier this year, the Turnpike Troubadours, a Red Dirt act, had to add a second show to their BOK Center appearance because of ticket demand. It’s not dance music, but it’s become increasingly popular with the venues Bingham books.

“The Red Dirt thing has taken over the regular bands around here,” he notes. “All of ‘em that say they’re Red Dirt aren’t, but we’ve got some really great Red Dirt bands here in Oklahoma.”

In addition to booking those acts, along with the aforementioned ones who first hit in the ’90s, he also remains involved with booking Western swing, the music closest to his heart. One of his main Western-swing acts these days is the Tulsa Playboys, a group led by veteran musician Shelby Eicher whose repertoire is firmly rooted in the classic Wills tradition.

“Most of the jobs we get are in Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma,” he says of the Tulsa Playboys. “A few years ago, with Roy Clark, we did go to Wisconsin, which is pretty far for a Tulsa-based band to go play. But man, there are lots of people who come to watch the Tulsa Playboys. We draw good crowds all the time.”

And sometimes, the acts he books attract great crowds. Bingham says it’s likely that the biggest audiences he ever got as a booking agent came on the West Coast a few decades ago. That happened after, as he recalls it, a representative of the Los Angeles Times contacted him. The newspaper, as it turned out, was putting together a big country-music festival.

“They called me wanting Red [Steagall], and I said, ‘Who else are you having on it?’

“He said, ‘Well, we’re just starting the Western-swing part.’ So they ended up letting me do the whole thing, three days, with every star that ever made a record on it. I got some good names for ‘em. I believe Conway Twitty was the headliner, but I had Mel Tillis, Hank Thompson, Leon

Ray Bingham operates on integrity, grit and a love of “real country” music.

Ray Bingham (left) poses with longtime friend and client, cowboy music star Red Steagall. Photo courtesy Brett Bingham

McAuliffe – boy, there were a bunch on that. Three full days of music with three stages out there in a park. It was a pretty amazing thing.

“You know,” he adds, “I’ve booked Conway’s son Michael a lot, and I had him booked in Omaha, Nebraska, a week after the Los Angeles thing, along with Marty Haggard, Merle’s son. So I’m sitting in the lobby of the hotel in Los Angeles, and everybody’s talking about where they’re going next, and somebody says, ‘What about you, Bingham? Where are you going?’

“And I said, ‘Well, I’ve got Haggard and Twitty in Omaha.’” He laughs. “It was the sons, but it was the truth. And it impressed ‘em.”

All these years later, Ray Bingham still books Marty Haggard and Michael Twitty, along with hundreds of other acts at all sorts of different levels in the business. And he keeps after it, he says, for one overriding reason.

“I truly love music,” he says. “I don’t care if it’s Western swing or opera or whatever – if it’s done properly, I like it. If it’s a good act, I love every note I hear.

“This is not an easy job,” he adds. “It’s gotten a little more difficult over the years, with more production and things like that. We’ve got a show coming up at the Ben Johnson Rodeo in Pawhuska, a dance afterwards with the Tulsa Playboys. It’s not easy to drive that far, and not be able to start playing until the rodeo’s over, with a bunch of us people who probably should be home having a glass of milk instead.” He laughs again. “But we’re there because we love it. That’s the only reason I’m there. It’s why I’m in it. It’s why I’m talking to you today.”

At this point in his life and career, Ray Bingham acknowledges that he has “not slowed down as much as I should, probably”; in fact, he continues to be fully engaged in the business of music. However, he knows that a time will come when he won’t be doing the job he’s worked at for more than 60 years. When that day comes, he says, he hopes he’ll be remembered chiefly for being a man of his word.

“I have name acts now who’ll do a job for me in Wyoming, without a contract,” he says. “I can just talk to ‘em on the phone and say, ‘Here’s the deal.’ I mean, we always do a contract, but if we’re running late or something, they’ll do it on my word. That means they know my word is good. And that, to me, is the most important thing I could ever be remembered for.”

JOHN WOOLEY

THE PROFESSIONALS

What are the benefits of Hospice care?

At the end of life, most people want to stay at home, surrounded by family and friends, with symptoms and pain under control. By focusing on the whole individual, not just the illness, hospice care honors life’s final journey, leaving a legacy of compassion and caring. Hospice encompasses more than just pain management and providing physical comfort – it also offers emotional and spiritual support to you and your family by providing grief and bereavement services for up to thirteen months. It helps patients and their loved ones come to terms with and understand what is happening.

With the help of hospice, you and your family can focus on what’s most important – being together and living as fully as possible, for as long as possible. Benefits of hospice care:

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How much life insurance is “enough”? What kind should I get?

Everyone needs to have something in place. Too many people leave family behind with nothing. The right amount is different for everyone. If you don’t have any life insurance, a term policy is a great, inexpensive place to start. Many people are surprised at how inexpensive a term policy can be. Eventually, you might want to build value in a permanent policy, save for Long Term Care, and have money ready for final expenses. Some options have combinations of benefits. We have great products now that provide life insurance and coverage for other needs while you’re living. There are many options to customize a plan for your needs. Everyone is different. The best place to start is a conversation. If you’re worried you don’t have enough, call or email me to schedule an appointment so we can talk.

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Health | Medicare | Life | Supplemental 7101 NW Expressway, STE 745, Oklahoma City, OK 73132 SKang@HealthMarkets.com (405) 492-4670 – www.healthmarkets.com/skang

How can I combine finances with my partner?

Here are a few pointers to keep in mind:

1. Communicate early and often. In addition to sharing information about your cash, investments and other assets, be transparent about any existing debt you and your partner hold. Next, discuss your spending habits, goals, and feelings about your current financial situation and aspirations for the future.

2. Choose your insurance coverage. Insurance policies can provide a layer of protection over your finances and may help you feel more confident about your ability to handle unexpected events. 3. Update your beneficiaries and will. Thinking about what happens if one of you passes away may not be romantic, but it is an important step to protecting your loved ones financially. 4. Set goals together. Now that you’re earning, spending and saving to support your life together, why not formalize the dreams you share for your future? Set aside time to discuss your short- and long-term goals, such as buying a house, pursuing higher education or retiring early.

What treatment would you recommend to improve my skin’s texture on my face?

I would recommend an Opus treatment. Opus is a first-of-it’s-kind radiofrequency skin resurfacing technology that uses plasma energy to improve the skin’s tone and texture, delivering results similar to traditional deep resurfacing treatments without the downtime. This treatment uses plasma technology to slightly ablate the skin, which stimulates the surrounding tissue to repair itself, improving collagen production. It is a quick outpatient treatment that can be personalized to specific patient needs and treat all skin types. Opus is the perfect procedure to improve wrinkles, fine lines, crepey/saggy skin, acne scars, and even stretch marks. All areas of the face and body can be treated by Opus with noticeable results after just one treatment. Topical stem cell therapy or patients’ own PRP may also be added. To schedule an appointment and find out more information on Opus, call Fig Medical at 918-932-8810.

Cristie Lehr-Hawkins. M.D., Fig - For Inner Good - Medical Spa 8921 S

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David Karimian CFP®, CRPC®, APMA®

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Sung Kang

LIFE & STYLE

Molto Bella e’ Cosi Romantico

We hear lots of reasons why we shouldn’t go to Venice. It’s too touristy. Too crowded. Too pricey … plus, it’s sinking. Down nine inches in 100 years. (Ironically, during that time, Venice’s average sea level has risen a foot.) So, does anyone go to Venice anymore?

Yes! The town still stays very busy, depending on the time of the year, and despite the fact that big cruise ships are no longer allowed on the Grand Canal and day passes are being somewhat regulated. In Italy, Rome gets the most visitors – but Venice is No. 2.

Stretching across 120 islands in the Venetian Lagoon, much of the “Floating City” is actually built on thousands of 60-foot wooden pilings, now petrified, driven deep into the seabed.

And oh, what a city. The architecture, the history, the art, all enveloped in an elegant, un-hurried ambiance hemmed by canals and alleyways romantic enough to get lost in. Benvenuto a Venezia Venice is best seen from the water.

Indeed, this is by design. The facades of many of the city’s most beautiful palaces are only visible in acqua; there are no footpaths along the Grand Canal.

Even the principal face of Doge’s Palace looked out onto the lagoon for 100 years until a formal frontage was finally built on the other side, facing the extraordinary Marciana Library and the Piazzetta, which feeds into St. Mark’s Square. Get onto the canals by way of water taxis, water buses, traghetti (ferries, plural of traghetto) and, of course, one of the city’s 400 black gondolas. When you’re back on terra firma, you’re on foot. There’s no landbased mass transit. Thankfully, this enchanting city of 150 canals and 400 bridges is compact and easily walked.

In 1812, romantic poet Lord Byron wrote of the city’s Bridge of Sighs in Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage and the Small Faces sang about it in Itchycoo Park in 1967. The bridge is actually an enclosed, 400-year-old limestone structure above the Rio di Palazzo, connecting Doge’s Palace and a

Venice, a city of color and romance, is the ideal late summer getaway.

Venice beckons travelers with friendly locals, breathtaking art and stunning views. All photos are stock

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The wide Rialto bridge, built in 1590, spans the Grand Canal supported by 12,000 wooden pilings. Its central walkway is bordered by small shops selling souvenirs, leather goods, Murano glass and linens. Only four bridges cross the Grand Canal. Most locals take traghetti.

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Small, inviting family restaurants and shops are here and there, tucked into neighborhoods surrounding the Rialto. Most bars offer small bites called cicchetti: rounds of Italian bread topped with gorgonzola, porchetta or baccala. Chase them with the city’s signature drink, the Spritz Veneziano, made with prosecco, Campari (or Aperol) and sparkling water.

The soul of Venice is her art. Ca’ Pesaro International Gallery of Modern Art features works by Auguste Rodin, Medardo Rosso and Gustav Klimt. Down along the Grand Canal, the Gallerie dell’Accademia houses arguably the best Renaissance-era artwork in the city, including Leonardo da Vinci’s famous study of anatomical proportions, Vitruvian Man

For works by the likes of Pablo Picasso and Jackson Pollock, head to the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, presented as the influential American art collector/socialite instructed, in her spacious home, the 18th-century Palazzo Venier dei Leoni on the Grand Canal.

Walk over to the Basilica di San Marco and St. Mark’s Campanile. Take in the Museum of 18th-Century Venice, known as Ca’ Rezzonico, and pause a minute to appreciate the historic clock tower, the Torre dell’Orologio, on St. Mark’s Square.

High season is late spring and summer. Go in February and catch Carnevale. Stay at the Novecento Boutique Hotel, between St. Mark’s Square and the Accademia Gallery. Gritti Palace on the Grand Canal is also very nice.

CHUCK MAI

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The Link Between Aging and Weight

As we grow older, our metabolisms slow down, partly due to less physical activity, loss of muscle mass and overall effects of aging, explains Kathryn Reilly M.D., M.P.H., a professor of family medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City.

But weight gain doesn’t have to be inevitable with age. Reilly says older adults can increase their exercise and muscle mass to not only lose weight but maintain their current weight.

She says the main reason for weight gain over the years is that people decrease – or completely stop – exercising.

“According to research, at least a quarter of people aged 50 to 65 don’t do any exercise outside of work, and as people age, this figure increases to at least a third,” says Reilly. In addition, people can lose up to 8% of muscle mass per decade after the age of 30.

“Cumulatively, this can lead to a 30% loss of total muscle mass by the age of 80,” she says. “Less muscle mass slows down metabolism, because muscle uses more energy than fat tissue in the body. Muscle

mass also declines because of hormone levels decreasing, but this can be counteracted by exercise.”

Reilly highlights a study comparing the resting metabolic rate in three groups of adults: 20- to 34-year-olds, 60- to 74-yearolds, and over 90-year-olds.

“They found that the 60- to 74-year-old adults burned 122 fewer calories than the younger group, and people over 90 burned 422 fewer calories. However, when they considered differences in gender, muscle and fat, the 60- to 74-yearolds only burned 24 fewer calories, and those over 90 burned 53 fewer calories than the younger group,” she says.

This research, along with many other studies, supports the knowledge that regular exercise – including both aerobic exercise and resistance training – is beneficial to every adult at any age. Exercises that improve balance are also important as they can help to prevent falls.

“The recommended minimum amount of exercise for all adults is 150 minutes per week – an average of 30 minutes, five days per week,” says Reilly. “More is better, although there is no apparent benefit to

getting more than 300 minutes per week.”

She recommends that anyone who has not been regularly active should visit with their physician and/or personal trainer before beginning a new exercise routine.

Along with physical activity, a healthy diet is essential. Reilly says a serving of protein three times a day can be helpful, as the daily recommended amount for adults is typically 60 to 80 grams – with cheese and nuts being a good source of protein and more beneficial than crackers or chips.

“Not eating enough good calories can also lead to slower metabolism,” she says. “A diet high in relatively unprocessed foods is much more likely to enhance a healthy body.”

While weight gain with aging may be common, some people find themselves losing weight.

“Weight loss in older adults can occur in those with chronic illnesses, poor dentition, or loss of sense of taste,” says Reilly, adding that individuals who experience weight loss should consult their doctor and/or dentist to find the cause.

REBECCA FAST

As people age, they typically gain weight – but is it truly unavoidable?

The Art of Parenting

It’s Tuesday and your child’s mood and needs seem to be completely different from yesterday’s – or last week’s, for that matter.

Parenting can be tough.

So how can an adult benefit from knowing the different types of parenting styles? Experts believe it helps them to adapt to the current situation and select methods that work for each child through trial and error.

The most widespread traditional parenting style centers around rewards for good behavior and punishment for bad behavior. According to CNBC, four types of parenting styles tend to surface during discussions. They are:

Permissive – A style which is adopted to avoid conflict and rules, thereby negating a need for enforcement of rules;

Authoritative – A style that encourages communication and the ensuing

consequences. Rules and expectations are clearly set and problems are resolved in partnership between the parent and child;

Authoritarian – A regimen which revolves around strict rules and punishment. Communication is one-way and offers little or no consideration of the child’s needs as they relate to behavior and emotion;

Neglectful – This type focuses on parents who are indifferent to the child’s wants and needs and allows the adults to distance themselves from action and responsibility.

Current trends see parents and caregivers falling into more blended sub-categories of the above. According to Parents. com, these include:

Free-range – This style allows more independence, particularly in public. Children may be allowed to play outside more without supervision or walk to and from school and other public places alone; Helicopter – The name says it all. In an effort to protect their kids from failure, helicopter parents intervene at every turn; Snowplow – Also known as bulldozer

or lawnmower parents, such individuals are willing to bulldoze through obstacles to provide their children with desired outcomes;

Tiger – These parents not only want success for their offspring, they expect it. Perfection comes at a price and children under this classification often experience anxiety;

Lighthouse – This approach from Kenneth Ginsburg, M.D., recommends parents can be “stable beacons of light on the shoreline,” ensuring children: are supervised, even if from a distance; prepared for the eventualities of daily life; and know and trust their own capabilities to maneuver through life;

Attachment – This dynamic puts the needs of the youngster ahead of all others and encourages faster responsiveness to those wants and desires.

Unsurprisingly, the authoritative style holds a favored place in the minds of both psychiatric professionals and parents. Studies suggest children raised with this style become successful and happy adults. Most are also comfortable evaluating daily risks by themselves and are capable of making decisions that positively impact their lives.

DEBI TURLEY

Raising a child comes with plenty of curveballs – but certain parenting styles prove more helpful than others.

A few tips for those who lean toward authoritative parenting include: · Setting limits and enforcing rules; · Explaining the thought process behind your rules; · Putting continuous effort into ensuring the relationship between you and your child is a happy and positive one.

Championing Their City

The residents of Vinita believe tourists who bypass their city are missing out on ample history, entertainment and outdoor enjoyment.

Beth Hilburn, co-owner of the Hi-Way Café at the west edge of Vinita, is bothered that people following Route 66 have been bypassing her hometown of Vinita. She may not need to worry about that much longer, however, if plans announced in July for a major tourist attraction materialize.

Officials announced that a 125-acre theme park, part of a 1,000-acre tourist development, is planned for a site just west of Grand Lake on Route 66. The American Heartland Theme Park and Resort, with its first phase set to open in 2025, will include a 300-room hotel, indoor water park and other amenities.

Before the big announcement, Hilburn had taken the lack of traffic into her own hands. Together with volunteers, she and her husband, Alan, brought a 22-foot-tall fiberglass statue to town. Muffler Man, used in a synthetic motor oil promotion along Route 66, now stands sentry outside the Hi-Way Café. Muffler Man even has an additional name – Big Bill, in honor of Hilburn’s father. Her parents owned the nearby Western Motel during Route 66’s heyday.

“We just felt like Big Bill needed to be watching over us,” says Hilburn.

She hopes the imposing statue will entice more people to take the historic Route 66 through town, rather than staying on the nearby Will Rogers Turnpike.

“We’re trying to generate as much as we can for Oklahoma,” she says. “We know people are going through and driving right by. We have to get people to stop and spend their money in Vinita.”

Already, she says, “people are stopping by to take pictures with him.”

If the effort to increase traffic through Vinita succeeds, visitors will find a bustling community of 5,500 folks. Sitting roughly halfway between Tulsa and Joplin, Mo., Vinita is about 35 miles from the borders of Kansas, Arkansas and Missouri.

In addition to Big Bill, visitors will find other attractions throughout Vinita and nearby. The city’s website, in fact, proclaims Vinita as a place “where the golden prairies meet the foothills of the

Ozarks.”

Vinita might be better known for another landmark, one that traverses the turnpike – the Will Rogers Archway. Built in 1957 and at that time proclaimed as the largest McDonald’s in the world, the 52-foot-tall archway now is owned by the state of Oklahoma. A McDonald’s that’s closer in size to most others in the hamburger chain still occupies part of the space, along with a sandwich shop, service station and convenience store.

McDonald’s manager Zachary Laning says customers frequently ask about the Archway, remembering that the store was once the company’s largest. No longer the biggest store, Laning says, the Vinita store retains one distinction:

“We’re the only store inside a state landmark,” he says.

The renovated Archway was reopened in 2014. With its spectacular turnpike view, the Archway serves as a gathering place for community events.

Added to the mix of Vinita attractions is the Cherokee Nation’s two-story, 9,400-square-foot Anna Mitchell Cultural and Welcome Center, situated on eight acres just off I-44. Named for a renowned Cherokee artist, the center opened a year ago and offers travelers valuable information, indoor and outdoor Cherokee art displays and a venue for meetings, events and classes.

In July, the tribe hosted its first-ever ribbon skirt fashion show at the Cultural Center. Whitney Dittman, Cherokee Nation Business’ communications manager, says the event drew a crowd of more than 300, with another 300 participating in a livestream.

Vinita will also host one of the state’s longest-running rodeos, the annual Will Rogers Memorial Rodeo, Aug. 22-26.

Brian Prince, city clerk and acting economic and community development director, says Vinita, his hometown, is well worth the visit.

“Vinita has been a great community for my family and a lot of other families,” says Prince. “You can’t go down the street without waving at someone you know.”

HENRY DOLIVE

Did You Know?

A few miles south of Vinita is the Civil War Cabin Creek Battlefield site. In September 1864, a Confederate force of 2,000, mainly Gen. Stand Watie’s Indian Brigade, intercepted a 130-wagon supply chain headed to nearby Fort Gibson, loaded with about $1.5 million worth of goods.

Gen. Watie’s forces captured the supply chain after a heavy battle, which was the last major Civil War engagement in Indian Territory.

The Oklahoma Historical Society says that while not considered historically significant to the war’s outcome, the battle encouraged the Confederate troops under Gen. Watie to fight until June 1865, when Watie became the last Confederate general to surrender.

For More Information:

City of Vinita 918-256-6468

cityofvinita.com

Cherokee Nation Anna Mitchell Cultural & Welcome Center 953 E Illinois Ave. 918-276-2624

Eastern Trails Museum 215 E Illinois Ave. 918-323-1338

easterntrailsmuseum.org

Big Bill stands sentry outside Vinita’s Hi-Way Cafe.

Photo courtesy Hi-Way Cafe

Bob Thomas, Carl Hill, Sandi Pellow, Bill Thomas; ELEVATE Memory Gala, Alzheimer’s Association, Oklahoma Chapter, Tulsa

John & Sandi Pellow, Wendy & Gentner Drummond, Wendy & Chuck Garrett; ELEVATE Memory Gala, Alzheimer’s Association, Oklahoma Chapter, Tulsa

Tom & Judy Kischner, Robert Babcock, Bill Major; ELEVATE Memory Gala, Alzheimer›s Association, Oklahoma Chapter, Tulsa

A Department That Cares

The Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services is ready to help Oklahomans who need it.

If you’re looking for a program that can assist with enjoying life to the fullest while better functioning with disabilities, the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) is ready to help.

With a slogan of “empowering people with disabilities,” the department’s dedicated staff members assist Oklahomans with disabilities navigate 25 career planning, employment, education and independent living programs. The team also guides clients through applying for and receiving Social Security determinations due to eligibility based on medical conditions.

“DRS helped 184,082 people in state, fiscal [year] 2022,” says Jody Harlan, DRS’ communications director. “Staff in five program divisions provide these services in every county in Oklahoma.”

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) assists those jobseekers with disabilities that are non-visual to become self-sufficient through independent living and employment programs. For those who are hard-of-hearing or deaf, VR has offices that accommodate Oklahomans from offices in Tulsa and Oklahoma City.

This program offers various forms of assistance, including medical and psychological assessments, counseling services and treatment of disabilities to enhance employment opportunities. With training and education, the use of assistive technology, job placement and post-employment services, many Oklahomans

with disabilities are able to obtain and retain jobs as well as move ahead in their careers.

“Services for the Blind also provides specialized travel and mobility training and specialized in-home rehabilitation teaching to help job seekers prepare for work, and seniors ages 55 years and older to remain in their homes,” says Harlan.

Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired also operates the Oklahoma Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.

“The division also establishes and assists Business Enterprise Program managers who operate their own food service business, and the Older Blind Independent Living Program,” says Harlan.

Other divisions are the Oklahoma School for the Blind in Muskogee and the Oklahoma School for the Deaf in Sulphur. These statewide resource centers provide free education curriculum that meet state standards and provide disability-specific instruction – which is not readily found at other public schools in Oklahoma.

“OSB and OSD provide sports, clubs and social experiences for students who live on campus Monday through Thursday and transport students home for weekends, holidays and summer break,” says Harlan. “Commuter students also attend classes but go home after school to nearby communities. OSB and OSD also provide free summer school programs and outreach services for students

who attend other public schools, their families and educators.”

While OSB has a bevy of other programs, a favorite is the award-winning jazz band.

OSD offers a free online American Sign Language program that has been attended by more than 350,000 people from 30 different countries.

Harlan is proud to note that both OSB and OSD had 100% graduation rates in the 20212022 school year.

The disability specialists, para-professionals and medical/psychological consultants at Disability Determination Services (DDS) review applicant’s work and medical histories to determine medical eligibility for Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income benefits. Following federal eligibility guidelines, DDS staff weed out fraudulent claims with a 92.2% accuracy rate.

According to Harlan, DRS maintains a popular online Disability Resource Guide at okdrs.gov/guide/home which lists contact information and brief summaries for more than 2,000 social service and disability resources.

“This resource has averaged up to 10,000 hits each month,” says Harlan. “For general information about DRS services, visitokdrs. gov or phone 1-800-1845-8476 during business hours to talk with a live – not recorded – customer representative.”

DEBI TURLEY

The Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services, along with having an award-winning jazz band, assists people with disabilities with employment, education, independent living and more.

Photos courtesy the ODRS

COMING THIS FALL!

A new season of TPAC Presents shows for the whole family!

Fun and Learning for Kids!

If the phrase “male a cappella group” conjures up an image of students in blue blazers, ties, and khakis singing traditional college songs on ivied campuses ... think again. Straight No Chaser (SNC) are neither strait-laced nor straight-faced, but neither are they vaudeville-style kitsch.

They have emerged as a phenomenon with a massive fanbase and a long list of accomplishments including 2 RIAA Gold Certified albums, over 1.5 million concert tickets sold, over 1 billion streams on Pandora, and over 2 million albums sold worldwide.

Straight No Chaser is the real deal, the captivating sound of nine unadulterated human voices coming together to make extraordinary music that is moving people in a fundamental sense ... and with a sense of humor.

Get tickets and see our full schedule of events at tulsapac.com

TPAC’s Imagination Series is a family-friendly series that mixes traditional storytelling theatre shows with STEM-related events. Each show even has its own study guide to learn more before and after the show! The daytime performances are designed for public, private and home-schooled children. The evening performances are designed with family and friends in mind, with a special Family Fun Night Pre-Show available for purchase that includes snacks and activities!

NOVEMBER 15 & 16, 2023

Janet’s Planet: A Tour Through the Solar System

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

Cat Kid Comic Club: The Musical

FEBRUARY 29, 2024

Call of the Wild

TPAC Presents is sponsored by:

Native America A Spotlight on

One of the most integral parts of Oklahoma’s success? The influence of Native American nations. The state’s 39 tribes work to strengthen the fabric of Oklahoma through culture, entertainment, education, business and infrastructure. We dig into new developments on the horizon, explore the recent move of the Native American Hall of Fame, and chat with Yancey Red Corn, who appears in the upcoming film adaptation of Killers of the Flower Moon.

BY KIMBERLY BURK

All Eyes on Yancey Red Corn

It was a red carpet appearance like no other.

Yancey Red Corn and Osage Nation Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear, shoulders wrapped in symbolically meaningful tribal blankets, stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Killers of the Flower Moon star Leonardo DeCaprio as they posed for photographs.

Principal actor Lily Gladstone and other Native women invited to the premiere at the May 20 Cannes Film Festival wore spectacular gowns by Native designers, or blankets and shawls handmade by family members.

The photos and video were stunning, and so was what happened inside the theater: a nine-minute standing ovation for the Martin Scorsese film, shot in Oklahoma and based on the nonfiction book by David Grann. The movie also stars Robert DeNiro, Jesse Plemons and Brendan Fraser, telling the story of oilrich Osage Indians murdered for their headrights during the “Osage Reign of Terror” in the 1920s. The movie is scheduled for an October opening.

Red Corn, an entrepreneur who lives in Norman, plays the role of Chief Bonnicastle. While the chief is not featured in Grann’s book, he is a character in A Pipe for February, a novel written by Yancey Red Corn’s father, Charles H. Red Corn, who died in 2017. Scorsese relied heavily on the novel as he made changes to the script after meeting people in Osage

County.

Red Corn, a tribal name-giver who has been dancing in Osage ceremonies since the age of three, was invited to help oversee historical and cultural accuracy.

“They used me as a consultant, so I felt like I was part of the process,” he says.

Red Corn assists families in choosing Osage names for their children, and the red broadcloth he wore over his tuxedo at Cannes was his name-giver blanket, made by his mother and sister and trimmed in ribbon. His mother is the acclaimed Caddo potter Jeri Redcorn, and his sister, Moira, a Pawhuska physician and artist, was Red Corn’s guest for the trip to France.

Talee Red Corn, Yancey’s cousin with whom he grew up in the Pawhuska Osage Indian Village, sat beside him that day in the limo as they approached the theater. Talee portrays an Osage priest in the movie.

“I told [Talee], let’s just walk on that red carpet like we walk into our dances in Pawhuska: like we belong there,” says Red Corn.

Dozens of tribal citizens worked as staff members and extras as the film was being shot, Red Corn mentions.

“Everywhere I looked, I would see Osage people that I knew,” he says.

The movie was not easy to watch, Red Corn says, “but it’s a great film, and it’s a story that needs to be told.”

Actor, entrepreneur and consultant Yancey Red Corn poses with director Martin Scorsese (top), and actors Selma Hayek (middle) and Leonardo DiCaprio (bottom) at the premiere of Killers of the Flower Moon during the Cannes Film Festival in late May.

Photos courtesy Yancey Red Corn

Red Corn, who plays Chief Bonnicastle in Flower Moon, says the movie wasn’t easy to watch, but it is a “story that needs to be told.”

Photo by Brent Fuchs

Infrastructure Updates

An 11-story hotel with more than 400 rooms. Indoor and outdoor waterparks, a family entertainment center, an art market, retail shops and several dining options. It’s called the Okana Resort, and although it’s not scheduled to open until the spring of 2025, the $400 million project is already changing the landscape at OKC’s First Americans Museum.

“We expect to add about 800 jobs to the Oklahoma City area, and a $97 million economic impact the first year,” says Chickasaw Lt. Gov. Chris Anoatubby.

“It will complement the First Americans Museum as well, because that’s really the centerpiece,” he adds.

The Chickasaw Nation has more than 100 businesses scattered across its tribal boundaries, with construction and expansion projects planned or underway for casino resorts in several cities.

Anoatubby says he’s excited about a partnership with Indian Health Service to build a hospital in the Newcastle area. The tribe has hospitals in such cities as Tahlequah, Claremore, Lawton and Okemah, but none in the OKC metro.

“One of our goals is to try to get healthcare services no more than an hour away from all tribal citizens,” says Anoatubby. “All of our facilities are very highly utilized. We serve members of other tribes as well.”

The Cherokee Nation broke ground in April on a $400 million hospital that will replace the nearly 40-year-old W.W. Hastings Hospital in Tahlequah.

“To start building the walls that will bear our future citizens, save countless Cherokee lives and heal and comfort our sick in their most critical time of need is a defining

moment in the Cherokee Nation,” Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said during the ceremony.

The Choctaw Nation partnered with country music legend Reba McEntire to create Reba’s Place, a dining and entertainment venue that opened this year in Atoka.

“The opening of Reba’s Place has created more than 100 jobs, and about 50% of those positions are filled by members of a recognized tribe. We’ve seen more than 230,000 visitors stop by the restaurant, resulting in an annual impact of more than $11 million to the area,” says Tammye Gwin, senior executive officer for the tribe’s Division of Strategic Development.

“Another project we are very excited about is the $238 million Choctaw Landing in Hochatown,” Gwin says. “We broke ground on the resort in 2022, and it is scheduled to open next spring. The resort’s opening will create more than 400 jobs in southeast Oklahoma and will create an annual economic impact of $95 million for the region.”

Citizen Potawatomi Nation Chairman John “Rocky” Barrett, speaking during the June Sovereignty Symposium in Oklahoma City, said tribal operations are constantly growing.

“Medical, housing, commercial, government, infrastructure … we are expanding all of them,” Barrett says.

The tribe has 2,200 employees with about 200 jobs unfilled, Barrett says.

“We have increased wages up to 50% and still can’t fill jobs,” he says. “We will need to reach down into high schools and tech schools to augment training and work with unions on apprenticeship programs, to get skilled labor back in Indian Country.”

Female Leaders in Native America

“I want to be remembered as the person who helped Indigenous people restore faith in themselves,” Wilma Mankiller wrote in her autobiography, Mankiller: A Chief and Her People.

Mankiller was the first woman principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, doubling tribal enrollment and focusing on health care, housing and education during her tenure from 1985-1995.

Native women across Oklahoma continue her legacy by serving as elected officials and heads of tribal services.

Deborah Dotson, now in her second term, was the first elected woman president of the Delaware Nation. Women also serve the Anadarko-based tribe as vice president, secretary and treasurer.

Dotson, a former paralegal, started her political career in 2015 when she was elected as a committee person. After a couple of years observing the tribal president at work and not always agreeing with him, she said to herself, “I can do this. I can be president.”

Since she took office, tribal enrollment has grown by more than 700 due to drop-

Infrastructure helmed by Native American Nations is booming – including the Durantbased Choctaw Casino and Resort.

Photo courtesy the Choctaw Nation

Chuck Hoskin, Jr. (center), chief of the Cherokee Nation, commences the Crittenden Housing Groundbreaking in Stilwell.

Photo courtesy the Cherokee Nation

Young members of Citizen Potawatomi Nation walk during the Nation’s Grand Entry event.

Photo courtesy the Citizen Potawatomi Nation

ping the blood-quantum requirement in favor of lineal descendancy. Burial assistance was increased from $3,000 to $6,000, and tuition assistance was raised from $3,000 to $6,000 per semester for non-Pell grant students.

After Terri Parton was elected president of the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes in 2012, “everything we did was for the people,” she says. “We bought land. We did after-school programs. We went after a lot of grants. As long as your vision is all the same, the disagreements you can set aside.”

An Emphasis on Education

The Choctaw Nation is among many Oklahoma tribes that offer education assistance to citizens and employees, says Gwin. The career development department offers financial assistance to students seeking a certification or license through a college or vocational/technical school.

Choctaw Nation employees have access to $2,500 a semester in tuition reimbursement.

The higher education program helps tribal citizens pursuing degrees at accredited colleges and universities. Last year, Choctaw Nation provided more than 10,600 scholarships.

There’s also a one-time $300 payment for clothing purposes. More than 2,100 students received the college clothing allowance last year.

The tribe offers a one-time payment of $500 for technology purposes, Gwin says, and last year, more than 1,300 students receive a technology allowance.

The Concurrent Assistance Program offers financial assistance to qualified high school students attending an accredited college or university. Funding amounts are $200 for three hours of college credit or $400 for three or more college credit hours. More than 420 students received concurrent assistance scholarships last year.

The Higher Education Stole Program

offers a Choctaw Nation stole valued at $53 to eligible graduating students.

“Last year, we distributed 690 stoles to graduates,” says Gwin.

The Chickasaw Nation has more than 6,000 tribal citizens enrolled in college.

“We help support them with scholarships to the tune of $28 million,” says Anoatubby.

The Native American Hall of Fame

James Parker Shield was just 19 when he met the person who would become his lifelong mentor. His name was Ernie Stevens Sr., and he’s now a member of the National Native American Hall of Fame. This citizen of the Oneida Nation was an advocate for Native rights and tribal self-governance who worked for a long list of social and political agencies; he was also the first staff director of the federal Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs.

“Ernie was my hero when I was in Washington, D.C.,” says Shield. “He took an interest in me, he encouraged me, he introduced me to people.”

Shield went home to Montana, studied history, started his own career and for 18 years was a board member of the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center.

And when he founded the National Native American Hall of Fame in 2016, it was people like as Stevens he had in mind.

“These role models that we have in the Hall of Fame, they can inspire younger Native Americans,” says Shields.

After a few years in Great Falls, Mont., the Hall of Fame has been moved to First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City. The invitation came from FAM director James Pepper Henry, and Shield says his board thought it was a great idea to move to a facility in the center of the country with a climate better suited for year-round tourism.

And the 39 tribes based in Oklahoma will always be well-represented as the Hall of Fame chooses board members and new inductees, says Shield.

The Hall of Fame opened in March in an ancillary building that was once a welcome center for FAM. Once the money is raised, a wing will be built to house it. Currently, admission to the Hall of Fame is free for people who don’t also visit FAM.

Induction ceremonies started in 2018 and have been held at FAM since 2021. This year’s induction is set for Oct. 14, and members of the 2023 class are government leader Joe DeLaCruz, Quinault Indian Nation; actor Will Sampson, Muscogee Nation; writer Leslie Marmon Silko, Laguna Pueblo; journalist Mark Trahant, ShoshoneBannock Tribes; attorney Richard Trudell, Santee Dakota Sioux Tribe; and educator and activist LaNada War Jack, ShoshoneBannock.

Other tribes in Oklahoma with citizens in the Hall of Fame include the Pawnee, Cherokee, Kiowa, Sac and Fox, Chickasaw, Comanche and Osage nations. Shield, who is Chippewa, says the mission has been expanded to include an educational outreach to secondary schools, and he foresees activities such as art exhibits and a symposium for Native writers.

LEARN MORE:

At nativehalloffame.org, you can find photos and biographies of each of the people who have been inducted into the National Native American Hall of Fame since the first class in 2018. There was no induction in 2020.

Luminaries chosen so far from among the tribes in Oklahoma include Jim Thorpe, Maria Tallchief, N. Scott Momaday, Wilma Mankiller, Allan Houser, John Herrington, Wes Studi, Pascal Poolaw, Bill Anoatubby, Joy Harjo and Mary Golda Ross.

The mission of the Hall of Fame is to honor the achievements of Native American path-makers in contemporary society, starting with the Civil War period, in such categories as entertainment, government, science, education, communications, advocacy, business, culture and athletics.

Owned and operated by the Chickasaw Nation, the WinStar World Casino and Resort is located in Thackerville.

Photo courtesy the Chickasaw Nation

The Chickasaw Community Bank, headquartered in OKC, assists with everything from personal and business banking to tribal lending.

Photo courtesy the Chickasaw Nation

The New Frontiers of Education

Hybrid class models. Micro-internships. The rise of artificial intelligence. The world of higher education is constantly shifting – and leaders in the industry work diligently to keep up. We dive into the potential demographic cliff coming mid-decade, alongside the ways colleges are preparing students for the modernday workplace and the true worth of a college degree in today’s climate.

By Tracy LeGrand

Combating the Demographic Cliff

For the past ten years, fewer traditional college students have enrolled in higher education. Leaders in the sector are already seeing the beginning of a demographic cliff – or a dramatic drop in the collegeaged population – which is projected to fully realize in the middle of this decade. To combat the issue, universities are expanding their resources.

The demographic cliff has already begun in some areas of the U.S., says Jeanette Mendez, Ph.D., Oklahoma State University senior vice president and provost.

“The university’s system-wide strategy, which was released last fall, is in alignment with meeting the challenges of the enrollment cliff,” says Mendez. “The priority to increase enrollment and opportunities for students to receive an OSU education is at the forefront. We are working toward additional scholarship opportunities for students, which will also reduce OSU student debt.”

Northeastern State University in Tahlequah “strives to have degrees and educational opportunities in areas of professions that are critical to Oklahoma and its workforce,” says Jerrid Freeman, Ph.D., vice president for student affairs and enrollment management. “We also work hard to keep our tuition and fees financially accessible to ensure the widest access to our students.”

The University of Oklahoma is also already executing a strategic plan.

“Universities are a cornerstone of our economic and social prosperity,” says April Sandefer, OU’s director of media relations. “A college degree is worth about $1.5 million more earned over a lifetime. Since OU

is dedicated to providing access to students who wish to attend, we are a test-optional institution.”

Some colleges, including OU, offer the opportunity for high school students to earn college credit sooner with concurrent enrollment. This way, students can take college courses at a fraction of the cost with one-on-one advising and support.

“Like our freshmen admissions process, for the fall of 2023, OU concurrent enrollment will also practice a test-optional admissions process,” Sandefer says. “Another

Keeping up with workforce demand, OSU can help students with advanced degrees and specialized certificates. All photos on this page courtesy OSU

AI technology is growing, and OSU is providing guidance to instructors to help set clear expectations about student use.

Despite some employers looking for specialized certificates, a college degree is still as valuable as ever.

exciting update is we are expanding our concurrent offerings to include both inperson and online classes.”

As a community resource, Tulsa Community College supports a consistently evolving student body with established and

overhauled resources including academic advising, best practices in the classroom and support for faculty, plus tutoring centers, writing labs and student success coaches.

Eunice Tarver, Ph.D., TCC’s vice president of student success and equity, says the need for more holistic student support services is growing at a rapid pace, and the offices that work with students are collaborating to identify student needs and serve as a benefits navigator.

“Currently, the college is in the process of developing a physical office that will pull some community partners on campus to provide our students with the assistance needed to apply for SNAP benefits, to help file their taxes so they can complete their FAFSA, or to connect them with providers

that specialize in housing and/or utilities assistance,” says Tarver.

Preparing Students for the Workplace

Colleges prepare students for work/life balance and proper in-office etiquette via training, internships and classes. After all, many recent and upcoming graduates dealt with shuttered campuses due to the

Trends in higher education include micro-internships, shorter employment terms that are paid and typically project-based.

All photos on this page courtesy OU

Electives at college campuses run the gamut, from art to cyber security and data analytics.

Interacting with peers, collaborating and focusing on specific projects all help students prepare for the “real world.”

IT FEELS GREAT TO BE ON TOP.

OSU Center for Health Sciences has earned the No. 1 ranking in the percentage of graduates practicing medicine in Health Professional Shortage Areas, and No. 10 in graduates practicing in rural areas from the U.S. News and World Report’s annual medical school rankings.

HPSAs designate areas and population groups, both rural and urban, that are experiencing a shortage of health professionals and can also be called medical deserts. About 50 percent of OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine graduates are practicing in HPSAs, according to US News data. Not only are we educating physicians in the heart of Tulsa, we’re also educating the next generation in rural Oklahoma at our Cherokee Nation campus in Tahlequah.

With a mission to educate physicians for rural and underserved populations in Oklahoma, this news is just another confirmation we are making good on that promise. Getting nationally recognized for it is the (orange) cherry on top.

The 2023-24 “U.S. News and World Report” rankings are from a survey of 192 accredited allopathic and osteopathic medical schools in the United States, which grant M.D. and D.O. degrees, respectively.

medicine.okstate.edu

We’ve Earned a Top Spot in US News and World Report’s Best Medical Schools Rankings.

A top-ranked medical school in the heart of Tulsa. And Tahlequah.

COVID-19 pandemic.

To address possible deficiencies, companies, universities and recruiters are coming up with ways to train new hires.

“NSU has incorporated experiential or immersive learning components into its degree programs,” says Pam Fly, Ph.D, associate vice president of academic affairs. “These components include internships, externships and other experiences where students work alongside practitioners.”

Jaime Hough, Ph.D., OU’s director of graduate student and postdoctoral retention and support, works with “a wide variety of early career scholars on preparing to transition from graduate school to careers. While public speaking, presenting to peers or superiors, and professional dress are not routine parts of undergraduate education across fields, they are some of the most common experiences among early career scholars.”

OSU’s Mendez says the “president’s initiatives outline four skills that contribute to the ideal graduate, including ethical leadership, engaged citizenship, personal responsibility and professional preparedness. These competencies will be embedded in multiple ways across campus. OSU is emphasizing the importance of experiential learning outside the classroom and increasing support for students to pursue these important opportunities.”

TCC’s Pete Selden, VP of workforce development, says research conducted by Harvard University, the Carnegie Foundation and Stanford Research Center has concluded that 85% of job success comes from having well-developed soft skills and people skills, and only 15% comes from technical skills and knowledge. Based on

this research, TCC has introduced three new micro-credential programs focused on job seeking, job readiness and job keeping.

The Worth of a College Degree

Most experts say that a four-year bachelor’s degree still holds important weight when applying for jobs. But in an ever-changing professional milieu, more jobs may require advanced degrees, while others are shifting towards specialized training without them. Educational institutions work to keep up with these demands.

“Knowledge attainment and continuous learning are more important than ever,” says NSU’s Freeman. “While your career choice plays a large role in the need for a degree, education is vital regardless of your profession, and skill attainment is just as important. Degrees will always be a vital element of our workforce.”

OSU’s Mendez says that the universities can assist with both advanced degrees or something more focused like a certificate or micro credentials.

“As a large comprehensive university, OSU has the flexibility to offer both paths, and our faculty communicate frequently with employers to determine how we can best prepare graduates for jobs,” she says.

According to the Council of Graduate Schools, entry level jobs that require a master’s degree will grow by 17% through 2026, mentions OU’s Hough.

“This growth is the fastest of any education level. Several

job areas will experience growth in the future, including advanced manufacturing. Engineers, data scientists and researchers are crucial to manufacturing, which is expected to have a growth of 4.6 million jobs in a decade,” says Hough. “The council expects 2.4 million go unfilled due to a skills gap, emphasizing the growing need for advanced degrees.”

Unique Electives

It is difficult to identify a “popular elective,” says NSU’s Fly. Students tend to take electives that are extensions of their major field of study. Psychology electives are wide-reaching, as are those surrounding particular topics such as cyber security, Native American culture or data analytics.

“At OU’s College of Business, nearly 700 students take courses that are part of seven business minors, designed specifically for non-business majors,” says Laku Chidambaram, Ph.D., senior associate dean for Price. “Some of the most popular of those courses include business data analytics, digital marketing and new venture development.

“We have a student studying to be a chiropractor who is taking entrepreneurship classes to learn how to run a private practice; another student from computer science is taking management information system courses to learn about the intersection of technology and business; and a journalism student is taking digital marketing courses to learn about the business aspects of online marketing.”

Northeastern State University is combatting the potential demographic cliff by keeping its offerings affordable and accessible.

Photo courtesy NSU

AI in the Classroom: New Developments

Artificial intelligence in education is being addressed head-on by Oklahoma institutions.

“NSU faculty have been monitoring the rise of AI in academic spaces – both in terms of using it as a teaching tool or talking with students about how to avoid plagiarism if they incorporate AI into their course work,” says Fly. “For the coming academic year, NSU has revised its academic integrity statements to include the misuse of artificial intelligence services without citation.”

OSU’s Mendez says that the availability of AI “poses the same sort of issues that calculators and advanced mathematical software posed when they were first available. Just like these tools, AI can be useful for learning, as long as it is used appropriately,” she says. “OSU is providing guidance to instructors to help them set clear expectations for students about when it is reasonable to use AI and when it is not.”

The OU IT department works with university faculty and leadership on an ongoing basis to assess AI’s role in education, says Sandefer.

“While the impact of AI on education is still uncertain, the University of Oklahoma is committed to fostering a learning environment that prepares students for the future by embracing all kinds of innovation,” she says.

Trends in Higher Education

Higher education trends include a more personalized approach for better information absorption, as well as micro-internships – shortterm, paid, project-based assignments. Overall, schools continue to treat an earned college degree as a sought-after commodity.

“NSU offers several pathways for individuals desiring advanced courses to upskill or re-skill and secure the best opportunities for growth in their field,” says Cari Keller, Ph.D., dean of the graduate college. “Additionally, NSU partners with employers to tailor training and development that fits employee needs.”

OSU works regularly with workforce partners to ensure graduates have the skills and the critical thinking and creative abili-

ties to succeed in their chosen careers, says Mendez.

“Many of our programs have advisory boards from the industry that help evaluate the curriculum and give feedback on changes that would help prepare graduates better for the workplace,” Mendez says.

At TCC, the Career Services Office focuses on internships and most recently added micro-internships through a partnership with Parker Dewey. The paid opportunities

typically range from five to 40 hours of work and are deadline driven. The platform offers both remote and in-person opportunities.

“TCC wants our students to gain valuable work experience through internships. While we are bringing on micro-internships, we are also working on expanding traditional, for-credit internships for all students,” says Mark Hayes, career services manager. “This benefits students, but also allows local employers to tap into a skilled talent pool.”

Hands-on learning helps students prepare for the modern-day workplace.

Photo courtesy Oklahoma Panhandle State University

OUTSTANDING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS

If you believe the next generation will save the world, some of these students will surely be involved. We highlight a handful of soon-to-be collegiate freshmen from Oklahoma, nominated by leadership from their high schools.

Compiled by Mary Willa Allen

Zachary Kirchhoff Jenks High School

Attending: University of Pennsylvania

Intended major: Business Law at the Wharton Undergraduate School of Business and Anthropology at the College of Arts and Sciences. I have always been interested in understanding other people and their own unique world views and cultures, but as I have grown older I’ve developed a special interest in understanding discrimination and oppression. I hope to study anthropology and law, and eventually attend law school.

Biggest influence: My relationships with three teachers and mentors: Mike Horn, Karen Workun and Paula Dennis. These teachers ignited within me a love of learning, in and outside the classroom, and encouraged me to take advantage of opportunities to get involved in my high school community.

Proudest achievement: I had the unique opportunity to conduct independent academic research twice, organize the only student organized TEDx Youth event in the region, and win three state championship titles. However, what meant the most to me was the opportunity to work closely with one of my teachers, Karen Workun, to organize an affinity group called the Equality Alliance. During my junior and senior years of high school, we hosted monthly meetings to discuss current events, policy changes and other topics relating to equality and social justice and, most importantly, managed to form a community of our own where everyone’s voices and opinions were welcomed.

I would trade places for one day with: Ernest Hemingway. He is not only one of my favorite writers, but he lived such an interesting life.

Unique characteristics: My father passed away from cancer when I was 13 years old, and ever since his passing, I have understood, to what I believe to be a greater degree than most others my age, that life does not last forever. This realization has served as fuel for much of my ambition throughout the years.

Hobbies and passions: Music. I have been heavily involved in my high school’s choir, show choir and musical theatre programs for years, and have won multiple statewide and national awards and honors through these programs.

Surprising fact: I can do the splits!

Carolina Hampton Pardo Casady School

Attending: Princeton University

Intended major: Philosophy. I plan to attend law school, so I was looking for a good foundation in logic and reasoning.

Biggest influence: Mr. Banecker, my senior year English teacher. He pushed me to develop individual opinions and analyses of literature and taught me how to be intellectually curious. He formed me into the writer and thinker I am today.

Proudest achievement: Receiving the Alumni Award at Casady graduation. My older sister, Isabela, also won the award when she graduated from Casady, so I was very proud and honored to receive the same achievement she did.

Career plans: I plan to go to law school to study tribal law. From there, I plan to work with Native American communities to grant them better access to healthcare and sexual education in their school systems.

I would trade places for one day with: The famous film director Wes Anderson. I am very curious to see how he views the world and where he draws artistic inspiration for his pastel movie style.

Twenty years down the line, I would like to be: Established in my career. I would like to set up a nonprofit organization aimed at reducing the teen pregnancy rate within American Indian communities. I would like to have a family as well.

Hobbies and passions: I love cinema and art history. Delving into and exploring various mediums of art is always something I have been very drawn to. I also love baking pies for my family.

Surprise fact: My favorite food of all time is pickles, but it has to be the Claussen brand.

Bonus tidbit: Since I am the shortest member and the baby of my family, everyone calls me Teeny.

Jackson McCormick Cascia Hall Preparatory School

Attending: Stanford University

Intended major: Film & Media and Economics. I love film and find it fascinating as a freeing and innovative medium of art. Naturally, the film industry is still a business, so I want to understand the finance and functional side of it.

Biggest influence: Of all my influences, my parents have given me a great example as hard workers. Proudest achievement: There is absolutely nothing like walking across that stage at the end of it all. Being handed that diploma made all the tests, assignments and late-night study sessions worth it. At my graduation, I was able to give the farewell speech, which really helped me see how beautiful the past seven years at Cascia truly were.

Career plans: I would love to one day work as a producer and writer in film. I have already started writing and acting for films when I can. I would trade places for one day with: Donald Glover. He is definitely my celebrity idol. Whether comedy, music, writing or acting, Glover has done everything he set his mind to when it comes to entertainment. I love to be surprised by how his mind goes beyond just one medium of art.

Twenty years down the line, I would like to: Surprise myself. Of course, this is an extremely broad description of one’s future. However, what I really mean is that I want to create something that tells me, “I might have what it takes to keep going.”

Unique characteristics: I can easily mix in different environments. As a very social person, I love to meet new people, and naturally I love to talk.

Hobbies and passions: I love to write, act and of course, watch movies. One of my favorite activities is just watching movies with my family. As an actor and future filmmaker, the best way to perfect your craft is to practice and see how others use their skills on the screen. I also love singing – I participate in activities that allow me to sing whenever I can. It is just another escape that allows me to express myself.

PHOTO BY MAURICE STORM

Amelia Anderson Riverfield Country Day School

Attending: Spelman College

Intended major: Biology. I love to learn about science and how the world works, and I’d love to pursue medicine in my future.

Biggest influence: I think my father is my biggest influence because he works so hard and I want to become like him. I like to think I’m a mini him because I like his music, play the sports he likes, and I play the bass guitar like he does.

Proudest achievement: Receiving the Carole Robertson award from my organization, Jack and Jill of America Inc. It also came with a trophy and $1,000. Career plans: I’d like to become a pediatrician. I love to help children, and in my free time work in a daycare. And since I love science, pediatrics seems perfect.

I would trade places for one day with: Blue Ivy, Beyoncé’s daughter, so that I could spend the day with Beyoncé and watch her perform.

Twenty years down the line, I would like to be: In a beautiful house with land and have beautiful children, and have a career that I love.

Unique characteristics: I am very empathetic and caring, but I think I’m also a natural leader and I love opening up and making new friends and meeting people.

Hobbies and passions: I love to paint and read, and I work part time as a dental assistant and a teacher in an infant class at a daycare.

Surprising fact: I have four cats, two dogs, a turtle and a chinchilla.

Additional tidbit: I have been playing bass guitar since fifth grade and it’s one of my biggest passions besides painting. I’ve performed at the Cain’s Ballroom eight times.

Julian Felix Aaronson Holland Hall School

Attending: New York University, Tisch School of the Arts

Intending major: Film and Television. In art, you can have the absolute worst idea according to one person and that same idea can be seen as genius to the next person. It’s a controversial world. What makes film making so special to me is the combination of every art medium into one – making film making the most controversial medium possible. I like that each person can sit for two hours watching a movie, and every person will have a different perspective of the film, whether that is hatred, love, connectivity or rejection of the same compilation of images and sound. The riskiness of film making is so extremely interesting that I can’t help but major in it.

Biggest influence: People who make, act and do with the overarching goal of staying authentic to themselves. There is a long list of names but the only ones that I feel I must include are my Mom, Dad, Ari Aster, the Daniels and Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

Proudest achievement: Completing my short film The External-Internal Monologue of an Interdependent Insomniac. This was the first thing I had made without the goal of impressing people – just a film for myself.

Career plans: After I work in the film industry for a while, I will apply to be an FBI agent. To supplement that goal, I will likely need to have a career in something other than film, so I may explore the finance world a bit. After my time in the FBI, I will do a season of the show Survivor. After that psychological torture, I would like to go to culinary school, just so I know a thing or two about how to make a good tomato bisque. Then, I will really settle into the film world. I might teach a college course here and there – it’s always been a dream of mine – but ultimately I will end my working life as a filmmaker.

Twenty years down the line, I would like to be: On the Oscars stage.

Hobbies and passions: Filmmaking, writing, and I can cook a good steak.

Moriah Starr Chambers

Augustine Christian Academy

Attending: Rogers State University

Intended major: Business management. I think that it’s a good baseline for anything I want to do in the future.

Biggest influence: My sister, Micah, because she always helps me and encourages me to excel in everything I do.

Proudest achievement: Being valedictorian of my class.

Career plans: I’m very interested in becoming an events coordinator.

I would trade places for one day with: I don’t think I would trade places with anyone because I love being myself and I am exactly who I am meant to be. I can’t think of anyone I would rather be.

Twenty years down the line, I would like to be: Married with a family and a business.

Unique characteristics: I have an old soul, a dry sense of humor and great work ethic.

Hobbies and passions: I enjoy painting, fishing and theatre.

Surprising fact: I have been puppeteering for ten years, I have seven chickens, and I have been in twenty musicals.

Bonus tidbits: I have a large collection of animal bones that I have found or been gifted over the years and I have an interest in osteology. I also do volunteer work for the Penguin Project, a theater group for people with special needs.

Litseg Krissel Del Val Rodriguez

Thomas Edison Preparatory High School

Attending: The University of Oklahoma

Intended major: Biology. I have always loved science. Since I can remember, learning about life has always fascinated me.

Biggest influence: My parents. They came to the U.S. with nothing. All they wanted was for my sisters and I to live the best lives possible. All I do is for them. If it weren’t for their sacrifice, I would have never found myself typing out answers for a questionnaire to be put in a magazine.

Proudest achievement: Academically and career wise, it has been completing a medical assisting program. Through Tulsa Tech, I was able to get a head start in the medical field, which will be crucial to my future career. Personally, it’s being a godmother to my beautiful niece, Milana Moon.

I would trade places for one day with: Lana Del Rey. She has changed so many lives through her music; I want to experience what that feels like. I am also not the best singer, so actually being able to sing well for a day would be amazing.

Twenty years down the line, I would like to be: Firstly, done with school and a licensed and practicing physician assistant. But more importantly, traveling. My heart calls to explore the world.

Unique characteristics: I always get told I am very mature for my age. Which is true. Being a first generation Mexican-American, I found myself having to grow up faster than my peers.

Hobbies and passions: I love photography. I personally prefer to take pictures with Polaroids or film as opposed to taking them with a “modern” digital camera. I just feel like it gives pictures a warmer look to them. I do enjoy “living in the moment,” but I prefer having a tangible object that can transport me back into that memory. I also really enjoy working with flowers – planting them, wearing them, looking at them.

Surprising fact: I have never broken a bone or had a cavity. I am really proud about that. Unfortunately, during a weak moment in my life, my gallbladder decided to call it quits and I can no longer say I have never had surgery.

Kayden Kehe Union High School

Attending: Harvard University

Intended major: Computer science. My interest began when I was ten, attempting to create video games. Since then, the field has been a place of continued interest and even beauty at times. Biggest influence: My sister, Nikki. We’re the polar opposites of each other in almost every way, and instead of causing conflict, I think that opposition has given both of us a broader, more whole perspective. Proudest achievement: I’d struggle to choose between becoming a U.S. Presidential Scholars Program Semifinalist and being named Mr. Union. U.S. PSP is a highly selective distinction on a national scale; Oklahoma only had 10 semifinalists this year. Mr. Union is an award that UHS gives to one male senior based on GPA, student vote, teacher vote and teacher recommendation. Being named Mr. Union expressed to me that I was able to leave a good impression and make a positive impact on the students and staff at Union. Career plans: I’d like to be a professor! It would be the perfect way to further explore my love for education, research and computers.

I would trade places for one day with: My dogs. They just lay around and do nothing all day, and I think that sounds quite nice.

Unique characteristics: I think my exceptional lack of navigational ability is truly special. Even in my senior year, I’d still occasionally get lost wandering the halls of my high school. I have to use Google Maps to get to the Walmart that’s, like, two miles away from my house.

Hobbies and passions: Research, education and computer science are my three biggest passions. Almost all the things I do outside of school are motivated by one or more of those passions, like teaching coding classes, making projects and uploading them to my YouTube channel, tutoring math and leading tech-oriented student organizations. I’ve been able to turn a couple of those passions into a job this summer, working as a part-time data science researcher at TU.

Elle Stanger

Bishop Kelley High School

Attending: The University of Notre Dame

Intended major: Finance. I think it’s an extremely valuable skill to be able to help people manage their assets.

Biggest influence: Definitely Christ. He has blessed me with people in my life who show me His unconditional love and selflessness. My grandparents immigrated to the United States during the Vietnam War and made a good life for their family in Oklahoma, so they have taught me the value of working hard. The same goes for my mom and dad, who have always emphasized the value of integrity.

Proudest achievement: Being selected as the 2023 Jim Thorpe Player of the Year for girl’s golf.

Career plans: A corporate lawyer, with a possible side hustle as an author.

I would trade places for one day with: Leonardo DaVinci during the Renaissance in Italy.

Twenty years down the line, I would like to be: At a point where I can give back to the people and the communities that positively impacted and lifted me up. Being able to help people, especially kids and teens, follow their dreams would be incredibly fulfilling.

Unique characteristics: I’m an old soul. I don’t have a fear of missing out when I know I need to stay home and work on school or sports. I’m also not afraid to get out of my comfort zone and take risks. Hobbies and passions: I love being active, whether it be playing a sport, running or hiking. I also have a passion for reading and writing that developed from a young age.

Bonus tidbits: As a toddler, my grandparents would care for me. They spoke Vietnamese and taught me Vietnamese songs. So when I went home with my mom, I would have full-blown conversations with her saying both the English and Vietnamese words.

Hannah Shoop

Mingo Valley Christian

Attending: Oklahoma Baptist University

Intended major: Social studies – secondary education

Biggest influence: My mom, Kelly Shoop, and mentor, Rachel Keeney. My mom and mentor are history teachers from Mingo Valley Christian, and I have had the privilege to be in both of their classes through the years. They each teach with passion and eloquence, while also integrating a Biblical perspective on their studies of history. I have been greatly influenced by both of these women, so much so that I desire to follow in their footsteps and continue to educate future students on the fascinating subject of history, particularly from a Biblical worldview.

Proudest achievement: When I was cast as Belle in my school’s production of Beauty and the Beast. I was extremely honored to have been cast in such a major role. I could not have accomplished this without the mentorship of my grandfather, encouragement from my vocal teacher and influence from my director.

Career plans: I would love to teach world history to secondary age students!

I would trade places for one day with: A pigeon in New York. I can only imagine the bizarre sights those pigeons see in just one day living in New York City. I also would love to be able to fly for a day. Twenty years down the line, I would like to be: Successfully through college, with a family and working a job I am passionate about – educating the younger generations.

Unique characteristics: I am witty, meek and honest.

Hobbies and passions: My hobbies are acting, singing, and embroidery.

Surprising fact: I would love to travel the world at some point during my lifetime. Since I want to be a world history teacher, I would like to see various historical sites around the world.

Amanda Dai

Oklahoma School of Science & Mathematics

Attending: Vanderbilt University

Intended major: Biochemistry. I took a biochem class in high school, and although it absolutely wrecked my sleeping schedule, I loved every part of the curriculum.

Biggest influence: Aside from my parents, probably the friends I made at boarding school. Without their constant support and encouragement, I wouldn’t be half the person I am today.

Proudest achievement: Completing my internship at the OU College of Pharmacy! Though my research ultimately failed to produce the results I expected, I’m really proud of myself for the time and effort I put into gaining firsthand laboratory and research experience.

Career plans: I’d love to go into some type of IP [intellectual property] law.

I would trade places for one day with: Maximilien Robespierre (though hopefully not during his execution). I’m fascinated with the French Revolution, especially with the Reign of Terror, so I’d love to get a glimpse into the mind of one of the Terror’s primary orchestrators. Plus, I just think that cravats and powdered wigs are pretty cool fashion choices. Twenty years down the line, I would like to be: Genuinely happy and satisfied with whatever my life is like. I would like to be fully confident in the decisions I’ve made, regardless of if those decisions were objectively good or bad.

Unique characteristics: The specific mix of luck, hard work and support that gives me the ability and motivation to pursue my goals.

Hobbies and passions: I love creating digital art! My favorite thing to paint is historical clothing, specifically baroque- and rococo-style menswear. I love it because I get to combine my passion for art with my love for fashion history.

Surprising fact: I love cicadas! I used to let them rest on my head as I drew outside.

Abby Tull

Metro Christian Academy

Attending: Oklahoma State University

Intended major: Nutritional sciences. Nutrition has become a huge part of my life and I hope to help teach others that food is medicine.

Biggest influence: The Lord. God is the foundation of my life and has been the consistent light that guides me through every moment, good and bad.

Proudest achievement: Receiving the Girl Athlete of the Year award at Metro Christian. Learning how to overcome self-doubt and continue to work diligently during my high school sports career made receiving this award such an honor, because it is a reflection of the growth and consistency that took years to achieve.

Career plans: I plan to become a registered dietitian and specialize in sports nutrition or functional nutrition.

I would trade places for one day with: Guy Fieri, the host of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, because I think it would be super fun to drive around in a convertible and try some of America’s greatest food. Twenty years down the line, I would like to be: In a stable job as a registered dietitian, either working with athletes or having opened my own practice. I also hope to be raising a family.

Unique characteristics: My adaptability. I am able to read situations well, learn things quickly and adjust accordingly.

Hobbies and passions: I love to bake. I have always had a sweet tooth and baking allows me to make exactly what I am craving!

Surprising fact: I love high-adrenaline activities like roller coasters and jet skis. I think it is one of the reasons why I love sports so much. ■

Stephen M. Brownlee, M.D.

Jeremy G. Foon, M.D.

Anthony E. Loehr, M.D.

Evan R. Moore, M.D.

David W. Hall, M.D.

David W. White, M.D.

Christopher R. Siemens, M.D.

Atul M. Vaidya, M.D.

Cody Buchanan D.O

Landon J. Massoth, M.D.

Armstrong Auditorium

Performing arts enthusiasts can celebrate 25 years of Edmond’s Armstrong Auditorium with the 2023-24 season. On the roster is a bevy of live performances from international artists.

“It’s fantastic to have some legendary names back for our 25th anniversary season, as well as artists we’ve been eager to debut here for some time,” says Ryan Malone, Armstrong’s director of programming. “We are extremely grateful to all our patrons who have supported us over this amazing quarter century, from humble beginnings to such illustrious line-ups like this season’s.”

The season kicks off on Sept. 12 with Oklahoma native, talented cellist Joshua Roman. Other goodies to look forward to include the Parisbased Baroque quartet Le Consort on Nov. 7; Russian pianist Ilya Yakushev Nov. 30; and the Italian Saxophone Quartet on Feb. 7. A return artist is violinist Ray Chen, coming on March 14.

“We immediately set out to rebook him,” says Malone, who urges those interested to buy tickets early. The season concludes with the world-famous Glenn Miller Orchestra on April 4. Get your tickets at armstrongauditorium.com.

An Influx of Inspiration

Arts companies, museums, concert venues and other creatives have planned spectacular 2023-2024 seasons, filled with world premiere performances, compelling concerts and exciting exhibitions. We explore offerings around Tulsa and OKC.

By Mary Willa Allen

Tulsa Symphony & OKC Philharmonic

Symphonic showcases abound this season from both Tulsa Symphony and the OKC Philharmonic. At TSO, interim executive director Ron Predl is excited about the season’s assortment of performances. “You will experience a diverse collection of the most loved works and composers, led by outstanding internationally acclaimed guest conductors from across the country,” he says.

The season kicks off at Guthrie Green on Sept. 1, with the “lively and entertaining Symphony in the Park,” says Predl. Other performances to enjoy include Masquerade: Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 9 on Oct. 7; Ebb & Flow: Brahms’ Symphony No. 3 on Jan. 13; and Fantastique Experience: Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique on Feb. 3.

Additionally, the David B. Waters Series: TSO @ TU offers “unique Sunday matinée concerts of charming and appealing chamber orchestra music,” says Predl.

In OKC, the Philharmonic is prepping for another knock-out season with both Pops and Classics concerts. Highlights include From Chinatown to La La Land on Nov. 3-4; Rachmaninoff! on Jan. 13; and An Evening with Bernadette Peters on May 3-4.

“We want the Oklahoma City Philharmonic to be meaningful throughout Oklahoma, to be fun and to just create something where there’s a place we are all one,” says music director and maestro Alexander Mickelthwate. “It sounds very simple, but it’s true. Doesn’t matter what race, color or ideology. We are humans, and we celebrate that through creativity. We want to have that creative force become so strong it shines outside Oklahoma City and helps elevate the entire state. We are your Oklahoma City Philharmonic. We feel the love, and we give it right back.”

For season tickets and more information, visit tulsasymphony.org and okcphil.org.

Italian Saxophone Quartet; photo courtesy Armstrong Auditorium

Ebb & Flow: Brahms’ Symphony No. 3; photo courtesy Tulsa Symphony

MCKNIGHT CENTER

Pretty Woman: The Musical courtesy the McKnight Center for the Performing Arts; running Oct. 31 - Nov. 1.

Photo by Morris MacMatzen

OKC Ballet & Tulsa Ballet

Ballet fans in both of Oklahoma’s major metros have plenty of performances to get excited about.

In OKC, the season kicks off on Sept. 15 with Ballet Under the Stars at Scissortail Park. Other performances include Hamlet from Oct. 27-29, and The Nutcracker on Dec. 8-18 – which was recently re-imagined by artistic director Ryan Jolicoeur-Nye.

“We had wonderful feedback from Ryan’s new version,” says OKC Ballet’s executive director Jo Lynne Jones. “It was vibrant, clever, funny, and of course, stunningly beautiful.”

Other gems include Future Voices, running March 7-10, and the season closer, Shorts – running May 10-12. The latter presents three works in one program.

“Shorts is going to knock your socks off,” says Jolicoeur-Nye. “My world premiere of Carmina Burana will feature dozens of local, live vocalists.”

Tulsa Ballet offers no shortage of innovative works.

“Tulsa Ballet’s 2023-24 season is a celebration of the great works we have created and introduced in our repertory during the past decade or so,” says Marcello Angelini, TB’s artistic director “Tradition and innovation are the driving forces behind the success of our organization.”

The events kick off Sept. 15-24 with Creations in Studio K. Other must-sees include Don Quixote, Nov. 2-5; The Nutcracker, Dec. 9-23; Strictly Gershwin, Feb. 8-11; and Romeo & Juliet, March 21-24. The season concludes May 9-12 with Signature Series

“Each year, Tulsa Ballet commissions a new work created especially for our annual fundraising gala, Icons and Idols; dances that up to now have been exclusively performed at the gala,” according to the website. “Starting in May of 2024, we will share those special dances with you during Signature Series.”

For tickets and more information, visit okcballet.org and tulsaballet.org.

108 Contemporary

Linda Lopez & Mathew

McConnell: Live from the Moon

Aug. 4-Sept. 24

Shin-hee Chin: Entangled Harmony

Oct. 6-Nov. 19

The State of Craft 2023

Dec. 1-Jan. 2

Cynthia Marcoux

Feb. 2-March 24

Kayla Ohlmer & Ryan

Kepler

April 5-May 26

Fiberworks

June 7-July 21

American Theatre Company

The Great American Trailer Park Musical

Oct. 6-14

A Christmas Carol

Dec. 8-23

All The King’s Women

March 1-9

Under the Skin

May 3-11

Ann

Summer 2024

Armstrong Auditorium

Joshua Roman

Sept. 12

Voces8

Oct. 24

Le Consort

Nov. 7

Ilya Vakushev

Nov. 30

Vida Guitar Quartet

Jan. 25

Italian Saxophone Quartet

Feb. 7

Sofia Philharmonic

Feb. 27

Ray Chen

March 14

Glenn Miller Orchestra

April 4

BOK Center

Zach Bryan

Aug. 11-12

Fuerza Regida

Aug. 19

Nickelback

Sept. 21

Carin Leon

Sept. 23

Luke Bryan

Sept. 30

Jonas Brothers

Oct. 3

Nate Bargatze

Parker McCollum

Dec. 30

Bob Dylan Center

Patti Smith Trio

Aug. 9

An Evening with the Bob Dylan Center

Aug. 30

Becoming Bob Dylan: Photographs by Ted Russell 1961-1964

Through Oct. 15

The Gift

Ongoing

Canterbury Voices

Modern Masters

Oct. 22

Handel’s Messiah

Dec. 3

For All the Saints (especially Patrick)

March 14

Crescendo!

TBD

Celebrity Attractions

Disney’s Aladdin

Sept. 26-Oct. 1

Beetlejuice

Nov. 21-26

Hairspray

Jan. 2-7

My Fair Lady

Feb. 27-March 3

Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird

March 26-31

Tina - The Tina Turner

Musical

May 14-19

Chamber Music

Tulsa

Junction Trio

Sept. 16-17

WindSync

Oct. 13-15

Castalian String Quartet

Nov. 17-19

Danish String Quartet

Feb. 17-18

Horszowski Trio

March 15-17

Dali Quartet

April 19-21

Civic Center Music

Hall

Events listed are presented by the Civic Center Music Hall; events presented by other performing arts companies, also to be hosted at the Civic Center, are listed under the according company

John Crist

Sept. 14

Little Theatre presents: The Turn of the Screw

Energy Exhibit

Ongoing

HydroLab

Ongoing

Central Gallery

Ongoing

Featured Hall

Ongoing

The Workshop

Ongoing

The Little Lab

Ongoing

Science Lab

Ongoing

First Americans Museum

200 Years of Doctrine of Discovery: Johnson V. M’Intosh and the Indian Removal Act

Through Aug. 31

One Place, Many Nations: Acknowledging the 39

Through 2025

OKLA HOMMA

Ongoing

WINIKO: Life of an Object

Ongoing

21st Century Mound Builders

Ongoing

Fred Jones Jr.

Museum of Art

Yellowstone in Color: Moran and Prang Print the West

Through Nov. 26

Greenwood Rising Still We Rise

Ongoing

The Greenwood Spirit

Ongoing

The Arc of Oppression

Ongoing

The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre

Ongoing

Changing Fortunes

Ongoing

A Journey Towards Reconciliation

Ongoing

Jasmine Moran

Children’s Museum

Explorers Hall

Ongoing

Main Street

Ongoing

Science Wing

Ongoing

Roesler Hall

Ongoing

Living Arts

Oh, Tulsa! Biennial

Aug. 4-18

Tulsa Performing Arts Center

Tulsa’s hub for all things creative, the Tulsa PAC beckons one and all to enjoy a diverse, enticing season of showcases.

Most of the region’s largest performing arts companies host their shows here – from Celebrity Attractions to Tulsa Ballet, Chamber Music Tulsa, Tulsa Symphony and Theatre Tulsa. But the PAC also hosts a bevy of smaller local theatre showcases, including works from American Theatre Company, Theatre North and World Stage Theatre Company.

The TPAC, however, presents a variety of showcases themselves. Highlights include Trancisco Trevino on Oct. 4; Straight No Chaser on Nov. 7; Festival Bell Ringers on Dec. 6, Call of the Wild on Feb. 29 and Pat Hobbs on May 8. For individual tickets and more information, visit tulsapac.com.

Oct. 20

NeedtoBreathe

Oct. 21

Chris Stapleton

Oct. 26

Aerosmith

Nov. 4

MercyMe

Nov. 9

Cirque Holidaze

Nov. 29

Sept. 29-30

La India Yurida

Oct. 8

Joe Bonamassa

Nov. 5

Colin and Brad: Scared

Scriptless

Nov. 19

Discovery Lab

Math and Music Exhibit

Ongoing

Protection: Adaptation & Resistance

Sept. 1-Oct. 13

Dia de los Muertos Arts

Festival and Exhibition

Nov. 3-11

Drawing Rally

Dec. 1

Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma

Concerto

Sept. 13-Oct. 1

Ballet Under the Stars; photo courtesy OKC Ballet

Photo courtesy the Tulsa Performing Arts Center

Lyric’s A Christmas

Carol ‘23

Nov. 24-Dec. 24

Mabee Center

Gaither Homecoming

Aug. 18-19

National Fiddler Hall of Fame Induction

Concert

Sept. 16

Casting Crowns

Oct. 19

Grady Nichols Christmas Show

Dec. 5

Mabee-Gerrer

Museum of Art

Fr. Gerrer’s Travels

Through Aug. 27

McKnight Center for Performing Arts

Scotty McCreery

Sept. 15

New York

Philharmonic: Bright Night Gala Concert

Sept. 22

New York

Philharmonic: Saturday Night at the Movies

Sept. 23

New York

Philharmonic: New World Symphony

Sept. 24

Chris Botti

Oct. 13

Pretty Woman: The Musical

Oct. 31-Nov. 1

Postmodern Jukebox: Life in the Past Lane

Tour

Nov. 3

How the Grinch

Stole Christmas: In Concert with the Tulsa Symphony

Nov. 30

Martina McBride: The Joy of Christmas Tour

Dec. 2

Come From Away

Jan. 23-24

1964 The Tribute

Feb. 9

An Evening with Sutton Foster

Feb. 14

The Duke Ellington Orchestra

Feb. 25

Chamber Music: Piano Spectacular

March 3

The Cameraman: Silent Film with Organist

Peter Krasinksi

March 10

The Book of Mormon

April 1-2

Yo-Yo Ma and Kathryn Stott

April 5

National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum

American Farmer

Aug. 25-Oct. 18

Nations at War!

Sept. 1-Jan. 21

Women in Wyoming

Sept. 8-Jan. 2

King Ranch: A Legacy in Art; Paintings by Noe Perez

Sept. 22-Jan. 2

Black Cowboys

Sept. 22-Jan. 2

Widewest

Through Oct. 15

Small Works, Great Wonders

Nov. 4-26

Italy’s Legendary Cowboys of the Maremma, Photographs by Gabrielle Saveri

Dec. 8-May 7

Open for Business

Through Feb. 18

OKC Ballet

Ballet Under the Stars

Sept. 15

Hamlet

Oct. 27-29

The Nutcracker

Dec. 8-18

Giselle

Feb. 9-11

Future Voices

March 7-10

Shorts

May 10-12

OKC Broadway

Ain’t Too Proud

Aug. 15-20

Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse

Sept. 21

Six

Sept. 26-Oct. 1

To Kill a Mockingbird

Oct. 10-15

Tina – The Tina Turner

Musical

Dec. 26-31

Les Miserables

Jan. 16-21

Wicked

Feb. 21-March 10

Chicago

April 9-14

Mamma Mia!

May 21-26

OKC Philharmonic Opening Night!

Sept. 9

Gothic Midnight

Oct. 7

From Chinatown to La

La Land

Nov. 3-4

Folk Roots

Nov. 11

A Very Merry Pops with Take 6 and Sandi Patty

Dec. 1-2

Rachmaninoff!

Jan. 13

Mariachi Los Camperos

Jan. 26-27

Brahms

Feb. 3 Bravo Broadway!

Feb. 16-17

Glorious Life

March 23

Cirque Musica Heroes & Villians

April 5-6

Pines of Rome

April 20

An Evening with Bernadette Peters

May 3-4

Tosca

May 18

OKC Town Hall

Cristina Zenato

Sept. 21

Karl Rove

Oct. 19

Chris Willingham

Nov. 16

Thomas David Jones

Feb. 15

Mollie Hemingway

March 21

Pete Hegseth

April 18

Oklahoma City Museum of Art

An Artist’s Perspective

Tour: True Nature

Aug. 6, Oct. 7

Drop-In Art

Aug. 19, Sept. 16, Oct. 21,

Nov. 18

Public Exhibition Tour: True Nature

Aug. 26, Sept. 10, Oct. 12

Late Night

Sept. 8

Experiments in Abstraction: Art in Post War America

1950s-1980s

Through Sept. 3

ARTonTAP

Oct. 13

True Nature: Rodin and the Age of Impressionism

Through Oct. 22

Preston Singletary: Raven and the Box of Daylight Members’ Preview Celebration

Nov. 10

Preston Singletary: Raven and the Box of Daylight

Nov. 11-April 28

Cynthia Daignault: Oklahoma Through Dec. 31

Celebrity Attractions

Celebrity Attractions brings another great season of Broadway goodies to Tulsa.

“We love the support that the Tulsa and surrounding communities provide, allowing us to present first-class touring Broadway at the Tulsa PAC,” says Kristin Dotson, CEO of Celebrity Attractions. “When the company started 40 years ago, it began in a back room of the home of owners and founders Larry and Kay Payton. In these 40 years, we have grown to become a preferred market for first-run Broadway tours as well as investors in Broadway shows.”

Highlights this year include Disney’s Aladdin,

To Kill A Mockingbird, March 26-31; and Tina - The Tina Turner Musical, May 14-19.

It is estimated that the current Broadway season in Tulsa has contributed over $40 million dollars to the local economy; be a part of the movement by getting season tickets at celebrityattractions.com.

Paul Reed: Works on Paper

Through Jan. 31

James C. Meade Friends’ Lecture and Annual Friends’ Dinner

May 15

Edith Head: The Golden Age of Hollywood Costume Design Members’ Preview Celebration

June 21

Edith Head: The Golden Age of Hollywood Costume Design

June 22, 2024-Sept. 29, 2024

Chihuly Then and Now: The Collection at Twenty

Through June 23, 2024

Oklahoma

Contemporary Thursday Night Late: Summer Music Series (In partnership with OKC Rep)

Aug. 10 and Sept. 14

Freedom Story: An Art Experience

Celebrating 1958 Sit-ins (In partnership with OKC Rep)

Aug. 18

Eva Schlegel Opening Reception and Artist Talk

Aug. 31

Eva Schlegel: Multiple Voices

Aug. 31-Jan. 13, 2025

Second Saturday Events (In partnership with OKC Rep)

Sept. 9, Oct. 14, Nov. 11 and Dec. 9

Performance

Lecture – Thanmáhel (In partnership with OKC Rep)

Sept. 28

Patterns of Knowing

Through Oct. 23

Artisan Holiday Market (In partnership with OKC Rep)

Dec. 8-11

ArtNow 2023

Through Jan. 15

Eduardo Sarabia: Green Vines

Through Aug. 2024

Jose Dávila

Through Aug. 2024

Paycom Center

Thomas Rhett

Aug. 17

Santa Fe Klan

Aug. 18

PBR Freedom Fest

Sept. 8-10

Jelly Roll

Sept. 19

Odeza

Oct. 12

Jason Aldean

Oct. 13

Nitro Circus

Oct. 20

Nate Bargatze

Oct. 22

Luis Miguel

Oct. 26

Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey: The Greatest Show on Earth

Dec. 15-17

Philbrook Museum of Art

New Realms: Art Lab Through Sept. 17

Trade & Transformation

Oct. 18-Dec. 31

Alexandre Hogue: Human/Nature

Through Oct. 29

Floral Resilience

Through Dec. 31

Printmaking: Art and the Written Word

Through Dec. 31

Terrain Notes

Through Dec. 31

Wyeths: Textures of Nature

Through June 9, 2024

Sam Noble Museum

Curiousiday: Wildlife

Jamboree

Aug. 12

Nature’s Blueprints: Biomimicry in Art and Design

Through Oct. 22

Flight Lines: The Art of Natural History

Through Nov. 26

Science Museum

Oklahoma

Silent Sky

Aug. 10-13

Sensory Room

Opening mid-August

SMO21+

Aug. 25, Oct. 20

Currents: Turning the Tide on Ocean Conservation

Sept. 2 – Aug. 2024

Tinkerfest

Sept. 30

Solar Eclipse event

Oct. 14

Parlor Car Tours

Nov. 23–Jan. 1

Frameless: NFTs in Contemporary Art

Through early 2024

Signature Symphony

Bluegrass to Bohemia

Sept. 30

Christmas in Tulsa

Dec. 15 Inspirations

Jan. 27

Sept. 26-Oct. 1; Beetlejuice, Nov. 21-26; Hairspray, Jan. 2-7; Harper Lee’s

Hairspray; photo courtesy Celebrity Attractions

Inevitable Beethoven: The Struggle for Creation

March 2

Theatre North Topdog/Underdog

Feb. 17-25

Stew

May 18-26

Theatre Tulsa Beautiful: The Carole King Musical

Sept. 15-Oct. 1

The Trail to Oregon!

Nov. 2-4

Mean Girls: High School Edition

Nov. 17-19

Annie

Jan. 19-Feb. 4

21 Chump Street

March 2

Calendar Girls

March 15-24

Once on This Island

April 26-May 12

Willy Wonka Jr.

May 24-26

Tulsa Air and Space Museum

Ray Booker Flight Lab

Ongoing Build Your Own Aircraft Simulator

Ongoing

Bernouilli’s Principle

Ongoing

Shuttle Simulator

Ongoing

James E. Bertelsmeyer

Planetarium

Ongoing

Tulsa Ballet

Jacob’s Pilow Bon Voyage Performance

Aug. 18

Jacob’s Pillow Festival

Aug. 23-27

Creations In Studio K

Sept. 15-24

Ballet on the Green

Oct. 6

Jack & the Beanstalk

Oct. 13-14

Don Quixote

Nov. 2-5

The Nutcracker

Dec. 9-23

Strictly Gershwin

Feb. 8-11

Romeo & Juliet

March 21-24

Icons & Idols

April 13

Jack & the Beanstalk

April 19-20

Sharing Dance Day

April 27

Signature Series

May 9-12

Tulsa Botanic Garden

Autumn in the Botanic Garden

Sept. 21-Oct. 31

Botanic Garden of Lights

Select nights Nov.

24-Dec. 29

Tulsa Botanic Blooms

March 21-April 21

Tulsa Chorale

Brahms Requiem

Nov. 18

Rutter Requiem

Feb. 10

Mozart Requiem with Tulsa Symphony Orchestra

April 13

Tulsa Opera

Tulsa Youth Opera’s Amahl and the Night Visitors

Jan. 6-7

I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change

Feb. 9-11

Opera Fizz: A Bubbly Night of Music and Mixology

April 26

Tulsa PAC

Events listed are presented by the TPAC; events presented by other performing arts companies, also to be hosted at the TPAC, are listed under the according company Francisco Trevino

Oct. 4

Straight No Chaser

Nov. 7

Janet’s Planet: A Tour Through the Solar System

Nov. 15-16

Festival Bell Ringers

Dec. 6

Cat Kid Comic Club: The Musical

Feb. 8

The Call of the Wild

Feb. 29

ORGANIZED BY

Vintage Wildflowers

March 6

Patt Hobbs

May 8

Discovery Awards

May 23

Tulsa Spotlight Theatre

The Jungle Book Through Aug. 6 How I Met Your Mummy

Oct. 6-15

An Enchanted Bookshop Christmas

Dec. 8-17

The Drunkard and the Olio

Every Saturday

Tulsa Symphony Symphony in the Park

Sept. 1

Prelude: Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5

Sept. 9

Chamber Music Series: Farrenc

Sept. 22

Masquerade: Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 9

Oct. 7

The David B. Waters Series: TSO @ TU –Mozart’s Symphony No. 40

Oct. 15

Honor, Americana: Price’s Symphony No. 1

Nov. 11

Chamber Music Series: Mendelssohn

PRESENTED BY

Oklahoma City Museum of Art

Art is around every corner at the OKCMOA. Exhibitions, programming and events are sure to enrich and thrill.

Running through Sept. 3, Experiments in Abstraction: Art in Post War America 1950s-1980s displays experimental art that yields illusionistic and distorting effects – providing almost hallucinogenic experiences. True Nature: Rodin and the Age of Impressionism presents 100 artworks including sculptures, paintings, prints and photographs celebrating artist Auguste Rodin. The show runs through Oct. 22.

Down the line, visitors can enjoy Preston Singletary: Raven and the Box of Daylight, presented in tandem with the Chickasaw Nation, running from Nov. 11-April 28.

“We were presented with an incredible opportunity to not only bring the work of a living glass artist to Oklahoma City but that of one of OKCMOA collection icon Dale Chihuly’s most important collaborators,” says Michael Anderson, president and CEO of the museum. “Every aspect of this exhibition reflects our mission and purpose: to enrich lives through the visual arts, and to serve the entire Oklahoma City community.”

Next summer, make sure to check out Edith Head: The Golden Age of Hollywood Costume Design, running June 22 to Sept. 29. The exhibition “will feature costumes from the 1930s to the 1970s that were worn by some of Hollywood’s biggest stars of the 20th century,” according to the museum’s website. For more information, visit okcmoa.com.

Photo © Museum Associates / LACMA.

True Nature: Rodin and the Age of Impressionism; photo courtesy OKCMOA

How the Grinch Stole

Christmas

Dec. 1

Ebb & Flow: Brahms’

Symphony No. 3

Jan. 13

Fantastique

Experience: Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique

Feb. 3

Chamber Music Series:

Beethoven

March 15

The David B. Waters

Series: TSO @ TU – Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4

April 7

Fame & Fate: Mozart’s Requiem

April 13

Chamber Music Series:

De Rivera

April 19

Finale: Mahler’s Symphony No. 5

May 11

Tulsa Town Hall

Bill Browder

Oct. 6

Brian Greene

Nov. 10

Rosanne Cash

Feb. 2

Mary Louise Kelly

March 8

Dawn Porter

April 12

Tulsa Youth Symphony

Fall Concert

Dec. 4

January Concert

Jan. 27-28

Winter Concert / Alumni Homecoming

March 10

Spring Serenade

May 5

Woody Guthrie Museum

Love Saves the Day: The Subettanean History of American Disco

Through Oct. 1

John Mellencamp and Woody Guthrie

Ongoing

Ballad Monger: Oscar Brand in Story & Song

Ongoing

World Stage Theatre Company

A Man of No

Importance

Sept. 15

Reflections

Oct. 19-29

Choir Boy

April 4-14

Big, Scary Animals

June 6-16

Oklahoma Contemporary

“From blockbuster exhibitions to groundbreaking performances, Oklahoma Contemporary’s 2023-24 season will offer something for everyone,” says Linda Santiago, communications associate with the center.

Guests can enjoy “local and international artists, literary collaborations, hands-on art-making, holiday fun and so much more,” she says. “Admission to the galleries and most programs are free.”

Highlights include Eva Schlegel’s, Multiple Voices, running Aug. 31-Jan. 13. The Austria-born and -based artist is best known for engineering steel and mirrors into architectonic sculptures. Stick around for ArtNow running until Jan. 15. The show is the latest iteration of Oklahoma Contemporary’s biennial ArtNow exhibition.

Through Oct. 23, Patterns of Knowing features works by three artists – Jordan Ann Craig, the late Benjamin Harjo Jr. and Jeri Redcorn – “exploring how patterns sourced from Indigenous cultures embody a lineage of ideas,” according to the organization’s website. Stick around for showcases from other creators including Eduardo Sarabia and Jose Dávila, both running through August of next year.

Visit okcontemp.org for updates and details.

Installation view of ArtNow: The Soul Is a Wanderer.

Photo: Lexi Hoebing.

Installation view of ArtNow: The Soul Is a Wanderer, including Joseph Rushmore’s No Known Place, Elspeth Schulze’s The Sparing Ones and Moira RedCorn’s Ma^zha^ tseka Ma^thi^ (Moving to a New Country); photo by Ann Sherman courtesy Oklahoma Contemporary

TASTE

FOOD, DRINK AND OTHER PLEASURES

A Recipe for Collaboration

All moved into its new, sprawling venue in downtown Tulsa, Cabin Boys Brewery is widely expanding its o erings.

“You should get yourself a hobby,”

Lisa McIlroy told her husband, Austin. This was back around 2015 as they sat relaxing in a big log cabin – one that Austin and his friends built for his parents.

“Well, I like beer,” said Austin. “That could be my hobby.”

What began as an off-hand joke became a life-long passion: Austin’s new-found vocation led him to schools in Chicago and Munich. The former English teacher then became a certified master brewer, and a year later, he and Lisa founded a brewery in Tulsa named after that very moment on the porch. Thus, Cabin Boys Brewery, located at 1717 E. Seventh Street, was born. Earlier this year, they acquired a large building on North Main in the Tulsa Arts District, which last housed Prairie Brewpub until early 2021.

Austin, brewpub manager Erick Cravens and their workers spent the first half of the year rebuilding, making the space their own, preparing for the mid-July opening of their new venture. (But don’t worry – they plan to keep the old venue open, too!)

“It’s going to have polished but rustic vibes,” says Geoffrey van Glabbeek. “Austin made the sturdy wood tables and the

long wood bar. Our tagline is ‘crafted for community.’ That’s why those tables are so big; we want people to come in, meet new people, have a good time, share beer and eat great food.”

And that great food is where van Glabbeek comes in; he’s the executive chef. He’s a great choice because he used to spend summers in Holland with his uncles and, perhaps influenced by his Munich schooling, Austin also brews in German and Belgian styles. The beer is a lot like what van Glabbeek remembers, he says.

Of course back then, he had no idea he’d be a chef. When he was five, he wanted to be a policeman, and later on, a computer engineer. He’d always loved to cook, but he never thought of it as a potential career until the day he took a summer job at downtown Tulsa’s upscale Adam’s Mark hotel. The hotel’s head chef, Jacques Lissonet – a French native – was extremely passionate about food. That passion was contagious.

That next fall, back in college, van Glabbeek found himself phoning Lissonet asking for a part-time job; he missed the kitchen. Soon after, he started working full-time, first at Tulsa’s Biga, then Stonehorse, and then he became a student at the Culinary Institute of America. After graduating, he

had his pick of jobs, but he chose to work in small, innovative restaurants that were far ahead of their time, such as the now-closed Lava Noshery and 105 Degrees.

He’s similarly trying to push the envelope here at Cabin Boys, but subtly. He wants to serve dishes that are approachable and fun.

“We’re baking a pretzel the size of a small pizza and serving it with charcuterie,” he enthuses. “I’m blending chocolate ganache with bruleed marshmallow; that’s a dippable smore! We’re making our own nduja sausage and we’ll serve it warm with shishito peppers. That and a glass of our Belgian single ale would make a great afternoon.

I use Cabin Boys beers a lot in cooking, not as a gimmick but because they always elevate the taste. I use our IPA to make the demi-glace for our steak. It also goes in a dish I make with shallots that I pickle in-house. We have a great, rich Belgian Quad, and I use it in a caramel sauce for our tunnel fries. It also goes in the mushroom gravy for our poutine.

“I challenge all my line cooks to come up with new dishes that include beer. I want to hear my line cooks’ ideas, because I never want to be the kind of chef who just hands his cooks a recipe and orders them to make it.”

BRIAN SCHWARTZ

Boundary-pushing yet familiar cuisine will be a new addition to Cabin Boy’s location in downtown Tulsa. Options include the buttermilk fried chicken sandwich (left) and the pub burger (right).

Photo by Jess Karin

Boom Town Creamery

Boom Town Creamery is a locally owned ice cream shop with three Oklahoma City metro locations. The joint makes small batches of unique flavors for those who love all things sweet, and the creatives behind it are always coming up with new, creative flavor combinations to delight customers from around the metro.

Everything available is created from scratch including the ice cream, waffle cones, cookie chunks, brownies, sauces and jam swirls. You can choose from 24 flavors each day, ranging from traditional favorites to fresh, seasonal options. Of these options, there are always four vegan choices, made with oat milk or sorbet, available every day. If you can’t pick a single flavor, opt for an ice cream flight with six scoops.

Some of the popular classic ice cream flavors include roasted bananas foster, Mediterranean strawberry with a hint of balsamic vinegar, and Carmelita crumble, which consists of salted caramel ice cream, homemade oat cookie crumble and a bourbon caramel swirl.

The seasonal flavors offered change every few weeks, which means there’s always something new to try. In the past, some popular options have been blackberry lavender sorbet, cookie butter, and root beer float – made with OKC Soda Co. Root Beer sherbet and a vanilla ice cream swirl.

In August, Boom Town is debuting two new seasonal flavors: cherry limeade and raspberry basque cheesecake. The latter has cream cheese ice cream, raspberry compote and chunks of basque-style cheesecake with a caramelized sugar shell mixed in.

Ludger’s Bavarian Cakery

If you think Ludger’s Bavarian Cakery only serves up sweets, think again.

While cookies, cakes, cupcakes and other specialty desserts are the joint’s bread and butter, there are other succulent offerings for breakfast and lunch in the restaurant’s cafe – which has a drive-through for extra convenience, along with a popular patio and plenty of indoor seating. They invite you to come in and stay awhile!

Rotating specials include quiches of the week, and diners can enjoy an ample early-morning menu that includes breakfast bowls, quesadillas, parfaits and the ever-popular avocado toast.

Lunch options include nine sandwiches, ranging from roast turkey to tuna melts, Reubens and grilled cheese. Healthy eaters can enjoy veggie wraps or a chef salad, alongside soup/salad/quiche/sandwich combos for a little of everything.

There’s also plenty to satisfy your need for caffeine. Lattes, mochas, chai teas, cappuccinos and more can be ordered inside the cafe, and the restaurant proudly brews up local Topeca Coffee.

But yes – desserts do, indeed, remain the stars of the show at Ludger’s. Bavarian cream goodies range from cheesecakes to cupcakes and cream puffs. Brownies, carrot cake, cake pops and cookies round out the deliciousness. There is truly something for everyone.

MARY WILLA ALLEN

NICKY OMOHUNDRO

Photo courtesy Boom Town Creamery

Photo courtesy Ludger’s Bavarian Cakery

Embracing

the Artistry of Cuisine

Josh Partain at Stella Modern Italian Cuisine is a talented local chef contributing to the fabric of Oklahoma City’s thriving food culture. He was born in Oklahoma City and has worked diligently to get to his position today; diners are now consistently impressed with his innovative and delicious dishes.

Although Partain was born in OKC, his culinary journey started in Elk City, where he spent many childhood days near his grandparents’ farm. The farm had “everything – they had chicken coops, a cow and a big orchard,” he says. His grandmother was an amazing cook; Partain says his favorite dishes of hers were chicken noodle soup and potato pancakes.

In high school, he decided to pursue a formal culinary education and enrolled in Francis Tuttle’s Culinary Arts Program. Later, armed with the knowledge gained from the program, Partain honed his skills working at Flips Wine Bar and Deep Fork Grill. His talents later led him to Rococo,

where he further sharpened his expertise. During this phase of his career, Partain’s dedication and skill set him apart, which garnered him positive recognition from both peers and patrons.

Today, Partain leads the charge at Stella, a culinary destination specializing in all things Italian.

He brings an “old-world style of cooking with a new flair” to the restaurant’s innovative and contemporary Italian cuisine, he says.

His culinary artistry shines through his approach. With a deep respect for tradition, yet a desire to push boundaries, he combines flavors, ingredients and techniques ... with delicious results.

“Building layers and flavors with old school styles, but adding a new twist to break it up” is his passion, he says. He is

animated when talking about his craft and takes pride in creating dishes that are both aesthetically pleasing and flavorful.

At Stella, guests can experience Partain’s creative blend of tradition and innovation. Stella’s Italian wedding soup reminds the chef a bit of his grandmother’s homemade chicken noodle soup, while his new buttermilk poached halibut dish, available this summer, is sure to take your taste buds on an exciting journey. The halibut is poached with roasted garlic, chili flakes and herbs. The fish is served on grilled zucchini with a pistachio crumb and sunflower microgreens. The chicken and pancetta pasta with the arugula gremolata is one of Partain’s favorite new dishes that’s also popular among patrons.

Partain’s artistry in the kitchen is evident in every dish. From humble beginnings to his current success, Partain stands out as an extraordinary talent in Oklahoma City’s competitive culinary landscape.

His embrace of modern Italian cuisine and unique approach to ingredients bring flavor, style and artistry to his dishes. Whether you’re a familiar face or a firsttime visitor, Stella and chef Partain himself are sure to delight.

NICKY OMOHUNDRO

For a bonus recipe from Partain, visit okmag.com.

With a respect for tradition and a desire to push boundaries, chef Josh Partain creates unique dining experiences.

Chef Josh Partain helms the kitchen at Stella, which serves up a variety of traditional and boundary pushing Italian dishes.

Photos courtesy Stella Modern Italian Cuisine

Tellers

Located in OKC’s National Hotel, Tellers Wood-Fired Italian Grill serves authentic interpretations of regional Italian cuisine. Open all day, the varied menus are sure to impress.

Breakfast is a delight, brimming with classics like pancakes, avocado toast and omelets. You can also try “the American,” which comes with two eggs, toast, Yukon potatoes, applewood smoked bacon and pork sausage.

Brunch and lunch menus entice with everything from pizzas and pastas to wood-fired chicken and grilled Scottish salmon. Specific to brunch, enjoy the lemon buttermilk pancakes or the baked French toast.

Dinner is an affair to remember. Start with the burrata or charred eggplant dip, then venture to mains that include beef short rib rigatoni, lobster ravioli, pork chops or sirloin steak. Tellers’ extensive Italian wine list will pair excellently with your meal.

Flavourz Tulsa

Recently opened, Flavourz Tulsa is a bustling, bright and colorful restaurant serving up a variety of comfort food options. Popular picks include a bevy of sandwiches; fish, chicken, pork chop and burgers are must-tries. If you’re extra hungry, get a plate, loaded with your choice of fish, pork chops, chicken or wings. Sides run the gamut, including fries, okra, steamed veggies, corn, grits and cabbage.

Brunch is a lively affair. Stand-outs include the French toast and waffle sliders, as well as the cake waffles.

Soul food Sunday goodies include pork neckbones and a full roast.

Flavourz has a festive bar menu, too, with cocktails including daiquiris, lemon drops, margaritas and mimosas.

3Natives

Described as “healthy, easy and fast,” 3Natives offers diners fresh, diverse and delicious menu options to appease any palette.

A popular draw? The acai bowls. Choose between eight options, including the Chronic with granola, strawberry, pineapple and honey, or the PB&A with granola, peanut butter and banana.

Salad options include the Thai chicken with romaine, cabbage, carrot, sprouts and chicken breast, served with ginger dressing. Another popular choice is the Tex Mex, with chicken breast, red pepper, avocado, pico de gallo, corn salsa and sprouts with avocado ranch dressing.

The restaurant creates a bevy of other goodies in-house, including sandwiches and wraps (which you can choose to hot panini press should you desire), fresh juices and a broad range of coffees.

Others prefer to venture to the ‘bagels and toast’ section, which presents options like avocado toast, Nutter Nanner toast with peanut butter, banana and honey, and the Mission Beach bagel with tuna salad, avocado, cream cheese, tomato, cucumber and sprouts.

Sun Cattle Co.

Comfort food done right can be found at Sun Cattle Co. in OKC.

Best known for their onion fried hamburgers, Sun Cattle offers up a collection of variations you’ll want to try. Popular burgers include the Big Jack, with double meat, cheese, hash brown, lettuce, pickles and Sun sauce, as well as the mouth watering chili cheese burger.

But the menu doesn’t stop there; you can enjoy corn dogs, coneys and other goodies like steak nuggets, steak sandwiches and even Frito chili pie.

Make sure you’re getting the most out of your meal with sides that include onion rings, fried pickles, chili cheese crowns and fried pickles. The restaurant also has beer on draft, plus tall boys, cocktails and other goodies.

End your meal with a sweet treat, like the fried PB&J with vanilla ice cream, or a milkshake. Even sweeter than the desserts are the prices; the most expensive item is only $10.

MARY WILLA ALLEN

Photo courtesy Sun Cattle Co.

Photo courtesy 3Natives

Photo courtesy Tellers

Photo courtesy Flavourz Tulsa

WHERE & WHEN

GREAT THINGS TO DO IN OKLAHOMA

EVENTS LISTED ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. CHECK INDIVIDUAL WEBSITES FOR UPDATES.

IN TULSA PERFORMANCES

AUSTRALIA’S THUNDER

FROM DOWN UNDER PRES-

ENTS: GET LUCKY WORLD

TOUR Aug. 5 River Spirit

Casino Resort Australia’s most sizzling export, Thunder From Down Under, is back and ready to bring the heat to audiences around the world with their Get Lucky World Tour in 2023. riverspirittulsa.com

TULSA SPOTLIGHT THEATRE

PRESENTS: THE JUNGLE

BOOK Through Aug. 6 The Tulsa PAC Enjoy one of the most classic children’s stories performed by TST. tulsapac. com

GAITHER HOMECOM-

ING Aug. 18-19 Mabee

Center A decade after gospel music legend Bill Gaither assembled Homecoming artists in front of a live audience, the artists will be reunited again at the Gaither Homecoming. mabeecenter.com

JACOB’S PILLOW FESTI-

VAL Aug. 23-27 Virtual As America’s longest-running international dance festival, Jacob’s Pillow will host Tulsa Ballet alongside world-renowned dance companies such as the Dutch National Ballet, Complexions Contemporary Ballet and Martha Graham Dance Company. tulsaballet.org

CONCERTS

DOUG STONE & T. GRAHAM

BROWN Aug. 2 Hard Rock

Hotel and Casino Tulsa Enjoy an unplugged performance from two artists. hardrockcasinotulsa.com

JOHN FOGERTY Aug. 4 River Spirit Casino Resort Enjoy a night of rock and roll with John Fogerty. riverspirittulsa.com

JON WOLFE Aug. 4 Hard Rock

Hotel and Casino Tulsa Jon Wolfe is an American country music singer-songwriter. hardrockcasinotulsa. com

PATTI SMITH TRIO Aug.

9 Bob Dylan Center Enjoy this exciting trio for one night only. bobdylancenter.com

ZACH BRYAN Aug. 11-12 BOK

Center See this country crooner live during back-to-back shows. bokcenter.com

FUERZA REGIDA Aug. 19 BOK

Center You won’t want to miss this exciting show. bokcenter. com

PAT BENATAR & NEIL

GIRALDO Aug. 25 River Spirit

ART & PERFORMANCE

GETTING INTROSPECTIVE

Cool off in the great indoors with a variety of art exhibitions and performances this month.

Living Arts presents the Oh, Tulsa! Biennial from Aug. 4-18. The exhibition spotlights the unique talents of the Tulsa creative community in a celebration of art and culture. You can also head to 108 Contemporary for Linda Lopez & Mathew McConnell: Live from the Moon, running Aug. 4-Sept. 24.

In OKC, art lovers can enjoy American Farmer from Aug. 25-Oct. 18 at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. The exhibitions features photography from Paul Mobley, who set out to capture the soul of America’s farm communities. Another gem to explore is Eva Schlegel: Multiple Voices, running Aug. 31 through Jan. 13, 2025 at Oklahoma Contemporary. This will be the first public art display in the United States by Eva Schlegel, the Austria-based artist known for engineering steel and mirrors. Other shows include 200 Years of Doctrine of Discovery: Johnson V. M’Intosh and the Indian Removal Act, running through Aug. 31 at the First Americans Museum, and True Nature: Rodin and the Age of Impressionism, running through Oct. 22 at the

Casino Resort Tulsa Enjoy two major names in rock for one night only. riverspirittulsa.com

COUNTING CROWS Aug. 26 River Spirit Casino Resort Tulsa You won’t want to miss this anticipated concert. riverspirittulsa.com

ART

OH, TULSA! BIENNIAL Aug.

4-18 Living Arts Oh, Tulsa! is Living Arts’ biennial that celebrates the unique talents that the Tulsa arts community has to offer and encourages the community to come together to share what they love about Tulsa. livingarts.org

LINDA LOPEZ & MATHEW

MCCONNELL: LIVE FROM THE MOON Aug. 4-Sept. 24 108

Contemporary 108|Contemporary is excited to announce a two artist exhibition featuring the work of

Linda Lopez and Mathew McConnell. 108contemporary.org

NEW REALMS: ART

LAB Through Sept. 17 Philbrook Engage with striking, reality-bending works of art, then explore three hands-on spaces–each inspired by the artwork on view – where you can experiment, play, and create new realms of your own design. philbrook.org

FLORAL RESILIENCE Through Dec. 31 Philbrook Across time, flowers have been a source of inspiration for artists, not only for their beauty but also for their symbolic and sometimes secret meanings. philbrook.org

PRINTMAKING: ART AND WRIT-

TEN WORD Through Dec. 31 Philbrook Discover five-hundred years of European history and art tucked into these rare books and prints, on

OKCMOA. The latter will showcase 100 artworks – including sculptures, paintings, prints and photographs – of renowned artist Auguste Rodin.

For performing arts, enjoy the Get Lucky World Tour on Aug. 5 at Tulsa’s River Spirit Casino Resort, alongside Oklahoma Shakespeare’s Shakespeare in Love on Aug. 10-20 at OKC’s Shakespeare Gardens. Additionally, visit OKC’s Civic Center Music Hall on Aug. 15-20 for Ain’t Too Proud, brought by OKC Broadway and highlighting the Temptations’ journey from Detroit to the big leagues.

view in Villa Philbrook’s original library. philbrook.org

WYETH: TEXTURED VISIONS OF NATURE Through June 9, 2024 Philbrook Through three successive generations, the bountifully creative Wyeth family closely observed the world around them to produce artworks that reflect their textured visions of nature. philbrook.org

SLUMGULLION: THE VENERATE OUTPOST Ongoing Philbrook Philbrook is proud to partner with award-winning artist Karl Unnasch to present Slumgullion, a full-scale log cabin built from the skeleton of a late-1800s pioneer home. philbrook.org

SPORTS

TULSA FC SOCCER Aug. 4, 18, 23 ONEOK Field The Tulsa FC plays at home three times this month –

don’t miss it. fctulsa.com

TULSA DRILLERS BASEBALL

Aug. 8-13, 29-31 ONEOK Stadium The Drillers return for summer games. milb.com/tulsa

XFN 389 Aug. 11 River Spirit Casino Resort Xtreme Fight Night returns to the Cove with an actionpacked night of fight entertainment featuring the rising stars of MMA and kickboxing! riverspirittulsa. com

TULSA REINING CLASSIC Aug.

25-Sept. 3 Expo Square The Tulsa Reining Classic is an actionpacked display of equestrian skills at Tulsa Expo Square. Watch cowboys and cowgirls of all ages and abilities compete in various challenging events that will keep you on the edge of your seat. exposquare.com

TOP RANK BOXING ESPN Aug. 26 Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa Enjoy the exciting sport of

boxing at the Hard Rock. hardrockcasinotulsa.com

SIMULCAST HORSE RACING Through Nov. 4 Expo Square Don’t miss a variety of horse racing fun at Expo Square. exposquare.com

COMMUNITY

GREENWOOD FILM FESTIVAL Aug. 2-6 OSU-Tulsa Join the Tulsa film community for five days of inspirational stories, panels and events during the Greenwood Film Festival. greenwoodfilmfestival. com

FIRST FRIDAY ART CRAWL Aug. 4 Downtown Tulsa Since 2007, the Tulsa Arts District has presented the community with rotating art displays as part of the First Friday Art Crawl. travelok.com

TASTE OF SUMMER ICE CREAM FESTIVAL Aug. 5 Central Park, Broken Arrow The Taste of Summer

OKC BROADWAY

Photo by Emilio Madrid courtesy OKC Broadway

event in Central Park is considered a summer staple in Broken Arrow. tasteofsummerba.com

SECOND SATURDAY ARCHITECTURE TOUR Aug. 12 100

E. Second St. Take a fun and educational walking tour during the Second Saturday Architecture Tour. tulsaarchitecture.org

CHARITABLE EVENTS

RINGMASTERS GOLF AND GALA Aug. 5 Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa Enjoy an event benefitting the Tulsa State Fair Ringmasters. tulsastatefair.com/golf-gala

WILD BREW Aug. 26 Cox

Business Convention

Center Wild Brew is a one-ofa-kind event that combines fare from Tulsa’s best restaurants with first rate local beers, spirits and wines from Oklahoma and beyond all under one roof – benefiting the G.M. Sutton Avian Research Center. wildbrew.org

MAKER FAIRE TULSA Aug.

26 Expo Square Maker Faire is a gathering of fascinating, curious people who enjoy learning and who love sharing what they can do. The event benefits Fab Lab of Tulsa. tulsa.makerfaire.com

DRIVE OUT THE DEMAND

GOLF TOURNAMENT Aug.

28 The Golf Club of Oklahoma The Demand Project (TDP) exists to eradicate human trafficking, online enticement, child abuse imagery, and the commercial sexual exploitation of children. thedemandproject.org

JA CLASSIC Aug. 28 Cedar Ridge Country Club Play a round of golf to benefit Junior Achievement of Oklahoma. jaok.org

IN OKC PERFORMANCES

OKLAHOMA SHAKESPEARE

PRESENTS: SHAKESPEARE

IN LOVE Aug. 10-20 Shakespeare Gardens See how William Shakespeare’s own love life intertwines with his playwriting during Oklahoma Shakespeare’s adaptation of Shakespeare in Love. okshakes.org

OKC BROADWAY PRES-

ENTS: AIN’T TOO

PROUD Aug. 15-20 Civic Center Music Hall Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations is the electrifying, new smash-hit Broadway musical that follows The Temptations’ extraordinary journey from the streets of Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. okcbroadway.com

FORTUNE FEIMSTER Aug.

19 The Criterion The comedian comes to OKC for her Live Laugh Love tour. criterionokc. com

CONCERTS

JIMMY EAT WORLD & MANCHESTER ORCHES-

TRA Aug. 2 The Criterion Enjoy these two bands on the Amplified Echoes Tour. criterionokc.com

SUMMER BREEZE CONCERT

SERIES Aug. 6 Lions Park, Norman A Norman summer rite of passage is enjoying live music at Lions

Park. normandepot.org

THOMAS RHETT Aug.

17 Paycom Center Country singer Thomas Rhett comes to OKC for one night only. paycomcenter.com

SANTA FE KLAN Aug.

18 Paycom Center Enjoy Santa Fe Klan at the Paycom Center. paycomcenter.com

BEHEMOTH Aug. 31 Criterion See the band live. criterionokc.com

ART

PRIX DE WEST INVITATIONAL ART EXHIBITIONAND SALE Through Aug.

6 National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum The invitiational features paintings and sculpture by the finest contemporary Western artists working today. nationalcowboymuseum.org

AMERICAN FARMER Aug.

25-Oct. 18 National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum When photographer Paul Mobley set out to capture the soul of our country’s farm communities, he encountered an enduring rural culture that remains rooted in the principles of tradition, family, integrity and hard work. nationalcowboymuseum.org

200 YEARS OF DOCTRINE OF DISCOVERY: JOHNSON V. M’INTOSH AND THE INDIAN REMOVAL ACT Through Aug.

31 First Americans Museum The pop-up exhibit, featuring historical documents never shown publicly, will be

on view in the Tribal Nations Gallery. famok.org

EVA SCHLEGEL: MULTIPLE VOICES Aug. 31-Jan. 13, 2025 Oklahoma Contemporary Multiple Voices is the first public artwork in the United States by Eva Schlegel, the Austria-born and -based artist known for engineering steel and mirrors into spectacular, architectonic sculptures. oklahomacontemporary.org

TRUE NATURE: RODIN AND THE AGE OF IMPRESSIONISM Through Oct.

22 OKCMOA OKCMOA hosts a major exhibition of 100 artworks including sculptures, paintings, prints and photographs to celebrate artist Auguste Rodin. okcmoa.com

PAUL REED: WORKS ON PAPER Through Oct.

22 OKCMOA Abstract artist

Paul Reed, one of the original six Washington Color Painters, earned national notoriety for his complex series of colorful stained and shaped-canvas paintings. OKCMOA was gifted 125 paintings, sculptures and works on paper by the Paul and Esther Reed Trust. okcmoa.com

PATTERNS OF KNOWING Through Oct. 23 Oklahoma Contemporary Patterns of Knowing features works by three artists — Jordan Ann Craig, Benjamin Harjo Jr. and Jeri Redcorn — exploring how patterns sourced from Indigenous cultures embody a lineage of ideas. oklahoma-

contemporary.com

YELLOWSTONE IN COLOR: MORAN AND PRANG PRINT

THE WEST Through Nov.

26 Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art In 1873, Louis Prang’s Boston lithography firm, L. Prang & Co., commissioned the celebrated American artist Thomas Moran to create watercolors of the newly established Yellowstone National Park. ou. edu/fjjma

CYNTHIA DAIGNAULT: OKLAHOMA Through Dec.

31 OKCMOA This exhibition features one painting, “Oklahoma” by Cynthia Daignault, as a tribute to the painful history of the Oklahoma City bombing from 1995. okcmoa.com

ARTNOW: THE SOUL IS A WANDERER Through Jan.

15 Oklahoma Contemporary The Soul is a Wanderer is the latest iteration of Oklahoma Contemporary’s biennial ArtNow exhibition. oklahomacontemporary.org

CHIHULY THEN AND NOW: THE COLLECTION AT TWENTY Ongoing OKCMOA Redesigned in collaboration with Chihuly Studio, Chihuly Then and Now: The Collection at Twenty incorporates a unique design, featuring five decades of glass and painting and tells a comprehensive story of Chihuly’s groundbreaking career. okcmoa.com

SPORTS

OKC DODGERS BASEBALL Aug. 1-6, 22-27, 29-31

SPORTS A SPORTING MÉLANGE

August melds together a variety of sporting events for just about any interest.

In Tulsa, the FC continues its soccer matches at ONEOK Field on Aug. 4, 18 and 23. Stick around the venue for the Tulsa Drillers as they take on later-season foes; games are Aug. 8-13 and 29-31. Fans of mixed martial arts and kickboxing won’t want to miss XFN 389 at River Spirit Casino Resort on Aug 11. Other sports events in T-Town include the Tulsa Reining Classic, Aug. 25-Sept. 3 at Expo Square; and the Top Rank Boxing ESPN event, Aug. 26 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa.

Baseball fans can get their fill in our state’s capital Aug. 1-6, 22-27 and 29-31 with the OKC Dodgers, playing at home at the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Softball lovers should also visit the USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex from Aug. 10-13 for the USA Softball All-American Games. Enjoy other unique events including the Twister City Roller Derby Bout, Aug. 5 at Edmond’s Arctic Edge Ice Arena; and the AQHYA World Championship Show, running through Aug. 6 at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds.

Around the state, you won’t want to miss a variety of equine and rodeo events, including the Tuttle Rodeo, Aug. 4-6 at Shrock Park Arena; the All Star Team Roping Finals, Aug. 7-13 at Guthrie’s Lazy E Arena; and the Okmulgee Invitational Rodeo and Festival, Aug. 11-12 at the Bob Arrington Rodeo Arena.

Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark See the Dodgers play at home. milb.com/ oklahoma-city

TWISTER CITY ROLLER

DERBY BOUT Aug. 5 Arctic Edge Ice Arena, Edmond Catch the buzz as the Twister City Roller Derby put on an electrifying dance of athleticism and grace when jammers and blockers race against each other and the clock. travelok. com

AQHYA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW Through Aug.

6 Oklahoma State Fairgrounds Witness more than 1,200 horses from all 50 states and half a dozen countries compete in several equestrian events including cutting, reining, jumping and much more. aqha.com

USA SOFTBALL ALL-AMERICAN GAMES Aug. 10-13 USA

Softball Hall of Fame Complex The USA Softball All American Games is a prestigious tournament to be hosted at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City’s Adventure District. usasoftballallamericangames.com

COMMUNITY

FIRST FRIDAY GALLERY

WALK Aug. 4 Paseo Arts

District Visitors can enjoy art openings, wine tastings, live music and other activities. thepaseo.org

DOCOKC DOCUMENTARY

FILM FESTIVAL Aug. 4-6 The Auditorium at the

Douglass DOCOKC Docume tary Film Festival is Oklahoma’s only all documentary film festival. docokc.org

OKLAHOMA CITY RENOVATION & LANDSCAPING

SHOW Aug. 4-6 Oklahoma City Fairgrounds The annual Oklahoma City Renovation & Landscaping Show features some of the area’s most knowledgeable and experienced remodeling, building and landscaping experts. homeshowcenter.com

HORROR CON Aug.

5-6 Remington Park Calling all goblins, ghouls and ghosts - gather in Oklahoma City for a gloriously spooky weekend at Horror Con. horrorconokc.com

ASIAN DISTRICT NIGHT

MARKET FESTIVAL Aug.

19 Military Park Celebrate Asian culture with delicious cuisine, entertainment and stunning visual performances. asiandistrictok.com/ anmf

CHARITABLE EVENTS

CALM WATERS RIPPLES OF HOPE Aug. 3 Will Rogers Theatre Ripples of Hope is an inspiring breakfast event with stories of life after grief and the impact of mental health care. calmwaters.org

DANCING FOR A MIRACLE

GALA Aug. 12 Embassy Suites by Hilton Norman Dancing for a Miracle began in 2008 with four celebrity dancers, 200

OKC DODGERS

Photo by Eddie Kelly courtesy OKC Dodgers

WHERE & WHEN | ENTERTAINMENT

guests and a visionary committee. In the past 14 years, the annual event has contributed more than $3 million to the Children’s Health Foundation. chfkids.com

12TH ANNUAL COOKIES AND COCKTAILS - GIRL

SCOUTS Aug. 18 Camp

Trivera The Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma are pairing up with local restaurants to offer unique sweet and savory bites and cocktails. gswestok.org

MELODY LANE 2023 Aug.

19 1 Park Ave. Melody Lane is the annual fundraiser for Parent Promise/Prevent Child Abuse Oklahoma. parentpromise.org/melody-lane/

THE STATE PERFORMANCES

PAULS VALLEY OPRY Aug.

5 Pauls Valley High

friendly event will include a parade, bronco riding, bull riding, calf roping, team roping, calf scramble, barrel racing and mutton busting. travelok.com

ALL STAR TEAM ROPING

FINALS

Aug. 7-13 Lazy E Arena, Guthrie Team members will work hand-inhand to progress through the Preliminary and Invitational Roping events with the championship title and cash earnings on the line. allstarteamroping. com/2023-schedule

LAWTON RANGERS PRCA

RODEO Aug. 9-12 LO Ranch Arena Over 400 of the most skilled cowboys and cowgirls in the country will compete in tie-down roping, team roping, steer wrestling, bareback bronc riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding and barrel racing. lawtonrangers.com

School

The Pauls Valley Opry revived a 1960s and 1970s tradition built on traveling the state to play country, rock and folk music in a variety of clubs. travelok.com

THE CEMENT OPRY Aug. 5

410 N. Main, Cement The Cement Opry is a monthly live variety show held in the Jesse James Ballroom, which is located above the Cement Museum. travelok.com

GROVE PLAYMAKERS

PRESENTS: NUNSENSE II -

THE SECOND

COMING Through Aug.

5 Grove Playmakers

Theatre Experience the witty banter of five quirky nuns during the local production of Nunsense II: The Second Coming playmakersofgrove. com

CONCERTS

JON PARDI Aug. 3-4 Choctaw Casino, Durant Popular country singer Jon Pardi visits Durant. choctawcasinos.com

SIZZLIN’ SUMMER SERIES Aug. 4 300 S.E. Adams Blvd., Bartlesville Bring your lawn chairs and picnic blankets to Unity Square in Bartlesville for the Sizzlin’ Summer Series. unitysquarebville.com

JOHN FOGERTY Aug.

5 Choctaw Casino and Resort, Durant Enjoy this country singer in Durant. choctawcasinos.com

KOOL & THE GANG IN CONCERT Aug. 5 7 Clans First Council Casino, Newkirk Kool & the Gang will fill this Newkirk venue with the sounds of their top hits like “Celebration,” “Fresh” and “Jungle Boogie.” sevenclans. com

JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS Aug. 12 Choctaw Casino and Resort, Durant This powerhouse band visits Durant with special guests the Night Ranger. choctawcasinos.com

SPORTS

TUTTLE RODEO Aug.

4-6 Shrock Park Arena Join the citizens of Tuttle for two evenings of rodeo thrills and excitement. This family-

CIMARRON RIVER STAMPEDE RODEO Aug. 10-12 Waynoka Rodeo Grounds and Downtown

Waynoka Come out for an evening of rodeo excitement during Waynoka’s annual Cimarron River Stampede Rodeo. travelok.com

OKMULGEE INVITATIONAL

RODEO & FESTIVAL Aug.

11-12 Bob Arrington Rodeo Arena, Okmulgee Okmulgee’s Invitational Rodeo is the nation’s oldest African-American rodeo, one of the state’s longest running rodeos and one of the largest AfricanAmerican sporting events in the nation. travelok.com

FREEDOM RODEO & OLD

COWHAND REUNION Aug.

17-19 Rhodes Park, Freedom Experience pure Americana and true Western heritage at the annual Freedom Rodeo & Old Cowhand Reunion in northwest Oklahoma. freedomrodeo.com

COMMUNITY

STYLE ON 66 FASHION SHOW & BRUNCH Aug.

3 10 W. Main St., Yukon Gather your girls and hit Route 66 in Yukon for a fun day celebrating sisterhood on America’s Main Street. yukon66mainstreet.com

DOWNTOWN

DOGFEST Aug. 4 Courthouse Lawn, Enid Leash up your buddy and cruise to downtown Enid for an evening of pet-friendly fun at Downtown Dogfest during First Friday. mainstreetenid.org

BBQ SHOWDOWN Aug. 4-5 Ardmore Regional Park From barbecue brisket to pork and ribs, guests attending the annual United Way BBQ Showdown are in for a tasty treat at Ardmore’s Regional Park. travelok.com

OKLAHOMA INDIAN

NATIONS POW-WOW Aug.

4-6 400 James Hawk Dr., Concho The annual Oklahoma Indian Nations Powwow in Concho features traditional American Indian dancers in full regalia. cheyenneandarapaho-nsn.gov

ENID COMIC CON Aug.

5-6 Stride Bank Center Channel your favorite superhero or villain and head to the Enid

COMMUNITY

RODEOS, FESTIVALS AND HOT AIR BALLOONS!

You can wave goodbye to the summer heat at a variety of community events this month.

In Tulsa, the Greenwood Film Festival takes place Aug. 2-6 at OSU-Tulsa. There, you’ll enjoy inspirational stories, panels and events.

In OKC, don’t miss the Oklahoma City Renovation and Landscaping Show, Aug. 4-6 at the Oklahoma City Fairgrounds, where you can learn more about remodeling, building and landscaping. At Remington Park, horror enthusiasts can enjoy Horror Con from Aug. 5-6. Or, visit OKC’s Military Park on Aug. 19 for the Asian District Night Market Festival.

Hungry? Enjoy the Rush Springs Watermelon

Comic Con. enidcon.com

OTTAWA COUNTY FREE

FAIR Aug. 5-12 Miami Fairgrounds Join thousands of festival-goers to experience nightly livestock shows, commercial exhibits, food vendors and grandstand events during this year’s Ottawa County Free Fair in Miami. extension.okstate. edu

RUSH SPRINGS WATERMELON FESTIVAL & RODEO Aug. 10-12 Jeff Davis Park Hosted each year since August 1948, the Rush Springs Watermelon Festival and Rodeo celebrates the local watermelon crop with activities, carnival rides and plenty of old-

fashioned, family-friendly entertainment. travelok. com

FIRELAKE FIREFLIGHT BALLOON FESTIVAL Aug. 11-12 1702 S. Gordon Cooper Dr., Shawnee Watch the Shawnee skyline transform into a mix of bright, brilliant colors as hot air balloons launch from the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Powwow Grounds. firelakeballoonfest.com

OUTDOOR NATION

EXPO Aug. 11-12 FireLake Arena, Shawnee Browse over 120 vendors at the Outdoor Nation Expo hosted at the FireLake Arena in Shaw-

Festival and Rodeo, Aug. 10-12 at Jeff Davis Park; celebrate the local watermelon crop and experience activities, carnival rides and plenty of family-friendly entertainment. Get sky-high with the FireLake Firelight Balloon Festival, running Aug. 11-12 at 1702 S. Gordon Cooper Dr. in Shawnee. Hosted by the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, the event offers tethered balloon rides, gorgeous views and a 5K. Other can’tmiss events include the Blanchard Bluegrass Festival, Aug. 18-19 at Lions Park; and the Will Rogers Memorial Rodeo and Parade, Aug. 23-26 at North Park and the American Legion Rodeo Grounds in Vinita.

nee. outdoornationexpo. com

CHEROKEE HOMECOMING ART SHOW Aug.

12-Sept. 9 Cherokee Springs Plaza, Tahlequah Visit Cherokee Springs Plaza in Tahlequah for the Cherokee Homecoming Art Show & Sale. travelok.com

BLANCHARD BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL Aug.

18-19 Lions Park, Blanchard There’s fun for the whole family as some of the best bluegrass bands in Oklahoma perform at the annual Blanchard Bluegrass Festival in Lions Park. cityofblanchard.us

WILL ROGERS MEMO-

RIAL RODEO

PARADE Aug. 23 North Park, Vinita Kick off the Will Rogers Memorial Rodeo alongside Vinita residents during the annual rodeo parade. travelok.com

WILL ROGERS MEMORIAL RODEO Aug. 23-26 American Legion Rodeo Grounds, Vinita The Will Rogers Memorial Rodeo, a PRCA-sanctioned rodeo hosted each year in Vinita, will feature all of the exciting rodeo events fans have come to expect. willrogersmemorialrodeo.com

OKLAHOMA FESTIVAL OF BALLOONING Aug. 25-27 640 S. 40th St.,

Muskogee Hot air balloons will fill the sky over Mus ogee’s Hatbox Field this August during the Oklahoma Festival of Ballooning. visitmuskogee.com

FR. GERRER’S TRAVELS Through Aug. 27 Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art, Shawnee Fr. Gerrer’s Travels focuses on the variety of places Fr. Gregory Gerrer, OSB, visited throughout his life, as seen through his paintings. mgmoa.org

FIRELAKE FIRELIGHT BALLOON FESTIVAL

Photo courtesy Citizen Potawatomi Nation

AUGUST DELIVERS

More Star Wars lore, plus mutant turtles and racing movies make August a quirky month for cinema.

After fter a summer of blockbusters, August arrives on its heels with even more stories for you to sink your teeth into. From animation to another iteration of Star Wars, this month should have something for everyone.

First up, the four green brothers are back with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. Based on the comics, the premise involves the four brothers – Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo and Raphael – trying to acclimate in NYC despite their mutant appearances. The turtles are voiced by actual teens this time around, mostly lesser known actors, while the rest of the cast is made up of big names like Jackie Chan, John Cena, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd and Ice Cube. Although the voice cast is not ideal (use real voice actors please!), the animation style looks unique, giving the film a style all its own. It leaves the sewers Aug. 2.

For a bizarre gaming/racing hybrid film, check out Gran Turismo. The film is inspired by the life of Jann Marden-

borough, a British professional driver, and his rise to fame through video game competitions that eventually led to real races. Starring Archie Madekwe (Voyagers), David Harbour (Stranger Things), and Orlando Bloom, the film looks like a fun combination of video games and races. Directed by Neill Blomkamp (District 9), the style and wild story will hopefully be a fun ride when it hits theaters on Aug. 11.

For a neo-noir classic, make sure to catch the 20th anniversary showing of Oldboy. A South Korean film from 2003 directed by Park Chan-wook (also director of last year’s Decision to Leave), the plot concerns Oh Dae-su, who, after being imprisoned for 15 years by an unknown captor, is finally released and must try and decipher what has happened to him. Critically acclaimed for its violence and tale of revenge, the film is not for the squeamish. It returns to theaters on Aug. 16.

For your space opera fix, look no further than Ahsoka. The latest in the Star Wars television series rollout, the show

focuses on the title character Ahsoka Tano and her investigation into the growing threat to the galaxy after the Empire’s fall. Rosario Dawson reprises her role from The Mandalorian, and the remaining cast includes Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Scott Pilgrim), Hayden Christensen (Star Wars Episode II) and Ray Stevenson (Punisher). A well-known villain from the expanded universe books in the ‘90s, Grand Admiral Thrawn, will also be making his live action debut played by Lars Mikkelsen (Face to Face). It hits Disney Plus on Aug. 23.

Lastly, check out the limited series Bodyguard. Released in 2018, the show stars Richard Madden (Game of Thrones) as police sergeant David Budd, an army vet assigned as a principal protection officer for Home Secretary Julia Montague. A taught political thriller with excellent action and wonderfully written characters, it’s a great six episode series to binge over a week. It’s currently streaming on Netflix.

DREW JOSEPH ALLEN

©Lucasfilm LTD./Disney Plus

Sherry Marshall

Sherry Marshall, who has worked with Science Museum Oklahoma for 29 years, knew early on that a career in the sciences was her calling. She began at the museum when it was the Omniplex, and has held roles including direction of education, director of the Oklahoma Museum Network, and VP of programs before becoming president and CEO in 2016.

Outside work, Marshall serves as an advisor for the National Science Foundation, the Institute for Museum and Library Services, Oklahoma State University Physics, and the Oklahoma Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research. Marshall lives in Edmond with her husband. We caught up with her and got her thoughts on ...

I have always had a genuine love of science. Omniplex and John E. Kirkpatrick played important roles in shaping that in me. I was one of the first students through a summer camp at the museum when it opened in this location, and I even wrote about how I wanted to work there someday.

Early in my career, I worked with Admiral Kirkpatrick and learned how deeply he cared about the community and how essential the museum is for the quality of life in OKC. I wholeheartedly believe in the museum’s mission and the positive impact it has in people’s lives. It is an honor to be able to continue Admiral Kirkpatrick’s vision.

... her proudest accomplishments to date.

I am quite proud of how the museum has expanded access, reach and reputation through revitalized programs, such as our state-wide educational outreach, SMO 21+ adult events, exhibit development, as well as through successfully completing our American Alliance of Museums re-accreditation.

This mark of distinction validates that the museum adheres to the highest of standards in mission and operations, and demonstrates meaningful community impact.

A great example of all of this is found in our yearly celebration, Tinkerfest. This event features hands-on explorations facilitated by staff and over 200 community partners and volunteers. The diversity of activities in one location allows anyone to discover the importance of curiosity and pushing through challenges, finding the benefit of just tinkering around. The museum saw its largest one day attendance ever at a Tinkerfest. And as proof of concept of our great new programs, we just finished a fiscal year with the highest yearly attendance ever.

Other big accomplishments may not be the most visible, as we focus on continuously updating the building and infrastructure, ensuring everyone’s visit is safe, comfortable and clean.

... what she imagines for Science Museum Oklahoma in ten years.

We will always be here to introduce discovery and innovation, embrace curiosity and grow critical thinkers to better navigate the world. Just like science is an ongoing process, the museum should constantly evolve, finding new approaches to share discoveries and increase access to knowledge.

I hope the heart and culture of our staff, with their commitment to making every experience the best experience, never changes.

... what she wishes people knew about the museum.

Science Museum Oklahoma is one of the largest science museums in the nation, and one of the largest art museums in

the state. While we have many different exhibits, topics and experiences, you will find art and science threaded throughout that bring them all together.

You see the beauty of color and light in shadows, the ballet of smoke in fluid dynamics, and design in aircraft that appears to defy the laws of physics. There is something for anyone at any age to love here.

... the power of a worthy mission.

Staying with an institution over time affords you the privilege of seeing longterm results of investments. Witnessing the power of this museum in the community hits deep. You can’t help but to beam when you see a former summer camp student or star employee go out and change the world.

I recently received a copy of a former museum apprentice’s doctoral dissertation, where they thanked the museum for how it shaped who they are today. Science Museum Oklahoma is a springboard to the innovators of tomorrow. Don’t underestimate the power of a worthy mission and passionate community to make a big difference in the world.

... goals she still wishes to reach.

I am excited to bring attention to not just the museum, but to our state as we open up a world-class planetarium unlike any other. I am proud to play any role in helping the world recognize what our state has to offer and highlighting our exceptional community to a wider audience.

... what has kept her at the museum for nearly three decades.

Photo courtesy Science Museum Oklahoma