Oklahoma Magazine August 2025

The Future in Session

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32 Sovereign Voices

Our Native American nations are reshaping the cultural and economic landscape of our state – from thriving business enterprises to groundbreaking work in film and language preservation.

36 Oklahoma’s Most Influential People

Oklahoma’s most impactful leaders use their platforms for building bridges and expanding opportunities for all.

40 The Future in Session

The state's higher education landscape is in the midst of a quiet transformation, driven by shifting workforce demands and a renewed focus on innovation.

44 Outstanding High School Seniors Academic excellence, civic involvement and athletic achievements set these graduates apart from their peers.

Curtains Up!

Stages are set for showstopping seasons. See what's on the schedule in our Arts Preview.

23 Destinations

Bermondsey on the Thames offers a perfect blend of riverside charm, rich history and delicious food.

28 Outside the Metro

56 First Bite With Bar Sen and Ma Der Lao, Jeff Chanchaleune invites you into his family’s Laotian kitchen.

galore.

At the University of Oklahoma, we put our pride to work. We strive for excellence beyond the classroom, beyond the lab, beyond the playing field. Our collective pursuit continues with you.

e UNIVERSITY of OKLAHOMA

Letter from the Editor

Picture me, just last week: I was handling my (seemingly endless) monthly student loan payments, doing some research on a Native American business groundbreaking and attempting to snag a few tickets to the musical Wicked during its Tulsa run. The combo made me pause – and laugh – because each of those tasks relates to a major cornerstone of our August issue: our Education feature, our Native America spotlight and our Arts Preview.

Education in Oklahoma is often a hot-button issue, rife with plenty of negative discourse. We eschew this exhausting narrative and focus instead on the many positives coming from Oklahoma’s colleges and universities, from tuition reform to lucrative business/university partnerships and entrepreneurship hubs helping students think outside the box (page 40).

The influence and power of our state’s Native American nations can't be overstated. And while we do check in with several tribes about their successful business enterprises in this year’s feature (page 32), we also dive a bit deeper to see how they’re preserving their legacies and taking care of their youth, whether that’s through language preservation efforts, filming incentives or world-class behavioral health services.

As we look towards the fall, Oklahoma’s entertainment calendar is jampacked. In the Arts Preview (page 50), you’ll get a handy-dandy listing of virtually every performing arts event happening in our major metros this season, as well as interviews with these organization’s leaders.

Our final two features – which I couldn’t fit neatly into my clever intro, I’ll admit – are Outstanding High School Seniors (page 44) and the second in our two-part series of Oklahoma's Most Influential People (page 36). Both stories highlight several Oklahomans who offer a promising glimpse into the future of our state – whether they're collegiate hopefuls aiming to make a difference, or powerful CEOs working to make Oklahoma a better place to live and work. Either way, these folks will leave you inspired – and probably a little intimidated.

Mary Willa Allen Managing Editor

Faces of Oklahoma

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Looking for more performance and art photos from our Arts Preview spotlight? See them at okmag.com.

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The State

ALL THINGS OKLAHOMA

Incubating Innovation

Oklahoma small business incubators are helping tomorrow’s leaders today.

Nurturing. Care. Protection. Just as an egg needs all these things to hatch, so does a new business in order to launch, grow and succeed in a world that can quickly chew up and spit out entrepreneurs and their ideas.

“As a young founder, it can be cutthroat, even predatory,” says William Colton, inventor, patent owner and CEO of Paldara Pharmaceuticals. “When you’re dealing with all the emotions and the financial risk, having someone on your side, on your team, that’s there for you and your business – it means so much.”

Oklahoma Small Business Incubators are there to do just that by helping startups accelerate their development, offering targeted resources, services, professional advice, mentorships and even a roof over their heads, all in a shared facility that fosters growth.

“It’s an entrepreneurial center, or a hub, where startups and small business-

es can be surrounded by peers and have access to programming,” says Cara Evans, director of AXIS, the incubator at Francis Tuttle Technology Center in Edmond. “And oftentimes, there’s some kind of a reduction of overhead or incentive tied to it.”

In 1988, the Oklahoma Legislature passed the Oklahoma Small Business Incubators Incentives Act. The act exempts the tenants of a certified incubator facility from state tax liability on income earned as a result of occupancy for up to five years. In 2001, the legislature amended the act to extend the tenant’s tax exemption from five to 10 years.

time, 112 part-time and 43 interns are employed by incubator tenants.

Since then, the state has benefited from increased revenues and increases in the number of startups and expanding small businesses. Right now, 376 full-

Currently, there are 26 certified incubators operating across the state and more than 1,000 small businesses have located in them since the program’s inception in 1988. From Oklahoma City, Stillwater and Tulsa to Enid, Guthrie, Pawhuska and beyond, 152 small businesses are currently leasing space in the state’s incubators.

Sailor and The Dock, near OKC's Film Row, achieved certification as an incubator program in March 2024. This milestone marks it as the first certified creative and retail business incubator in Oklahoma. Photos courtesy the Oklahoma Department of Commerce

Jaren’s Jerky – an Oklahoma incubator success story – has achieved a notable milestone by becoming a USDA certified beef jerky processing plant in the Strate Center incubator.

Starting Off | The State

Colton, who started his advanced preclinical biotech company in 2019 while attending Oklahoma State University, is developing a platform hydrogel technology that can treat and prevent up to 99% of drug resistant infections, he says. He’s currently operating out of the Meridian Technology Center, an incubator in Stillwater.

“That’s where I started my first lab,” Colton says. “I bought a lot of my equipment from another biotech company going out of business. So I was able to be very thrifty with some very expensive scientific equipment. We opened up our lab right before COVID and I finished our first minimum viable product by the end of that year.”

Colton is currently working with the Mayo Clinic, as well as OSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine, as the company navigates the FDA regulatory pathway.

Lindsey Miller, founder and owner of My Marketing Assistant, didn’t need the office space that incubators can offer, but she was looking for connection.

“I was fully remote,” Miller says. “But I wanted the business support, the social support. I wanted to make connections.”

Her company, based in Oklahoma City, launched in 2023 with the support of the AXIS incubator. My Marketing Assistant now has eight employees and helps clients all over the U.S. with their marketing and promotional strategies.

“I’ve gotten clients, speaking engagements, interview opportunities and countless other things because of that inclusion,” she says.

Evans says incubators are looking to work with entrepreneurs like Miller who are seeking opportunities to stretch themselves and their business.

“The ideal client is someone who is coachable and who realizes that this is an economic development motive and that we’re on their team,” Evans says. “If we are making suggestions or trying to introduce them to new resources, it’s because we want them to be wildly successful. Sometimes people are so in love with their idea or their technology that they don’t have the capacity to grow it. We want to make sure that as we bring someone in that they’re willing to adapt and go with the flow, because hopefully it’s what serves their business to be the most successful.”

Small business incubators come in all shapes and sizes.

“Each incubator is going to have its own flavor," says Evans, "because there are some that have access to commercial kitchens. My incubator is on a STEM campus, so a lot of the companies that wind up at AXIS are related to software as a service or they have something that’s going to be venture backable.”

At their core, the small business incubators are in it for Oklahoma.

“A big part of the philosophy is to grow our own,” Evans says. “We already know that they love Oklahoma. So if we’re able to fill the gaps in our local economies with these companies – because when they see a need, they fill it –we want to provide those supports on the front end, so they hopefully have longevity, stay in Oklahoma and create more jobs. It’s really kind of a long play, just like any other investment into startups and small businesses. You’re planting seeds and then hoping some hit.”

GRETCHEN EICHENBERG

Soundtrack for a Sunset

The highly anticipated Sunset Amphitheater in Broken Arrow promises top-tier performances and a significant economic boost for the city.

The vibrancy of the music scene in the Tulsa metro makes Broken Arrow the perfect location for a luxurious new outdoor amphitheater, according to one enthusiastic project developer.

Bob Mudd is senior vice president of construction and market expansion for VENU, a Gainesville, Ga., based hospitality and entertainment firm. The $107 million amphitheater he’s speaking of is now under construction in Events Park; it’s a public-private partnership with the city of Broken Arrow and its economic development authority. Scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2026, the Sunset Amphitheater will seat 12,500 people and offer more than 200 fireplace suites to make it a year-round facility, Mudd says.

“I can’t speak highly enough about how good it has been to work with the city of Broken Arrow,” Mudd says. “The city had a great deal of vision for what Events Park would be, and they had a

long-term plan for putting an amphitheater there. It obviously stood out as a fantastic location.”

The state-of-the-art facility, located on 13 acres, will be handy for fans and entertainers alike with its location 15 minutes from the airport and the center of Tulsa, Mudd says.

“A lot of the touring acts are looking specifically for outdoor venues,” Mudd says. “Artists love that outdoor environment. We will be bringing the world’s best entertainers through Tulsa.”

Acts that have appeared at – and often sold out – VENU’s other locations in Gainesville and Colorado Springs, Colo., include Foreigner, Dirks Bentley, Allison Kraus, Robert Plant, Styx, Steve Miller, the Beach Boys, Ronnie Milsap, Josh Turner and Diamond Rio, Mudd says.

“We’re looking at 70-plus concerts a year,” he continues.

All the upper and lower bowl seating will be covered and protected from the weather above, and most parking will be right next to the amphitheater.

The Luxe FireSuites will feature natu-

ral gas-powered fire pits and a private environment for taking in a concert. All suites will include food and beverage service before and during the shows. A high-end restaurant and hospitality space will also be open during events.

Other possible uses for the amphitheater include high school and college graduations and virtually any type of performing arts showcase, Mudd says.

Once open, the Sunset Amphitheater will offer well-paying, full-time jobs all year-round, Mudd says. The economic impact is projected at $1.7 to $2 billion in the first decade of operation.

The concerts are projected to generate nearly $4 million in city sales tax and $934,000 in ad valorem tax revenues annually, according to the city of Broken Arrow’s website, with an estimated annual economic impact of $211 million.

VENU recently broke ground on a 20,000-seat amphitheater in McKinney, Texas, Mudd says. Another amphitheater is planned near El Paso, and talks are underway with the city of Yukon in the Oklahoma City metro.

KIMBERLY BURK

A rendering depicts the proposed Sunset Amphitheater, set to open in late 2026 in Broken Arrow’s Events Park. Rendering courtesy BCA Studios

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Breaking the Habit

Free resources are helping Oklahomans quit tobacco for good.

Oklahomans who want to kick their nicotine habits can access a variety of resources. One of those resources is Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust, or TSET, a state grantmaking trust devoted to preventing cancer and cardiovascular diseases, which happen to be Oklahoma’s leading causes of death and are linked to tobacco use.

Tobacco – which contains the chemical nicotine – is a plant grown for its leaves, which are smoked, chewed or sniffed. Nicotine is an addictive substance, on par with the likes of alcohol, cocaine and morphine.

In Oklahoma, just under half a million people, or 15.8% of adults, smoke. In 2022, 11% of Oklahoma adults used e-cigarettes, and 5.7% used smokeless tobacco. According to TSET, there is no safe form of tobacco use, and tobacco kills more people than alcohol, car accidents, illegal drugs, murders and suicides combined. 7,500 Oklahoma adults die annually from their own smoking habits, and high school e-cigarette use is at 21.8%.

In short, it’s clear that nicotine addition is a serious problem globally and

right here in Oklahoma. TSET can help. Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline (OTH) director Christin Kirchenbauer says barring medical issues, those registering with OTH are “eligible for four weeks of free patches, gum or lozenges,” plus coach calls and live online groups sessions, among other options. Slip-ups happen, so Oklahomans can sign up for the Helpline twice annually at okhelpline.com or 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

Thousands of teens have joined My Life, My Quit, which offers free, nonjudgmental support for those struggling with nicotine addiction.

“Nearly all nicotine comes from tobacco,” the website reads, “and it’s found in all tobacco products, including vape pods.” An online platform, the program offers options to create your plan to quit, track your progress, achieve your goals and chat with a coach. Connect at mylifemyquit.com or call (855) 891-9989.

“Oklahoma has made impressive strides in reducing tobacco use, but more needs to be done,” says TSET executive director Julie Bisbee. “Preventing young people from starting tobacco or nicotine is always the first, most effective step in reducing rates of smoking and vaping.”

CAROL MOWDY BOND

Quitting Tobacco: What to Know

When stopping the habit, Kirchenbauer says, “nicotine withdrawals typically peak one to three days after quitting and are associated with tobacco cravings, insomnia, increased appetite and general frustration. The nicotine replacement therapy – gum, patches or lozenges – provided by the Helpline helps reduce these negative impacts associated with withdrawal while also providing a ‘step-down’ process that creates a runway to a nicotine-free life. Coaches help provide tips on how to break habits that are associated with tobacco use, like drinking coffee or driving home from work.” Kirchenbauer says quitting tobacco use yields big benefits.

“Twenty minutes after quitting, their heart rate will decrease. One day after quitting, carbon monoxide levels in the blood drop to normal. Within three months of quitting, they should experience less coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. One year after quitting, their risk of heart disease will be cut in half.”

Kirchenbauer continues:

“Quitting smoking is one of the best decisions a person can make for their health. It lowers the Type 2 diabetes risk, normalizes heart rates and improves the function of lungs, heart and blood vessels. It also protects family, friends and coworkers from secondhand smoke, which can have similar negative health effects.”

The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline offers free resources to residents hoping to stop smoking or consuming tobacco in any form.

Inset photo: TSET offers Oklahomans four weeks of free patches, gums or lozenges, plus coach calls and group sessions, to help quit smoking. Photo courtesy the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline/TSET

Safe Kids, Strong Futures

Through policy, leadership and education, the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy works to protect vulnerable youth.

Launched in 1983 by a group of private citizens, the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) was established to create a strong, statewide network that provides a voice for the needs of children in Oklahoma. It was founded particularly to advocate for those in the state’s care and those growing up amid poverty, violence, abuse and neglect, or other situations that put their lives and futures at risk.

OICA has worked for over four decades to inform and educate state policymakers about the importance of investing wisely in children and families. The institute works with state policymakers and agencies, alongside health, education, business and community organizations.

As the CEO of OICA, Joe Dorman says that the organization’s “entire mission is to raise awareness and encourage people to take action. OICA was created as a result of horrific conditions that happened in a Tecumseh juvenile detention center in the late ’70s and early 1980s.”

These conditions, which were exposed in an investigative report by national news media outlets, were dubbed Oklahoma Shame, and “spurred child advocates from every corner of the state into action to create an organization whose mission was to ensure the protection of

Oklahoma’s children,” according to the OICA website.

“We’ve worked diligently to change the thought process from a correction system to a rehabilitation system,” Dorman says. “We don’t want children involved in the justice system. We want to try and help them course correct, and become productive citizens with the help and attention they need.”

Dorman adds that OICA works hard in the foster care system to try and bring about positive changes to make sure children receive the best resources possible to make their foster system stay positive.

“We do what we can to make sure we constantly improve the foster care system,” he says.

During the 2025 Oklahoma legislative session, the OICA saw two crucial pieces of legislation become law. One new law makes it illegal for schools to use corporal punishment for certain students with special needs under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Another allows the state to enter private facilities and investigate issues of abuse in situations where the state houses children.

“Child abuse and neglect should not just be a grave concern,” says Dorman. “It should be a call to action for every person to do what they can to help those youngest among us.”

Dorman says OICA is involved in a constant battle to make sure the State of Oklahoma handles the treatment of children in a proper manner.

“We’ll see a backslide on oversights, and that’s where we have to be there to make sure we’re remaining vigilant on those issues, and empowering citizens to speak up and address the needs,” he says. “We raise awareness on issues and help people navigate the political process to help people see positive changes that impact children.”

CAROL MOWDY BOND

How to Help

“If you suspect a child is being abused, or if you are a victim and reading this, please call the statewide abuse and neglect hotline at 1-800-522-3511,” says Dorman. “If you are interested in becoming a foster parent for a child, please go to okfosters.org to learn more. We need more people who can help these children in need,” says Dorman.

The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy combines policymaking, leadership, outreach and education to help children in Oklahoma, especially those in the state’s care and those growing up in violence, poverty and abuse. Photos courtesy the OICA

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Powering Progress

From local service projects to global aid efforts, rotary clubs build stronger communities.

Rotary clubs have been popular in the United States for over a hundred years, but many people don’t know what they are or what function they serve.

“Rotary clubs are service based organizations committed to uniting leaders from all walks of life to exchange ideas and take action to create lasting change – locally and globally,” says Carl Vincent, president elect for the Rotary Club of Tulsa. “Rotary’s core functions include promoting peace, fighting disease, providing clear water and sanitation, supporting education, growing local

economies and protecting the environment,” he continues.

These clubs also serve as local hubs for those who are committed to service above self.

“Rotary clubs bring together people from all walks of life who are passionate about creating lasting change in their communities and around the world,” says Jack Werner, the district governor for Rotary District 5750 in Oklahoma City. He seconds that the main priorities and mission of a rotary club are to provide service to others, and promote integrity, world understanding, goodwill and peace.

“Our district is deeply engaged in

initiatives like ending polio, supporting education, and expanding access to healthcare,” says Jeanean Yanish Jones, public image chair for Rotary District 5750. “We are especially proud of the local impact our members make every single day.”

Vincent agrees, and mentions additional priorities like investing in community welfare and preserving local heritage – essentially "enhancing the quality of life in Tulsa through meaningful service, business integrity, and fellowship,” he says. “The club also embraces global humanitarian efforts, such as water well projects in Nicaragua and Guatemala.”

The good that a rotary club can do is, essentially, boundless.

“Rotary clubs deliver community benefits from hands-on service, philanthropy and long-term initiatives, including dozens of grants to local Tulsa non-profit agencies from the Rotary Club of Tulsa Foundation,” says Vincent.

Founding the Tulsa Boys’ Home and hosting events to honor first responders are just a few of the ways the club does immeasurable good for the city.

“Its programs connect civic-minded individuals to resources, speakers and platforms to create real, lasting change,” says Vincent.

District 5750 is involved with building wheelchair ramps, supporting local food banks and even mentoring youth.

“Every club has its own personality and passions,” says Werner. “What unites us is a shared commitment to making our communities stronger and more resilient.”

To become a member of any club, the only real prerequisite is a desire to serve.

“There’s no special background or requirement,” says Jones. “You just need a heart for service and a willingness to show up.”

Vincent agrees: Rotary is for everyone.

“Rotary is open to individuals of all backgrounds who are committed to service, ethics and leadership,” he says. “There are no religious or political prerequisites - only a shared desire to serve and lead.”

To get involved, a good place to start is with the clubs' websites: tulsarotary.com and rotary5750.org.

“We welcome new members and volunteers with open arms,” says Werner. “Together, we can accomplish great things.”

DREW JOSEPH ALLEN

The Rotary Club of Tulsa welcomes “individuals of all backgrounds who are committed to service, ethics and leadership,” says president elect Carl Vincent. Photo courtesy the Rotary Club of Tulsa

73% of OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine graduates are practicing in medical deserts, according to U.S. News

We’re proud to say we’ve done it again. U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Medical Schools rankings has once again named OSU Center for Health Sciences No. 1 in graduates practicing in Health Professional Shortage Areas. And we’re ranked No. 11 nationally for graduates practicing in rural areas.

We are educating physicians in the heart of Tulsa, and 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.

Swim, Bike, Run

From open-water swims to group bike rides and camps, triathlon clubs empower athletes from all walks of life.

In Oklahoma, the triathlon season pulses with excitement as diverse groups host races statewide.

TriOKC, under Chris Horton’s leadership, organizes a bevy of events: a March duathlon, the Route 66 Triathlon with Riversport Adventures in downtown Oklahoma City which occurred on May 30, and other events sprinkled throughout the year.

Meanwhile, at Tulsa Area Triathletes, newbies and experts alike are guided by Tricia Cadenhead, who is a board member, sponsor and coach for the group. She also runs a series including a duathlon and the Tulsa Triathlon, often in June.

Even still, another group stages races in Guthrie, with this year’s Territorial Triathlon, the state championship, having happened in July.

For beginners, triathlons can seem intimidating, but a sprint, featuring a 500- to 750-yard swim, 10- to 15-mile bike, and 5K run, offers a less unnerving entry point and a tangible goal for which to strive.

Training, the experts say, looks different for everyone.

“Training depends on the race,” says TriOKC's Horton. “For a sprint, a few

hours a week – building to 500 yards swim, 3 to 5 miles run – works if you start where you’re at. But for a full Ironman’s 140.6 miles, it’s 10 to 12 hours weekly, and 20 hours if you’re competitive. It’s intense.”

Cadenhead echoes this training sentiment and works to help beginner athletes prepare as best as possible.

“We do a beginner tri-camp – that’s mostly my thing, my baby, though we all pitch in. It’s a 12-week course starting early February, meeting weekly until Spring Fever, our beginner-friendly triathlon.”

Newcomers can ease into training with two or three weekly swims, runs and bike rides, often on weekends, to build endurance.

“Ease into it,” Horton says. “Build strength and durability. Monitor your heart rate; if it spikes oddly, slow down.”

If it all seems like too much to handle, Cadenhead offers reassurance.

“The community is very supportive,” she says. “It may sound scary, but we welcome beginners with open arms, showing them routes and how to transition.”

Her camp includes swim, bike and run sessions, plus course rides, preparing racers for the “snake swim” under

pool lane ropes. Post-camp, open-water sessions at Keystone on Tuesday nights with kayaks and paddleboards cater to first timers and seasoned athletes alike.

Preparing with the right gear is also crucial – wetsuits, helmets, shoes and running equipment must be used before an athlete’s first major event.

“Nothing new on race day – food, clothes, gear,” Horton warns, recalling blisters from new socks. Cadenhead camp teaches this, too, ensuring smooth switches from swim to bike to run.

Race day starts with a briefing, then a mass swim start. First-timers should hang back to avoid the risk of flailing arms, Horton says.

Before the big day, another concern is what to eat, and how much. Nutrition, the experts say, scales with distance. Sprints need less, but Olympic events like 1,500-yard swims, 25-mile bikes and 10K runs; Half Ironmans, which include 1.2-mile swims, 56-mile bikes and 13.1mile runs; and Ironmans, which include 2.4-mile swims, 112-mile bikes and 26.2mile runs, demand true fueling.

“Muscles burn sugar; replenish or suffer,” Horton says. “Train your gut, and test [energy] gels beforehand.”

Local races like TriOKC’s have no cutoff times, celebrating completion.

TRACY LEGRAND

Group training and a supportive atmosphere are fostered within Oklahoma’s triathlon athlete clubs. Photos courtesy Tulsa Area Triathletes

Built By Workers, Celebrated by All

Labor Day has, for over one hundred years, shined a spotlight on the grit, gains and everyday heroes who keep America moving forward.

For many, Labor Day is merely an opportunity to have a long weekend, mark the last throes of summer weather and truly begin to embrace the back-to-school season. But just over 100 years ago, the celebration was inaugurated to commemorate a deeper purpose: the American worker had fought hard for rights and recognition and wanted to have a day away from labor for celebration.

Labor Day in the United States was first celebrated on September 5, 1882, in New York City with a parade. The event had a rough start when only a few marchers showed up, and there were no musical instruments available. But the parade was saved when, according to the U.S. Department of Labor website, two hundred members of the Jewelers Union of Newark showed up with a band in tow. Spectators began to join in, and a final count of participants ranged from ten thousand to twenty thousand. Picnics

and festivities followed the parade.

“The holiday is rooted in the late nineteenth century, when labor activists pushed for a federal holiday to recognize the many contributions workers have made to America’s strength, prosperity and well-being,” according to the U.S. Department of Labor website.

The idea quickly spread, and by 1887, several states, including Oregon, New York and Colorado had officially recognized the holiday. In 1894, following the violent Pullman Strike, President Grover Cleveland signed legislation making Labor Day a federal holiday, aiming to improve relations with organized labor.

This movement to further the cause of workers was a crucial part in shaping Oklahoma just before statehood. While Labor Day was becoming a federal holiday, the labor movement was making headway in what would become Oklahoma as well. The earliest part of the 20th century saw the establishment of the Twin-Territorial Federation of Labor, which united the numerous unions

representing dozens of trades and crafts that existed in both Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory, according to the Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture.

A point of historical debate surrounds the true founder of Labor Day. Two men with very similar last names are most often credited: Peter J. McGuire and Matthew Maguire. Peter McGuire, a co-founder of the American Federation of Labor and a prominent labor leader, is frequently cited for proposing a day to honor working people. However, evidence also strongly supports Matthew Maguire, a machinist and secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York, as the key organizer behind the first celebration in 1882. Regardless of who proposed it first, both men played influential roles in shaping the early labor movement.

As you celebrate the long weekend and bring summer to a close, remember that Labor Day remains a lasting tribute to the American worker and the progress made through organized labor.

BONNIE RUCKER

Choctaw Labor Day Festival

One long-standing Oklahoma tradition has been associated with Labor Day since 1953. The Choctaw Nation Labor Day Festival, held annually in Tvshka Homma, Oklahoma, celebrates tribal heritage with cultural demonstrations, stickball games, concerts and a princess pageant. The event brings together thousands each Labor Day weekend to honor tradition, unity, and community in the heart of the Choctaw Nation, according to its website.

Labor Day parades and other festivities have been celebrated in Oklahoma for a century. Photo courtesy the OHS/El Reno Carnegie Library

Sculpting Modern Messages

Oklahoma has produced a number of prolific sculptors and other creatives.

Oklahoma is rich in natural beauty and boasts a compelling history. However, it’s also the birthplace of many talented creatives, including a diverse range of sculptors and other artists, who use an array of media to create powerful works that tell stories about the people and culture of our state.

Allan Houser, originally Haozous, was one of the most important Native American artists of the 20th century. He was born in 1914 near Apache, and was a member of the Chiricahua Apache tribe. After gaining prominence as a painter, Houser turned to creating sculptures that honored Native people and culture. His bronze sculpture, Sacred Rain Arrow, is housed at the Oklahoma History Center and was featured on a past Oklahoma license plate.

Another artist who celebrated Native culture was Blackbear Bosin. He was a Kiowa-Comanche painter and sculptor born in 1921 near Anadarko. Though best known for his painting Prairie Fire, he also created a sculpture that honored Native traditions. The Keeper of the Plains

is a 44-foot-tall steel monument in Wichita, Kansas, situated at the confluence of the Big and Little Arkansas rivers.

Marjorie Strider was born in Guthrie in 1931. She was a Pop Art and performance artist who used bold colors and playful shapes. Her most famous works featured three-dimensional images of women that seemed to pop off the canvas. While her work differed from that of others on this list, she helped break barriers for women in the art world.

Petah Coyne, born in Oklahoma City in 1953, creates sculptures using unconventional materials such as wax, feathers and flowers. Her work has been described as emotional and mysterious, and often celebrates the contributions of women in the world of art. A recent work features nine hanging wax sculptures, all named after notable female artists and writers. These brightly colored works are meant to be viewed from below. Coyne’s art is featured in museums such as the Guggenheim and the Museum of Modern Art.

Paul Moore is a sculptor from Oklahoma City and a fifth-generation Oklahoman. He creates larger-than-life bronze monuments, and visitors to the U.S.

Capitol and the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., can view his work. His Centennial Land Run Monument in Oklahoma City, which he created alongside his two sons, is one of the largest bronze sculptures in the world. It features 45 figures of pioneers, horses and wagons, spanning 365 feet in length and standing over 16 feet tall. Another large sculpture by Moore is On the Chisholm Trail, which stands 11 feet tall and is housed at the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center in Duncan.

Willard Stone, a Cherokee artist from Oktaha, made sculptures using wood. Even though he lost the partial use of one hand in an accident when he was 13, he became known for his smooth, flowing carvings. Several of his wood carvings were created for Thomas Gilcrease, a Tulsa oilman for whom Stone worked. His art is housed at the Gilcrease Museum as well as at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

From Native heroes to modern messages, Oklahoma’s sculptors have used their talents to shape the way people see the world.

BONNIE RUCKER

L-R: An Apache-born artist, Allan Houser used sculpture to honor his Native heritage. Photo courtesy the Oklahoma Historical Society/Daily Oklahoman. Willard Stone was best known for making wood-based sculptures. One of his most loyal clients was oilman Thomas Gilcrease. Photo courtesy the Oklahoma Historical Society. Marjorie Strider was a Pop Art creator who used bold colors to reimagine art during her time. Photo courtesy the Oklahoma Historical Society/Daily Oklahoman/David McDaniel

Staycation

A Journey through Route 66

Produced by Circle Cinema.

“A Journey through Route 66” explores the iconic American highway, highlighting the road’s cultural and historical significance, its role in westward migration, economic development, and Americana, as well as the people, towns, and landmarks that made it legendary.

A film by award-winning filmmaker John Paget and Circle Cinema co-founder Clark Wiens.

Screenings through 2026:

Coleman Theatre – Miami

Center Theatre – Vinita

Circle Cinema – Tulsa

Heart of Route 66 Museum – Sapulpa

Tee Pee Drive-In – Sapulpa

H&S Theatre – Chandler

Route 66 Interpretive Center – Chandler

Rodeo Cinema – Oklahoma City

Oklahoma Route 66 Museum - Clinton

Contact these venues for showtimes.

A Bluegrass Tradition Rolls On

Dell Davis – backbone of the the Bluegrass & Chili Festival – has kept the music, memories and chili simmering for decades, despite several venue shifts.

Set for downtown Tahlequah on September 5 and 6, this year’s installment of the long-lived Bluegrass & Chili Festival includes a Friday night performance by the all-woman band, Sister Sadie. The group’s fiddler is Deanie Richardson, an acclaimed musician who performed and recorded with a number of country-music stars – including, in the '90s, chart-topping vocalist Patty Loveless.

And that connection reminds Dell Davis of a story.

“Patty came to the festival [in 1997], when we were still in downtown Tulsa,” remembers the event’s longtime director. “That was back when the in-ear monitors were a pretty new thing, and the musicians kept coming over and saying, ‘We’re picking up some radio station. What frequency are you guys on?’ And

we were like, ‘We don’t have any radio stations broadcasting live from here.’ Come to find out, they were picking up the music from the ballet, which was going on at the PAC next door to us.” She laughs. “Ballet and bluegrass – that was interesting.”

Some would also say that the pairing of bluegrass and chili is just as interesting. Davis might agree; it’s one of the few things about the annual festival that wasn’t her idea. As she notes, back in the late 1970s, Downtown Tulsa Unlimited – an influential collection of local merchants and businesspeople – decided to stage “some sort of bluegrass event” in the fall, as a kind of counterbalance to Mayfest, held every spring. But the folks at DTU decided that, in addition to the music, they needed a food component. So someone came up with the idea of adding a chili cook-off, and, in 1979, in downtown Tulsa, the first Bluegrass &

Chili Festival arose.

It remains the only one to ever happen without Dell Davis’s involvement.

“That first year,” she says, “I only attended. The second year, they called me, because I was at [radio station] KVOO, and they knew I knew the bluegrass thing. So that’s when I became involved. I did all their entertainment, their booking, for nine years after that. I didn’t take the whole thing over until 1990, when I came on board as the director.”

At the time she began her association with the festival, she had been doing her bluegrass-based radio program for several years. Her immersion in the genre, however, stretched much farther back.

“I grew up in this music,” she says. “My dad was a player, and for years, he and my uncle did a show every Saturday night called the Country Social. It was in Checotah. And all these great bands would come in to this old tabernacle building; it kind of reminded me of the Grand Ole Opry. So I was two years old and going to bluegrass events. I spent every Saturday night of my teenage years at the Country Social. I’ve known nothing but music my entire life.”

Applying her knowledge of and fondness for bluegrass and country, Davis and her staff built the annual festival into one of the biggest of its kind. And then, a decade or so after becoming director, she found herself guiding it out of its downtown Tulsa home and into a smaller nearby city.

“We left Tulsa in 1999, after 20 years,” she recalls. “DTU at the time was losing some city contracts, so the organization was not going to be able to continue. Well, they knew how much passion I had for the event, and they said, ‘If you want to take the name and move it somewhere else...' Basically, it was kind of like, ‘Knock yourself out.’ So we went to Claremore and spent 18 years there.”

Then, as Davis remembers it, “All of a sudden it was like, ‘We don’t want this anymore, and you don’t have a job anymore.’”

At that time, in addition to doing the festival, Davis had been working for the Claremore Chamber of Commerce – a sponsor of the event – for 16 years. When she left the position, and Claremore, she

One of Oklahoma's most beloved events, the Bluegrass & Chili Festival, rolls back into town this September. Photos courtesy the Bluegrass & Chili Festival Committee

found that the Bluegrass & Chili Festival had no shortage of suitors.

“We had 21 cities that wanted us to move the festival there,” she says. “Wagoner had a mayor at the time named A.J. Jones, and he said, ‘If you come here, we’ll back you 100%. We need to get our little town on the map.’ He was very convincing – and he did exactly what he said he was going to do. We did six there, and then, unfortunately, he lost an election.”

So the peripatetic days for the fest began again.

“Pryor asked, and so we said, ‘Okay, we can move to Pryor. Have festival, will travel.’ But then our dates conflicted with their county fair, and they felt like that hurt the fair, so they wanted me to move the date. I said, ‘If we do, we’ll lose our vendors. We’ll lose our entertainers. We’ve had that date for 44 years, and we can’t move it.’

“It’s always been the weekend following Labor Day, because [the longtime Tulsa event] the Great Raft Race was on Labor Day,” she adds. “When we were in Tulsa, that’s the reason we went with the week after.

“So we went to Pryor but couldn’t make the date work. Tahlequah had called us and wanted to do it last year, but we’d already made the commitment to Pryor. They said, ‘If anything comes up, we want it in Tahlequah.’ So that’s how it’s happening. We’ve had good support there with sponsors and volunteers, and I know so many musicians from that area. I think this is going to be a great move for us.”

According to the event’s website, bluegrasschilifest.com, this year marks the festival’s 45th anniversary. (Because of the pandemic, there was no live event in 2020.) Dell Davis has worked on 44 of

them, and she shows no signs of stopping.

“Well, if you asked my friends and family, they’d probably tell you it’s because I’m crazy,” she says with a laugh. “But I just have a passion for the music, and I think live music is so important. The cost of concert tickets has gone up so much that we’re losing a lot of people who can’t go to a live-music thing. There’s nothing like sitting out there in the audience and getting involved with the band playing or the singer singing.”

Those who head for downtown Tahlequah the weekend following Labor Day – Sept. 5 and 6 – will get plenty of opportunities to do just that. Once again, the free event will feature three musical stages – in addition, Davis notes, to the chili cook-off and “the car show, the tractor show, the children’s area, the festival market, all that fun stuff we’ve done for years. And it’s all been free since day one.”

How can I navigate new distribution rules with inherited IRAs?

An inherited individual retirement account (IRA) is a potential financial windfall that may create new opportunities to achieve your financial goals. If you are a beneficiary currently or expect to be one, you should know recent legal changes on inherited IRAs can result in costly implications if not followed properly. Read on to determine if these new rules are applicable. 1. Different beneficiaries have different rules. Spouse beneficiaries will ultimately have much more flexibility with how they utilize an inherited IRA. For most other beneficiaries, the rules are more rigid. 2. 2025’s new, more stringent rules. Those who inherit an IRA beginning in 2025 face more restrictions. In most cases, non-spouse beneficiaries must take annual IRA distributions from the inherited account. 3. Planning is even more critical. Withdrawals from an inherited traditional IRA result in more taxable income. Consider the financial and tax implications of your withdrawal strategy, including whether the distributions will change your tax bracket. Contact your financial advisor to discuss the impact of an IRA you’ve already inherited or expect to in the future.

David Karimian, CFP®, CRPC®, APMA® Prime Wealth Management

A private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial 2431 E 61st St, Suite 400, Tulsa, OK 74136 918.388.2009

David.x.Karimian@ampf.com www.primewealthmgmt.com

What is microneedling and what are the benefits?

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Headliners this year include Rhonda Vincent, Authentic Unlimited, the Cleverlys, the Grascals, Sister Sadie and others, joining the regional acts on the bill. “Bands like Acoustic Freight Train, the Smith Brothers – they come out and support this event. Otherwise, it would make it difficult for us to have the quality of entertainment we have.

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“Really, there’s a ton of people who make this happen. It’s not just me. I would never take credit for the whole thing. I actually have some volunteers who were volunteering before I took over, and then after I took over. So I’ve got volunteers who’ve done 35 years.”

Microneedling, also known as natural collagen induction therapy, is one of the most popular treatments to obtain younger, firmer, and more radiant skin. This procedure utilizes a small pin-shaped device containing very-fine needles which perforate the top layers of the skin, activating the skin’s natural repair process and helping produce more collagen and elastin. Microneedling has many benefits such as a reduction in pore size, thickening of the dermis with improved skin tone and firmness, skin tightening, and softening of fine lines and wrinkles. It can also help with acne scarring, stretch marks, and hyperpigmentation. This treatment can be performed year-round, on all skin types, with minimal downtime. Platelet Rich Plasma or Exosomes can be added to further improve results and healing time. The most commonly treated areas are the face, neck, and chest with patients noticing significant results after just one treatment. To schedule an appointment or find out more information on microneedling, call Fig Medical Spa at 918-932-8810.

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She laughs again.

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“You know,” she concludes, “they should get a gold medal.”

JOHN WOOLEY

Cristie Lehr-Hawkins. M.D., Fig - For Inner Good - Medical Spa 8921 S Yale Ave - Tulsa, OK 74137 918.932.8810 - figtulsa.com

in Oklahoma Magazine only. Use in other publications or materials is

Medical director of aesthetics & Wellness

DR. CRISTIE HAWKINS

DAVID KARIMIAN CFP®, CRPC®, APMA®

Life & Style

A MAP TO LIVING WELL

Where Art and Appetite Collide

Bermondsey on the Thames offers a perfect blend of riverside charm, rich history, delicious food and easy access to England’s capital.

Bermondsey became “London’s larder” in the 1860s when large brick warehouses were built on the Thames to store the spices, coffee, fruit, grain and sugar destined for shipment around the world. So-called provisions trades flourished in the district, including food processing, tanning, leatherworks and baking – especially baking.

The Peek Freans bakery in west Bermondsey introduced the world to an innovative fruit-filled biscuit (what Americans call a cookie) in 1861. It caught on, and the firm built a large factory, employed hundreds and filled the air around Clements and Drummond Roads with such sweet smells, people started calling the neighborhood “Biscuit Town.”

Elsewhere in the district, some of the murkier Bermondsey streets served as the inspiration for the setting of Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist. And it was from these banks of the Thames that J.M.W. Turner painted his The Fighting Temeraire, immortalizing the final voyage of the once-mighty warship on its way to be scrapped in 1838.

Gratefully, early visionaries saw fit to protect and ultimately repurpose many of the early dwellings and warehouses in Bermondsey, creating spaces for what has become a somewhat Bohemian mix of art galleries and studios, foodie adventures, indie shops, lofts and riverside flats.

Most of the action is up on Bermondsey Street, a six-minute walk from Tower Bridge. Sweet little cafes, robust restaurants, small intimate shops and interesting pubs line the cobblestoned

thoroughfare.

An unusual, 58,000-square-foot former warehouse on this street is now the White Cube Bermondsey art gallery, specializing in the work of contemporary artists such as Anselm Kiefer and Tracey Emin as well as emerging artists. The exhibitions fill three really large display areas complete with sweeping courtyard. There’s another White Cube in central London and several worldwide.

Nearby, the renowned Maltby Market is only open on weekends but it’s worth the wait. Mom and pop vendors set up shop betwixt and between Victorian railway arches along a sliver of alley called Ropewalk. There, all kinds of tastiness is sold, sometimes waffles and empanadas, sometimes oysters and fresh fruit.

Another short walk away and we’re faced with even more weekend food choices at Spa Terminus (which is not a

Bermondsey is the ideal getaway for travelers looking to relax and explore.

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Bermondsey Square on Tower Bridge Road stands on a site where an 11th-century abbey once operated, near the south end of Bermondsey Street. This is where the first Bermondsey Market was held in 1948, trading primarily in antiques, collectables and gold. Now, it’s a cozy collection of shops, small restaurants, offices and a boutique hotel. The market is still open every Friday morning, and on Sundays there’s live jazz.

A little further up Bermondsey Street, the quirky Fashion and Textile Museum takes a deep dive into the impact of international textiles on fashion. Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta designed the signature orange and pink building. And while you’re in the area, swing by the London Glassblowing Gallery for a glimpse of some of the best glass and finest glassblowers in the United Kingdom.

The Tower Bridge we all know, love and can’t resist photographing crosses the Thames just north of Bermondsey. Its twin Cornish granite-clad 231-foot towers support the drawbridge in the central span that opens for passing ships. Glass-floored walkways run 135 feet above the Thames, connecting the two towers and providing terrific 360 views of London. Tours are available. The newest London Bridge (built in 1973) is just a wee bit upstream from Tower Bridge.

Stay at the LaLit London, a very nicely appointed boutique hotel designed in the early 1900s by the architect of the Old Bailey. You'll enjoy two restaurants, two bars, a full spa and short walks to both Tower Bridge and Bermondsey Street.

CHUCK MAI

A typical street view in Bermondsey

A Bermondsey-based chef making ravioli

Bermondsey Street in London

Shad Thames Street near Tower Bridge

TO ONE TABLE?

Know Where to Go

A physician helps explain the key differences between emergency care, urgent care and primary care.

Whether an illness comes on

gradually or you’re faced with a sudden medical emergency, knowing when and where to find the right level of care is the first step to support a positive outcome.

Kelli Koons, M.D, an internal medicine and pediatric specialist with SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital in Shawnee, says healthcare is best delivered when patients utilize the appropriate level of care for their specific needs. The most common healthcare options include emergency care, urgent care and primary care.

“Each setting – an emergency department (ED), urgent care clinic and primary care provider (PCP) – serves a distinct purpose in the healthcare system,” says Koons. “The emergency department is designed to manage life-threatening or severe medical emergencies. Patients experiencing symptoms such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, stroke-like symptoms, neurological changes, open or displaced fractures, or suspected poisoning/overdose should seek immediate care at the nearest ED. Emergency departments are equipped with advanced diagnostic and treatment capabilities to rapidly address complex and critical conditions.”

Urgent care clinics were introduced in the 1970s and have slowly expanded in

presence and popularity. These clinics are known for treating immediate, non-emergent needs.

“Urgent care or express clinics are most appropriate for minor, acute illnesses or injuries that require prompt attention but are not emergencies,” says Koons. “These facilities are ideal when over-the-counter treatments have failed or when a rapid clinical evaluation is needed. Common conditions treated in urgent care include minor infections, mild asthma exacerbations, sprains and minor lacerations. It’s important to recognize that urgent care is not intended for chronic or complex medical issues, and patients with more severe symptoms may ultimately be referred to the ED or their primary care provider.”

When it comes to consistent, life-long health management, Koons emphasizes the role and benefits of having a primary care provider.

“Primary care serves as the foundation of long-term health management,” she says. “PCPs are uniquely positioned to provide comprehensive care, as they are familiar with a patient’s medical history, medication regimen and prior interventions.”

Along with routine health maintenance such as annual physical exams, PCPs manage vaccinations, chronic diseases, medication adjustments and coordinated referrals to specialists when needed.

“Primary care providers also moni-

tor trends in laboratory and diagnostic results, enabling early detection of disease and more effective intervention,” says Koons. “A significant advantage of primary care is its ability to deliver both preventive and acute care in the context of a patient’s overall health picture. In fact, most conditions seen in urgent care can also be effectively managed in a primary care setting, often with greater continuity and follow-up.”

She explains that while urgent care clinics offer convenience, relying on them exclusively for healthcare can result in fragmented and reactive care.

“Urgent care visits typically focus on a single concern and may lack the context of a patient’s broader medical history,” says Koons. “As a result, underlying or developing health issues may go undetected. In contrast, primary care is inherently proactive and relationship-based. PCPs provide continuity of care, monitor trends in health data and offer early interventions that can prevent disease progression.”

She believes forming a positive relationship and receiving consistent care from a PCP can be key to detecting subtle changes in a patient’s health, behavior or functional status.

Koons says, “Establishing care with a primary care provider fosters trust, improves communication and enhances the quality and efficiency of care across a patient’s lifespan.”

REBECCA FAST

Nothing Broken About It

Nestled in the Kiamichi Mountains, Broken Bow blends scenic lakes, trails, attractions and culture for the ideal Okie getaway.

Tucked away in southeast Oklahoma, Broken Bow is a small city with a lot to offer thrill-seekers and history buffs alike. It’s a haven for outdoor enthusiasts and, as the gateway to Beavers Bend State Park, attracts visitors year-round.

Located between the Kiamichi and Ouachita mountains, Broken Bow offers a vibrant mix of natural beauty, cultural heritage and outdoor recreation, making it an ideal getaway for travelers of all interests.

Now part of McCurtain County, Broken Bow was originally inhabited by the Choctaw Nation in 1830 after a treaty with the United States resulted in the tribe’s relocation. By 1911, the city was incorporated, and less than a decade later had a population of more than 1,900. Herman and Fred Dierks were among the early residents, renaming the city after their hometown in Nebraska. The Dierks brothers also established the Choctaw Lumber Co., which drove early development efforts and remains an essential business in the area.

Beavers Bend State Park is a must for those who enjoy the great outdoors.

Hiking, fishing, boating and camping are all popular activities, set amid a landscape of towering timbers, clear lakes and rugged terrain. The park is located along the shores of Broken Bow Lake and the Mountain Fork River and features Beavers Bend Lodge, the 18-hole Cedar Creek Golf Course and 26 miles of hiking trails along the David Boren Trail. The Forest Heritage Center, located within the park, offers a look into the area’s forestry history through art and historical artifacts.

“The Forest Heritage Center has been a community anchor in southeast Oklahoma for 50 years,” says Brianna Reed, the center’s curator. “Today, we continue the mission of our founders by educating the public through monthly programs, special events, gallery exhibitions and taking every opportunity to educate the public about the positive impact of the forest and its products on our daily lives.”

Visitors can also experience Broken Bow from a unique vantage point with Broken Bow Balloon Rides, located just minutes from U.S. Highway 259. The Kiamichi mountain range, Broken Bow Lake and other scenic vistas are visible during the aerial journey. For those apprehensive about flying, owner Morgan Snipes

offers a suggestion.

“I would suggest finding a festival or event to try a tethered balloon ride that only goes up 50 feet or so,” Snipes says. “All of [our] flights and activities are public, so we also invite prospective passengers to the launch sites and to follow or ride along during the chase with the crew to get a better idea of how it works.”

Be sure to also check out the Maze of Hochatown and Rugaru Adventures. Just outside of Broken Bow, the Maze is a giant wooden, outdoor labyrinth that offers a fun and challenging adventure for families, friends and thrill-seekers of all ages. Rugaru Adventures is an exhilarating zip line tour offering six thrilling lines through the forest – including a heart-pounding ride over Broken Bow Lake – with trained guides ensuring both safety and excitement.

Whether you’re seeking outdoor thrills, rich cultural history or a peaceful retreat in nature, Broken Bow delivers an unforgettable experience. With its stunning landscapes, engaging attractions and deep-rooted heritage, this southeast Oklahoma gem is a destination worth exploring.

ROCCO GEPPI

Beavers Bend State Park is just one of ample tourist attractions in Broken Bow.

Photo courtesy Oklahoma Tourism

Wild & Worth Protecting

From scissortail flycatchers to coyotes and bobcats, Oklahoma’s diverse wildlife thrives when observers respect nature’s boundaries.

Enjoying Oklahoma wildlife can be part of the overall experience of living in-state. With a few tips from local experts, or from doing a little research on your own, that experience can be greatly enhanced and keep everyone – and thing – as safe as possible.

“Oklahoma is a bit of a melting pot of habitats,” says Jena Donnell with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. “The state’s mix of forests, woodland, shrublands, grasslands and aquatic habitats allows an even broader mix of fish and wildlife to call Oklahoma home. While some species may be habitat specialists and are only found where that habitat occurs, others are generalists and can be found statewide or nearly statewide.”

Donnell points out the scissor-tailed flycatcher, Oklahoma’s state bird, is one such species.

“It migrates to Oklahoma in late March to early April and can be seen flying out to catch insects or sitting on fenceposts, tree branches and even tall flower stalks across the state through October,” explains Donnell. “Other birds, like the red-tailed hawk, Oklahoma’s state raptor, are found in Oklahoma year-round.”

According to Donnell, staying quiet and paying attention to one’s surroundings can increase the opportunity to have a ‘positive wildlife encounter.’ She

suggests listening for sounds the animal may be making and watching for movement nearby.

Having a general idea of the wildlife you could encounter and how to interact with them is important, too.

“It’s exciting to get close enough to really appreciate the animal and maybe snap a photo, but it’s also important to not get too close and be a perceived threat,” stresses Donnell. “For coyotes, you’ll want to make noise to scare them off, but with bobcats, it’s best to be quiet and leave immediately.”

Donnell notes spotting the critters on or along our paths is frequently a twoway street.

“Most wildlife will detect us first and either hide or run or slither away before we even know they’re in the area,” she says. “But if we happen to surprise wildlife or they don’t have an easy escape route, it’s important to stay calm and slowly back away and give the animal enough space so that it feels less threatened. Once you’ve given it space, you can quietly watch it, take a few pictures, and then go around it and let it get on with its day.”

When children or dogs are part of your walkabout, Donnell offers the following guidelines.

“If you’re exploring with kids on a trail, it may be a good idea to station an adult at the front and rear of the group,” she says. “Keeping dogs on leashes can also help limit negative wildlife experiences.”

To entice wildlife to your yard, Donnell suggests choosing native plants that bloom at different times of the year, maintaining older trees or standing snags, and providing nest boxes or bird feeders.

“Living with the wildlife in your area requires balance,” says Donnell. “If you see wildlife more as pests than welcomed visitors, it’s time to think about what is attracting the animals and adjusting the habitat you’re offering. If those habitat changes don’t help, it may be time to call animal control or a nuisance wildlife control operator.”

DEBI TURLEY

Deterring Pests

• Secure your trash and trash bins.

• Feed your pets indoors.

• Keep your lawns trimmed and well-maintained.

• Rake leaves and remove debris from around house foundations to limit habitats for snakes and other wildlife.

• Install motion-activated lights to deter animals from making homes in your yard.

Courtney McPhail, Dr. Julie Yu, Justin Bell; Canterbury Voices at Carnegie Hall, OKC

James Bennett, Matt Harp, Erin Engelke, Shannon Taylor, Jonathan Musgrove, Tyler Tokarczyk; Topping Out Ceremony, ReMerge, OKC

Shannon L. Rich, Bruce T. Benbrook; Class Announcement Luncheon, Oklahoma Hall of Fame, OKC

Polly & Larry Nichols; Grand Opening VIP Party, RH, OKC

Tiffany Bjorlie, Eric Hilaire, Wendi Fralick, Stuart & Dana Solomon; Inspire: A Night of Entertainment, The Center for Individuals with  Physical Challenges, Tulsa

Amber Valletta, Rachel & Mayor David Holt; Grand Opening VIP Party, RH, OKC

Mayor David Holt, Marnie Taylor; Nonprofit Law & Finance Conference, Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits, OKC

Cathy & Frank Keating; Grand Opening VIP Party, RH, OKC

Eddy Gibbs, Bert Mackie, Dr. Mautra Staley Jones, Dr. Michael A. Mares; Class Announcement Luncheon, Oklahoma Hall of Fame, OKC

Kim Garrett-Funk, Bob Funk Jr.; Grand Opening VIP Party, RH, OKC

Mary Ellen Gumerson, Peg Maloy, Kim Bruno; Founders Day Celebration, Oklahoma Contemporary, OKC

Rachel Cannon, Katy Boren; Grand Opening VIP Party, RH, OKC

Sovereign Voices

Oklahoma’s Native American nations are continuously remolding the cultural and economic landscape of our state through their innovation, resilience and tradition. From thriving business enterprises to groundbreaking work in everything from film to mental health to language preservation, Native tribes are leading Oklahoma boldly into the future.

By Kimberly Burk

Native Business Updates

Media outlets were abuzz in June with stats from the latest Tribal Economic Impact Study. The numbers are wellknown to Choctaw Chief Gary Batton, who is perpetually enthusiastic about tribal contributions to Oklahoma’s economy and infrastructure.

“The tribal nations of Oklahoma were responsible for an incredible economic impact of more than $23.4 billion in 2023 alone,” according to the report. Tribes based in Oklahoma employed more than 56,000 people in 2023, paying out wages and benefits totaling $3.3 billion.

The Choctaw Nation employs 13,500 workers, Batton says, totaling more than $1 billion in wages.

“We as the Choctaw Nation do not tax our people,” Batton says. “It’s important to generate revenue to deliver services to our people. The Choctaw Nation has grown by 600 employees over the past four years.”

More than 400 jobs were created by the 2024 opening of the Choctaw Landing Luxury Resort and Casino in Hochatown. But Batton is just as proud of the Nation’s smaller ventures such as

the Three Rivers Meat Company in Smithville, a USDA meat processing and retail operation that opened last year and provided 24 jobs.

“We raise our own beef as well,” Batton says. “If we can supply the meat processing plant with enough beef, we can put that in our grocery outlets and sell it, and maybe take that nationwide. We are working with local farmers and ranchers to grow the same quality of beef” to help supply Three Rivers Meat Company, he shares.

In February, the Chickasaw Nation opened the OKANA Resort and Indoor Waterpark on the grounds of the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City. The 100,000-square-feet indoor waterpark features rides, interactive water features, a heated pool and a lazy river.

The outdoor waterpark, which opened in May, offers resort guests The Lagoon beach experience, ziplines and a slide that drops into a deep pool, an inflatable obstacle course and a swim-up bar. Lodging options include junior suites, multiroom family suites and bunk suites, and restaurants range from Mexican to Asian to tribal cuisine. Both parks are open to the public with day passes.

Tribes also support the economy by investing in infrastructure and bolstering education, Batton says.

“We give to every fire department and every law enforcement agency across the Choctaw Nation,” he says. “We give to all of the 89 school districts in the area.”

Oklahoma tribes have invested millions in infrastructure projects, according to the economic impact study.

For example, the Chickasaw Nation spent $13.5 million to fund improvements to Interstate 35 at the Oklahoma/Texas border; the Cherokee Nation donated $12 million to improve Tulsa’s I-44 and 193rd Street interchange; and the Citizen Potawatomi Nation funded $8 million worth of improvements at Interstate 40 and State Highway 102 near Shawnee.

“We think like Cherokees, and if we are truly doing that, we are thinking about our neighbors,” says Cherokee Deputy Chief Bryan Warner.

“If we don’t do that, we can’t heal a community. In the smaller communities, we see the needs for housing, and community buildings and sidewalks. We’ve got to make sure the lights are turned back on in those communities,” Warner says.

The Cherokee Nation employs 14,500 people between its business and governmental functions.

Suite Shots Golf, which opened in April in the Riverwalk Crossings in Jenks, is a joint venture between the Muscogee Nation and the North Dakota-based golf entertainment company. Muscogee Nation press secretary Jason Salsman says the tribe’s Onefire Holding Company business arm has helped to totally revitalize the shopping center, which now includes Muscogee cultural identifiers in its décor.

A March opening is planned for a new four-story, $85 million tribal headquarters and Muscogee citizen services building in Okmulgee, Salsman says.

First Americans on the Silver Screen

A conversation during a baseball game was a reminder to Cherokee Nation’s Warner of the importance of Cherokee Film. That’s the umbrella organization for the Cherokee Film Commission, Cherokee Film Incentive, Cherokee Film Studios and Cherokee Film Institute.

“I was talking to an individual, a great person. I could tell he didn’t know anything about tribal nations, but he was curious,” Warner says. “Movies tend to depict everybody as being in a Plains tribe. I told him that each tribe has their own story of what has happened to them. We want to make sure we tell the right story.”

The Cherokee Film Commission scouts and promotes movie locations in Oklahoma and connects filmmakers to skilled Native talent and crews. The Cherokee Film Incentive incentivizes filming within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation, offering up to 25% cash back for production expenditures in addition to the incentive programs offered by the state of Oklahoma. The state-of-the-art Cherokee Film Studios in Owasso offers soundstages and a studio space with editing and audio suites, hair and makeup suites and catering facilities. And the Cherokee Film Institute provides workshops and on-set training to build a skilled workforce for every level of the industry.

Cherokee Film, Warner says, “serves a purpose of messaging.”

Chickasaw Nation Productions resulted from Gov. Bill Anoatubby’s vision to use film production to preserve the stories of the Chickasaw people.

“The goal of Chickasaw Nation Productions is to educate audiences by producing feature films and documentaries with accurate, positive portrayals of Chickasaw people, history and culture,” according to its website.

In November, Choctaw Nation’s Chief Batton took to social media with some news about the film industry.

“I’m proud to announce that Brave will be the first-ever film to shoot on the Choctaw Nation Reservation,” Batton posted on Facebook. “This film represents a historic milestone for our tribe. It’s a powerful step forward in our efforts to defend sovereignty, ensuring our stories are told authentically by our own people.”

Cherokee Film does everything from scouting and promoting in-state movie locations to creating tax incentives for shooting within the Nation, offering soundstages and studio space, and hosting workshops to build a prepared, skilled workforce for every facet of the film and TV industry. Photo courtesy the Cherokee Nation

The Bureau of Indian Education

The nearly 1,000 students who are enrolled in the Bureau of Indian Education’s (BIE) tribally-run schools in Oklahoma “develop pride in their heritage, build leadership skills and deepen their connection to their communities and cultures,” according to a spokesperson for the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

BIE directly operates Riverside Indian School, a fourth through 12th grade residential campus in Anadarko that serves Native students from across the country. In addition, BIE funds and supports four residential tribal schools: the Cherokee Nation’s Sequoyah High School in Tahlequah; Jones Academy (Choctaw Nation) in Hartshorne; Choctaw Children’s Village in Kingston; and Eufaula Dormitory (Creek Nation) in Eufaula.

“While their respective tribal nations manage them, BIE provides support through funding, compliance monitoring and technical assistance,” the spokesperson says.

A $65 million building and renovation project underway at Sequoyah High School will include a performing arts center, a new academic building and remodeled dormitories, says Corey Bunch, chief of staff of the Cherokee Nation. Bunch expects the work to be complete by the end of 2026.

In addition to its musical endeavors, “in the last decade or so, we have developed a terrific drama program,” Bunch says. “We’ve been needing to give them a better place to perform.”

The 9th- through 12th-grade campus has an enrollment of 330, many of whom are commuter students from Tahlequah and surrounding counties, Bunch says.

“We have a high expectation for our students,” Bunch says. “We want them to make a commitment to get the most out of their education and be prepared for the next level, for some form of higher education.”

Students with an interest in aviation have spent the past two years building an airplane in a hangar in Tahlequah. It’s a partnership with the Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa and Tango Flight, a nonprofit designed to inspire the next generation of aviation workers.

Students built a two-seater, single engine plane that will be sold so a new kit can be purchased for the next class, Bunch says. He says he would also like to make flight lessons available to the students while they are building the planes.

Native students benefit from attending schools that “honor and uplift their identities,” the BIE spokesperson says. The

schools incorporate Native language instruction, tribal history and cultural practices into their curriculums, including traditional arts, storytelling, powwows and regalia-making.

BIE also supports cultural training in public schools.

“These initiatives provide funding and technical assistance to tribes and eligible institutions, including public schools with high Native enrollment, to promote Native language preservation, cultural education and student support services that reflect tribal values,” the spokesperson says.

Keeping Language Alive

A showpiece campus for the transfer of the Cherokee language from one generation to the next is taking shape in Tahlequah.

The Cherokee Language Immersion School will soon be expanded with a $30 million middle school where traditional culture will be infused into a modern-day curriculum that meets and even exceeds mandated federal education standards, says Howard Paden, executive director of the Department of Cherokee Language. The school is expected to open in the spring of 2026.

Students will study the fine and performing arts, including learning how to rap in Cherokee. They will plant corn, singing the same song their ancestors did 6,000 years ago. Fresh water for ceremonies will be drawn from the aquifer below. A life skills curriculum will teach traditional cooking and sewing.

“We want our kids to be able to look up in the sky and know what stars are out, and be able to walk through the woods and look at the plants and know which way is north because moss is growing on that side of the tree,” Paden says. “We are in the middle of building a Cherokee renaissance. It’s about the past, the here-and-now and the future. We aren’t throwing technology out. We are going to make technology Cherokee.”

The tribe’s Durbin Feeling Language Center houses all language preservation programs including the immersion school, the master apprentice program for adults and the translation department. About 150 employees run 16 language programs.

Paden felt called as a child to learn Cherokee. His father took him to visit elders who were first-language speakers. He practiced with others during stomp dances. He says students now can learn in a month what it took him 20 years to pick up on his own.

The Nation is losing about 78 first-language speakers every year, but graduating only 24 from its apprenticeship program, he says. He’s reminded of that often, because a bell is rung in Tahlequah every time a Cherokee speaker dies.

“Families might drive an hour and a half to stand outside and our whole group will mourn with them,” Paden says. “It happens every week, sometimes twice a week.”

Choctaw’s Chief Batton has a goal for all 13,500 employees of the Choctaw Nation to learn to speak at least a few words or phrases in Choctaw – ranging from ‘hello’ to ‘please,’ ‘thank you’ and ‘until we meet again.’ A few weeks ago, his heart melted as he maneuvered his vehicle alongside the drive-up window of a fast-food restaurant. “Halito,” the woman on duty said. That’s Choctaw for hello.

“For me, as a tribal leader, the most important thing is preservation of our culture and history,” Batton says.

The tribe’s language preservation program includes paying apprentices to show up every day and study Choctaw. Typically, they become fluent in about four months.

“They tell us that when it clicks, it clicks,” he says.

Chickasaw Nation leadership aims to build trust with the youth – reflecting the Nations’ broader commitment to uplifting future generations.

Photo courtesy the Chickasaw Nation

The Nations & Mental Health

Services to people in need of mental health and substance abuse treatment are a priority with Oklahoma tribes, several of which are building or have opened specialized facilities.

The Cherokee Nation’s $25 million residential drug treatment center is scheduled to open by the end of the year in Tahlequah. The tribe created a $5 million endowment to get more workers certified in treating substance abuse disorders.

The Choctaw Nation’s Chahta Himmitoa Aiahli Tohnochi (CHAT) program works to prevent youth delinquency by using counseling techniques that are trauma-focused and age-appropriate. Services are for students in kindergarten through high school.

The Muscogee Nation’s Behavioral Health Facility in Okmulgee provides family counseling, mental health care and prevention and treatment services for substance abuse, trauma and suicidal ideation. Similar care is available at seven Indian Health Service clinics across the reservation, says Muscogee’s Salsman.

A Place for Healing, a Chickasaw facility in Paul’s Valley, is an adolescent transitional living center where young people ages 14-19 can focus on treatment and recovery in a tranquil setting.

Reclamation Efforts

The Muscogee flag now flies over city hall in Macon, Ga., says Salsman. Street signs in downtown Macon are worded in both English and Muscogee.

Such partnerships are part of the tribe’s efforts to reconnect with its roots in the American Southeast and to educate the people now living there about the tribe’s history and culture, Salsman says. The Muscogee people are, after all, descendants of the mound builders who inhabited parts of Alabama, Georgia, Florida and South Carolina before forced removal to Oklahoma.

A vital partnership now in the works would expand the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park near Macon to national park and preserve status, to be co-managed by the tribe and the Department of Interior.

The effort is part of a global movement known as Land Back that seeks the return of homelands to indigenous people through ownership or co-stewardship. In the past decade, nearly 4,700 square miles were returned to tribes in 15 states through a federal program.

The passion of Muscogee Nation’s youth represents the carrying on of tradition as the Nation invests in its culture and community. Photo courtesy the Muscogee Nation

More than 400 jobs were created by the 2024 opening of the Choctaw Landing Luxury Resort and Casino in Hochatown. Photo courtesy the Choctaw Nation

Chickasaw Nation officers help the tribe’s efforts to build, educate and support communities across Oklahoma. Photo courtesy the Chickasaw Nation

Oklahoma’s Most Influential People

Influence, when wielded well, uplifts communities, inspires people and creates lasting change. Oklahoma’s most impactful leaders, whether their areas of influence surround tribal affairs, healthcare, politics, education or business, use their platforms not for personal gain, but for building bridges and expanding opportunities for all.

We profile a few such leaders in our new Oklahoma’s Most Influential People spotlight, a two-part series concluding this month.

By Kimberly Burk and Faith Harl

Bill Anoatubby

Governor, the Chickasaw Nation

Leading a nation of 85,000 tribal citizens is a joy for Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby.

“The thing I like most is just being with the people,” says Anoatubby, who was first elected in 1987.

In May, Anoatubby dropped in on an annual training program, where 300 tribal employees were honing their leadership skills.

“I enjoy being with the youth,” he says. “And the senior citizens when they hold events. We have a veterans’ conference. October is our annual meeting and festival, when I give the state of the nation address. I have so much fun, just going and sitting with the people.”

The OKANA Resort, which opened in OKC in February, added 400 jobs to the Chickasaw Nation’s roster of 14,500 employees.

“It was about a $400 million investment, not just in the building itself but in the Oklahoma economy, in the Oklahoma City tourism market,” Anoatubby says.

The Chickasaw Nation launches businesses to create jobs, “and to add revenue that can be utilized by the nation to operate programs, such as healthcare and education and caring for the seniors,” he says. “We have a commitment to our people, to enhance the overall quality of life of the Chickasaw people.”

The investment in education starts with preschool and Head Start, and continues through the post-graduate level.

“We have about 5,700 Chickasaw students receiving scholarships and other assistance,” Anoatuby says. “We spent $32 million last year on grants and scholarships.”

The tribal healthcare system includes a hospital and three clinics, with another hospital soon to be built in Newcastle.

Anoatubby says he is able to manage his myriad priorities with the help of a cabinet system, with departments overseen by people with specific expertise.

“You fill out your whole operation with people who know what they’re doing, and then give them the opportunity to do it,” he says.

His longevity in office means he’s able to enjoy seeing the fruits of the nation’s labor.

“It’s really rewarding to go to events and see the effects of the things the tribe is doing. You see the students graduating and going on to their chosen professions, and the seniors having a good time at their senior sites and when they go on trips.”

Anoatubby believes in partnerships that improve the lives of people in the community as well as tribal citizens.

“We work with counties and cities, with educational institutions. I subscribe to the thinking that a rising tide raises all boats,” he says. “It’s all about relationships and being able to establish them, to work on common goals. That’s how you should be using any power and influence you have, is to work with others and try to make things better.”

- KB

Photo courtesy the Chickasaw Nation

Jamie C. Polk

Superintendent, Oklahoma City Public Schools

Students know the drill when greeting Jamie C. Polk, superintendent of Oklahoma City Public Schools.

“I want them to shake my hand, share their name, look me in the eye, and then tell me what good book they have read,” Polk says. It’s a good way to promote literacy, and helps her find out what the kids are interested in. Understanding what students have on their minds is crucial to her leadership style.

“I don’t ask students what they want to be when they grow up,” she says. “I ask them what problem they want to solve.”

Students might tell her they want to help the homeless, or create government forms that are easier to fill out.

“It’s usually something close to their hearts, about helping their families,” Polk says.

The school board held community listening sessions in preparation for the district re-setting its goals.

“As the OKCPS Board of Education sets its goals for the next five years, those priorities will be shaped by the values of the families, staff and communities we serve,” Polk says. “We are committed to ensuring that our goals, strategies and communications reflect that direction – focused on results, responsive to our community and rooted in the belief that every student deserves a real chance to succeed.”

Polk leads a district with more than 33,000 students and 4,600 employees.

“It truly is a great responsibility, and an even greater privilege,” she says. “I approach this work with deep gratitude, knowing that every decision we make has the potential to impact a student’s future or uplift an educator’s path. If someone says I have a big job, I say I have a big commitment. I’m committed.”

Meeting often with campus principals is another way to stay focused on students.

“Our principals are what actually drive our daily work,” she says. “We are here to support them.”

The concept of equity figures prominently in the district’s vision for itself.

“For me, educational equity is about ensuring opportunity,”

Polk says. “It means making sure every student – no matter their starting point – has access to the support, resources and learning experiences that will help them reach their full potential. This is about focusing on what matters most – ensuring every student has what they need to graduate ready, whether that means enlisting in the military, enrolling in higher education or entering a rewarding career.”

As the strategic plan is revised, Polk will emphasize the reporting of student outcomes.

“I will make the numbers transparent. Sustainable results come from clear goals, aligned actions and honest reflection.”

When public education works, Polk says, “everything around it gets stronger. That’s why I’ll keep fighting for the resources our students need, expanding programs that prepare them for life after graduation, and ensuring we’re growing the next generation of leaders in Oklahoma.”

- KB

George Kaiser

President/CEO, George Kaiser Family Foundation Board Chairman, BOK Financial Corporation

Businessman and philanthropist George B. Kaiser is on a mission to make the world a more equitable place. As the son of Jewish immigrants, Kaiser is a first-generation American and lifelong Oklahoman.

After earning an M.B.A. from Harvard Graduate School of Business, Kaiser became the president and principal owner of his family’s business, Kaiser-Francis Oil Co. In 1990, Kaiser purchased the Bank of Oklahoma – a decision that made him one of the wealthiest people in America.

As of 2025, Kaiser’s net worth is valued at $15 billion. He serves as Chairman of the Board of BOK Financial and Bank Of Oklahoma and controls 59% of the bank’s shares.

To combat generational poverty, Kaiser formed the George Kaiser Family Foundation, which funds community projects and early childhood development programs. Kaiser also played an instrumental role in forming the Tulsa Community Foundation. Following the lead of other billionaires, Kaiser has signed the Giving Pledge, promising to give away at least half of his assets to charitable causes.

- FH

Photo courtesy Oklahoma City Public Schools

Photo courtesy the George Kaiser Family Foundation

Harold

Hamm Founder and Chairman, Continental Resources

Continental Resources founder and chairman Harold Hamm recognized early on that people who share make the world a better place.

His father, a tenant farmer and lay minister, “was most recognized for his generosity,” Hamm says. “We never had anything extra because my father always found someone who was worse off than we were.”

Hamm moved to Enid at age 16, where he took note of the philanthropy of such oil and gas industry leaders as Frank and Jane Phillips. Starting out in oilfield services, Hamm worked his way up, and by the 1990s had the vision to use horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing in North Dakota, transforming the oil industry.

Following the example of his early mentors, Hamm has given to such causes as diabetes research and higher education. In 2016, he was an Horatio Alger Award recipient. In 2012, Time magazine named him among the 100 most influential people in the world. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2011.

- KB

David Holt

Mayor, City of Oklahoma City

As the 38th mayor of Oklahoma City, David Holt is making an impact that is not only felt at the state-level, but across the nation. Holt is the city’s first Native American mayor and, at the time of his election in 2018, was the youngest elected mayor of a major U.S. city. Holt’s commitment to bipartisan policies is what has captured the support of both Republicans and Democrats alike. During his first term, Holt ushered in the most ambitious plan of MAPS 4, which provides funding for 16 public projects totaling $1.1 billion.

Holt also worked to secure the Oklahoma City Thunder as the city’s NBA team for the next 30 years – an accomplishment that aided in Oklahoma winning its first-ever national professional title in June via the Thunder. In return, Holt proposed a plan to build a $900 million sports arena, which was approved by 71% of voters.

For his influence in politics, Holt has earned dozens of recognitions. Among these includes a spot on the Times Next 100 List. He’s also been elected to the Board of Directors of the National League of Cities and serves as President of the United States Conference of Mayors. – FH

Photo by Charlie Neuenschwander courtesy the City of OKC

Photo courtest of The Oklahoma Hall of Fame

Ebony Johnson

Superintendent, Tulsa Public Schools

As a former student at Tulsa Public Schools, Ebony Johnson is passionate about helping others attain academic success. Johnson held multiple leadership roles at TPS for over 20 years before becoming the Superintendent in 2023. Johnson is the first Black woman to secure the position.

Johnson started her educational career teaching at Monroe Middle School in 1999. She then went on to serve as Executive Director of Student and Family Support Services and Chief Academic Officer at TPS.

With the goal of giving back to her community, Johnson implemented strategies that reduced out-of-school suspensions by 27% district-wide. Paramount to Johnson’s success is her commitment to supporting students’ emotional and social wellbeings.

Since becoming the Superintendent, TPS has seen improvements in student attendance and enrollment. For her transformational work, Johnson has received numerous accolades, including the Hall of Honor award from 100 Black Men of Tulsa in 2014; the Madam President award from the League of Women Voters of Tulsa in 2022; and the e NSU Centurion Award in 2022.

- FH

Keith Reed

Commissioner of Health, Oklahoma State Department of Health

Keith Reed was appointed the Commissioner of Health for the Oklahoma State Department of Health in 2021. Upon stepping into his role, Reed was faced with leading the agency through the transitional phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under his leadership, the OSDH partnered with the private sector to help over 2.5 million Oklahomans get vaccinated and distribute protective equipment to frontline workers. Reed continues to drive transformation across the agency, focusing on opportunities for efficiency and innovation.

Prior to becoming the Commissioner of Health, Reed held several leadership roles at the OSDH. A lifelong Oklahoman, he draws on his personal experience to understand state residents and their unique health needs.

Reed also serves as a Colonel in the Oklahoma Air National Guard and Commander of the 137th Special Operations Medical Group at the Will Rogers Air National Guard Base in Oklahoma City. He’s supported major military operations, including Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

- FH

Photo courtesy Tulsa Public Schools

Photo courtesy the Oklahoma State Department of Health

The

Future

in

Session

Oklahoma’s higher education landscape is in the midst of a quiet transformation, driven by shifting workforce demands, advanced artificial intelligence technology and a renewed focus on innovation. Colleges and universities statewide are rethinking how they educate students, strategically partnering with businesses and preparing their graduates for an uncertain future. We explore just a few ways they’re swiftly adapting – whether that’s embracing the perks of skills-based learning or fostering entrepreneurship through a dynamic curriculum.

By Gretchen Eichenberg

Skills Based Hiring Vs. Traditional Degrees: The Best of Both Worlds

In response to a major shift in the approach to knowledge, employability and learning, Oklahoma colleges and universities are reshaping some of their degree plans to include opportunities to gain job-specific skills and experience to accompany a diploma.

“As the workforce increasingly values practical, demonstrable skills over traditional degrees alone, colleges are adapting by integrating skills-based education into their offerings,” says Mautra Staley Jones, Ed.D., president of Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC). OCCC has expanded its micro-credential programs, allowing students to earn industry-recognized credentials in high-demand fields.

“These bite-sized certifications, often in partnership with employers, enable students to develop job-ready competencies quickly,” Jones says.

OCCC is the state’s largest provider of micro-credentials, granting nearly 18,000 in the last 18 months, she adds.

Tulsa Community College (TCC) is also working with local employers to get graduates job-ready more efficiently than ever before.

“TCC works with local employers to offer students training that aligns with industry standards and leads directly to jobs,” says Pete Selden, Ed.D., vice president of workforce development at TCC. “We also offer stackable micro-credentials that allow students to gain specific ... skills in a shorter and flexible timeframe.”

As employers look to prioritize hands-on experience, technical fluency and job-ready certifications, Oklahoma State University (OSU) has expanded OSU Polytech, a workforce-driven initiative offering more than 60 programs across OSUIT, OSU-OKC, OSU-Tulsa and online platforms.

“What makes OSU Polytech uniquely powerful is that it isn’t merely reacting to workforce trends, it is actively shaping them in partnership with Oklahoma’s employers,” says Kyle Wray, senior vice president of system affairs for the university.

Wray says OSU has taken an economy-driven approach to the issue and turned it into opportunity.

“Each year, nearly 10,000 Oklahoma high school graduates transition directly into the workforce without earning a degree or certification – a statistic that highlights a significant opportunity gap, not just for individuals, but for the state’s economy,” he says.

Students often cite barriers such as cost, family obligations, geographic constraints or a lack of interest in traditional academic paths, Wray adds.

OSU Polytech is designed to meet students where they are –geographically, financially and academically, offering over 60 programs across all campuses and online.

At Northeastern State University (NSU), Carla Swearingen, Ph.D., provost and vice president for academic affairs, says her institution is focused on providing education for students that will lead to careers in the state and region.

“While it is true that not every job requires a degree, the majority of the critical occupations in Oklahoma do,” Swearingen says. “These are also the jobs that tend to provide higher salaries, which helps students, their families and the communities they live in and thrive. NSU regularly works with local businesses and tribal partners to assess their workforce needs and ensure that our educational offerings are relevant.”

In addition to offering critical occupation majors, NSU provides a wide variety of micro-credentials and certificates that help upskill employees. All of these measures help us retain a talented workforce in the area and grow the economy, too.

Applied learning experiences, such as internships, apprenticeships and capstone projects, enable students to showcase real-world experience, OCCC’s Jones says.

“Strong advisory boards composed of industry professionals help align the curriculum with evolving workforce needs, ensuring students graduate with both knowledge and employability,” she concludes.

University & Business Partnerships

Oklahoma’s educational institutions are fostering partnerships with businesses to enhance student opportunities and drive economic growth.

In a move to position Oklahoma as a hub for advanced manufacturing, OSU’s Hamm Institute for American Energy has partnered with Divergent Technologies Inc. to accelerate the adoption of next-generation manufacturing processes in the state.

“This partnership not only brings cutting-edge technology to Oklahoma,” Wray says, “but also creates opportunities for OSU students to engage with transformative manufacturing practices.”

Divergent’s Adaptive Production System leverages AI-driven design, additive manufacturing and robotic assembly to produce high-performance structures more efficiently than traditional methods.

OSU’s Hamm Institute for American Energy has partnered with SK E&S, a leading South Korean energy company, to advance energy research and innovation. This multimillion-dollar, five-year collaboration focuses on energy policy and security, with SK E&S funding

research grants and joining the Hamm Institute Advisory Board.

“Through these and other strategic partnerships, OSU is not only responding to the current needs of industries but also proactively shaping the future workforce,” Wray says. “By integrating practical experiences into its educational programs, the university ensures that its graduates are well-equipped to meet the demands of a dynamic job market.”

TCC also has established strong partnerships throughout the college, with one example being in the healthcare field.

“We partner with local providers to give our students clinical experience right in the community,” Sweden says. “In turn, our healthcare partners benefit from a strong pipeline of well-prepared healthcare graduates who are ready to join the workforce.”

In the manufacturing sector, TCC recently partnered with DMI Industries, a global manufacturer of air duct systems and components with a facility in Wagoner.

“As part of the partnership, TCC developed two micro-credential programs, Lean Manufacturing and Industry 4.0,” Selden says. “More than a dozen DMI employees from both the Wagoner and Pittsburgh, Penn., facilities completed the programs.”

Partnerships between OU and area businesses help students gain hands-on experience before graduation. Photo courtesy OU

At OSU, leadership has taken an economy-driven approach to its multi-campus curriculum to ensure students gain the skills necessary to snag high-earning jobs following graduation. Photo courtesy OSU

The University of Oklahoma (OU) has built a dynamic range of partnerships with businesses to create transformative opportunities for students and measurable impact for companies, according to Danielle Dunn, assistant vice president and director of communica-

tions and marketing for the division of enrollment management.

“In the Michael F. Price College of Business, we offer the Tom Love Scholars with Love’s Travel Stops, the Business Consulting Practicum and Ronnie K. Irani Center for the Creation of Economic Wealth’s (I-CCEW) data-driven, growth strategy projects,” Dunn says. “Students engage in high-impact learning while businesses benefit from fresh insights and strategic solutions.”

Collaborations with companies like Deloitte, Northrop Grumman, 7-Eleven and RealFoundations have led to internships and fulltime roles, while initiatives like the Pathways to Price program and the First Fidelity Bank Integrated Business Core prepare students for successful careers in business.

“Partnerships across different areas, such as finance, accounting, entrepreneurship and innovation, equip students with real-world experience, leadership development and industry access, while helping companies cultivate top talent and drive growth in Oklahoma’s economy,” Dunn says.

Strategic partnerships are one of OCCC’s greatest strengths as well, Jones says.

“Our healthcare partnerships with local hospitals have led to clinical placement pipelines and job offers for students before graduation. Through tech collaborations, students get access to real-world tools and mentorships, such as those with Alias Forensics, Bob Moore Chevrolet, the City of Oklahoma City, the City of Edmond, the Department of Defense, Dell OKC and Eskridge Honda.”

AI Integration

The integration of AI is reshaping how students learn, how educators teach and how institutions operate in a rapidly changing landscape.

From personalized learning opportunities and faculty empowerment to privacy concerns, academic integrity apprehensions and over-reliance on AI to function, the list of pros and cons is both exciting and daunting.

“TCC views AI as a tool that can support student learning and our work as educators, but not as a replacement for the human element,” Selden says. “AI has the potential to personalize learning and help faculty manage time-consuming tasks. At the same time, concerns include the over-reliance on AI and its ethical use. Moving forward, we believe students and educators need to be AI-literate to understand what these tools are capable of and when their use is, or is not, appropriate.”

Swearingen says NSU also believes in the power of AI – when used for good.

“The world of artificial intelligence has evolved so quickly that most higher education institutions are just trying to keep up,” she says. “There is tremendous power in utilizing AI, particularly with sorting through large amounts of data that would require unrealistic human hours. However, as with any new and evolving technology, there need to be ethical boundaries in place.”

Jones says OCCC holds incredible promise for AI’s role in higher education, and is approaching its integration with both enthusiasm and caution. Some of the pros, she says, are personalized learning pathways that adapt to each student’s pace and strengths, predictive analytics that

TCC offers a variety of classes and clubs that promote problem-solving, critical thinking and entrepreneurship across multiple disciples. Photo courtesy TCC

help identify at-risk students and intervene early, as well as administrative efficiency to free up faculty for more meaningful student engagement.

“We’re also mindful of the cons, such as data privacy risks tied to AI-driven platforms, the danger of over-reliance on technology at the expense of human connection and judgment and equity gaps if AI tools are not accessible to all students,” Jones said. “Moving forward, we are piloting AI tools within tightly regulated frameworks, pairing machine intelligence with faculty oversight and ethical training to ensure that human values remain central to the educational experience.”

Fostering Entrepreneurism

Oklahoma colleges and universities are increasingly becoming hubs of innovation and entrepreneurism by providing students, faculty and alumni with the resources and environments needed to launch and grow startups.

One way OU’s Price College of Business is unique is that it has its own entrepreneurship department.

“We recognize the importance of entrepreneurship in that it’s become its own academic division,” says Keith Brigham, Ph..D., director of OU’s Tom Love Division of Entrepreneurism and Economic Development. “We offer a major, a minor and this year, we started a brand new Master of Science in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. So we’ve got a lot of established programs in entrepreneurship.”

Students come to the program, he says, with either an idea that they want to develop more or just a passion for entrepreneurship.

“We teach them the skills to help them succeed. But entrepreneurship is also a mindset,” he says. “It’s not just a particular set of business skills, but it’s also the ability to identify opportunities and recognize those opportunities, evaluate those opportunities and then pursue them.”

Fostering an entrepreneurial spirit is crucial for both job creators and job seekers, OCCC’s Jones says.

“OCCC supports this through the Career Success and Workforce Development Division, which provides students with the resources, guidance and support they need to navigate their career paths successfully,” she says. “Whether a student wants to launch a nonprofit, start a small business or innovate within a larger company, we are committed to cultivating creativity, initiative and problem-solving skills across all disciplines.”

TCC encourages entrepreneurship and innovation by providing practical learning, modern facilities and strong faculty support.

“Two TCC students were recently selected as the only finalists from Oklahoma in the AACC Community College Innovation Challenge,” senior vice president and chief academic officer Angela Sivadon, Ph.D. says. “Under the guidance of a faculty mentor, they designed a smart-home drone delivery system and earned a spot at an innovation boot camp in Washington, D.C. We also have a student-led combat robotics team, founded by engineering students and advised by our Fabrication Lab manager, that is growing thanks to campus recruitment and community events.”

TCC offers a variety of classes and clubs that promote problem-solving, critical thinking and entrepreneurial skills across disciplines, Sivadon adds.

“We also recently opened applications for the fourth cohort of the Cox Small Business Leadership Academy, supported by Cox Communications,” Sivadon says. “This program helps small business owners learn about marketing, finance and management to improve their businesses.”

At NSU, leaders understand that AI can be used as a tool for good, as long as ethical limitations are put in place. Photo courtesy NSU

OCCC is the state’s largest provider of micro-credentials, granting nearly 18,000 in the last 18 months. Photo courtesy OCCC

Outstanding High School Seniors

Academic excellence, community involvement, athletic achievements and civic leadership have set these high school graduates apart from their peers. The standouts profiled in the following pages are poised to make waves as they head to universities across the country this fall. Their exceptional accomplishments not only reflect their personal ambitions – but also the bright future of Oklahoma’s next generation.

Compiled by Mary Willa Allen

Caleb Walton

Cascia Hall Preparatory School

Attending: Texas Christian University

Intended major: Movement science on a pre-athletic training and physical therapy track. I’ve always enjoyed working with people, especially in the athletic realm, and the functions of the human body, so this seemed like a great way to combine these.

Proudest achievement: I received the Chancellor’s and Trustee’s Scholarship from the John V. Roach Honors College at TCU, valued at more than $320,000. I would trade places for one day with: Tennis legend Roger Federer. As one of the best tennis players of all time, a successful business man, globetrotter and a father, experiencing his life in his professional prime would be one of the most interesting and gratifying experiences. Twenty years from now, I’d like to be: In a secure career raising a family and following God’s plan in my life.

Unique characteristics: I think I matured very quickly from struggles I faced in my personal life, so that, and my ability to interact and bond with most everyone around me has blessed me with a drive and natural ability to reason and thoroughly think through any situation.

Hobbies and passions: I enjoy tennis. I also am very involved in my church youth group and its global missions and retreats.

Bonus tidbit: During the summer of COVID, I participated in a virtual summer camp for academic bowl that had people from all around the U.S. and I won a semi-competitive tournament at the end of the week. From there on, I told everyone that I was a national champion in academic bowl – stretching the truth to sound more impressive – but was quickly knocked off my pedestal by a friend who had attended the camp with me.

Divya Thomas

Bishop Kelley High School

Attending: Texas A&M University

Intended major: Biomedical engineering. Through God’s grace, I am part of E2EnMed, where I am set to graduate from Texas A&M College of Engineering Medicine in 2033 with an M.D. and masters of engineering.

Proudest achievement: Doing graduate level research since the age of 12 at OSU with Dr. Vazquez. I contributed to the discovery of a potential link between serum and brain BDNF levels with addiction and

depression and went on as the youngest person to win 1st Place Best High School Student at the TABERC Biomedical-Neuroscience-Physiology Conference.

I would trade places for one day with: Srinivasa Ramanujan. As a fellow Tamil from South India, I admire his extraordinary intuition and groundbreaking insights in mathematics.

Twenty years from now, I would like to be: An interventional radiologist because it involves a profound understanding of applied physics in medicine.

Unique characteristics: I am insatiably curious about all aspects of the world – art, literature, architecture, geography, world history – especially math, physics, chemistry and biology.

Hobbies and passions: I enjoy playing tennis with my little sister, playing piano and exploring non-Euclidean games on my computer.

Bonus tidbit: I played on Google Earth so much when I was younger that I accidentally memorized the world map and can still draw it from memory.

Noah McReynolds

Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School

Attending: The University of Oklahoma Intended major: Petroleum engineering. Since I was a small child, I enjoyed tinkering with things, taking everything I could apart, and figuring out how to put it back together. Additionally, math has always been my favorite subject. So, when researching careers, engineering was my go-to.

Proudest achievement: Throughout my high school years, I have been faced with more adversity than most my age. This has led to me learning about resilience and perseverance. Nonetheless, I was able to maintain my grades and continue to take challenging classes with all that life threw at me, as well as start on the varsity football and soccer teams.

I would trade places for one day with: Dwayne Johnson. I want to see what it feels like to come all the way from rock bottom, where your family is living paycheck to paycheck, and then become a man with money, fame and success. He is a person who solves problems and never backs down, and that’s something I truly admire.

Twenty years from now, I would like to be: Settled down in a nice home with a family of four to five, and a nice job. I want to send my kids to a good high school and have a membership at a local country club/golf course.

Unique characteristics: My skills to persevere and my charming sense of humor.

Hobbies and passions: This summer I’ve committed my time to the golf course, as well as hanging out with my friends and family before college.

Photo by Betsy Gregory Photography

Eva Mahajan

Jenks High School

Attending: Brown University

Intended major: Economics on the business track. Brown has concentrations instead of traditional majors, so I chose econ as it can easily be paired with other interests of mine. I hope to take courses within the international and public affairs program as well.

Proudest achievement: My organization: Leap. Leap is a pen-pal program between high school students and elementary students in the English Language Learners program. Letter-writing is a fun and engaging way to learn English and build connections between Jenks students. The pilot year has proven to be successful, and we ended the year with over 1,000 letters being exchanged and 200 participants total. I really enjoyed launching my own program, and I learned so much about how to lead an organization. It was stressful but also incredibly fulfilling.

I would trade places for one day with: Anna Wintour. I think it would be incredible to see how the chief of America Vogue lives her life, and I would love to choose the cover of Vogue.

Unique characteristics: I’m not shy when it comes to talking to others at all. I love starting conversations with strangers, whether I’m out shopping or waiting in line at a cafe. I believe you can learn a lot from everyday interactions and build community with people you never expected to meet.

Hobbies and passions: Seeing everything Tulsa has to offer. Every weekend I’m either at a flea market, a new cafe or the park with my friends.

Bonus tidbit: My hidden talent is that I’m currently learning how to fly a plane! I’m hoping to eventually get my private pilot license.

Erina Katoh

Booker T. Washington High School

Attending: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Intended major: Computer science. My older sister began to major in computer science, and because I was interested in learning more about it, I joined the programming sub-team in First Robotics Competition robotics. After participating, I found myself increasingly becoming interested in it.

Proudest achievement: When I can help explain difficult concepts like math or literature analysis to someone and see them suddenly brighten up with joyful realization and a big “Ohhhhh.” I would trade places for one day with: The child of a successful business leader so that I could understand the family dynamic of those whose parents are in high demand and learn about the overlooked struggles of those often seen as ‘privileged.’

Twenty years from now, I would like to be: Living a fulfilled life, bringing smiles to more people while helping them feel seen and accomplished.

Unique characteristics: I am curious to listen and learn about the details, whether it be the historic origins of the civil war in Sudan or the diverse interests and styles people have.

Hobbies and passions: I recently got an electric bicycle and have gotten into bicycling around Tulsa. I find it calming to feel the wind blowing through my hair as I feel the occasional bump of every crack on the Oklahoma roads and discover new pathways in areas I thought I once knew.

Bonus tidbit: I admit that I stand at a colossal height of 5’2 and weigh around 5 watermelons, but I can give you twenty pull-ups right now, and can do some Judo.

Mark Romanishin

Broken Arrow High School

Attending: United States Naval Academy

Intended major: Aerospace engineering. I always had an interest in aviation and want to pursue a challenging path while building a foundation for a career in test piloting.

Proudest achievement: Gaining admission to the United States Naval Academy. It’s a huge honor for me and my family and I’m excited for the challenges ahead. I would trade places for one day with: Neil Armstrong to experience his walk on the moon.

Twenty years from now, I’d like to: Have a successful career in aviation and fly my family around in my own plane.

Unique characteristics: My ability to put my head down and get to work.

Hobbies and passions: I enjoy working out and playing piano, and I also work as a lifeguard.

Krish Kalpesh Patel

Casady School

Attending: Johns Hopkins University

Intended major: Computer science and biology. I love building things – whether it’s software or machine learning (ML) models, and strongly believe that technology, especially ML, will help introduce new life-saving treatments.

Proudest achievement: Seeing Patai & Patel et al. projected in a lecture hall full of Ph.D., M.D., and graduate students at OU’s Neuroscience Symposium. Publishing a peer-reviewed, co-first-author research paper while finalizing two other manuscripts showed me that, with proper mentorship and determination, a high schooler can make a significant impact in the field of science.

I would trade places for one day with: Dario Amodei, the co-founder and CEO of Anthropic, a company committed to creating safe and ethical artificial intelligence. Twenty years from now, I’d like to be: Leading my own start-up that leverages advanced technologies to support physicians and researchers in improving quality of life. Unique characteristics: I try to live by my favorite quote: Do things “not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies.” – J.F. Kennedy.

Hobbies and passions: I’ve been swimming competitively for the past five years and playing the cello for the past six years! Recently, I’ve also picked up hiking with friends. Bonus tidbit: I can read Latin! Additionally, during the first week of the COVID-19 lockdown, my brother and I managed to finish a TV show with a 70-hour runtime in a week.

Nelson Liu

Holland Hall High School

Attending: University of Pennsylvania

Intended major: Finance and accounting with a minor in behavioral economics and/ or Chinese. I am interested in behavioral economics because learning how people think with their money will help me make informed decisions. The minor in Chinese is more of a need to reach bilingual fluency in my native language.

Proudest achievement: Winning regionals two years in a row in tennis and qualifying for state. The main reason is because I started during the summer following freshman year. It was one of the first things in my life that I personally decided to pursue and ended up being one of the greatest things I could add to my life.

I would trade places for one day with: Warren Buffet – he has been an inspiration to me as an investor and I would love to see his day in the life.

Twenty years from now, I’d like to be: In the penthouse of a Manhattan skyscraper. I was born in New York, but moved when I was five, so the city has always felt so close yet so far.

Unique characteristics: My unwillingness to give up in the face of almost certain adversity. It is a characteristic that has been lost somewhere in the 2000s and has helped me work through many of my personal and academic struggles.

Hobbies and passions: I love playing pickleball and am looking to play in a few tournaments soon. I also loved participating in academic team.

Drew A. Merrill

Augustine Christian Academy

Attending: Rogers State University

Intended major: Political science with the aim of going to law school. I decided to pursue this after discovering my interest in law and legal studies.

Proudest achievement: My 56-page thesis on federal Indian law I wrote for a senior thesis class at Augustine Christian Academy. I spent a year studying that thesis starting in July 2024 and earned the title of keynote speaker.

I would trade places for one day with: My ancestor, William Thomas (1573-1651) who funded the Mayflower voyage and Plymouth Colony. I spent a fair few months researching his life a couple of years ago and desire to know if my speculations about his life were correct. Twenty years from now, I would like to be: Working as a lawyer, ideally for the Choctaw Nation.

Unique characteristics: I am diligent and hard working. I enjoy reading and research. I try to learn from everything I do.

Hobbies and passions: I like to read history books (all kinds) and listen to Supreme Court oral arguments. I enjoy learning languages, including Choctaw, Biblical Greek and German.

Bonus tidbit: I have spent almost a year studying and learning the Choctaw language. I am a descendant of Rhys ap Thomas who ended the War of the Roses by killing King Richard III. I’m also a descendent of the former Choctaw Chief Moshulatubbee, who signed the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek.

Charan Sai Pratapaneni

Classen School of Advanced Studies

Attending: Emory University

Intended major: Chemistry on the premed track. Throughout all of high school, chemistry class has always been fascinating to me, and I love how challenging chemistry is because it motivates me to become a better learner. My ultimate goal is to become an endocrinologist.

Proudest achievement: Aside from getting into my dream school, my best academic achievement has been placing 13th at the High School National Championship Tournament for Quiz Bowl. It’s the highest placement any team has gotten in Oklahoma’s history.

I would trade places for one day with: Warren Buffett, because the stock market has always intrigued me, and one of the best ways to learn is to put yourself in the eyes of an expert. Also I always wondered how billion dollar companies were run on a day to day basis.

Twenty years from now, I’d like to be: A practicing physician with my own clinic. I want to own my own house and be able to take care of my parents financially.

Unique characteristics: I love learning about all aspects of academia, whether its art, literature or science.

Hobbies and passions: Going on walks, listening to music (my favorite genres are R&B and rap), watching sports and hanging out with my friends.

Bonus tidbit: My name means “at God’s feet” in Sanskrit. My grandmother chose this name because it symbolizes devotion and humility to God, as it’s a common gesture of respect to bow down and touch the feet of elders in Hindu culture.

Murphy Link

Crossings Christian School

Attending: University of Arkansas

Intended major: Business with a minor in marketing. I love working with people and hope to manage or run a company some day.

Proudest achievement: Making the Razorback college cheer team.

I would trade places for one day with: The CEO of a large company or top

designer to see how they run their business.

In twenty years, I’d like to be: Married with children. I hope to raise my kids to know the Lord and hopefully run a successful business for work.

Unique characteristics: I believe a few characteristics that make me stand out is my strong Christian faith and love for kids.

Hobbies and passions: I personally love cheerleading, playing tennis or pickleball for fun, and going on walks outside to enjoy nature!

Bonus tidbit: I have played the piano for 10 years!

William Santiago Baker

Edison Preparatory School

Attending: University of Tulsa

Intended major: Mechanical engineering. I have always loved math and learning about the way things work. Plus, it would be foundational to further study in architecture – which has always interested me.

Proudest achievement: Participating in and placing third in the regional Next Narrative competition. Living with cerebral palsy, I’m also proud of my hard work learning to walk when I was around ten years old.

I would trade places for one day with:

Brian Regan to experience what it’s like to be a comedian on tour.

Twenty years from now, I’d like to be: Living in a big city doing some type of performance art alongside my professional career.

Unique characteristics: I love taking my time with people and indulging in long conversations without looking at our phones.

Hobbies and passions: I love music and constantly have a song stuck in my head – usually from a musical.

Bonus tidbit: I love doing stand-up. I always have a “tight fifteen” routine ready and am looking forward to hitting up some open-mic nights this summer.

Reagan Smith Metro Christian Academy

Attending: Baylor University

Intended major: Kinesiology in order to later go into sonography and become an ultrasound technician.

Proudest achievement: Being a part of Metro’s varsity pom team and winning state all four years of high school.

I would trade places for one day with: My two-year-old niece, Noa, who suffered a traumatic brain injury in utero. I’m sure she has a very unique look at life and experiences the world in such a different way than most. It would be so special to me to understand Noa much deeper and be able to educate others for her benefit.

Twenty years from now, I would like to be: Involved in travel sonography, so I can experience so many different places while doing what I love.

Unique characteristics: I believe my intentionality sets me apart from others my age. Whether it be my studies, relationships or faith, I have always made an effort to live with purpose. What has also made me stand out is my quiet consistency, being present and actively trying to better myself in whatever environment I am in.

Hobbies and passions: Outside of school, I danced competitively from the age of two all the way to graduation. I also volunteer at the Sapulpa Church of the Nazarene with the children’s program and nursery. The rest of my time is spent babysitting my niece and nephew, whom I adore.

Mary Ruth

Copeland

Mingo Valley Christian

Attending: Tulsa Community College

Intended major: English, because I love studying literature and would love to become an English teacher or professor. My

Photo by Meredith Fink Wullkotte

own high school English teachers were such a special part of my education, and I hope someday I can help students savor the great books they encounter in the classroom.

Proudest achievement: Receiving the highest grade in each of my English classes all three years I attended Mingo.

I would trade places for one day with: Donna Tartt, a favorite author of mine. It would be interesting to try her routine, which is known to consist of writing for at least three hours in the morning.

Twenty years from now, I’d like to be: A professor of English literature, having both written and published at least one work of fiction. I also hope to be a wife and mother, reading stories like Narnia, the Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter to my family.

Unique characteristics: My Nana says I am a very gifted deep thinker. But she has to say nice stuff like that, because after all, she’s my Nana!

Hobbies and passions: I love to read a variety of genres but usually find my way back to classics by the likes of Jane Austen, John Steinbeck and C.S. Lewis. I also had a blast singing in high school musicals like Beauty and the Beast, The Sound of Music and Cinderella Bonus tidbit: I am named for two of my great-grandmothers, Mary and Ruth. I am told that they were both great ladies, but complete opposites: Ruth, a tough and fiery entrepreneur, and Mary, a calm and nurturing teacher. I like to think that God gave me a perfect balance of that fire and ice.

Kyle Brayden Harjo

Oklahoma Christian School

Attending: Oklahoma Baptist University

Intended major: Business with a concentration in computer information systems. I’ve always been interested in how technology and business work together to solve problems and improve efficiency. One of the biggest influences was learning code with my dad.

Proudest achievement: Graduating cum laude, which reflects the hard work, discipline and perseverance I’ve put into my education.

I would trade places for one day with: Truett Cathy, the founder of Chick-fil-A. I’d want to experience how he combined faith, leadership and business on such a large scale. I’d be curious to see how he made tough decisions, stayed true to his values, and led with purpose.

In twenty years, I’d like to be: Living a life that reflects my faith, with a strong and loving family at the center of it. My goal is to be a faithful leader, both at home and in my community, using the gifts I’ve been given to make a positive impact.

Unique characteristics: My dedication, dependability, honesty and maturity, whether it is academics, work, sports or helping others.

Hobbies and passions: I’ve been involved in tennis, track and golf, which has been a great way to challenge myself and stay competitive. I also spend time serving at Wings Special Needs Community and help at Project 66 Food Pantry, making sure families have what they need.

Bonus tidbit: I will be continuing athletics at OBU, competing in track and field. I’m excited to start training in a new event, javelin, which will push me physically and mentally in a whole new way.

Mia Osita

Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics

Attending: Duke University

Intended Major: Biology with a concentration in biochemistry. I’ve always had a passion for biology and excelled in every course I took. When I enrolled in biochemistry and earned a 100% in the course, I realized it was the perfect blend of my interests.

Proudest achievement: Receiving a full-ride, four-year scholarship to Duke through the QuestBridge National College Match. Going to college out of state never felt possible for me because it was too expensive, and my family tradition was to attend OU, teach English in Japan for a year, then begin a career. However, breaking tradition and achieving higher education without worrying about any financial difficulties is an ineffable blessing.

I would trade places for one day with: Jalen Hurts. I’ve always loved football and played quarterback on my intramural flag football team.

In twenty years, I’d like to be: A cardiothoracic surgeon. I also hope to be a public advocate, encouraging meaningful conversations on the issues that matter most. Beyond my

career, I envision marriage and a happy, beautiful family to call my own.

Unique characteristics: I’m a very thoughtful person, and I make it a point to listen carefully, remember details, and notice the little things.

Hobbies and passions: I love grabbing an iced matcha latte and getting lost in a good book. I also enjoy solo dates where I listen to uplifting podcasts while exploring local food spots. And cooking—pasta is my go-to dish. I can whip up pretty much any American dish, but I really want to learn how to cook Nigerian food to connect more with my roots.

Bonus tidbit: My middle name is Amarachi, which means “a miracle from God” in Igbo, a Nigerian tribe.

Jackson McGillen Riverfield Country Day School

Attending: Oklahoma State University

Intended major: Architecture with a minor in business. I have always loved the idea of making something, so much so that when I was asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I always responded with something that allowed me to use my imagination and create something.

Proudest achievement: Learning to play basketball, which I began my junior year. I had no experience and was honestly terrible at first, but I was determined to improve. I spent nearly all my free time in the gym, practicing and pushing myself. Eventually, I was invited to join the team.

In twenty years, I’d like to be: Running my own architecture firm, where I play an active role in client meetings and project discussions. At the same time, I hope to have built a large, happy family and maintain close relationships with loved ones.

Unique characteristics: My ability to embrace discomfort. When I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) at the age of ten, my world was completely turned upside down. But instead of letting it define me or hold me back, I chose to face it head-on. Embracing the uncomfortable helped me grow stronger, more resilient, and more confident in who I am. Hobbies and passions: I really like to play basketball and soccer, play drums and draw as much as I can. I am also a Breakthrough T1D Advocate, where I use my voice to help raise awareness about Type 1 diabetes and its symptoms. I even got to speak on live TV about it!

Bonus tidbit: I have run into not one but two poles and gotten scars from both around my right eye. One of them gave me 18 stitches!

Grace Elizabeth Blacet Union High School

Attending: Pittsburgh State University

Intended major: Social work. What led me to pursue this is my deep desire to help others. I feel like my purpose is to be there for others, supporting those going through challenges.

Proudest achievement: Being a state champion in the 4x400m relay at the 2025 Oklahoma Track and Field State Championship. We broke the school record for the third time that year, running a 3:48.12. We were so broken down and hurting towards the end, and that was our final push. We took home the gold and so many cherished memories!

I would trade places for one day with: My fifth-grade self. I was so free, and I didn’t have a single care in the world. My worst fear was missing the school bus. I would go ride my bike and stay out until the streetlights come on!

In twenty years, I’d like to: Have a family and a welcoming home. I want family and friends to constantly be over, where we can all do life together. I want to have a job that I absolutely love, getting to help people every day.

Unique characteristics: I’m rarely ever mad. I physically cannot be mad for longer than 3 minutes. I love being happy, I love smiling, I love laughing and I love being funny.

Hobbies and passions: I (somehow) actually enjoy running. I also love art and being able to create gifts for others! I would love to learn how to play the piano!

Photo by Kendra Catron, KJ Design

CURTAINS UP!

Oklahoma’s stages are set for show-stopping seasons. We explore what’s on the schedule at museums, performing arts organizations and other venues – big and small – for 2025 and 2026.

By Mary Willa Allen

Tulsa Opera

Tulsa Opera’s newest season is “lively and lighthearted,” says Cindy Sadler, the organization’s director of communications. “We’re opening with the beloved classic The Sound of Music ... then, we have the hilarious Gilbert and Sullivan favorite, The Pirates of Penzance, which is filled with silly fun, swashbuckling romance and memorable tunes.”

The Voices After Dark recital series is another stand-out, and “gives audiences three opportunities to experience some amazing music and artists in an intimate setting.”

The small but mighty team at Tulsa Opera works diligently to deliver top-quality opera performances every season.

“At our staff meeting this week, we are already discussing the 2027-28 season,” says Sadler. “Opera is one of the most complicated art forms to produce. Every single person on our staff, board of directors and contractors, and our amazing volunteers, contributes to creating what the audience sees on stage.”

Combine all that hard work, and it’s clear Tulsa Opera is producing its best season yet.

“Opera has always been a mirror of the human condition set to some of the most divine music imaginable, and it encompasses every other art form: dance, poetry, literature, drama, architecture, fashion, visual arts, you name it,” she says.

For more information on the season, visit tulsaopera.com.

Philbrook Museum of Art

A cultural institution in Tulsa, Philbrook welcomes discerning art lovers, families, solo visitors and everyone in between. In the coming year, the excellence continues.

“One of the key parts of the Philbrook experience is the variety of exhibitions and programs we provide throughout the year,” says Jeff Martin, the museum’s online communities manager. “In the coming months, guests will experience everything from a career retrospective of Tulsa artist Patrick Gordon to a show of work by legendary Civil Rights-era photographer/ filmmaker Gordon Parks. We’ll also be celebrating the 100th anniversary of Route 66.”

Curators at Philbrook work months, and even years, in advance to bring stellar exhibitions to Tulsa.

“The same can be said for our education team and the weekly offerings they provide for all ages, many connected to current exhibitions,” says Martin.

When considering what exhibitions and programming to curate, Martin says the team often asks themselves: ‘What can Philbrook provide to the community that no one else can?’ And work from there.

“When you see iconic shows from the likes of Frida Kahlo, Claude Monet or Japanese Samurai armor, that’s us answering that question,” he says.

Learn more about upcoming shows at philbrook.org.

Oklahoma City Museum of Art

The Oklahoma City Museum of Art stuns with compelling exhibitions this year.

Running through Sept. 28, Discovering Ansel Adams features over 100 photographs that share Adams’s most celebrated works while revealing aspects of his development that are often overlooked. Another major exhibition, Paul Reed: A Retrospective, runs from Nov. 22 to April 12.

“This major retrospective, the first devoted to the artist, will present a survey of Reed’s art and accomplishments from his early days as a graphic designer in 1950s New York to his success as one of the founding artists of the Washington Color School in the 1960s, to the aesthetic reinventions of his later work,” according to the museum. “Reed’s life was devoted to art and endless exploration of the many and varied properties of and approaches to form, color and light. Throughout his career spanning more than eight decades, Reed worked in a wide variety of mediums, including painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking, collage, graphic design and computer-generated and enhanced imagery.”

As well, visitors to the OKCMOA are always able to view Dale Chihuly: The Oklahoma Collection, which features three decades of the prolific artist’s sculptures and works on paper from the museum’s permanent collection.

To learn more, head to okcmoa.com.

Right: The Pirates of Penzance, Tulsa Opera; photo courtesy Tulsa Opera

Directly below: SAMURAI Philbrook; signed by Myōchin Munemasa, Ridged helmet with large rivets (Ōboshi sujibachi kabuto), c. 1730 (mid-Edo period). Iron, gold, silver, bronze, gold and copper alloy (shakudō), and leather, 15 × 21 × 16 1/2". © The Ann & Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Museum, Dallas.

Photo by Brad Flowers

Left: Paul Reed: A Retrospective, OKCMOA; Paul Reed, No. 18I, 1965, acrylic on canvas, 34 x 26 in., Oklahoma City Museum of Art, gift of the Paul and Esther Reed Trust, 2018.022, © Paul and Esther Reed Trust, Image by Google

108 Contemporary

Still: Lissa Hunter, Jane Sauer, Jo Stealey, & Carol Stein

Aug. 1-Sept. 20

Clayton Keyes: Subterfuge

Oct. 3-Nov. 22

The State of Craft 2025

Dec. 5-Jan. 24

Alicia Kelly

Feb. 6-March 21

Shawn Smith: Entangled Ecologies

April 3-May 23

Fiberworks 2026

June 5-July 25

American Theatre Company

A Christmas Carol

Dec. 4-23

The Outsiders

March 19-22

Irena’s Vow

May 7-10

5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche

July 11-13

Armstrong Auditorium

Mariachi Herencia de Mexico

Sept. 18

The Queen’s Six

Oct. 30

Edgar Meyer, Tessa Lark, Joshua Roman

Nov. 20

Canadian Brass

Feb. 3

Venice Baroque Orchestra

Feb. 11

Three Italian Tenors

Feb. 19

Jazz at Lincoln Center

March 5

Time for Three

March 16

Armstrong Choral Union

April 26

BOK Center

Hank Williams Jr.

Aug. 22

James Taylor and His All-Star Band

Sept. 16

Jonas Brothers

Oct. 16

Mumford and Sons

Oct. 25

Tate McRae

Oct. 29

Brandon Lake

Nov. 8

Billie Eilish

Nov. 10-11

A Day to Remember and Yellowcard

Nov. 20

Billy Strings

Dec. 10

Canterbury Voices Dies Irae: Songs of the Shadows

Oct. 30

George Frideric Handel Messiah

Dec. 7

Canterbury Voices on Broadway

March 21

Crescendo: An Evening with Canterbury May 14

Celebrity Attractions

Kimberly Akimbo

Sept. 2-7

The Outsiders

Oct. 7-12

Beauty and the Beast Jan. 27-Feb. 1

The Neil Diamond Musical: A Beautiful Noise

Feb. 17-22

Mamma Mia!

April 7-12

The Wiz

May 5-10

The Notebook The Musical

June 16-21

Chamber Music

Tulsa

Aya Piano Trio

Sept. 27-28

Isidore String Quartet Oct. 24-26

Maxwell Quartet Nov. 21-23

Brooklyn Rider Jan. 30-Feb. 1

Boarte Piano Trio March 6-8

WindSync

April 17-18

Circle Cinema

A Journey Through Route 66 Screenings Through Sept. and Oct. Civic Center Music Hall

Events listed are presented by the Civic Center Music Hall or out-of-state organizations; events presented by other performing arts companies happening at the Civic are listed under the according company

Steve Litman Presents & Martin Media: Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass

Aug. 3

Storyteller Theatre

OKC presents: A Little Princess Aug. 15-24

Outback presents: Henry Cho – The Empty Nest Tour

Sept. 12

The Civic Center Foundation presents: Michael W. Smith

Sept. 27

Tobin Center & Red Tail

Entertainment presents: Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons Sept. 28

Innovation Arts & Entertainment presents: Harry Potter and the Prizoner of Azkaban in Concert

Oct. 3-4

MEGA Events presents: The Rock Orchestra by Candlelight

Oct. 6

Outback presents: Nurse Blake

Oct. 25

The LOL Podcast presents: Laugh Out Loud World Tour

Nov. 8

AWR Music Productions presents: A New World – Intimate Music from Final Fantasty Nov. 22

Emporium presents: Tommy Emmanuel Dec. 3

Discovery Lab Educator Appreciation Night Aug. 7 Tinkerfest Sept. 20

Noon Year’s Eve Dec. 31

Mad Scientist Ball May 2

First Americans Museum

Indigenous Peoples’ Day Celebration Oct. 13

Winter Holiday Art Market

Dec. 6-7

OKLA HOMMA Ongoing

WINIKO: Life of an Object Ongoing

21st Century Mound Builders Ongoing Vessels that Carried Us: Kiowa Cradleboards Ongoing

Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art

A Colorful Dream Through Aug. 10

Nicolai Fechin: An Artistic Journey

Oct. 3-April 5

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

Worldwide Day of Play

Sept. 27

Free Day

Nov. 23, Feb. 15

Noon Year’s Eve

Dec. 31

Living Arts

Olivia Maday & Josiah Bolth

Aug. 1-23

Val Esparza & Austin Gober

Sept. 5-Oct. 11

Dia de los Muertos Arts Festival & Exhibition

Nov. 7-22

Vincent Frimpong & Allison Ward

Dec. 5-20

Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma Oklahoma!

Through Aug. 3

The Rocky Horror Show

Oct. 2-Nov. 1

A Christmas Carol Nov. 28-Dec. 28

Beehive The Musical

Feb. 11-March 1

Annie

June 16-21

Sister Act July 7-12

Sweeney Todd July 28-Aug. 2

Mabee Center ORU Summer Camps

Aug. 24

The Complete Beatles Experience

Sept. 7

Celebrity Attractions

Drama. Intrigue. Romance. Action. You’ll find it all in Celebrity Attraction’s 2025-2026 season.

After a season opener of musical Kimberly Akimbo on Sept. 2-7, one highlight many Oklahomans will want to see is The Outsiders, which kicks off its national tour in Tulsa Oct. 7-12. A jam-packed season also includes Beauty and the Beast, Jan. 27-Feb. 1; The Neil Diamond Musical: A Beautiful Noise, Feb. 17-22 and The Notebook The Musical, June 16-21.

Coordinating several national touring productions is hard work, says Kristin Dotson, Celebrity Attraction’s CEO.

“We handle everything it takes to present these shows in Tulsa, from the initial deal negotiations, marketing and advertising, coordinating ticket sales and setting up press and promotions,” she shares. “We manage the show when it’s in town from the moment the first truck pulls up to load-in the show all through when the trucks pull out to head to the next city. Our job is to provide the best experience possible to all theatregoers.”

And, she says, the pure beauty of live theater really can’t be beat.

“Something magical happens when 2,300 people come together in one space and collectively experience the live performance on stage at the same time,” she says. “There is nothing else like it. It’s that moment of community that unites us right then and there.”

For more information on this season, visit celebrityattractions.com.

Oklahoma Contemporary

Oklahoma Contemporary’s upcoming season “offers a bold mix of international collaborations, emerging local talent, beloved programs and signature events,” says the organization’s executive director, Trent Riley. “A major highlight is Anthony McCall: Solid Light, a groundbreaking sensory exhibition presented in partnership with Tate, marking the first North American venue for this acclaimed body of work.”

Another must-see is The Black Land, which “celebrates the powerful photography of rising Oklahoma artist Jakian Parks, whose work exploring Black rodeo culture has been featured by Louis Vuitton and Timberland,” he continues.

Producing these high-caliber exhibitions is an often years-long process that “demands creative vision, strategic planning, cross-departmental coordination and deep community engagement,” says Riley. “It’s not just about showcasing art, it’s about reshaping what’s possible for cultural life in Oklahoma.”

For Oklahoma Contemporary, work focuses on adding value to the arts community and the broader cultural landscape of the state.

“Oklahoma Contemporary adds tremendous civic value by attracting tourism, contributing to the creative economy and helping shape a more vibrant, dynamic Oklahoma,” he says. “We are not just reflecting culture, we are actively helping build it.” Learn more at oklahomacontemporary.org.

The Neil Diamond Musical, Celebrity Attractions; photo by Jeremy Daniel

Portraits in Behnaz Sohrabian’s studio, Oklahoma Contemporary; photo courtesy Oklahoma Contemporary

Tulsa PAC

The Tulsa Performing Arts Center bustles with ample performances throughout the year. Alongside playing host to a variety of performing art companies and their works, the Tulsa PAC Trust presents several shows themselves: Ragtime, Aug. 8-24; Home Free and the Longest Johns, Sept. 18; Straight No Chaser Holiday Road, Nov. 13; and Sam Harris: Beyond the Rainbow on Nov. 22.

Beyond planning and hosting events, the TPAC is committed to providing arts for all through community engagement programs.

"The arts are fundamental: they bring us together, they enhance childhood development and they heal wounds," according to TPAC's website.

"To ensure everyone in our community has access to learn about, take part in, and experience the performing arts, we offer an array of programming, aimed at providing art for all who want to take part."

Programs include Any Given Child, which helps the TPAC put on free productions for all TPS kindergarteners; Broadway Senior, which allows thespians over 65 to rediscover a love for the stage; and Brown Bag It, a free lunchtime concert series in the Westby Pavilion. To learn more, visit tulsapac.com.

Mabee-Gerrer

Museum of Art

Art of the Ancient World Collection

Ongoing

Ancient Art of the Americas Collection

Ongoing

Spanish Colonial Art Collection

Ongoing

American Art Collection

Ongoing

McKnight Center for Performing Arts

Hugh Jackman

Sept. 12

Sutton Foster & Kelli

O’Hara

Sept. 13

Ashley McBryde Oct. 3

United States Marine Band

Oct. 19

Seoul Chamber Orchestra

Oct. 29

Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra

Oct. 30

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis

Nov. 9

Mandy Patinkin in Concert

Feb. 14

Hadestown Feb. 17

Orpheus OrchestraChamber Feb. 27

The Music Man March 10

The OrchestraPhiladelphia March 27

Chris Thile April 11

National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum Prix de West Invitational Art Exhibition and Sale Through Aug. 3

Traditional Cowboy Arts Exhibition and Sale

Sept. 26-27

Small Works, Great Wonders

Nov. 7

OKC Ballet Ballet Under the Stars Sept. 12

OKC Philharmonic Legends: Ortiz, Rachmaninoff, Janacek, Tchaikovsky Sept. 20

Oklahoma Stories: Celebrating Our Future

Oct. 25

Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs in Symphony Nov. 7-8

Joel Levine Conducts Tchaikovsky Nov. 15

A Very Merry Pops

Dec. 5-6

Mozart’s Rivals: Race to the Top Jan. 10

Tango Caliente! Jan. 30-31

The Fire of Love: Romeo and Juliet

Feb. 14

Classical Mystery Tour Feb. 27-28

Masters of Music: Italy

March 14

Symphonicon: Music From Comics, Sci-Fi, and Games

March 27-28

Brahms & Bronfman

April 4

Disney in Concert: Once Upon a Time

April 17-18

Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony

May 2

David Nixon’s Dracula Oct. 17-19

The Nutcracker Dec. 13-23

Devon Carney’s Romoeo and Juliet Feb. 20-22

Future Voices: A Choreographic Showcase

March 13-22

Shorts: A Night of Premieres May 8-10

OKC Broadway Kimberly Akimbo Sept. 9-14

Elf Nov. 18-23

Beauty and the Beast Jan. 20-25

The Neil Diamond Musical: A Beautiful Noise March 3-8

Hell’s Kitchen April 7-12

Shucked May 12-17

The Wiz May 19-24

Oklahoma Contemporary ArtNow 2025: Materials and Boundaries

Sept. 18-Feb. 16

Jakian Parks: The Black Land - Rituals and Rejoicing in African American Rodeo Culture

Nov. 6-June 1

Anthony McCall: Solid Light

March 12-July 27

Neufs for Oklahoma Autumn Through April 13

Denise Duong and Gabriel Friedman: Formless Matter and Its Devastating Gestures

May 14-March 1, 2027

Oklahoma City Repertory Theatre

In partnership with Oklahoma Contemporary Life Sucks

Oct. 9-19

RepFest 2025 Nov. 20-23

Under the Radar: On The Road

Jan. 22-24

Every Castle, Ranked April 10- 19

Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park

Love Labour’s Lost Aug. 7-17

The Lion in Winter Oct. 9-19

OKC Town Hall

Reed Timmer Sept. 18

Shannon Bream Oct. 16

Tony Perkins Nov. 20

Kris Martin Feb. 19

John Bramblitt

March 19

Nicole Malachowski

April 16

Oklahoma City Museum of Art Discovering Ansel Adams Through Sept. 28

Land Use: Humanity’s Interaction with Nature Through Sept. 28

Paul Reed: A Retrospective Nov. 22-April 12

The Three Shades Through Aug. 26, 2026

Dale Chihuly: The Oklahoma Collection Ongoing

Postwar Abstraction Ongoing

Philbrook Museum of Art

Samurai: Armor from the Collection of Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Through Aug. 3

Japonisme: New Perspectives from the Land of the Rising Sun Through Aug. 3

Patrick (P.S.) Gordon

Retrospective

Sept. 24-Jan. 3

Wyeths: Textures of Nature Through Dec. 28

Eduardo Sarabia: Ceiba Sagrada Through Dec. 28

Earth Embodied Through Dec. 28

Homeward to the Prairie I Come: Gordon Parks

Photographs from the Beach Museum of Art Feb. 18-May 24

Sam Noble Museum Walking in Antarctica Through Aug. 10

SNOW: Tiny Crystals, Global Impact Through Aug. 27

The State of Water Our Most Valuable Resource Sept. 1-Oct. 26

Aliento a Tequila Sept. 1-Oct. 26

Formed in Stone Nov. 8-Jan. 4

An Actor’s Carol Nov. 28-Nov. 29

Jane Austen’s Christmas Cracker Dec. 4-21

Painted Sky Opera

The Magic Flute

Aug. 14-15, 17

Proving Up Oct. 2-3, 5

Paycom Center

Cirque du Soleil: OVO

Sept. 11-14

Lil Wayne Sept. 22

Whiskey Myers Sept. 26

Stevie Nicks Oct. 15

Riley Green Nov. 21

Brandon Lake April 10

The Pembroke Players

Romeo & Juliet: Forever Sept. 5-14

Shakespeare in Love March 6-15

Juliet and Her Romeo June 5-14

Copland and the Wild West

Jan. 24

Route 66 to Hollywood

March 7

Tulsa Sings! — America @250

April 25

Spotlight Children’s Theatre Storytime at the Spotlight

Aug. 1, Oct. 3, 12

The Stinky Feet Gang

Aug.1-3, 8-10

Eerie Academy Oct. 3-5, 10-12

Tiny Tim’s Christmas 12-14, 19-21

Theatre North Othello

Oct. 18-19, 25-26

Nat Turner in Jerusalem Feb. 21-22, 28, March 1

The Colored Museum May 23-24, 30-31

Theatre Tulsa The Crucible August 15-24

Hairspray Sept. 12-21

Tree Houses: Look Who’s Living in the Trees! Jan. 17-May 10

Ocean Bound! May 23-Sept. 20

Science Museum Oklahoma Out of the Toybox: The Toy Photography of Mitchel Wu Through Aug. 3

SMO21+ Aug. 23

Discoverfest Sept. 27

Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art

Bashert: The Art of Jewish Love Through Sept. 30

Temple Israel Songbook Illustrations Through Dec. 31

Theodore Fried: Art in Hiding Through Dec. 31

Signature Symphony Tulsa’s King Cabbage to Chicago Sept. 13

Christmas in Tulsa Dec. 12-13

Musical Laboratory Oct. 17-18

Rent Nov. 14-16

Masterclass Teen Cabaret Nov. 21-22

Frozen Jan. 9-25

Love Letters Feb. 13-22

You’re A Good Man

Charlie Brown March 13-22

Gypsy

April 24-May 3

Seussical Jr. May 8-10

Tulsa Air and Space Museum

2025 CAF AirPower History Tour Sept. 4

Ray Booker Flight Lab Ongoing

Bernouilli’s Principle Ongoing

James E. Bertelsmeyer

Planetarium

Ongoing

The Tulsa PAC; photo courtesy TPAC

Nov. 6, 2025 - June 1, 2026

August Ad Watermark 0825014_Tulsa Opera (1:4

OKC Phil

During OKC Phil’s upcoming season, visitors are invited on “an exhilarating journey that spans centuries, continents and emotions,” says Jenni Shrum, the organization’s marketing and PR director. “From timeless orchestral masterworks to bold contemporary works, our programs offer something for everyone.”

Season highlights include Legends: Ortiz, Rachmaninoff, Janacek, Tchaikovsky on Sept. 20; Oklahoma Stories: Celebrating Our Future on Oct. 25; and Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony on May 2, an “awe-inspiring collaboration with Canterbury Voices to close the season and celebrate life,” says Shrum.

The programming for the OKC Phil, Shrum says, requires “a full-scale collaboration between artists, staff, volunteers and the community. So much goes into bringing high-caliber philharmonic performances to Oklahoma City that audiences never see.”

OKC Phil’s musicians, Shrum says, are also heavily involved in OKC's arts and education scenes in other ways outside the philharmonic.

“Many are educators, private instructors, perform at churches and weddings, and inspire people of all ages to enjoy or play music,” she says. “An orchestra is an evolving institution that reflects and elevates its community.”

To learn more about the upcoming season, visit okcphil.org.

Tulsa Ballet & OKC Ballet

Both Tulsa and OKC Ballet’s seasons are gearing up to be incredible – with beloved classics and new works to enjoy.

Tulsa Ballet’s highlights include Giselle, Oct. 30-Nov. 2; The Nutcracker, Dec. 7-21; and the season closer, Marilyn, April 30-May 3.

“With an original score, stunning choreography and iconic themes, [Marilyn] offers an emotional journey through the highs and lows of [Marilyn Monroe’s] life, making it a must-see tribute to a 20th-century legend,” according to Tulsa Ballet’s website.

In OKC, some classics to look forward to include David Nixon’s Dracula, Oct. 17-19; The Nutcracker, Dec. 13-23; and Devon Carney’s Romeo and Juliet, Feb. 20-22 – “just in time for Valentine’s Day,” says Lestari Kusumawardani, OKC Ballet’s marketing director. “ And in May, as part of Shorts, audiences will get to witness a 50-minute, contemporary version called Radio & Juliet, all to the music of Radiohead.”

For those not sold on the idea that ballet is the right entertainment fit, Kusumawardani says it’s all about perception.

“Ballet is one of the richest artforms to exist, as it brings together music, movement, costuming, set design and storytelling, all in one performance,” she says. “We strive to keep ballet accessible and engaging by breaking traditional ballet stereotypes and showing OKC that ballet can be modern, sexy and fun.”

For more info, visit tulsaballet.org and okcballet.org.

Tulsa Ballet

Creations in Studio K

Sept. 19-28

Peter & The Wolf

Oct. 10-11, April 10-11

Giselle

Oct. 30-Nov. 2

The Nutcracker Dec. 7-21

The Sleeping Beauty Feb. 12-15

Casanova

March 26-March 29

Marilyn April 30-May 3

Tulsa Botanic Garden

Autumn in the Botanic Garden Sept.-Oct.

Botanic Garden of Lights

Nov. 24-Dec. 30

Tulsa Botanic Blooms March-April

Tulsa Chorale Voices of Our Time: Contemporary American Composers

Sept. 27

Shakespearean Songs: English Composers’ Settings of Elizabethan Bards

Jan. 17

Franz Schubert: Mass No. 6 in E-flat Major April 18

Tulsa Opera Voices After Dark: Music from the Shadows Oct. 25

The Sound of Music Nov. 15

The Pirates of Penzance

Jan. 30, Feb. 1

Voices After Dark: Spanish Nights – The Vocal Music of Manuel de Falla Feb. 28

Voices After Dark: Route 66 – Music from the Mother Road April 18

Sing Me A Waltz May 16

Noah’s Flood June 5-6

Tulsa PAC Events listed are presented by the TPAC; events presented by other performing arts companies happening at the TPAC are listed under the according company

Ragtime

Aug. 8-24

Home Free and the Longest Johns

Sept. 18

Sugar Skull! A Dia de Muertos Musical Adventure

Oct. 21-22

Channeling our Ancestors Nov. 7

Straight No Chaser

Holiday Road Tour

Nov. 13

Sam Harris: Beyond the Rainbow Nov. 22

Wind in the Willows Jan. 27

Aesop’s Greatest Hits Feb. 27

Tulsa Spotlight Theatre

The Drunkard and the Olio

Every Saturday

Tulsa Symphony

Brahm’s String Quartet No. 2

Sept. 20

20th Anniversary Celebration with Amanuel Ax Oct. 4

Holst’s The Planets Nov. 8

Dahl’s Music for Brass Instruments Nov. 15

Brahm’s Symphony No. 2

Jan. 10

Harberg’s Suite for Wind Quintet Jan. 17

Celebrating Black History Feb. 7

Daughtrey’s Edge of the World for Percussion Ensemble Feb. 12

Stravinsky’s The Firebird

March 14

Schubert’s Symphony No. 9, The Great April 4

Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, Resurrection

May 2

Tulsa Town Hall

David Pogue

Oct. 3

McBride & Fedarko

Nov. 14

Georgia Hunter Feb. 6

Peter Heihan

March 13

Steve Hartman

April 3

Tulsa Youth Symphony

Prestige Performance Series

Nov. 15, March 28

Fall Concert

Dec. 7

Winter Concert

March 1

Spring Serenade

May 3

Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts

Oklahoma Festival Ballet featuring A Midsummer Night’s Dream Sept. 26-28

The Turn of the Screw Oct. 16-19

Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein Nov. 7-9

A Christmas Carol Dec. 5-14

Young Choreographers’ Showcase Jan. 30-Feb. 1

La Clemenza di Tito Feb. 19-22

Company

March 6-8

The Birds April 3-12

Contemporary Dance Oklahoma May 1-3

Woody Guthrie Center

Hip-Hop America: The Mixtape Exhibit Through Sept. 7

John Mellencamp and Woody Guthrie Ongoing

Have You Heard? The War is Over: Phil Ochs and the 1960s Peace Movement

Ongoing

My Eye to a Lens: Music Photography of David Gahr

Ongoing

World Stage Theatre Company

The Importance of Being Ernest Sept. 19-28

To Kill a Mockingbird June 19-28

OKC Philharmonic 2024-2025 season performance; photo courtesy OKC Phil

Marilyn Tulsa Ballet; photo courtesy Tulsa Ballet

RAGTIME

Set in the volatile melting pot of turn-of-the-century New York, three distinctly American tales are woven together — that of a stifled upper-class wife, a determined Jewish immigrant, and a daring young Harlem musician — united by their courage, compassion, and belief in the promise of the future. With a Tony-winning score featuring musical theatre show-stoppers, Ragtime is filled with pageantry, emotion, and hope, bursting onto the stage like no other musical.

Featuring Broadway star Michael Andraeus in the leading role of Coalhouse Walker Jr., this is one theatrical event you won’t want to miss!

With Roots in Ramen

With Bar Sen and Ma Der Lao, Jeff Chanchaleune invites you into his family’s Laotian kitchen.

Every morning in Oklahoma City, a jet leaps for the sky, headed for Chicago.

Jeff Chanchaleune knows that flight well. For two years running, he flew to Chicago to compete as a finalist for the highly coveted James Beard Award. And then, a year later, he was invited to cook for the guests after the ceremony.

This is a big honor, but no surprise. Chanchaleune, by now, is nationally famous, perhaps better known and lauded outside Oklahoma than in it. Restaurants where chefs honor the cuisine of their ancestors are having a very well-deserved moment, and Chanchaleune has turned the spotlight on a rich, complex cuisine of a bright and verdant Southeast Asian land: Laos.

Chanchaleune’s grandfather worked for the King of Laos, and after the Communist takeover, he moved his family to America, settling in Oklahoma City.

Since his father was an accomplished chef, Jeff worked at the family restaurant peeling potatoes and bussing tables. All he wanted was to escape, so he went to OU and later got a job with an ad agency.

After two and a half years, he recalls, “I realized I missed cooking, and I’m good at it, so I quit a job with a good salary.”

He took his first flight to Chicago, where he worked in restaurants, looking for something that you couldn’t find in Oklahoma. He found it in Japanese ramen.

Fast-forward a bit, and you’ll find Chanchaleune running a highly regarded ramen restaurant in Oklahoma City, Goro, already beginning to gain national recognition. Then COVID-19 struck.

“This was the turning point of my career,” he recalls. “I realized it was time to go back to my roots.”

He’d grown up eating Laotian food, but he’d never prepared it himself. So, he sent out an SOS to his mother and grandmother.

“I watched them, made notes, added some modern-day techniques to make things better,” he says. “My grandmother built my palate, teaching me how to balance a dish.”

The first year after Ma Der Lao, his new restaurant, opened, business was so slow he thought of closing. Then the New York Times put Ma Der on its list of best restaurants in the United States, and a flood of curious diners came. About a year later, a building right next door became vacant.

“I took it,” Chanchaleune recalls, “and opened Bar Sen.” This restaurant, Jeff says, is “a direct extension of Ma Der Lao, of its food, of its mission, which is to invite the world into our kitchen. We are continuing to educate the world about our food and culture so it doesn’t get lost.”

Sen means noodles, and Bar Sen was at first designed to focus on two of Jeff’s loves: soup and noodles. Jeff’s first love as a child, his mom’s chicken soup, takes

Khao Piek Sen, Jeff Chanchaleune's play on chicken noodle soup, includes hand-rolled noodles, Lao fish sauce, quail eggs and herbs. Photos by Quit Nguyen

center stage. It takes eight hours to make the stock. The dough for the noodles is hand-rolled, then cut with a knife. Add Lao fish sauce, quail eggs, herbs and a lot of love, and you have Khao Piek Sen.

In recent months, Bar Sen has evolved beyond a noodle bar; it’s become more personal. Some dishes bring back Jeff’s childhood memories of Oklahoma. Others are glorious creations he’s made on his own with no reference to traditional Lao cuisine.

There’s fried chicken – an homage to childhood days when, as a special treat, the family had a picnic and feasted on Church’s Chicken. Chanchaleune, however, adds coconut milk and jaew bong to the mix, as well as spicy honey. He’s also invented a complex, surprising take on a cucumber salad to go with it. There’s also a scallop dish that bursts with unexpected and memorable flavor – he’d been working on that dish for two years.

So why, when business is already booming, does Chanchaleune create these new dishes? Because that’s what great chefs do.

“I’m cooking plates that are me,” says Chanchaleune, “and I get to have a lot of fun.”

BRIAN SCHWARTZ

Honey Love Wings

While it’s true that Oklahoma has plenty of wing joints to try, Honey Love does it a little differently: They use smaller wings and sauté them in a signature sauce to ensure every bite is perfect. If you aren’t convinced, swing by the restaurant’s two locations – one on N. Lincoln Blvd. in OKC and a brand-new location in Tulsa’s Historic Greenwood District.

The simple yet delicious menu proves one thing: Honey Love has a singular focus – and that’s chicken wings.

Try varied assortments of buffalo wings, boneless strips, and combos, along with fountain drinks and sides like French fries, sweet potato fries, fried okra and veggie sticks.

No matter your taste or spice preferences, Honey Love has you covered – choose mild, medium, hot or spicy options, as well as sauce flavors like honey barbecue, Parmesan and garlic, lemon pepper or Cajun.

Shaka

If you’ve ever found yourself craving the cuisine of Hawaii, you may have realized Oklahoma doesn’t have as many options as you might like. Luckily, one Hawaiian haven stands proud in OKC: Shaka, located in the trendy food court the Collective Kitchen and Cocktails.

The word ‘shaka,’ which typically carries connotations of friendship, compassion and unity, is the perfect name to describe the welcoming ambiance of the restaurant. After being warmly greeted, you’ll be jazzed to explore the dynamic menu.

Some of the restaurant’s most popular dishes include Da Kine Bird, which is Hawaiian barbecue chicken, steamed rice, macaroni salad, avocado, grilled pineapple and mango chutney; as well as the ono pork shanks – six bone-in, fried shanks tossed in sweet chili sauce, served with rice and green onions.

Another beloved option at Shaka is the 808 Burger, which comes with marinated beef, the traditional burger add-ons, plus grilled pineapple, teriyaki sauce and a side of fries. You can also swerve and try the waterwatering Island Boy Loco Moco, with a marinated beef patty, steamed rice, caramelized onions, mushrooms, egg and gravy with Hawaiian macaroni salad. Early birds will want to order the Hawaiian breakfast, which includes grilled Spam, one egg, steamed rice and a sweet teriyaki drizzle. Don’t forget sides including shrimp tempura, pork shanks, fries and Spam musubi, or Spam sandwiched between a block of rice.

Jeff Chanchaleune says Bar Sen is a direct extension of his next-door restaurant, Ma Der Lao.

An intimate dining experience, Bar Sen also offers chicken, seafood, desserts and cocktails.

Photo courtesy Shaka

Photo courtesy Honey Love Wings

MARY WILLA ALLEN

Finding Golden Moments

Chef and chocolatier Randy Page is in it for the love of the game.

Randy Page’s mother learned to cook from a Betty Crocker cookbook –which Randy still has – but she was blessed with innate talent. Randy’s childhood, on a little farm just outside of Charlotte, North Carolina, was a feast of made-from-scratch meals and pies so good he’s never been able to duplicate them.

At eight years old, Randy decided to make a cake; he threw a lot of stuff in a pot and baked it. It was, in a word, inedible. From this, he learned that you can’t cook anything without study and practice. He got a French cookbook, and by the age of ten was regaling his classmates with homemade croissants and chocolate mousse.

Yes, he was smart, very smart, but he was also, in his own words, “kind of lazy.” After high school, he worked flipping burgers while nursing dreams of some-

how, without too much work, becoming rich and famous.

“Randy, you need to get a real job,” a buddy of his told him. “Come to culinary school.”

‘Why not?’ thought Randy, and he ended up at the Culinary Institute of America. After that, he returned to Charlotte to be a chef.

“With my diploma, I could have worked with any chef in New York City, even the most famous,” he says. “But I just wanted to wear that big white hat in my home state.”

And thus began a 40 year career. Page worked in several well-known fine dining restaurants, as well as at Arkansas State University at Jonesboro as the culinary director. Lazy no longer, Page put in several years there and then moved to Tulsa to do the same job at ORU.

Now, you’ll find him in a cozy little shop on Tulsa’s Lewis Avenue – Cricket & Fig Chocolate – surrounded by comfy leather chairs and a legion of adoring

customers. What he’s famous for now? Chocolate truffles.

He makes his succulent creations by hand, and it takes two days. He uses Valrhona chocolate from France – the best on the planet, he says. On the first day, he melts then cools it in order to prevent the complex crystalline sugar from being ruined by heat. That’s called tempering. Then, he makes the fillings – ganache based, using butter, cream, chocolate and three kinds of sugar. (Page has the science down pat, and if asked, he’ll give a practiced, knowledgeable spiel on the function of each.

There’s also a flavor mixed in. Lavender and local honey, for example, or maybe pistachio paste from Sicily. Another truffle features burnt honey, Scotch whiskey and local beeswax. Meanwhile, he’s poured the chocolate into molds, and, for some varieties, he hand paints them. In goes the ganache, and this concludes the first day. The chocolates rest all night to crystallize, and after one more day’s work, they are ready to sell.

The shop also serves breakfast and lunch, cooked by Kathryn Thomasson. You can enjoy a home-baked scone topped with a thick slice of bacon and melted cheese, a grilled cheese sandwich, cheeseburgers, pasta, salads and more.

“It’s simple food,” he says, “done well.”

And what, praytell, happened to the lazy version of Randy? He was transformed, simply by the love of his craft.

“We work hard,” Page says, “and I don’t do it for the money – there ain’t much of that – but every time someone takes a bite of chocolate and I see he loves it, I get gratification instantly, and I can relive that golden moment all day.”

BRIAN SCHWARTZ

A North Carolina native, Randy Page moved to Oklahoma for a gig at ORU. Now, he owns and operates the luxury chocolate shop Cricket & Fig. Photos by Stephanie Phillips

Flo’s Smokehouse Eats

Comfort food with a creative, culinary twist is the name of the game at Flo’s Smokehouse Eats. We often call restaurants ‘hidden gems,’ in this space, but Flo’s has to be the epitome of that concept.

Start with sandwiches, of which there are many. The birria grilled cheese is a diner favorite for a reason; the sandwich is a traditional grilled cheese stuffed with birria, cilantro and onions. Other sammies to try include the Mexi-Q Melt with your choice of meat, queso, pico and sliced cheese, as well as the Flor-Ta, which includes fresh bolillo bread, beans, cheese, asada, queso, onions and crema.

Burritos are another must-try, with the stand-out ‘Hot Cheetoh Burrito’: beans, rice, your choice of meat, hot Cheetos, pico, guac and salsa wrapped up in a fresh tortilla.

Other often-ordered options include the baked mac and cheese, the elote corn, the loaded BBQ potato and the street tacos. Whatever you choose, you won’t be disappointed ... although you may need to loosen your belt!

Inheritance Kitchen + Juicery

If you’ve been in downtown Tulsa anytime over the last few years, chances are you’ve seen the large, all-white building on Detroit Ave. called Inheritance. Sprawling, full of light, and staffed with friendly folks, the joint now has a brand new location – with a drive-through – on Tulsa’s Brookside.

Menu items are fairly similar, with healthy options like the vegan breakfast burrito, the mushroom sandwich, the classic burger (with a veggie patty, of course), the banh mi wrap and the jackfruit quesadilla.

And while the dishes are delicious and healthy all at once, many would argue that the drinks at Inheritance are the star of the show. Try a bevy of vegan and gluten free smoothies, wellness shots, cold-pressed juices, coffees and seasonal drinks –including the Blue Antioxidant Latte, with butterfly pea flower powder, blue spirulina, maca, vanilla, maple syrup, and cinnamon with your choice of milk.

Culprits

Spirits, steak and sushi can be found at the swanky, upscale, yet approachable Culprits in OKC. Located in Bricktown’s hotel the Renaissance, the modern steakhouse offers traditional fare for the old-school diners, as well as unique options for those looking to push their palette.

Unlike many a super-serious steakhouse, Culprits is also open for breakfast and lunch. Early-bird plates range from crab cake Benedicts to French toast, shrimp and grits, tuna tacos, a bevy of sushi rolls and even a steak stir fry.

Come for dinner and you’ll see a few of the same menu items, but others reserved for nighttime dining. Starters include Thai chicken, flaming scallops, bone marrow and chow calamari. As for entrées, the tomahawk ribeye is a stand-out – a 48 oz. steak that’s pan-seared with rosemary, black garlic butter, chili crisp and blistered shoshitos. Other must-tries include the Dijon chicken, the surf and turf nigiri, the lamb persillade and the miso glazed salmon.

Perets Dessert & Coffee Bar

If you’ve got a sweet tooth and a love for quality coffee and tea, the charming Perets Dessert & Coffee Bar in OKC is the place for you. Located in the Paramount Building, Perets is the perfect spot for a business meeting, a hang with friends, a first date or just a quiet day alone.

The magic of Perets is that the menu is seasonal and ever-changing, but you can always expect house-made coffee syrups, small batch pastries, desserts and affogatos. Highlights include the pecan pie tart, the espresso martini mousse cake, the peppermint brownie and the grapefruit poppyseed cake. Drinks range from lattes to iced loose leaf teas, cappuccinos and matcha.

Photo courtesy Flo’s Smokehouse Eats

Photo courtesy Inheritance Kitchen + Juicery

Photo by Danny Vo courtesy Culprit’s

Photo courtesy Perets Dessert & Coffee Bar

Where & When

GREAT THINGS TO DO IN OKLAHOMA

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

IN TULSA Performances

Spotlight Children's Theatre presents: The Stinky Feet

Gang Aug. 1-3, 8-10 Spotlight Theater The Stinky Feet Gang is a play about a group of outlaws, led by Maladorous Mel, who have a secret weapon: their incredibly smelly feet, which they use to incapacitate anyone within a 20-yard radius. tulsaspotlighttheater.com

The Drunkard and the Olio Aug. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Tulsa Spotlight Theater It began on Nov. 14, 1953, and has never stopped! That's how The Drunkard became America's longestrunning play. More than 3,000 Tulsans have participated on or offstage tulsaspotlighttheater.com

TPAC presents: Ragtime Aug. 8-24 Tulsa PAC Ragtime the Musical is a sweeping, emotional journey through early 20th-century America, where the lives of an African American pianist, a Jewish immigrant and a wealthy white family collide. With a rich, unforgettable score, it explores hope and the fight for justice in a rapidly changing world. tulsapac.com

Chris Distefano Aug. 9 Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa Chris Distefano is an American stand-up comedian known for his energetic delivery, selfdeprecating humor and Brooklyn attitude. hardrockcasinotulsa.com

Chippendales Aug. 14 River Spirit Casino Resort This world-famous male revue show has been entertaining audiences for over 40 years and continues to raise the bar with each performance. riverspirittulsa.com

Theatre Tulsa presents: The Crucible Aug. 15-24 Theatre Tulsa Studios In the Puritan community of Salem, Massachusetts, a servant girl accuses a farmer’s wife of witchcraft. One accusation spirals into many, uncovering a web of bigotry and deceit that changes their lives forever. theatretulsa.org

Concerts

Band of Horses Aug. 3 Cain's Ballroom See this indie band come together for one night only. cainsballroom.com

Flipturn Aug. 19 Cain's Ballroom See the band on their The Burnout Days Tour. cainsballroom. com

Darius Rucker Aug. 21 River Spirit Casino Resort Rucker first achieved multi-Platinum status in

PERFORMANCE

A Sizzling Summer on Stage

Escape the sweltering Oklahoma heat with some dynamic, entertaining performances on the stage this month.

THE DRUNKARD AND THE OLIO

In Tulsa, you’ve got ample opportunity to see The Drunkard and the Olio at the Spotlight Theater; after all, America’s longest-running play goes on every Saturday at 7 p.m. Another can’t-miss from Spotlight is The Stinky Feet Gang, running Aug. 1-3 and 8-10. Venture to the Tulsa PAC from Aug. 8-24 to enjoy Ragtime, a story set in early 20th century America that follows the worlds of an African American pianist, a Jewish immigrant and a wealthy white family as they collide. Other goodies this month include comedian Chris Distefano on Aug. 9 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino; the Chippendales on Aug. 14 at River Spirit Casino Resort; and The Crucible at Theatre Tulsa Studios, Aug. 15-24.

In OKC, venture to the Oklahoma Shakespeare Gardens Outdoor Theatre for Love Labour’s Lost, running Aug. 7-17. Opera abounds at Civic Center Music Hall, with The Magic Flute on Aug. 14-15 and 17 presented by Painted Sky Opera.

Get your tissues ready for Storyteller Theatre OKC’s rendition of A Little Princess, running Aug. 15-24 at the Civic. Lastly, see comedian and internet personality Kurtis Connor on his Goodfellow World Tour Aug. 17 at the Criterion.

the music industry as lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the Grammy Award winning band Hootie & the Blowfish. Since releasing his first country album in 2008, Rucker has earned a whole new legion of fans. riverspirittulsa.com

Hank Williams Jr. Aug. 22 BOK Center See the singer for one night only. bokcenter.com

Gary Allan Aug. 23 Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa Gary Allan is a successful American country music artist known for his distinctive baritone voice and blend of traditional and contemporary sounds. hardrockcasinotulsa.com

Bachman-Turner

Overdrive Aug. 28 River Spirit Casino Resort Randy Bachman has become a legendary figure in the rock and roll world through his talents as a guitarist, songwriter, performer and producer. With Randy's legendary guitar and Tal's contemporary flair, BTO forges ahead, blending their classic hits with a fresh energy that captivates audiences worldwide. riverspirittulsa.com

Lorrie Morgan Aug. 30 Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa Lorrie Morgan is a successful American country music singer known for her emotive vocals and relatable storytelling, particularly her heartfelt songs about love and loss. hardrockcasinotulsa.com

David Lee Roth Aug. 31 Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa David

Lee Roth is an American rock musician best known as the dynamic and charismatic lead singer of the band Van Halen. hardrockcasinotulsa.com

Art

Olivia Maday & Josiah

Bolth Aug. 1-23 Living Arts Maday's body of work contextualizes the myth of The Rape of Persephone within a contemporary framework, examining its enduring influence on the representation of female subjectivity in Western art and culture. Bolth's work aims to probe the frontiers of the modern American psyche by engaging the spirits that inhabit our inner landscapes. livingarts.org

Still: Lissa Hunter, Jane Sauer, Jo Stealey, & Carol Stein Aug. 1-Sept. 20 108 Contemporary The exhibition, Still is a look at life from four perspectives over time. 108contemporary.org

SAMURAI: Armor from the Collection of Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Through Aug. 3 Philbrook Coming from the Collection of Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller, SAMURAI: Armor from the Collection of Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller unveils the culture, lifestyle and art of the samurai warrior in Japanese society philbrook.org

Japonisme: New Perspectives from the Land

of the Rising Sun Through Aug. 3 Philbrook Japan’s borders were largely closed to outsiders for centuries until 1854, when the country was opened to trade and travel. Japanese goods hit markets across Europe and America, sparking an international craze known as “Japonisme.” Artists seeking to defy European conventions saw new possibilities in Japanese art and a visual language that changed the West. philbrook.org

Hip-Hop America: The Mixtape Exhibit Through Sept. 7 Woody Guthrie Center This sprawling exhibit explores the profound impact and influence that hip-hop music and culture has had on the United States and the world since it burst forth in the Bronx 50 years ago. woodyguthriecenter.org

Bashert: The Art of Jewish Love Through Sept. 30 Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art Love is in the air! Grab your sweetheart and join the museum for a celebration of love as depicted by works in its permanent collection. jewishmuseumtulsa.org

Eduardo Sarabia: Ceiba Sagrada Through Dec. 28

Philbrook Los Angeles-born, Mexico-based Eduardo Sarabia has become one of the better-known artistic voices of his generation for using materials and imagery associated with street culture, craft and folk history to draw connections between his personal story and the

narrative of Mexico. philbrook.org

Earth Embodied Through Dec. 28 Philbrook New acquisitions by artists including Starr Hardridge, Kay WalkingStick and Emmi Whitehorse join old favorites such as Alexandre Hogue’s Mother Earth Laid Bare (1936) and Felice Schiavoni’s Madonna and Child with the Young Saint John (1850) to explore the range of ways artists envision the concept of the earth embodied. philbrook.org

Temple Israel Songbook

Illustrations Through Dec. 31 Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art Ready for a trip down memory lane? Revisit the charm of Sunday school at Temple Israel with these delightful, vibrant illustrations by Tulsa native Carmelita Avery. Created in 1945, these pieces capture the playful spirit of the era. jewishmuseumtulsa.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 late1800s pioneer home. philbrook.org

Sports

NSBA World Show Aug. 8-17 Expo Square The NSBA World Championship Show, hosted by the National Snaffle Bit Association, is a major horse show

event focused on pleasure horse disciplines. exposquare.com

Tulsa Drillers Baseball Aug. 12-17, 26-31 ONEOK Stadium The professional baseball season is alive and well in Tulsa. milb.com/tulsa

100x Reining Classic Aug. 2331 Expo Square The 100X Reining Classic is a major equestrian event held annually at Tulsa Expo Square, showcasing reining competitions. exposquare.com

Simulcast Horse

Racing Through Nov. 1 Virtual horse races can be catch all summer and fall. exposquare.com

Community

First Friday Art Crawl Aug. 1 Downtown On the first Friday of every month, guests will be able to see a new exhibit opening and enjoy live music, a cash bar and snacks. humanities.utulsa.edu

Storytime at the Spotlight Aug. 1 Spotlight Children's Theater Enjoy this read-aloud event with fun activities. Gardner’s Used Books is providing a free book to every child in attendance. tulsaspotlighttheater. com

Discovery Lab Educator

Appreciation Night Aug.

7 Discovery Lab Discovery Lab celebrates the dedication, passion and tireless efforts of our incredible educators. discoverylab.org

Bingo Loco Aug. 9 Cain's

Photo courtesy Tulsa Spotlight Theater

Ballroom Looking for a night out like no other or the best work party on the planet? Bingo Loco flips the traditional game of bingo on its head with dance-offs, rave rounds, lip sync battles, throwback anthems, conga lines, and prizes ranging from international holidays to cars, air fryers, lawnmowers, and so much more. cainsballroom. com

Global Gatherings World Festival Aug. 9 Gathering Place Explore the various cultures represented in Tulsa at the Global Gatherings World Festival at the Gathering Place this summer. gatheringplace.org

Oklahoma Comic Con Aug. 9-10 Arvest Convention Center Oklahoma Comic Convention is a two day event being held at the Arvest Convention Center and brings together a diverse list of guests, vendors, artists and fan groups, in an affordable, family-friendly environment. arvestconvention center.com

Tulsa Foundation for Architecture Tours Aug. 9, 16 Downtown Tulsa Take a fun and educational walking tour through downtown Tulsa and other historical local sites during Second Saturday Architecture Tours, hosted by the Tulsa Foundation for Architecture. tulsaarchitecture.org

Greenwood Film Festival Aug. 10-14 Greenwood Film Festival will showcase the pioneers of today by unearthing lessons from the past. greenwoodfilmfestival.com

Blue Whale Comedy Festival Aug. 14-17 Downtown Tulsa Established in 2014 by Guthrie Green, Blue Whale Comedy Festival’s mission is to put Tulsa on top of the national comedy map. By bringing over 200 comedy acts to Tulsa over the last eight festivals, Blue Whale has continued to introduce local talent to some of the most gifted and successful acts in the country. bluewhalecomedyfestival. com

Wild Brew Aug. 23 Arvest Convention Center Wild Brew is a one-of-a-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. wildbrew.org

Tulsa Punk Rock Flea Market Aug. 30 Expo Square Catering to punk rock culture, booths include: handmade items, clothing, jewelry, vintage items, vinyl and more. facebook.com/ tulsapinkrockfleamarket

Florigami in the Garden Through Sept. 21 Tulsa Botanic Garden See the larger-than-life FLORIGAMI IN THE GARDEN exhibit at the Tulsa Botanic Garden. tulsabotanic.org

Charitable Events

Summer Arts Festival Aug.

2 Tulsa Boys Home TBH's talented boys showcase their artwork and culinary creations from their summer school program. tulsaboyshome.org

Ringmaster's Golf and Gala Aug. 8 Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa All proceeds from the Ringmaster Golf & Gala benefit the Tulsa State Fair Night of Champions and Scholarship Fund. tulsastatefair. com/golf-gala

ARTini Aug. 9 TU's Center for the Humanities ARTini Tulsa is one of the city’s premier events, featuring

martini tastings, live entertainment, local cuisine and an exclusive art auction that supports the vibrant arts and cultural community in Tulsa. artinitulsa.com

Superhero Challenge Aug. 10 POSTOAK Lodge and Retreat Do you have the speed, agility, balance, strength and focus to complete the annual Superhero Challenge benefiting the Child Advocacy Network? This power-packed, family-friendly day of fun welcomes superheroes of all ages to participate in incredible obstacle courses professionally designed by Young Lions Obstacle Course. cansuperherochallenge.org

Play4JA Golf Classic Aug. 18 Cedar Ridge Country Club Get your team together and join for the 24th Annual Tulsa JA Classic Corporate Golf Challenge, benefitting Junior Achievement of Oklahoma. oklahoma.ja.org

Shining the Light Aug. 23 Cain's Ballroom Come celebrate with the Brain Injury Recovery Foundation while they raise funds to serve individuals and their families with TBI’s. braininjuryrecoveryfoundation. com

IN OKC Performances

Storyteller Theatre OKC Presents: The Wizard of Oz Through Aug. 3 Civic Center Music Hall Celebrating the 125th Anniversary of L. Frank Baum's beloved American fairytale, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Presented by Storyteller Theatre OKC, this play adaptation features Dorothy and friends as they come alive with color, live music, and a big heart. storytellersokc.com

Lyric Theatre presents: Oklahoma! Through Aug. 3 Civic Center Music Hall Custom created

SPORTS

for Oklahoma audiences, this traditional staging of the production will be enjoyed by thousands of fans statewide eager to see the return of Lyric’s official state production! lyrictheatreokc.com

Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park presents: Love Labour's Lost Aug. 7-17 Oklahoma Shakespeare Gardens Outdoor Theater The King of Navarre, and his three friends, Berowne, Longaville and Dumaine, all swear themselves to three years of study, abstaining from all distractions, particularly of the female kind, with only Armado and Costard to entertain them. okshakes. org

Painted Sky Opera presents: The Magic Flute Aug. 14-15, 17 Civic Center Music

Hall The pursuit of truth and love may just be for the birds. Mozart’s delightful fairytale brings to life some of opera’s most effervescent characters and most exciting melodies. paintedskyopera.com

Storyteller Theatre OKC

Presents: A Little Princess Aug. 15-24 Civic Center Music

Hall Originally a children's novel from 1905, the story follows Sara's transfer to a boarding school by her well-meaning father who is on his way to battle in World War I. storytellersokc.com

Kurtis Conner: The Goodfellow World Tour Aug. 17 The Criterion A beloved internet personality, comedian and influencer, Kurtis Conner visits OKC for one night only. criterionokc.com

Concerts

My So-Called Band Aug. 2 Tower Theatre My So Called Band is a 90's tribute band based in Oklahoma. They play covers of popular songs from the 1990s and early 2000s, spanning various genres like rock, grunge, country, R&B, hip hop and

Horses, Baseball & Rowing, Oh My!

Get ready for a varied sporting schedule in August.

In Tulsa, Expo Square is the hub for all things horse: The National Snaffle Bit Association’s World Show happens Aug. 8-17; the Reining Classic runs Aug. 23-21; and simulcast horse racing can be watched at the venue all month long. And, of course, America’s favorite pastime is going strong at the ONEOK Stadium: Drillers games happen Aug. 12-17 and 26-31.

pop. towertheatreokc.com

The Blues Sisters Aug. 8 Tower Theatre Come experience a high-voltage celebration of the music from the Blues Brothers movie, led by The Blues Sisters, Chanda Graham and Ivy Whitten, in a 10-piece band. towertheatreokc.com

Maren Morris Aug. 15 The Criterion OKC See pop/country crossover artist Maren Morris with Miya Folick. criterionokc.com

Purple Faith by Soft Hands Aug. 23 Tower Theatre Get ready for an unforgettable tribute to the iconic music of Prince and George Michael with Purple Faith, performed by Soft Hands. towertheatreokc.com

Our Last Night: The Final Tour Aug. 27 Tower Theatre Combining huge melodic choruses, intense breakdowns and wide ranging vocals, Our Last Night has created their own brand of post-hardcore. towertheatreokc.com

Art

July Group Art Show Through Aug. 3 DNA Galleries For the month of July, DNA Galleries will be hosting a linocut themed group art show featuring Jim Weaver, Kathleen Neeley, Eduardo Martinez and David Hertzel. dnagalleries.com

Prix de West Invitational Art Exhibition and Sale Through Aug. 3 National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum Prix de West is the nation’s premier Western art exhibition and sale showcasing original works ranging from historical depictions of the American West to more contemporary and impressionistic pieces. nationalcowboymuseum.org

Walking Through Antarctica Through Aug. 10 Sam Noble Museum, Norman Walking in Antarctica is an immersive, interdisciplinary

exhibition bringing together photography, sculpture, and audio narrative to take the viewer on a journey through an extraordinary environment of remote places that the tourist ships do not reach and few people get to witness in person. samnoblemuseum.ou.edu

A Colorful Dream Through Aug. 10 Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, Norman Designed to evoke and capture a sense of childhood fantasy, A Colorful Dream tells a simple coming-of-age story in rich symbolic language that takes the viewer on a journey through the entire spectrum of the rainbow. ou.edu/fjjma

The Three Shades Through Aug. 23 OKCMOA Enjoy this single-gallery installation featuring one of the masterworks of modern sculpture, Auguste Rodin’s The Three Shades, on loan from a private collection. okcmoa.com

SNOW: Tiny Crystals, Global Impact Through Aug. 27 Sam Noble Museum, Norman This chilly summer adventure seeks to educate visitors of all ages about the importance of snow and the vital role it plays in the global climate system. samnoblemuseum.ou.edu

Discovering Ansel Adams Through Sept. 28 OKCMOA This groundbreaking exhibition provides an unprecedented and eye-opening examination of the early career of one of America’s most renowned photographers. okcmoa. com

Land Use: Humanity's Interaction with Nature Through Sept. 28 OKCMOA This gallery features modern and contemporary paintings, photographs, video art and digital art that relate to humanity’s use of and interaction with the environment. okcmoa.com

Hock E Aye Vi Edgar Heap of

OKLAFLOW FINALS

Birds: Honor Song Through Oct. 20 Oklahoma Contemporary Oklahoma Contemporary presents the first major retrospective of Oklahoma City-based artist Edgar Heap of Birds, who is known internationally for conceptual artwork that addresses Indigenous rights, sovereignty and relationships to place. 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

Hock E Aye Vi Edgar Heap of Birds: Neufs for Oklahoma Autumn Ongoing Campbell Art Park/Oklahoma Contemporary Oklahoma Contemporary is honored to present Neufs for Oklahoma Autumn, a basketball court installation commissioned as a public art iteration of the Neuf painting series by renowned artist Hock E Aye Vi Edgar Heap of Birds. oklahomacontemporary.org

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

Sports

American Quarter Horse Youth World Championship Aug. 1-10 OKC Fairgrounds The American Quarter Horse Youth World Championship (AQHYA World Show) is a major international horse show held

Speaking of baseball, you can catch the OKC Comets in action at the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark Aug. 1-3, 12-17 and 26-31. Other OKC events include the American Quarter Horse Youth World Championship, Aug. 1-10 at the OKC Fairgrounds, as well as refreshing Sunset Paddles events, hosted by Riversport OKC, running Aug. 9 and 20 at the Boathouse District. Stick around Riversport for the OklaFlow Finals Aug. 15-17 – there, you’ll see some of the nation’s best surfers hit the Riversport waves.

Around the state, get ready to rodeo. The Yukon FFA IPRA Rodeo runs Aug. 2-3 at the Canadian County Cowboy Church Arena in Yukon; the Will Rogers Memorial Rodeo stomps into town Aug. 4-9 at Vinita’s American Legion Rodeo Grounds; and the Cinmarron River Stampede Rodeo takes place on Aug. 7-10 at the Waynoka Rodeo Grounds.

Photo courtesy Riversport OKC

Where & When | Entertainment

annually in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It is the largest single-breed world championship horse show exclusively for youth exhibitors 18 years and younger. okcfairgrounds.com

OKC Comets Baseball Aug. 1-3, 12-17, 26-31 Chickasaw Bricktown

Ballpark The professional baseball season continues in OKC. milb.com/ oklahoma-city

Sunset Paddles in Downtown Boathouse District Aug. 9, Aug. 20 Riversport OKC Wrap up a day in Oklahoma City with a Sunset Kayak Excursion in the Boathouse District in downtown Oklahoma City. riversportokc.org

OklaFlow Finals Aug.

15-17 Riversport at the Boathouse District Watch some of the nation's best riders hit the waves at Riversport OKC during the 2025 OklaFlow Finals. riversportokc.org

CommunityArt

First Friday Gallery

Walk Aug. 1 Paseo Arts District Make your way to the First Friday Gallery Walk in Oklahoma City's Paseo Arts District to enjoy art gallery openings, wine tastings, live music and more. thepaseo.org

2nd Friday Norman Art

Walk Aug. 8 Norman Arts

District The 2nd Friday Norman Art Walk, a monthly celebration of the arts in Norman, connects the downtown arts district with outlying galleries, performance halls and Campus Corner. 2ndfridaynorman.com

Second OHOF Saturdays

Aug. 9 Oklahoma Hall of Fame Second Oklahoma Hall of Fame Saturdays invite families to learn about an Oklahoma Hall of Fame member with crafts and activities. oklahomahof.com

OKC Painting Palooza Aug.

10-16 Champion Convention Center Celebrate all forms of creative arts with OKC Painting Palooza. During this week-long event, learn art techniques from

COMMUNITY

world-renowned instructors offering their best step-by-step tips to artists of all skills levels. travelok.com

Life Surge Aug. 23 Paycom Center Life Surge is a one day life-changing event where Christians gather to learn how to grow and use wealth for Kingdom impact. paycomcenter.com

OKC Litfest Aug. 23 300 Park Ave. Join the Oklahoma City Library in a celebration of all things language arts at the Downtown Oklahoma City Literary Festival. metrolibrary.org

Charitable Events

Fund the Mission: Turning Passion Into Support Aug. 5 Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits Discover how to turn board and staff passion into powerful fundraising results. This workshop equips nonprofit leaders with tools and strategies to align mission, inspire donors and build sustainable support through ethical and effective resource development. okcnp.org

Work the Runway 2025 Aug.

8 The Criterion Goodwill Central Oklahoma’s 5th Annual Work the Runway presents Passport to Possibilities, where fashion meets impact on a global stage. classy.org

Festival of Hope Aug. 15 The Skirvin Hotel HeartLine’s annual Festival of Hope gala is an extraordinary event celebrating HeartLine's unwavering commitment to providing help, hope and information to those in need. heartlineoklahoma.org

The Homeless Alliance's Homecoming Dance Aug. 22 Will Rogers Theatre Learn how the Homeless Alliance helps our neighbors find home at this fun, nostalgic event, complete with a Homecoming Court competing to win a crown! homelessalliance. org

A Whole Lotta Fun

Oklahoma teems with community events.

29th Annual Melody Lane Gala: A Storybook

Evening Aug. 23 Skirvin Hotel Get ready for a night full of inspiration, impact and elegance—you won’t want to miss it! All proceeds benefit Parent Promise and Prevent Child Abuse Oklahoma. parentpromise. harnessgiving.org

THE STATE Performances

Oklahoma International Dance Festival Summer Intensive Through Aug. 2 OU Fine Arts Center, Norman The Oklahoma International Dance Festival (OIDF) Summer Intensive offers an opportunity for dancers to receive exceptional instruction by faculty from at the University of Oklahoma okdancefest.org

Wayne Brady Aug. 2 Choctaw Casino Resort, Grant Enjoy an evening of laughs when master of improv Wayne Brady takes stage. choctawcasinos.com

Concerts

Grupo Marca Registrada Aug. 1 Winstar World Casino and Resort, Thackerville From the heart of Sinaloa, Grupo Marca Registrada is without a doubt one of the most celebrated regional Mexican bands to come out of the Pacific norteño scene. winstar. com

Jessie Murph Aug. 1 Choctaw Casino and Resort, Durant After building a dedicated following by sharing music on TikTok and YouTube, Jessie Murph emerged as a compelling, fresh voice in music with a soulful blend of pop, hip-hop and country. choctawcasinos.com

Tracy Byrd & Shenandoah Aug. 2 Winstar World Casino and Resort, Thackerville With hits like “The

Keeper of the Stars,” “Don’t Take Her She’s All I Got” and “Watermelon Crawl,” Tracy Byrd has become one of the most recognized names in modern country music, and since 1984, Shoals-based Shenandoah has garnered a reputation for creating some of country music’s most memorable tracks. winstar.com

Counting Crows Aug. 3 Counting Crows Choctaw Casino and Resort, Durant Counting Crows are a Grammy and Academy Award-nominated rock band that have sold over 20 million albums worldwide. choctawcasinos.com

Darius Rucker Aug. 22 Choctaw Casino and Resort, Durant In 2009 Rucker was named New Artist of the Year at the CMA Awards. He achieved a personal goal and childhood dream when he was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry on October 16, 2012 choctawcasinos.com

Gary Allan Aug. 22 Winstar World Casino and Resort, Thackerville With his signature blend of smoldering vocals, rebellious lyrics and raucous live performances, Gary Allan has become a true force across the modern country music dial. winstar.com

Train with Edwin McCain Aug. 28 Choctaw Casino and Resort, Durant Train are a Grammy Award-winning rock band who have released 11 studio albums, selling over 10 million copies worldwide. choctawcasinos.com

David Lee Roth Aug. 29 Winstar World Casino and Resort, Thackerville Rock and roll icon David Lee Roth, the voice of Van Halen, has left an indelible mark on rock music. winstar.com

Sports

Yukon FFA IPRA Rodeo Aug.

2-3 Canadian County Cowboy Church Arena, Yukon Multiple competition events will keep you on the edge of your seat as talented riders vie for the prize. rodeoticket.com

Will Rogers Memorial Rodeo Aug. 4-9 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

Cimarron River Stampede Rodeo Aug. 7-10 Waynoka Rodeo Grounds and downtown Waynoka Come out for an evening of rodeo excitement during Waynoka's annual Cimarron River Stampede Rodeo. travelok.com

Community

Oklahoma Indian Nations Powwow Aug. 1-3 100 Red Moon Cir., Concho The annual Oklahoma Indian Nations Powwow in Concho features traditional American Indian dancers in full regalia. cheyenneandarapahonsn.gov

Enid Comic Con Aug. 2-3 Stride Bank Center, Enid Capes, riding boots, masks and makeup will fill the Stride Bank Center as attendees compete in cosplay and costume contests held throughout the convention. enidcon.com

Ottawa County Free Fair Aug. 2-9 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. extension.okstate.edu

Firelake Fireflight Balloon Fest Aug. 8-9 1702 S. Gordon Cooper Drive, Shawnee The FireLake Fireflight Balloon Festival will offer two days of

In Tulsa, head to the Global Gatherings World Festival on Aug. 9 at the Gathering Place to learn about the various cultures represented within the city lines. Next up, venture to the Arvest Convention Center for Oklahoma Comic Con on Aug. 9-10, then head to the Greenwood Film Festival Aug 10-14. The event, happening at OSU-Tulsa, will showcase Tulsa film pioneers and unearth important lessons from the past. The highly anticipated Blue Whale Comedy Festival runs Aug. 14-17 at various venues in downtown Tulsa, and another can’t-miss event is Wild Brew on Aug. 23, also at the Arvest Convention Center, which combines food and spirits to benefit the Sutton Avian Research Center.

In OKC, flex your creative flair at the Painting Palooza event, Aug. 10-16 at the Champion Convention Center, or visit the downtown OKC Library for Litfest Aug. 23, a celebration of all things language arts.

Around the state, the social calendar is packed. Visit the Firelake Fireflight Balloon Fest, Aug. 8-9 at 1702 S. Gordon Cooper Drive in Shawnee, or the Rush Springs Watermelon Festival, Aug. 9 at Jeff Davis Park. Creatives won’t want to miss the Cherokee Homecoming Art Show, running from Aug. 9-Sept. 6 at Tahlequah’s Cherokee Springs Plaza. Other events include the Cimarron Territorial Celebration/Cow Chip Throwing Contest, Aug. 18-23 at Beaver County Fairgrounds; the Blanchard Bluegrass Festival, Aug. 22-23 at Lions Park; and Rocklahoma, Aug 29-31 at 1421 W. 450 Rd. in Pryor.

balloon glows, balloon launches and rides, and family-friendly entertainment in Shawnee, Oklahoma. firelakeballoonfest. com

Outdoor Nation Expo Aug. 8-9 FireLake Arena, Shawnee Browse over 120 vendors at the Outdoor Nation Expo hosted at the FireLake Arena in Shawnee. outdoornationexpo. com

Rush Springs Watermelon

Festival Aug. 9 Jeff Davis Park, Rush Springs Held the second Saturday of each August, 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

Cherokee Homecoming Art Show Aug. 9-Sept. 6 Cherokee Springs Plaza, Tahlequah Visit The Gallery at Cherokee Springs Plaza in Tahlequah for the Cherokee Homecoming Art Show. View authentic Cherokee artwork by artists from all across the nation. visitcherokeenation.com

Cimarron Territorial Celebration and Cow Chip Throwing Contest Aug. 18-23 Beaver County Fairgrounds Come to the Cimarron Territorial Celebration and Cow Chip Throwing Contest in Beaver to enjoy activities commemorating the pioneers of the Oklahoma panhandle. beaverchamber.com

Blanchard Bluegrass Festival Aug. 22-23 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. travelok.com

Clinton Arts and Crafts Festival Aug. 23 Frisco Ave., Clinton Bring your family and friends out to experience the work of talented artists in an array of styles traditional and contemporary. clintonnychamber. org

Rocklahoma Aug 29-31 1421 W. 450 Rd., Pryor Enjoy an epic threeday rock music festival featuring more than 70 entertainment acts on three stages. rocklahoma.com

Rusk 'Til Dawn Blues Festival Aug. 29-31 OK Blues Hall of Fame, Rentiesville Come and enjoy three days and nights of Oklahoma, regional and national blues acts at the Dusk 'til Dawn Blues Festival in Rentiesville. dcminnerblues.com

Cherokee National Holiday Quilt Show Aug. 2931 Cherokee Casino Tahlequah As part of the Cherokee National Holiday festivities, see the ornate quilts crafted for the Cherokee National Holiday Quilt Show competition. travelok.com

Resilience: A Sansei Sense of Legacy Through Sept. 7 Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, Enid The exhibit focuses on the reverberating generational effect of President Franklin Roosevelt's 1942 Executive Order 9066, which enforced the imprisonment of all Japanese Americans living on the West Coast of the United States. okhistory.org

Photo by Patrick Witty Photography

BLUE WHALE COMEDY FESTIVAL

Blockbusters and Buzz

August audiences have frontrow seats to virtually every film genre.

As the back half of the year approaches, August is stacked with some truly must-see films – so leave your weekends open, because there’s something here for everyone.

Starting strong with a legacy sequel, don’t miss The Naked Gun. Starring Liam Neeson as Frank Drebin Jr., son of Frank Drebin Sr. – played by Leslie Nielsen in the original films and TV series Police

Squad!, this sequel seems to understand all the elements that made the original funny. Directed by Akiva Schaffer, one of three members of The Lonely Island, a comedy troupe known for their SNL sketches and music, the film also stars Pamela Anderson and Paul Walter Hauser (Black Bird). Hopefully it can live up to the lofty standards of its predecessors when it releases on Aug. 1.

For a mystery horror film, look no further than Weapons. The story is set in a small town where all but one child from a specific class disappear overnight. Directed by Zach Cregger, known for the 2022 horror film Barbarian, the film stars Josh Brolin, Julia Garner (Ozark), Alden Ehrenreich (Fair Play) and Benedict Wong (Doctor Strange) and looks to have some truly bone-chilling imagery. I thought Barbarian shined but fell apart in the final act, so maybe Creeger can pull it off a bit better this time when Weapons drops on Aug. 8.

If you’re looking for an action heavy sequel to a surprise hit, check out Nobody 2. Following Hutch Mansell (Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul) and his family as they adjust to the revelation that he’s a former government assassin, the trailer shows them attempting to take a summer vacation only to be bombarded by criminal forces. The cast includes Connie Nielsen (Gladiator), John Ortiz (American Fiction), Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future) and Sharon Stone (Basic Instinct), and looks to be just as action-packed as the previous film, with long takes and superbly choreographed fight scenes. It hits theaters on Aug. 15.

For a crime thriller remake, don’t skip Highest 2 Lowest. Directed by Spike Lee

and a remake and reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 film High and Low, this film has all the hallmarks of a Spike Lee joint. Starring Denzel Washington and Jeffery Wright (Angels in America), the movie concerns a music mogul who is caught up in a ransom plot with heavy moral implications. The world premiere at Cannes came with positive reviews, with many saying it uses the bones of the original as a jumping off point to start a different conversation. It drops on Aug. 22 before going to Apple TV + on Sept. 5. For a different kind of crime thriller, go see Caught Stealing. Based on the book of the same name, the film follows Hank Thompson, a former baseball player, who finds himself deeply imbedded in the criminal underworld of 1990’s New York. Starring Austin Butler (Elvis), Regina King (Shirley), Zoe Kravitz (The Batman) and Matt Smith (The Crown), and directed by Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan), everything here indicates an excellent outing when it releases on Aug. 29.

DREW JOSEPH ALLEN

Caught Stealing; photo courtesy Sony Pictures, all rights reserved.

Lance Cheney, A.S.I.D. RICHARD NEEL INTERIORS

Grayson Ardies

Executive director of the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics (ODAA), Grayson Ardies began his working with the department as an intern. In his tenure with the ODAA, Ardies has led many statewide agency initiatives and managed a two-year project that conducted an Aerospace and Aviation Economic Impact Study. An OU alum, Ardies is also a licensed commercial pilot and certified flight instructor. We caught up with Ardies and got his thoughts on...

... his dedication to

the

ODAA. While at the University of Oklahoma participating in their aviation management degree program, I initially wanted to become a commercial airline pilot. Around the time I graduated (2009), the commercial airline industry was just recovering from the Great Recession and pilot jobs were hard to find, so I started a transition to a ground support role.

During my final semester in college, I had an internship with the then Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission. I really enjoyed the internship and everything I learned, and apparently did a good enough job that they hired me on full-time as an airport inspector. The rest is history; I fell in love with helping the aviation and aerospace community of Oklahoma and had the opportunity to jump into various leadership roles along the way. Every single day is exciting and offers up the opportunity to help grow the industry, and we can actually see the positive outcomes we have in the aerospace community. It’s those positive outcomes and impact on the public that keep me coming back every day.

... how important his industry is to the fabric of Oklahoma.

This is something I can’t highlight enough, given this is our state’s second largest industry with $44 billion in annual economic impact. Aerospace and defense, particularly how the industry is situated with Oklahoma being the MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) capital of the world, has been key to Oklahoma’s economy and weathering some of the downturns in the oil/gas industry and the agriculture industry. While aerospace and defense has its own boom/bust cycles, the industry can’t just defer MRO activities on aircraft. A company (airline, flight school, business flight department, etc.) can make an active choice on whether to buy a new

aircraft, but they don’t have a choice on whether or not to maintain that aircraft. It must be maintained to the appropriate FAA standards.

... proudest accomplishments.

My proudest accomplishment probably has to go to our work in the aerospace education area and trying to get more young people interested in and engaged with this career field. Oklahoma has held the top spot in the country for the last three years in terms of the number of high schools teaching aviation curriculum in the classroom, with 118 schools currently teaching it this school year. There are so many neat STEM learning opportunities within the aerospace field now; it’s truly amazing. Every time I go speak to a classroom of students I share with them that if they can dream up the career, chances are, they can do that activity right here in Oklahoma within the aerospace and defense industry.

... goals.

The major goal we all have is to ensure that aerospace and defense becomes our state’s No. 1 industry, which we believe will ensure economic success for Oklahoma for decades to come. Starting in 2021, the legislature provided our agency with appropriations for the first time since the ’80s and ’90s. Over the last four years, we’ve embarked on a program to invest in pro-growth aviation infrastructure, not just at airports, but across the spectrum including UAS/AAM infrastructure such as radar and detection systems to enable UAS/AAM testing and aircraft engine test cell infrastructure. Our long-term goal is to provide the bedrock foundation from which this industry can grow and flourish. There are probably too many short-term goals to mention them all, but we are currently underway with a new economic impact study which should be complete by early 2026, and while I don’t think we will have achieved that No. 1 industry status just yet, I think we have shown great progress from where we were in 2017 when our last study was conducted.

Photo courtesy the ODAA

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Patrick (p.s.) Gordon RETROSPECTIVE

opening sept. 24

Patrick (p.s.) Gordon (American, b. 1953). Smoked Pearls, 1996. Watercolor on paper, 381/2 × 281/2". Philbrook Museum of Art, Tulsa, Oklahoma. Bequest of Marylouise Cowan, 2010.9.7.

©️ Patrick (p.s.) Gordon