The Tulsa Voice | Vol. 3 No. 18

LMFAO LOL

LOL HAHA S E P T. 7 - 20, 2 0 1 6

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VOL. 3 NO. 18

LAUGH IT UP

omg

LOL

HAHA

The Blue Whale Comedy Festival returns

HAHA

LOL

Toby Morton is a dick P19 Full festival schedule P20 Laughing at Evan Hughes’s expense P21 Lady Parts with Fortune Feimster P24

LMFAO

ro f l

LOL

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omg

PLUS YOUR 2016 FALL FESTIVAL GUIDE | P26

2 // CONTENTS

September 7 – 20, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE

NOW OPEN!

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THE TULSA VOICE // September 7 – 20, 2016

CONTENTS // 3

4 // CONTENTS

September 7 – 20, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE

September 7 – 20, 2016 // Vol. 3, No. 18 ©2016. All rights reserved.

PUBLISHER Jim Langdon MANAGING EDITOR Joshua Kline ART DIRECTOR Madeline Crawford ASSISTANT EDITOR Liz Blood DIGITAL EDITOR John Langdon GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Georgia Brooks, Morgan Welch PHOTOGRAPHY/MULTIMEDIA Greg Bollinger AD SALES MANAGER Josh Kampf CONTRIBUTORS Alicia Chesser, Andrew Deacon, Claire Edwards, Barry Friedman, Mitch Gilliam, Jeff Huston, Melissa Lukenbaugh, Jeremy Luther, Adam Murphy, Joe O’Shansky, Bobby Dean Orcutt, Michelle Pollard, Carly Putnam, Megan Shepherd The Tulsa Voice’s distribution is audited annually by

19 TOBY MORTON IS A DICK

BY JOE O’SHANSKY

The Tulsa comic on Blue Whale, the local comedy scene, and his time at “South Park”

20 WHO, WHEN, WHALE

Your full festival schedule

21 FAILING UPWARDS

BY MITCH G ILLIAM

Evan Hughes’s comedy of errors

22 OKIE HOMIES

BY MITCH G ILLIAM & ANDREW DEACON

Member of

The local contingent of Blue Whale, in its own words

24 FUNNY LADY

The Tulsa Voice is published bi-monthly by

BY CLAIRE EDWARDS

An interview with Fortune Feimster 1603 S. Boulder Ave. Tulsa, OK 74119 P: 918.585.9924 F: 918.585.9926

PUBLISHER Jim Langdon PRESIDENT Juley Roffers VP COMMUNICATIONS Susie Miller

Evan Hughes on stage at Downtown Lounge | ADAM MURPHY

CONTROLLER Mary McKisick RECEPTION Gloria Brooks, Gene White

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD Send all letters, complaints, compliments & haikus to: voices@langdonpublishing.com FOLLOW US @THETULSAVOICE ON:

NEWS & COMMENTARY 8 LOST OPPORTUNITY

FOOD & DRINK 14 TULSA RESTAURANT WEEK

BY MEGAN SHEPHERD

BY ALICIA CHESSER

What Oklahoma is missing by refusing Medicaid expansion

The when, where, what, and how much

The Tulsa Awards for Theater Excellence will undergo much-needed changes

10 DEWEY BARTLETT’S LONG GOODBYE

BY BARRY FRIEDMAN

Soul food and contention

FILM

36 CURIO DELIGHT

44 CRUEL SUMMER Would-be blockbusters keep getting worse

MUSIC LMFAO

LOL HAHA S E P T. 7 - 20, 2 0 1 6

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VOL. 3 NO. 18

LAUGH IT UP

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40 ROAD WORK

B Y BOBBY DEAN ORCUTT

Jason Isbell returns to Tulsa for Mother Road Revival

45 TALE OF WOE

BY JEFF HUSTON

‘The Light Between Oceans’ is an emotional rollercoaster

HAHA

omg

The Blue Whale Comedy Festival returns

HAHA

LOL

Toby Morton is a dick P19

BY LIZ BLOOD

Chris Ramsay’s art of found objects

ETC. 13 DOWNTHEHATCH 38 THEHAPS 42 MUSICLISTINGS 46 ASTROLOGY + SUDOKU 47 CROSSWORD (IT’S BACK!!!)

Full festival schedule P20 Laughing at Evan Hughes’s expense P21 Lady Parts with Fortune Feimster P24

LMFAO

34 TATE REVAMP

BY CARLY PUTNAM

BY JOE O’SHANSKY

LOL

ARTS & CULTURE

rofl

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PLUS YOUR 2016 FALL FESTIVAL GUIDE | P26

ON THE COVER

Blue Whale Comedy Festival

COVER ILLUSTRATIONS BY GEORGIA BROOKS THE TULSA VOICE // September 7 – 20, 2016

FALL FUN

Y O U R F E S T I VA L G U I D E THIS SEASON

P26 CONTENTS // 5

editor’sletter

Speaking of laughs …

I

had a good one at the collective shriek of disapproval we heard after readers discovered there was no Universal Crossword in last issue (TTV Aug. 17, Vol. 3 No. 17).

“Where’s the goddamn crossword puzzle, Josh?” read a friend’s text message, the day the issue hit stands.

An avalanche of griping followed in the form of emails, Facebook comments and phone calls.

This wasn’t the first time we’d held the syndicated puzzles—occasionally, lack of space dictates some tough choices be made in the back

6 // NEWS & COMMENTARY

of the book, and that issue was especially tight—but it garnered the loudest, most sustained objection to an editorial decision I can recall in my time at the paper.

People really love their crossword. (We also cut Sudoku, but nobody seemed to care.)

One caller who assumed the cuts were permanent asked me if we were trying to weed out those who pick up the paper exclusively for the crossword.

“You think people who do the crossword don’t read the rest of the paper?” he asked in panicked tone. “‘Cause we do read it! Well,

except for that Barry Friedman.

He’s a jerk.”

A friend who bartends at McNellie’s was especially miffed— besides taking away her pastime during shift breaks, we put her in the awkward position of having to break the bad news to her crossword-faithful regulars.

One caller explained that we’d disrupted her twice- monthly Wednesday ritual and that picking up the paper for the crossword was the only reason she left the house on those days.

Another complaint assumed it had been a calculated cash grab on

our part—“replacing the crossword for a little extra money, I see,” the reader accused.

We had no idea the crossword bore such a weight—clearly, if we permanently removed the puzzle, our circulation would plummet and print journalism’s journey to obsolescence would be hastened.

Sorry ‘bout it, lesson learned, won’t happen again. But honestly, what do you have against Sudoku? a

JOSHUA KLINE MANAGING EDITOR

September 7 – 20, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE

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“Right now, when you open a new TTCU checking account, you can get up to $500. Now sometimes when the big banks offer an incentive, it’s because the customer service isn’t so good. With TTCU, you get great service, and they make an impact on the community. Every TTCU check card swipe helps an area school.”

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THE TULSA VOICE // September 71 – 20, 2016 ttcu_tul_voice_james_checking_16.indd

NEWS & COMMENTARY 8/8/16 8:41 // AM7

okpolicy

However we decide to go about accepting federal dollars … it will bring with it tremendous opportunity for badly-needed investments in the health of Oklahoma.

Lost opportunity What Oklahoma is missing by refusing Medicaid expansion

by CARLY PUTNAM

T

hree years ago, a central provision of the Affordable Care Act kicked in – the option for states to expand their Medicaid programs for the low-income uninsured via a substantial infusion of federal funds.

While 31 states and Washington D.C. have expanded coverage to date, Oklahoma is one of 19 states still taking a “wait and see approach.”

The time for wait and see is over. A new report from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation has surveyed dozens of studies and found that expanding coverage yields significant coverage gains, grows access to care and use of health services, and improves state economies.

The report finds that the gap in uninsured rates between expansion and non-expansion states is widening, effectively creating two-tiered access to health care depending on state politics. As a result, Oklahoma’s non-elderly 8 // NEWS & COMMENTARY

uninsured rate is second only to Texas and tied with Georgia – both states that have refused to expand coverage.

Expanding coverage also increases access to care and the use of important services like cancer screenings. The study cautions that some states may see reported health status decrease as individuals previously lacking access to medical care discover that they may be less healthy than they thought – but increasing diagnoses of chronic medical conditions with coverage expansions is a feature, not a bug. With access to health coverage, the newly-diagnosed will be better able to manage those conditions rather than discovering them only when symptoms have gotten much worse.

Expanding coverage is good for the economy and state budgets. The Leavitt Report commissioned by Governor Fallin estimated that expansion would save

the state hundreds of millions of dollars, a finding that is borne out by the experience in expansion states. Although half of expansion states have seen faster enrollment than predicted, two-thirds have found that per member per month costs are at or below expectations.

In addition, expansion states have seen reductions in uninsured hospital visits and uncompensated care costs. By comparison, uncompensated care remains a big problem in Oklahoma, where hospitals and safety net providers are struggling to stay in business while caring for large numbers of uninsured patients.

This spring, Oklahoma’s leadership finally indicated a willingness to move forward with expansion via the Medicaid Rebalancing Act of 2020. Although that attempt fell short, lawmakers’ willingness to consider the option was a promising sign, and Governor Fallin has since reaffirmed her support for the measure — if

the Legislature leads the charge.

As this report shows, they should have every reason to champion this common-sense solution for Oklahoma.

Oklahoma’s fraying health care safety net can’t carry its current load, and multiple agencies are one more revenue failure away from catastrophic cuts. However we decide to go about accepting federal dollars — through a private option like Arkansas or a straightforward expansion of SoonerCare — it will bring with it tremendous opportunity for badly-needed investments in the health of Oklahoma.

Oklahoma has the opportunity to bring more than a billion dollars in federal funds home and improve quality of life for thousands of Oklahomans. As long as we refuse that money, Oklahoma is only harming itself. a Carly Putnam is a policy analyst with Oklahoma Policy Institute (www.okpolicy.org).

September 7 – 20, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE

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THE TULSA VOICE // September 7 – 20, 2016

A novel research study is being conducted at The University of Tulsa to identify potential markers of risk for chronic pain in healthy (currently painfree) Non-Hispanic White and Native American individuals.

This study is safe, non-invasive, and does not involve medication. Participants must be able to attend 2 laboratory sessions (4-5.5 hours/day) in which physiological and behavioral reactions to different stimuli are recorded. This is a University of Tulsa, Cherokee Nation, and Indian Health Service Oklahoma Area Office IRB approved research study.

NEWS & COMMENTARY // 9

viewsfrom theplains

Dewey Barltett and Barry Friedman at Evelyn’s | JEREMY LUTHER

Dewey Barlett’s long goodbye Soul food and contention

by BARRY FRIEDMAN

M

ayor Bartlett was unhappy. It was the last week in June and he was calling about a column I had written called “Bartlett’s Trump Card,” in which I took him to task for, among other things, endorsing Trump for president and attempting to crash a Democratic event last year where Vice President Joe Biden spoke.1 “You bum rush the Summit Club, try to strong arm your way into a Democratic event, and start throwing your mayoral weight around, as if such a stunt sways a secret service …” I wrote. He wasn’t amused.

He didn’t want to write a rebuttal; he wanted to talk.

So, the mayoral election comes and goes. He loses, badly, to City Councilor G.T. Bynum; still he wants to talk. Emails back and forth. He goes to Europe. Weeks pass, a month passes. Surely it no longer matters.

It does.

10 // NEWS & COMMENTARY

First week in August, the phone rings. He’s in my contact list by now.

DEWEY BARTLETT. A line or two of pleasantries, if that.

“I don’t have the article in front of me,” he says. “I’m driving.”

“Me, too.”

He tells me about his father, Dewey F. Bartlett, former senator and governor, and his close friendship with then-Senator Joe Biden, despite their ideological divide.

The mayor wishes I had called for the backstory.

“Mr. Mayor, I did a piece, as you know, with Mayor-elect Bynum. Just him and me at lunch.

Let’s do the same.”

“Why didn’t you tell me you were waiting for a celebrity?”

Wanda says, seeing him.

“Best food in town,” the mayor tells me.

***

DB: In the past when I met him, I knew he was coming into town.

The one at the Summit Club, I didn’t know.

Evelyn’s Soul Food Kitchen is at the airport. I’m early. Wanda, who runs things, smiles. Soon, I see the mayor in the parking lot, alone, walking towards the front door. He enters.

THE TULSA VOICE: So where do you want to start?

DEWEY BARTLETT: The one thing I wanted to mention was the background on the Joe Biden deal.

First of all I was not asked to leave, I was not kicked out of the Summit Club.

TTV: But why go to a Democratic fundraiser in the first place?

TTV: You didn’t know about this one?

DB: That’s exactly right—not know until I think the day before … so I just said, “Shoot I’ll just go try to meet him down at the Summit Club.” So, I didn’t even know what time or anything, they’re always kind of guarded about that for security reasons. Anyway, so I showed up and introduced myself to the head of security and said I’d like to see him if it’s possible, and told him I did have somewhat of a relationship with him, which I’m sure they hear all the time.

The security guy said, “Well, he’s awfully busy now. He was giving a speech,” and I said, “All right, I understand,” left my card, and that was the end of it.

TTV: So why didn’t you go to the airport to meet him?

DB: I honestly don’t know why.

Probably I was busy. Who knows?

TTV: You talked about the vice president and your father and September 7 – 20, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE

their love and respect for each other. Have politics gotten more partisan?

DB: Oh God, yeah.

TTV: Have you?

DB: No, not really. I don’t think so.

TTV: What about the Trump endorsement— DB: I didn’t endorse him, first of all. A guy from Channel Six was interviewing me and … said “Are you in a position to support Trump?” or something. My answer was something to the effect of, if I remember it correctly, “Trump has gone through the process and he has won everything fair and square. And I would support him.” I wouldn’t endorse him.

TTV: Mr. Mayor, what’s the difference? GOP officials try to make that distinction all the time with Trump.

DB: Endorsement to me is when you start out at the beginning of a campaign and say, “I’m for that person.” Supporting is a little more towards the end, where you’re saying “I’ll support him, I didn’t start out necessarily, he wasn’t my person.”

TTV: Well, do you think it hurt you in the election?

DB: I don’t know if it did or not.

It was portrayed as if it was a bad thing. I try to steer clear of political correctness and, whatever my position is, I try to be as straightforward as I can.

TTV: The press in Tulsa, how do you feel it treats you?

DB: Very fairly.

TTV: Really?

DB: I do. The one issue I have with the press is some that are involved with press haven’t had the experience that I wish they would have. Most of them are fairly understanding of politics and how government works. But many have not had the experience of running THE TULSA VOICE // September 7 – 20, 2016

a business and what that means.

It’s so unfortunate. In the schools of journalism, I would really enjoy seeing a stronger effort towards requiring that understanding.

TTV: Were you surprised no Democrat filed?

DB: Yeah I was, but I really didn’t spend a lot of time trying to strategize on this or that.

TTV: You didn’t?

DB: Oh, you know, some. I would say that most people probably don’t realize the amount of time that it does take to really do a good job as mayor. Now, others could approach it differently and probably have, but that’s how I do it.

TTV: Was there a point in the campaign or the debates where you said “This is not going well”?

DB: Sometimes they were structured in such a way that either I wasn’t fully able to answer a question. But no. I think there was some kind of overall desire that Tulsa is like the “sea of change,” and I think that entered into a lot of it. I assume it did.

TTV: Were you surprised none of the city council came out for you?

DB: Not really. Mr. Bynum is very good friends—he has a relationship with all of them.

TTV: How would you describe your relationship with him through the years? He said growing up, he looked up to you.

DB: I didn’t know him very well until he got on the council, really.

TTV: He told me he worked on your original campaign? He was involved in your original, first campaign?

DB: My first campaign for mayor?

TTV: Yeah.

DB: Maybe. I don’t remember. It was a long time ago.

TTV: From a policy standpoint,

you’re both Republicans, what’s the difference between you two?

DB: Well, he supports the penny sales tax for education, I oppose it. But I think I’ll be able to answer that question much better in about two years, when we see how he handles things. There’s going to be something that’s going to hit the fan.

TTV: It did—

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DB: As it DID with me. My first day in office I found out that the economic collapse that we were just about ready to deal with, I handled that pretty well.

TTV: Does the perception of Oklahoma nationally affect how a mayor of a city like Tulsa does his job?

DB: It depends on the headline, obviously, but yeah! When they put it in such a way that makes it sound like we’re a bunch of bumpkins.

TTV: But sometimes we do sound like a bunch of bumpkins.

DB: Maybe. Far be it for me to say that, but I don’t think anybody has that market corner of being a bumpkin.

There’s only one problem with churches that seem to have all the answers.

TTV: But that ‘R’ hyphen after the name always goes out and we’re solid Republican here.

DB: It’s more of an urban/rural split than it is party split.

TTV: Do you think the council took a lot of its grievances with you to the public that should have been best kept private?

DB: You’d have to ask them that.

TTV: But what do you think?

DB: I’m sure they did. I’m sure they’d say the same thing about me.

TTV: Let’s go back to what I perceive to be your political shift? An example: Five years ago, you said, “If I had my druthers I’d rather have a Christmas Parade, but I (continued on page 12)

They don’t allow questions.

We do.

Starting Sept. 14, we’ll get together for dinner, a thought about faith & life, and then talk about that with others around tables. With lots of questions. The only ones we’ll be missing are yours.

Wednesdays, 5:30-7:25pm St. Matthew’s Church, 12424 E. 31st. Tulsa StMattsTulsa@gmail.com

(Bring your babies, kids & teens. We have lots for them to do. And they ask better questions than the adults!)

NEWS & COMMENTARY // 11

understand I live in a diverse city, and we should keep it sort of nonnamed.” This past year, you said “Let’s rename it the Christmas parade.” That was a change, agreed?

DB: No, not really a change. I mean, still, there was a group, a strong group that wanted to have that, and I thought well, OK, it’s not against the law, and that’s what the group wanted in this case, for it to be Christmas. If that’s what they want, all right.

TTV: On some of the national issues, you wrote the president about the Syrian refugees, you were against Obamacare. Why is that your concern as Tulsa mayor?

DB: Well I thought it very important because national security is a very, very important thing for me … it keeps me up nights.

TTV: And ACA? Why come out and against that?

DB: ACA? TTV: Affordable Care Act. DB: I have yet to hear anybody in the business community say “this is the greatest thing since sliced bread.” I’ve seen it in the city government. It’s costing us a lot more money.

TTV: And you don’t blame the insurance companies gaming the system for that?

DB: No, I haven’t seen good documentation that that’s the case.

TTV: One of the things that G.T. Bynum told me was that he thought there was sort of a political fire rule that goes up, and it doesn’t really matter what the Tulsa mayor thinks about certain issues nationally— DB: Oh, yeah.

TTV: And that ACA and the Syrian refugees would be off the table?

DB: Take off the table?

TTV: Yeah.

12 // NEWS & COMMENTARY

TTV: Did you like the non-partisan election format?

“I’m trying to complete several things before my term’s over.

I’d like to put in an academy in each and every one of our high schools. Where I feel where we made some mistakes is we focus on telling people you have to go to college, and that’s not true for everyone, so what do we tell those people?”

–MAYOR DEWEY BARTLETT DB: I was asked “What keeps you up at night?” and I said “national security” and used Cushing, Oklahoma, as an example. If somebody were to do something to it, it would bring the economy to a screeching halt, immediately, and it would devastate our country. And that’s a very real observation. That would hurt Tulsa. If somebody goes there and brings a nuclear device or just a hell of a big bomb and blows the hell out of Cushing.

TTV: It’s the Syrian refugee part of that, though, that breaks down.

Let’s move on, though. Looking back, your successes?

DB: Well, the most recent one was the public safety portion of Vision Tulsa. That was my idea at the beginning. We had a lot of changes in the process and the intermediate in the mean time, but keeping it in a way that would pass. Some people wanted to add an increase

in tax, and/or take out public safety. I was adamant that those would not be very smart to do because it would kill the whole idea.

TTV: What are your plans now?

DB: Still being mayor. I’m trying to complete several things before my term’s over. I’d like to put in an academy in each and every one of our high schools. Where I feel where we made some mistakes is we focus on telling people you have to go to college, and that’s not true for everyone, so what do we tell those people?

TTV: That would probably be more effective if college-educated people weren’t making that statement.

DB: But they do make it. The important thing is, when kids graduate from high school, they ought to have a choice and right now, it’s just a college degree.

DB: No. I did initially. It sounded good. G.T. was trying as hard as he could to say he wasn’t affiliated.

And I said, “Well, I’m Republican.” I think it’s important to have some kind of label for people who don’t pay attention to politics. One of the real problems—and it’s kind of ironic—is the length of time between the primary and when a new mayor is sworn into office.

TTV: Seven months.

DB: It’s a long time and it’s a terrible thing putting anyone in that position. And here I am. And the campaign starts a long time before that—last September. And G.T. had the time to do it. I had to be mayor.

TTV: Is there a mechanism where you could shorten those 7 months?

DB: I’d have to resign and I’m not going to do that.

TTV: You know how to work a room. Seems like you’ve been to every church in this city a couple of times. It seems genuine.

DB: I’m glad you pointed that out.

It’s real. It’s not some bullshit deal. I’m not doing it for political purposes. I wanted to do it because it was outreach that had never happened. Now it didn’t necessarily show in the election, but that’s OK, because I wanted to establish a true friendship and relationship with a part of town that has pretty much been neglected, especially from an economic development standpoint, ever since the Race Riots.

TTV: Any regrets?

DB: No, the campaign, that’s all over now. The people have spoken. I do hope that Mr. Bynum does well and leads the city well.

I’ll be around. I’m not going anywhere. It’s my city, too. a 1) thetulsavoice.com: Bartlett’s Trump Card September 7 – 20, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE

downthehatch

by LIZ BLOOD

THE WINNING COCKTAILS OF PHILBROOK MIX I had the distinct pleasure of being one of three judges at Philbrook’s MIX cocktail competition on August 26, alongside Andrew Saliga, local cocktail blogger at The Humble Garnish, and Paul Clarke, executive editor of Imbibe. Winners of both the “Judges’ Choice” and “People’s Choice” awards were great selections, as were the other worthy 13 competitors. Below are the winning bartenders’ recipes and comments on their drinks and the night.

knew that it had to be a beer cocktail, because, well, brewpub.

I think the highlight of the night was when Paul Clarke came back over to my table and said, ‘Thank you! That was fucking delicious!’”

POTUS (Punch Of The United States) Chris Armstrong | Arnie’s Bar (People’s Choice award) 4 1

#moneyshot Ryan Stack | Prairie Brewpub (Judges’ Choice award)

PHOTOS BY MELISSA LUKENBAUGH

3 oz Prairie Money Shot, Strawberry Sour beer 1 oz Hanson Organic Vodka (Stack’s was aged in a barrel that had previously aged an Aviation cocktail. “Because,” in his words, “why not?!”)

1 /4 oz demerara syrup 3 drops Bittermens Tiki Bitters Pinch of cinnamon 3 strawberries 6 mint leaves Muddle the strawberries and mint leaves in a shaker, then combine all other ingredients in the shaker and shake with ice. Double strain into a tulip glass.

Garnish with orange oil and the top of a mint sprig.

“When I found out that I was accepted into MIX again this year,” said Stack, “I right away THE TULSA VOICE // September 7 – 20, 2016

parts red wine part mixed fruit juices – orange, cherry, and apple 1 part Monkey Shoulder Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 1 part brandy ½ part vodka ½ part gin Cinnamon Sugar Salt Orange slice Mix cinnamon, sugar, and a little salt in a saucer to garnish the glass rim. Wet the glass rim and dip in mixture. Serve the punch over ice and garnish with a fresh orange slice.

This drink is best made in large batches, as for a party.

“Like chili,” said Armstrong, “it gets better over night. Throw some fruit in there, too.”

“I wanted to take a traditional summer drink and make it warmer and fuzzier and leaning towards fall, but not totally giving up summer,” said Armstrong.

“The competition this year was stiff. I had no idea we’d get it.

We were really surprised. But it was drinkable, approachable, and nothing too complex.” a NEWS & COMMENTARY // 13

citybites

Tulsa restaurant week The when, where, what, and how much

by MEGAN SHEPHERD

E

ach September, TulsaPeople magazine, our sister publication, sponsors Tulsa’s annual Restaurant Week, a ten-day stint of discounted dining meant to give Tulsans a taste of the finer food in town without breaking the bank. As a bonus, 10 percent of all Restaurant Week proceeds go toward the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma’s Food for Kids program, with generous matching funds provided by the George Kaiser Family Foundation.

This year, Restaurant Week takes place September 10-19.

Here’s your guide to navigating this year’s line-up, with a solid seven days of dining for less than $200.

rant Week. The dinner prix fixe menu features soup or salad; grilled salmon, Surf-n-Turf, or lobster pasta; and a petite cheesecake for dessert. Reservations recommended.

SATURDAY 9/17

Dinner at Michael V’s 8222 E. 103rd St., $35

Shrimp and grits at Doc’s Wine & Food | MICHELLE POLLARD

MONDAY 9/12

Lunch at The Wine Loft Bistro 7890 E. 106th Place S., #14 $12.95 for 2 courses TWL Bistro’s Southside shopping center location makes it easy to forget, but one look at its restaurant week menu will have you hitting the Creek Turnpike on your lunch break.

The extravagant space is perfect for a weekend dinner out, but what Monday afternoon couldn’t stand a little sprucing? Order a glass of wine or signature cocktail to start (there are literally hundreds of choices, so ask your server for a recommendation) and pick from a sriracha and manchego flatbread, Ca jun shrimp & grits, or wagyu beef crepettes to start. For the main dish, go for the fried green tomato BLT or the premium wagyu beef burger. If you have room for dessert: beignets.

TUESDAY 9/13

Dinner at The Daily Grill 100 E. 2nd St., $35 If you’ve ever driven by the Daily Grill and offered to your passenger that you “really need to try that place sometime,” now’s your chance. The Restaurant Week menu features light, flavorful dishes perfect for closing out 14 // FOOD & DRINK

summer. Make reservations for dinner and nosh on your choice of Gazpacho topped with avocado and chives, or a watermelon and cucumber salad tossed with feta, pickled red onion, and blackberries. If you feel like getting thematic, have the salad, then the blackberry pork chop for your entree. Finish the evening with key lime pie topped with raspberries.

WEDNESDAY 9/14

Lunch at Doc’s Wine & Food 3509 S. Peoria Ave., $12.95 Welcome to Hump Day! You’ve made it through the first half of the week, so treat yo’self with lunch from Doc’s.

The Ca jun-Creole kitchen and wine bar plates some of the best New Orleans-inspired fare in town. It’s no surprise that their Restaurant Week menu is both delicious and affordable. At Doc’s, $12.95 gets you gumbo, gazpacho, or the house Caesar to start (you’d be remiss to skip the gumbo if you’ve never tried it), shrimp & grits, a turkey avocado melt, or an oyster po’boy (again, a tough call, but the shrimp & grits should win out), and creme brûlée, bread pudding or berries and cream.

Berries and cream provide a nice finish without leaving you nap-bound.

Don’t forget the wine; a glass of the crisp J Wiles Pinot Blanc is perfect for a September afternoon.

THURSDAY 9/15

Michael V’s is an oldie but a goodie, perfect for revisiting. Their Restaurant Week dinner menu features fancy salads, your choice of fish, pork, or chicken, and three decadent desserts. We suggest Michael V’s Signature Salad to begin (sun-dried cherries, apples, pecans, goat cheese) and the Chicken Oscar for your main. The decadent dish, a Michael V’s favorite, is plated with crabmeat, asparagus, rice, and a housemade Béarnaise sauce. The coconut cream pie is a popular dessert option, but you might be drawn the chocolate bread pudding. Either way, you’re bound to leave happy.

Lunch at Foundations 3717 S. Sheridan Road $12.95 for 2 courses; $15.95 for 3 With its residence at Platt College, a meal at Foundations packs the added benefit of education: preparing your meal will be none other than Tulsa’s newest crop of up-and-coming chefs.

Foundations is as elegant as any downtown spot. The restaurant even grows much of its own herbs and vegetables onsite in a culinary garden. Make Restaurant Week reservations for lunch and enjoy dishes like the house Caesar, a chorizo-stuffed pork tenderloin with mango jalapeno sauce, mashed Yukon golds, and roasted carrots, or a bronzed salmon filet drizzled with chili lime hollandaise, served with rice and grilled asparagus. For dessert: the Mexican jicama cake.

SUNDAY 9/18

Brunch at The Chalkboard 1324 S. Main St., $12.95 Yet another steal, thanks to the prix fixe menu model. Kick off brunch with a pan-roasted lump crab cake served with pineapple salsa and avocado mousse and fresh chives.

For the second course, it’s a tossup between frittata (caramelized onions and smoked bacon) served with hash browns, a succulent pork belly hash served with poached eggs and hollandaise, or stuffed challah bread French toast. The French toast (blackberries, blueberries, mascarpone cream cheese, applewood smoked bacon) gets our vote.

Probably best to bring a buddy and sample all of it, then finish with white chocolate bread pudding.

FRIDAY 9/16

Dinner at McGill’s

Dinner at home

1560 E. 21st St. #106 6058 S. Yale Ave, $35

Rest, my friend. By this point, you’re fat, happy, and out of money.

With dinner for two running somewhere around $150 on a regular night, a meal at McGill’s costs a pretty penny, but you can dodge the hefty price tag and still sit in those sweet leather chairs during Restau-

Total: $156.80, excluding tax and tip. a

For the full Restaurant Week menus, visit tulsapeople.com/restaurantweek September 7 – 20, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE

Pizzaiolo Mike Bausch

Andolini’s Pizzeria crafts pizza and libations “Tulsa Style” – honest, made from scratch and delicious. We serve award-winning pizzas and amazing cocktails, beers and wines with genuine Oklahoma friendliness. No freezers, no microwaves, no kidding. At Andolini’s Pizzeria, real food has never been a gimmick; it is how we put the customer first.

RESTAURANT WEEK MENU $12.95 Lunch for 2 courses

LUNCH Appetizer Garlic Knots Bruschetta Small Signature Salad Entrée Two slices of pizza Choice of sausage, pepperoni, cheese, or Slice of the Day

Our menu reflects a wide variety of what we consider “comfort foods”. We Promise to do our best in making you feel at home. So, sit back, relax and enjoy.

Chef

MiChael Minden RESTAURANT WEEK MENU

RESTAURANT WEEK MENU

$12.95 Lunch for 2 courses $35 Dinner

$35 Dinner for 2

LUNCH

DINNER

Appetizer Lobster Bisque Soup of the Day Caesar Salad

Appetizer Pucker Chips Half Order of Cheese Fries Fried Green Tomatoes Spinach Artichoke Dip Entrée Brady Street Burger Pop’s Pot Roast Grilled or Blackened Chicken Breast Chicken Fried Steak or Chicken Southern Fried Catfish Chicken Tenders Chicken and Waffles Mom’s Meatloaf Dessert Brownie Apple Dumpling

Dessert Oreo Cheesecake Brownie Italian Butter Cake

Entrée Chicken Michael’s Salad Pork Loin Sandwich Quiche and Salad

RESTAURANT WEEK MENU $12.95 Lunch for 2 courses $35 Dinner for 2

LUNCH Appetizer Bruschetta with Naan Bread Hummus with Naan Bread Whipped Feta with Naan Bread Entrée Choice of any lunch-sized flatbread

Dessert Baked Fudge Coconut Cream Pie

DINNER Appetizer Bruschetta Spinach Dip Meatballs

DINNER Appetizer Michael’s Signature Salad Caesar Salad Soup of the Day Entrée Mango Tilapia Chicken Oscar Pork Chop

Entrée Choice of two any Flatbread, Pizza, Pasta, Entrée or Entrée Salad Dessert Choice of any Dessert

Dessert Chocolate Bread Pudding Baked Fudge Coconut Cream Pie

Andolini’s Pizzeria

Caz’s Chow House

Michael V’s

1552 E. 15th St. 918-728-6111 www.AndoPizza.com

18 E. M. B. Brady St. 918-588-2469 CazsChowhouse.com

8222 E. 103rd, Suite 137 918-369-0310 MichaelVsRestaurant.com

THE TULSA VOICE // September 7 – 20, 2016

Uniquely mainstream comfort foods served in an upbeat, casual chic atmosphere.

Naples Flatbread 201 S. Denver Ave. W. #107 918-879-1990 NaplesFlatbread.com

Naples Flatbread

FOOD & DRINK // 15

RON FUNCHES

FORTUNE FEIMSTER

IAN ABRAMSON

MEGAN GAILEY

MARONZIO VANCE

BYRON BOWERS

BRENT WEINBACH

AHMED BHAROOCHA

WWW. BLUEWHALECOMEDYFESTIVAL .COM 16 // FEATURED

September 7 – 20, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE

ERIC ANDRE

JAMES ADOMIAN

SCOUT DURWOOD

DJ DOUGGPOUND

JULIAN MCCULLOUGH

MONROE MARTIN

+MANY MORE

SEPTEMBER 8 -11 TULSA , OK NATE BARGATZE

THE TULSA VOICE // September 7 – 20, 2016

TONY HINCHCLIFFE

FEATURED // 17

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA LAUGH HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH IT UP AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA AHAHAHAHAHAHAH HAHAHAHAHAHAHA AHAHAHAHAHAHAH

Toby Morton, Blue Whale Comedy Festival’s film organizer GREG BOLLINGER

The third annual Blue Whale Comedy Festival returns to Tulsa this weekend.

From Thursday to Sunday, several dozen funny people from Tulsa and beyond will turn the Brady Arts District into a veritable factory of laughs, with national headliners including

TOBY MORTON IS A DICK

RON FUNCHES (NBC's "Undateable"), FORTUNE FEIMSTER

The Tulsa comic on Blue Whale, the local comedy scene, and his time at “South Park”

(Hulu's "The Mindy Project"), ERIC ANDRE (Adult Swim's "The

BY JOE O’SHANSKY

Eric Andre Show") and more, along with a slew of local gutbusters showcasing Tulsa's fast-growing comedy scene.

Turn the page for festival highlights, interviews and more details.

Weekend passes are available for $85, and headliner performances can be purchased individually for $25. Get your tickets and find the full schedule at bluewhalecomedyfestival.com.

MOST NOTABLE FOR HIS WRITING and voice work on “South Park,” Toby Morton, a standup comedian, voice actor and animator—and director of the film festival leg of this year’s Blue Whale Comedy Festival—has performed since childhood, his aptitude derived from being the youngest of nine kids.

“I had to earn my attention. That had a lot to do with me getting into acting,” said Morton, who initially wanted to be a writer. “Always comedy. I would take the most serious situations and write something funny about it.”

When “South Park” got picked up by Comedy Central in 1997, Morton, a childhood friend of co-creator Trey Parker, was invited to join the show. At the time, he was doing community theater in Texas. “[I was like,] I’m Seymour in ‘Little Shop of Horrors,’ so there’s no way I’m leaving,” Morton chuckled. “I got a sweet gig at Fort Worth Community Theater.

Fuckin’ set. I’m the shit. Good luck with your little cartoon.”

Despite his initial resistance, Morton eventually joined the show, which quickly became a critical and commercial hit.

When he first started working, he assumed his friendship with Parker would give him unearned status. He soon found otherwise when his first assignment was to deliver food to the animators.

“I got so pissed. I had such a fuckin’ ego,” Morton recalled. “I was a dick.”

After being brought back down to earth by Parker, he started working as a writer’s assistant, graduating to voice

work, and eventually writing full episodes.

In 2001, he voiced the titular villain of what is arguably one of the show’s best episodes, “Scott Tenorman Must Die.” (That same year, he also gave voice to the show’s first controversial depiction of the prophet Muhammad.) In 2005, Morton consulted on the episode “Best Friends Forever,” which would win the show its first Emmy.

Morton then joined “MADtv,” crafting charmingly crude crayon shorts called “Weekly Kid News with Toby” that eventually earned him other writing work on the show. He wrote for Parker and Stone’s sitcom, “That’s My Bush!” (based on the Dubya administration), as well as for the E! Network, and eventually for the BBC during a two-year stint in the British Isles.

A visit to his brother in Muskogee led Morton to Tulsa, where he would ultimately put down roots after his return from Europe. That wasn’t initially the plan (he had intended to go back to L.A. or perhaps give New York a shot) but the city charmed him. Striking up a friendship with local comedian Peter Bedgood, with whom he would collaborate on several projects, the Conifer, Colorado native quickly began to call Tulsa home.

“I started getting into the local comedy community, made friends, and became comfortable here,” Morton said. “I just love it much more than L.A.” Recently married, Morton is currently working on “The Sandbox Weekly,” an animated web series based on his “Weekly Kid News” idea, while occasionally doing standup gigs.

Since its inception in 2013, Morton has played various roles at the Blue Whale Comedy Festival. This year he’s again hosting and emceeing the short film component of the festival, which he curated with Tulsa American Film Festival founder Ben Arredondo, choosing eight films to showcase on Thursday, September 8 at the Woody Guthrie Center.

Throughout the weekend, touring comedians and local acts will share the stages. Workshops for up-and-coming joke slingers include a comedy roundtable which gathers together the festival’s top standups to talk their craft. An industry roundtable, hosted by Morton, with representatives from Creative Artists Agency and SXSW, is meant to open doors for those ready to take the next step.

Blue Whale has grown quickly and exponentially. While Morton sees some of the entitlement of his early years repeating itself locally, he’s hopeful the scene will mature with time.

“I’m about the local comedy scene,” Morton said. “I just think some of the comedians still have chips on their shoulders. When they don’t get chosen for Blue Whale they have such thin skin. The last profession you should have thin skin in is comedy. You have to fuckin’ embrace it.

You can still show up and mingle. I mean how often do you get to do that with all these comedians in Tulsa, Oklahoma?”

“There’s more to comedy than being funny and talented. It took me too long to learn that,” he said ruefully. “But I’m a dick.” a FEATURED // 19

A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A

W H O , W HER E , WHAL E YOUR BLUE WHALE COMEDY FESTIVAL SCHEDULE Thursday, September 8 BLUE WHALE COMEDY SHORT FILM FEST 6:30 – 8:30 PM

Woody Guthrie Center Theatre Festival passes or $5 at the door BLUE WHALE KICK-OFF PARTY WITH VINCENT CARBONE

7 MINS IN PURGATORY WITH IAN ABRAMSON Also: Andrew Deacon, Megan Gailey, Steven King, Brent Weinbach, Ashley Barnhill, Brian Moses, Maronzio Vance, & more!

8 – 9 PM Fly Loft JAMES ADOMIAN Also: Byron Bowers, Shawna Blake, Alex Sanchez 8 – 9 PM Club Majestic

8 PM – 12 AM

Soundpony Bar

Friday, September 9 OKIE HOMIE SHOWCASE Hosted by Evan Hughes 4 – 6 PM Soundpony Bar

ERIC ANDRE Also: Ryan O’Flanagan, Steven King, DJ Douggpound 9:30 – 10:50 PM Cain’s Ballroom

LOOSEN YOUR TYPROS WITH JULIAN MCCULLOUGH & SCOUT DURWOOD Also: Charlie Vergos, Raj Suresh 5 – 7 PM Inner Circle Vodka Bar

MELT YOUR FACE WITH GEORGE TURBO Also: Darku 10 PM – Close Soundpony Bar

MONROE MARTIN & AHMED BHAROOCHA Also: Jame Draper, CJ Lance 6:30 – 7:30 PM The Yeti Inside MEGAN GAILEY & BRENT WEINBACH Also: Jay Light, Ryan Green 6:30 – 7:30 PM The Vanguard THE YOU OUGHTA KNOW SHOWCASE Hosted by Thomas King 7:30 – 8:45 PM The Hunt Club JOSH & JOHNNY’S SPECIAL VARIETY HOUR 8 – 9 PM Soundpony Bar

FAMILY FRIENDLY COMEDY SHOW Crayons Improv, Gary Thompson 4 – 5 PM Fly Loft PODCAST: THE POUNDCAST Guests: Brent Weinbach & More!

4 – 5 PM Comedy Parlor

BWCF OPEN MIC WITH SPECIAL GUESTS 8 – 9:30 PM Soundpony Bar

OKIE HOMIE SHOWCASE Hosted by Uncle Gary 4 – 6 PM Soundpony Bar NEMR Also: CR Parsons, Ryan Howell 5:30 – 7 PM The Vanguard

PODCAST: JULIAN LOVES MUSIC 8 – 9:30 PM The Vanguard THE YOU OUGHTA KNOW SHOWCASE Hosted by Dan Fritschie 9 – 10 PM Inner Circle Vodka Bar DJED & BROTHER’S GRIIIN 10 PM – Close Soundpony Bar

MARONZIO VANCE & ASHLEY BARNHILL Also: Justin Smith, Jake McKenzie 6 – 7 PM The Hunt Club

Saturday, September 10

TONY HINCHCLIFFE & RYAN O’FLANAGAN Also: Abby Stassen, Josh Lathe, Cian Baker, Rich Shaw 6 – 7 PM Inner Circle Vodka Bar

COMEDY ROUNDTABLE see website for lineup 12 – 1:15 PM Comedy Parlor

NATE BARGATZE Also: Jason Webb, Andrew Deacon 6 – 7:30 PM Club Majestic

SPECIAL SCREENING – TBA 1 – 2 PM Fly Loft

BRIAN MOSES & JOSH ADAM MEYERS Also: Allie Amrien, Jeremiah Watkinds, Michael Zampino 6:30 – 7:30 PM The Yeti Inside

INDUSTRY ROUNDTABLE see website for lineup 2 – 3:15 PM Fly Loft

FORTUNE FEIMSTER Also: Monroe Martin, Jasmine Ellis, Spencer Hicks 8 – 9:15 PM Cain’s Ballroom

JOSH FADEM & JOHNNY PEMBERTON Also: Katherine Jessup, Cameron Buchholtz 7:30 – 8:30 PM The Hunt Club

RON FUNCHES Also: Brian Moses, Ella Gale, Ashley Barnhill 10:30 – 11:45 PM Cain’s Ballroom AFTER PARTY: GODDAMN COMEDY JAM Also: DJ Douggpound 10:30 – 1:30 PM The Yeti Backyard

Sunday, September 11 WAKE & BACON BRUNCH Maronzio Vance, Ahmed Bharoocha & more!

11:30 AM

FOR MORE SCHEDUL E DETAILS, VISIT BLUEWHAL ECOMEDYFESTIVAL .COM 20 // FEATURED

(No passes, separate tickets purchased for this event)

Hey Mambo

FAILING UPWARDS Evan Hughes’s comedy of errors

BY MITCH GILLIAM

Evan Hughes on stage at Downtown Lounge | ADAM MURPHY

BEFORE MARCH OF LAST YEAR, Evan Hughes had never considered a career in comedy. He had, however, recently been hit by a train. Laughing at setbacks of that sort, ranging in severity from freight trains to friend-zones, would soon become Hughes’s raison d’etre and see him ride a string of opportunities to an emcee spot at this year’s Blue Whale Comedy Festival’s Okie Homie Showcase. But in Hughes’s world of self-deprecating humor, quite a few falls came before any pride.

“That was the worst month of my life,” the bespectacled and impossibly polite Hughes said of March, 2015. He was reeling from a recent breakup when a friend told him about a comedy class at the Loony Bin. “She was kind of scared by it, so I said ‘I’ll do it if you do,’” Hughes said. “I never thought about what that would mean, or that it would change my life.”

Hughes had only given standup a cursory glance in the form of Comedy Central TV specials and Steve Martin albums, and was mortified when he learned the class would conclude with a performance in front of a sold-out room.

Then his car was ripped in half by a train.

“I had two black eyes, and I would wear sunglasses to the Loony Bin,” he said. “And I sure as fuck didn’t want to be in a comedy class.”

Throughout the weeks leading up to the end-of-semester performance, Hughes received light treatment from his sympathetic instructor, Roy Johnson.

Johnson allowed the battered Hughes to silently coast through writing sessions, but when the show was a week away, and Hughes barely performed his jokes, Johnson dug in.

“I was on the stage in front of the class, and I said ‘I’m just not really feeling this,’ and my instructor got in my face and said, ‘tell the fucking joke.’”

Shocked by his teacher’s forwardness and armed with more aggression than he’d previously shown in the course, Hughes told his jokes. To his surprise, his classmates laughed.

With a new sense of urgency in his act, Hughes performed at the graduation show, and even though he nervously scanned for exit signs, his act netted him a set at Club Utopia, where he learned to laugh at himself, by being laughed at.

“I told this joke about going to a Twin Peaks,” Hughes said. “This waitress was ignoring me and flirting with my friend who she said looks like a cast member from ‘The Walking Dead,’ and I just said, ‘meanwhile I am the walking dead,’ ...and the crowd went nuts.” Hughes says he was slightly startled at how quick the audience was to agree that he looks like a zombie, and genuinely hung his head in duress.

“When I hung my head, everyone started clapping, so I had an applause break on my first real set ever, for making fun of myself.”

Hughes got over the sting of humiliation, and triumphantly returned to Twin Peaks. “I sat in that girl’s section, and said ‘hey, I’m a standup comic and I wrote a joke about you.” Apparently, it was one of the creepier pickup lines she’d ever heard.

His Utopia gig led to another one, and another, and before long, the man who had never considered stand-up was constantly on stage at local showcases and honing his self-deprecating craft at open mics.

At one performance, he started an actual—not just a laugh—riot.

While doing a weekly open mic at Club Utopia, which awarded a fifty-dollar prize, Hughes realized picking on the audience could help you win.

“There was this one comic that went on before me, and he really didn’t know what he was doing,” he said.

Hughes began riffing on the man, who was muscular and heavily tattooed, and the crowd loved it.

“I kept making fun of his bad set, and I was hitting him real hard, and I could see I’d gone about as far as I should, so I just ended and said, ‘yo, forget it, you’re just a punk.’”

Hughes didn’t know the man had recently left prison, and he instantly learned “punk” means something far different behind bars.

“He stood up, and started rushing towards the stage ... and not in a funny way.”

People around the man tried to tell him it was “just comedy,” and as people flooded out the door, Hughes heard a window smash. The man’s girlfriend eventually calmed him down, and Hughes bought the couple shots as a peace offering, but the club had been nearly deserted.

“I asked who won the 50 dollars, and the owner said, ‘Um, we’re going to use it to fix that window…’”

Though Hughes was advised to take a month off from Utopia, he continued to show his face nightly at every open-mic, punk, hip hop, jazz or-whatever show, becoming a smiling, genuine, and seemingly omnipresent supporter of all local talent.

“A lot of people don’t know this about me, but I grew up listening to death metal,” Hughes said, “and on every band photo in death metal albums you can see the members wearing shirts of

their other favorite bands.” Hughes applies that ethos, and in much the same way someone in Morbid Angel would wear a Malevolent Creation shirt, Hughes became a booster for anything that happens on stage in Tulsa. For his niceness, he was roasted.

“Usually roasts are designed to honor someone who’s been on the scene for awhile,” read the event page for the “Roast of Evan Hughes.” “But Evan Hughes is different,” it continued. “He’s so FUCKING NICE it’s sickening.”

In less than a year, Hughes had gone from a recently dumped literal train wreck of a man to a guest of honor at the club at which he was once “sure as fuck” he didn’t want to be at. “It actually sold out,” Hughes said of the roast. “It was insane to be recognized, because there are comics that have been doing this for five years, and they haven’t had any of the lucky breaks I’ve had.”

Few people would call being hit by a train, having their appearance laughed at in public, or starting a riot as “lucky breaks,” but Hughes says he’s taken something from every unfortunate instance.

“I mean, after that riot, someone in the crowd offered me a gig somewhere else,” he said, “and I’ve done shows to only two people where it turns out one of the people is a comic that will offer me a way better show.”

I asked him what he learned from telling the Twin Peaks waitress about putting her in his joke.

“Well, I learned that I was now a comic, and there are certain things comics don’t do, like telling strangers you’ve put them in jokes. But,” he continued, “I am tempted to let her know I talked to a journalist.” a FEATURED // 21

A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A

MADISON ALLEN OKLAHOMA CITY, OK Madison Allen is a comic based out of Oklahoma City. He runs two shows. Divine Comedy at The Speakeasy and Artsy Beatdown. He performs in clubs and bars all over the Midwest and has been selected to perform in festivals like The Hoboken Comedy Festival and Blue Whale Comedy.

JAMES CURTIS OKLAHOMA CITY, OK

An experienced touring comic with witty one-liners and brilliant material that will leave you laughing long after the show is over.

VANESSA DAWN TULSA, OK

Vanessa Dawn went to college to be a housewife, but it didn’t work. She ended up graduating.

CIAN BAKER BROKEN ARROW, OK

Since 2012, Cian Baker has used the stage to work out deep-rooted emotional issues through self-deprecation, absurdism, and naïveté. Too real? He’s been said to “put the ‘aww’ in awkward.”

ANDREW DEACON TULSA, OK

Sometimes you have to lower your standards to raise your average. Andrew is the living embodiment of this philosophy.

OKIE HOMIES The local contingent of Blue Whale, in its own words

COMPILED BY MITCH GILLIAM & ANDREW DEACON PHOTOS COURTESY OF BWCF

YASAMIN BAYATFAR TULSA, OK Yasamin Bayatfar is a 22 year-old human woman of brown-ish descent. Her comedy reflects any average millennial’s life: mild self-loathing, general confusion, and Shaggy trivia.

SHAWNA BLAKE MULDROW, OK

DAN FRITSCHIE TULSA, OK

For over eight years, Dan Fritschie has been performing on stages across the country, tirelessly showing audiences his view of the world through a prism of equal parts cynicism, wishful thinking and cautious optimism.

Now the father of a one-year-old daughter, he’s just hoping she learns to make better decisions.

Shawna has never met a cheeseburger she didn’t like and considers vodka an essential food group. Most of her life choices could be described as inappropriate.

UNCLE GARY TULSA, OK

CAMERON BUCHHOLTZ OKLAHOMA CITY, OK Cameron Buchholtz has been heard on the “Doug Loves Movies” podcast, seen in the comedy documentary “The Greatest Movie Ever Rolled,” and has performed on such festivals as the Moontower Comedy Festival and the infamous Gathering of the Juggalos. He’s also a DJ on Rock 100.5 the KATT in OKC. 22 // FEATURED

Uncle Gary likes to tell jokes and stories about his life. Personal thoughts on his experiences woven together into a cautionary tale and delivered with an endearing quality uniquely his own. Also, dick jokes!

RYAN GREEN SAPULPA, OK

Ryan Green is a writer, performer and teacher of comedy. You can see him on stage any time the World of Warcraft servers are down.

SPENCER HICKS OKLAHOMA CITY, OK Spencer is from Shawnee and started doing comedy 12 years ago. He’s opened for Dave Chappelle three times, but his parents still aren’t impressed.

CJ LANCE OKLAHOMA CITY, OK

CJ Lance is a young comedian who keeps audiences laughing with his use of personal stories and insightful wit. He’s a charming fellow who you will definitely like. Please like him.

STAN SILLIMAN NORMAN, OK

Funniest Person in OKC, Stan Silliman is an old, gimpy, arthritic, one-handed Jew who walks like a zombie AND even with all that going for him he probably still won’t win your contest.

But he has been busy writing eight books, 850 humor columns examining the fuzzy, linty underbelly of sports.

JOSH LATHE OKLAHOMA CITY, OK

Josh Lathe is equal parts charisma and catharsis. His Midwestern charm makes it easy to forgive his millennial paranoia.

ANDREW WAGNER NORMAN, OK

RICK SHAW TULSA, OK

Loud and portly is the best description for Rick Shaw. You will wonder how a comedian with this much energy doesn’t burn more calories!

EVAN HUGHES TULSA, OK

Evan Hughes loves many things including comedy, friends, hugs, Diet Coke, meeting new people and spreading kindness. Also probably a serial killer.

KATIE VAN PATTEN TULSA, OK

Katie Van Patten is a breathtakingly beautiful young woman from Tulsa, Oklahoma. She has been performing in shows since April of 2016 and plans to continue until she can’t hear the laughter anymore.

He’s got the looks of a 15-year-old and the mind of one, too. Wagner’s jokes have been described as “often taking a turn for the cute” and “mostly lies.”

MIKE MODLIN BROKEN ARROW, OK

Mike is a combat vet with seven kids, and you’re wondering why he got into stand-up?

DREW WELCHER TULSA, OK

AMBERLA TEPE ENID, OK

No doubt you’ll remember Amberla as the 2001 Stillwater High School Band Homecoming Queen. Now she’s back after 5 years in LA and she’s, like, really funny.

Drew Welcher is a short and quick comic with even quicker punch lines. Her comedy will have you asking, “Is it worth it?” Yes, yes it is!

ROB NEVILLE OKLAHOMA CITY, OK

CRAYONS IMPROV TULSA, OK

When it comes to women he dates, Rob Neville is color blind. He doesn’t see red flags.

Crayons Improv uses audience suggestions to create clean comedy for the family. They’re similar to “Whose Line is it Anyway?,” but create many of their own games and very unique recurring characters.

AARON WILDER OKLAHOMA CITY, OK

JEFF THOMAS TULSA, OK

Jeff is a middle-aged single straight man with three cats. Besides that his life is kind of sad.

Aaron Wilder is an organizer for Planned Parenthood and veteran Democratic politico.

He believes his obsession with television is an academic pursuit.

CR PARSONS JENKS, OK

THOMAS KING TULSA, OK

Much like the Blue Whale itself, CR can often be found on Route 66, or in a regional body of water, and is only hiding his age with a team of trained reconstruction specialists.

MICHAEL ZAMPINO TULSA, OK

GARY THOMPSON TULSA, OK

Tom King is from a small town in the Deep South and always dreamed of the big city. All he could find was Tulsa. With an open mind and a few bad decisions, he’s developed a strange perspective and even stranger life stories.

The son of a pastor, Gary Thompson is an alcoholic. But his jokes are clean.

Michael Zampino is a comedian and musician from Tulsa, OK who began doing standup in January 2010. In 2013 Michael was named Tulsa’s Funniest Comic, and at last year’s Blue Whale Comedy Festival he opened for Nick Thune and Chris Cubas. In addition to standup, Mike can also be seen, and heard, playing lead guitar for Tulsa based rock band “Greater Than Planes.”

ALEX SANCHEZ OKLAHOMA CITY, OK

Alex Sanchez is a nice boy with good opinions.

He enjoys professional wrestling and refuses to ever watch a good movie.

FEATURED // 23

A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A

A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A

THE OUT-OF-TOWNERS:

A GLOSSARY OF BLUE WHALE’S VISITING COMICS

RON FUNCHES is a funny stand-up comedian with a unique delivery and lovable demeanor.

Ron appears on the NBC’s series “Undateable.”

Other appearances include Comedy Central’s “@Midnight,” “Kroll Show,” “Drunk History” and more. He has also performed on the “Conan O’Brien Show” and “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.”

FORTUNE FEIMSTER, known for her work on “Chelsea Lately,” made her first TV debut on “Last Comic Standing” in 2010. In 2014, Variety named her one of its “Top 10 Comics to Watch.”

Feimster has made appearances on “Glee,” “Two Broke Girls,” “Workaholics” and more.

Catch Feimster on her half-hour special on Comedy Central.

ERIC ANDRE is the creator and host of Adult Swim’s series “The Eric Andre Show.” He currently co-stars on the FX series “Man Seeking Woman.” Eric’s previous credits include “The Internship,” the ABC series “Don’t Trust the B–In Apartment 23” and “Two Broke Girls.”

NATE BARGATZE is a stand-up comedian. He has made two appearances on both the “Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” and “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.” He has appeared on the “Conan O’Brien Show” four times and is a recurring guest on Comedy Central’s “@Midnight.”

His debut one-hour special “Full-Time Magic” premiered on Comedy Central in May 2015.

JAMES ADOMIAN is a well-known comedian and actor. He has guest starred on Comedy Central’s “@Midnight,” “The Meltdown” and “Drunk History.” He performed standup on John Oliver’s “New York Standup Show” on Comedy Central and on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing,” where he was a Top 10 finalist. His debut comedy album “Low Hangin’ Fruit” was released in 2012.

Actress/writer/comedian and cabaret dancer, SCOUT DURWOOD will be seen as the lead of the new MTV comedy tentatively titled “Dope Girls.”

Her work has been featured on “The Mindy Project,” “Howard Stern,” “The Moth,” “Upright Citizens Brigade,” The Miss America Pageant and many more.

At THE GODDAMN COMEDY Jam, every comedian wants to be a star. Comedians do a stand-up set and then perform their favorite cover song with a live band. This show rocks so hard it broke the stage- twice. Stand-up comedian Josh Adam Meyers and his band, Elemenopy, host the premiere underground event.

TONY HINCHCLIFFE is known for his writing on five of Comedy Central’s “Comedy Central Roasts.” He hosts his own weekly show podcast, “Kill Tony,” and has over 100,000 downloads per week. Tony’s one-hour special for Netflix, “OneShot,” released in January 2016.

MARONZIO VANCE, the writer/actor/comedian is known for his blunt and sarcastic style. He has made appearances on “Wanda Sykes: Wanda Does It,” Jamie Fox’s “Laffapolooza,” “Last Comic Standing” and “The Tonight Show.” He co-stars in “Lopez,” starring George Lopez, as a series regular playing himself.

IAN ABRAMSON is a regular contributor to “The Onion” and is the creator and host of the Comedy Central digital show “7 Minutes in Purgatory.” He has made appearances on “The Comedy Show Show,” “Coming to the Stage” and more.

His recent credits include ABC’s “The Middle” and History Channel’s “Join or Die.” JULIAN MCCULLOUGH is a comedian and actor who can be seen co-hosting “We Have Issues” on E! He has made appearances on “Inside Amy Schumer,” “Love You Mean It,” “Chelsea Lately,” “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” and more. He won the “New York’s Funniest” comedy competition in 2008.

BRENT WEINBACH is a winner and recipient of the Andy Kaufman Award. He has made appearances on “Conan O’Brien Show,” “Lopez Tonight,” “@Midnight,” “Comedy Bang Bang,”

24 // FEATURED

“Meltdown,” “The Middle,” “Kroll Show” and more. He is also known for various internet videos such as “Ultimate Drumming Technique” and more.

FUNNY LADY FORTUNE FEIMSTER

BY CLAIRE EDWARDS

BYRON BOWERS is a stand-up comedian and actor. He has toured with Dave Chappelle, Hannibal Buress, Eric Andre and John Caparulo. He has made appearances with comedians such as Louis CK, Jim Gaffigan, Sarah Silverman and more.

Appearances include “The Eric Andre Show,” “Adam Devine’s House Party” and more.

BRIAN MOSES is a stand-up host, writer, producer and comedian. He is the creator and host of “Roast Battle” on Comedy Central. He writes for MTV’s “Wild N’ Out” and has featured for comics like Cheech & Chong, Sarah Silverman and Bill Burr.

DJ DOUGGPOUND is a comedian, editor, writer and musician. His work has been featured on shows like “The Eric Andre Show,” “Portlandia” and “Tim & Eric’s Awesome Show.” He leads the internet series “Pound House” and the Adult Swim pilot “The Poundhole.”

AHMED BHAROOCHA is a stand-up comedian and actor. He has performed on “Conan” and “Adam Devine’s House Party.” His sketch-comedy group, “Dead Kevin,” has been featured on Comedy Central Studios, Funny or Die, Huffington Post UK and more.

RYAN O’ FLANAGAN is a comedian. He is a member of the sketch group “Dead Kevin,” which airs on Comedy Central Digital. The group has been featured on Funny or Die, Huffington Post UK and more. Ryan has appeared on “New Girl” and was a new face at Montreal’s Just For Laughs Comedy Festival.

NEMR is a stand-up comedian who is credited with establishing and pioneering the stand-up comedy scene throughout the Middle East. He has accomplished six full-feature specials, a prime-time television show “A Stand-Up Comedy Revolution” and two movie releases, “Epic” and “Victorious Secret.”

ASHLEY BARNHILL is a comedian known for her dark and compact one-liners. She has toured with Dave Chappelle and Marc Maron. She has written, directed and acted in many of her own short films, which have been featured on Funny or Die and Huffington Post. You can also catch her on “Drunk History” and “Maron.”

MONROE MARTIN made his debut in 2014 on the 8th season of “Last Comic Standing” on NBC. He has made appearances on “Adam Devine’s House Party” and “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” Monroe made his acting debut in the Netflix series “Master of None” and made a guest appearance on “The Jim Gaffigan Show.”

Tulsa native JOSH FADEM is a comedian who has made appearances on “Twin Peaks,” “Powerless,” “Better Call Saul” and “Freaks of Nature.”

He also played a recurring role on “30 Rock” as Liz Lemon’s agent. Josh has been named a “Comic to Watch” by Variety, Nylong Magazine, Comedy Central and New York Comedy Festival.

JOHNNY PEMBERTON is an actor/writer/comedian originally from Oklahoma who was most recently seen Marvel’s “Ant-Man.” He has appeared at the Just For Laughs Toronto Festival and co-headlined a U.S. stand-up tour with Matt Braunger sponsored by Funny or Die. He regularly performs stand-up comedy in venues around Los Angeles.

MEGAN GAILEY made her late-night debut on “The Conan O’Brien Show.” She participated in the Just For Laughs “New Faces” and was a finalist in NYC’s Laughing Devil Fest. She has been a featured performer at the Traverse City Winter Comedy Festival, New York Comedy Festival and Comedy Expo.

JEREMIAH WATKINS is a comedian. He performs regularly at The Comedy Store, The Improv, The Laugh Factory and more. Watkins has appeared at Just For Laughs in Montreal, Comedy Central’s New York Comedy Festival, South by Southwest and Riot LA. He can also be seen on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and Comedy Centrals’ “Roast Battle.”

Comedian Fortune Feimster will perform at Blue Whale Comedy Festival on Sept. 10 COURTESY

A BONA FIDE SOUTHERN LADY hailing from North Carolina, Fortune Feimster is a confident, charismatic comedian and actress who first found success on NBC’s reality competition “Last Comic Standing.” Her career blossomed from there—she went on to perform and write for “Chelsea Lately,” and can now be seen on Hulu’s “The Mindy Project” as Nurse Collette. On Saturday, September 10, Tulsans can see her perform at Cain’s Ballroom as one of the headliners at the Blue Whale Comedy Festival.

Feimster credits her deep-South roots for her storytelling acumen.

“Being Southern, I grew up around a lot of storytellers, just interesting people who were full of life … they molded my ability to take a story and liven it up,” Feimster said.

“Growing up I was definitely a lot shyer. I do remember, I had watched a Molly Shannon sketch on ‘Saturday Night Live.’

I came to school and did an impression of Mary Katherine Gallagher to my friends, and they seemed genuinely shocked that I had a sense of humor.”

Feimster blames her shyness on the fact that she hadn’t come into her own— or come out—yet. As a younger person, she hadn’t been able to acknowledge, or even understand, that she was a lesbian.

“It wasn’t like I was in the closet, I just genuinely didn’t realize that’s what I was.”

After moving to Los Angeles in 2003, Feimster became a member of the Groundlings, the famed improv group that helped launch the careers of Phil Hartman, Lisa Kudrow, and Melissa McCarthy, among others. Once she got on stage, she was hooked on performing.

In 2005, at age 25, Feimster came out of the closet. In her stand up, Feimster frequently makes comedic hay out of her belated coming out.

“Once I did, it was like this huge weight was lifted off my shoulders, and I think from then on I was able to really be myself a lot more,” she said. “So much of comedy is about being who you are, unapologetically. I was like ‘all right, this is who I am, love it or not!’ You can’t hide anything as a comedian. You have to be willing to go any and everywhere.”

In 2015, ABC bought the pilot to the sitcom “Family Fortune,” written by Feim-

ster and Tina Fey, though the show didn’t receive a series order.

“The first episode was me coming out to my family, and I still think that show would have been a really important show.

Even now you don’t see nearly enough representation of lesbians. You see stereotypical bitchy, gay guys or the sassy gay friend, but you don’t see a lot of just normal, regular lesbians.”

However, Feimster thinks it’s a great time for women in comedy, pointing to the increase in female-driven studio tentpoles like “Bridesmaids,” “Trainwreck,” and this summer’s “Ghostbusters” reboot.

“You’re seeing some pretty brilliant women get success. They worked hard and have earned it, and you’re finally starting to see female-centered movies doing well and women getting cast in bigger franchises.

“I’m so sick of all these superhero movies. Batmans and Supermans. I’ve already seen it 20 times. I want to see real people, real characters. I just feel like women have a knack for tapping into something more relatable…women are usually the ones telling the more grounded stories. The ones you can relate to.”

Feimster recalled her childhood again—specifically growing up watching reruns of “The Carol Burnett Show” with her grandmother, which offered her a glimpse into the life she now leads. “She was just so awesome to watch. You just wanted to be her friend … And that was something I aspired to … A lot of the feedback I get from people who come to my show is ‘I want to be your friend.’”

Though her “Mindy Project” filming schedule proves prohibitive for taking her stand-up act on tour, Feimster delights in any opportunity to perform for a live audience, and her upcoming visit to Tulsa is no exception.

“I’m super pumped because it’s a rare treat to be on the road. So I encourage people to come to the show. It’ll be real good!” a LOLOLOLOLOLOL FORTUNE FEIMSTER Blue Whale Comedy Festival Cain’s Ballroom Sat., Sept. 10, 8 p.m.

READY? HIT THE X. SEPTEMBER 23–25, 2016

XPO is a festival for gamers, fans, developers and game industry leaders. Join thousands of other gamers in Tulsa for a packed expo floor, panels and speakers, and a first look at new gaming technology. Other highlights include independent game showcase, virtual reality showcase, live music from internationally recognized acts, exclusive after-parties, tabletop games, cosplay contests, retro gaming lounge, and general game

THE TULSA VOICE // September 7 – 20, 2016

badassery.

COX BUSINESS CENTER

100 Civic Center • Tulsa, OK Inquiries: Info@XPOTulsa.com XPOTulsa.com

@GamesXPO

FEATURED // 25

FALL FUN

THE WEATHER IS COOLING, LEAVES ARE FADING AND FOOTBALL SEASON IS UPON US. Fall is just around the corner and with it a festival for every mood and interest.

Whether your thing is German beer or Greek food, 80s hair metal or alternative comedy, family-friendly or bacchanalian, Green Country has a festival just for you.

Claremore Bluegrass & Chili Festival THURS., SEPT. 8 THROUGH SAT., SEPT. 10 Claremore Expo Center, Claremore bluegrasschilifest.com Claremore’s Bluegrass & Chili Festival is the perfect place to bid farewell to summer and welcome autumn. Celebrate cooler weather with a bowl of chili and dozens of bluegrass bands, including Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, John Cowan with Darin and Brooke Aldridge, and The Cleverlys.

Streets Gone Wild THURS., SEPT. 8 THROUGH SAT., SEPT. 10 1st and Detroit & IDL Ballroom, Downtown Tulsa streetsgonewildtulsa.com If you’re a fan of big power ballads and bigger hair, this outdoor fest is for you, with performances by Night Ranger, Queensrÿche, Warrant, Quiet Riot, and more 80s hair-metal icons.

26 // FEATURED

Blue Whale Comedy Festival THURS., SEPT. 8 THROUGH SUN., SEPT. 11 Locations in the Brady Arts District Weekend passes start at $85, individual show tickets also available bluewhalecomedyfestival.com Ron Funches, Fortune Feimster, and Eric Andre headline this year’s Blue Whale Festival. Find more info on page 18.

Mother Road Folk Revival Weekend WED., SEPT. 7 THROUGH SUN., SEPT. 11 Circle Cinema, Woody Guthrie Center, Guthrie Green, BOK Center Tickets prices vary per event bokcenter.com/mrr Celebrate “the highway that’s the best” with a weekend of events honoring Route 66, including a Folk Film Series at Circle Cinema, discussions on Woody Guthrie’s late life in Greenwich Village, a concert at BOK Center featuring Jason Isbell, Shakey Graves, and Lucero, a Gospel Brunch at Cain’s, and more. (read our interview with Jason Isbell on page 40.)

Chalk It Up FRI., SEPT. 9 AND SAT., SEPT. 10 The Rose District, Broken Arrow Free admission facebook.com/ChalkItUpAnArtFestival Artists compete to create the beautiful and impermanent works of chalk art along Broken Arrow’s Main Street.

Labapalooza SAT., SEPT. 10 Guthrie Green | Free admission labrescue.net Lab Rescue OK hosts this pet adoption event, which also features pet contests and games, live music, and more.

SkyDance Kite Festival SAT., SEPT. 10 Chisolm Trail Park, Broken Arrow Free admission facebook.com/TulsaWindRiders Tulsa Wind Riders hosts this event for all who love kites. Kite enthusiasts from around the region will be in town with their colorful and acrobatic kites.

BrickUniverse Tulsa SAT., SEPT. 10 AND SUN., SEPT. 11 Cox Business Center | $15 brickuniverse.org Fans of the endlessly imaginative building bricks known as LEGO, take heed. See incredible and intricate LEGO displays, build some of your own, master a timed building challenge, and more at this LEGO fan expo.

Let It Be Natural Arts Festival SAT., SEPT. 10 Chandler Park facebook.com/groups/LetItBeFestival This festival, which benefits Grateful Day Foundation and Donation Station Food Pantry, features dozens of vendors of arts, crafts, and more, and a day full of performances, including Chris Blevins & Friends, Octave Son, Specter, Rebecca Ungerman, and more.

5 th Annual

3rd AnnuAl

Food Truck Festival

Sun. Sept. 18 Wed. Sept. 21 Circle Cinema • Tulsa, OK

Tues. sepT. 20 aT 7pm Rabin in His Own Words

A special Q&A with Rabin’s son, Yuval Rabin, immediately following the 7pm screening.

Additional information at CircleCinema.com

CirCleCinema

EAT STREET TULSA

EATSTREETT ULSA. COM

OCT. 9 from 12 - 4 PM FREE & ALL AGES oyster eating contest live music + Beer + Oysters THE TULSA VOICE // September 7 – 20, 2016

FEATURED // 27

Tulsa Greek Festival THURS., SEPT. 15 THROUGH SAT., SEPT. 17 Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church tulsagreekfestival.com Tulsa’s oldest ethnic festival features a menu of home-cooked Greek delicacies, dancing, gifts, jewelry, and more.

McNellie’s Harvest Beer Festival

Rib Crib’s Rock N Rib Festival THURS., SEPT. 15 THROUGH SUN., SEPT. 18 BOK Center | Free admission getsaucedtulsa.com Four days, five championship pitmasters from around the country, whiskey, and live performances from Desi & Cody, The Dusty Pearls, and more.

Chalk It Up

Illinois River Jam BrickUniverse Tulsa

FRI., SEPT. 16 AND SAT., SEPT. 17 Peyton’s Place, Tahlequah Two day passes start at $40 illinoisriverjam.com A two-day music and camping festival on the banks of the mighty Illinois, featuring 20 Oklahoma musicians, including John Fullbright, Samantha Crain, Levi Parham, and John Calvin Abney.

Stone River Music Festival Tulsa Greek Festival Claremore Bluegrass & Chili Festival

Streets Gone Wild

FRI., SEPT. 16 THROUGH SUN., SEPT. 18 Chandler | $20-$40 Stone River is like a camping trip with some of your favorite folky Okies, including Wink Burcham, Don White, Mike Hosty, Jacob Tovar, Green Corn Rebellion, Chris Lee Becker, and more.

Scotfest FRI., SEPT. 16 THROUGH SUN., SEPT. 18 River West Festival Park Single day tickets: $10, weekend passes: $20 okscotfest.com Strap on your tartan and enjoy the food and drink, music, entertainment, and of course, the highland games of Scotland.

There’s something for everyone, whether you own a kilt or not.

28 // FEATURED

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THE TULSA VOICE // September 7 – 20, 2016

FEATURED // 29

Oyster Fest

Eat Street

Medicine Stone

I AM Yoga, Art + Music Festival FRI., SEPT. 16 THROUGH SUN., SEPT. 18 Veterans Park Free entrance, tickets are required for some classes and workshops iamyogafestival.com I AM features yoga classes and workshops for all levels and interests taught by locals and yogis from around the country.

The festival also features art and performances by local musicians.

Oklahoma Jewish Film Festival SUN., SEPT. 18 THROUGH WED., SEPT. 21 Circle Cinema | $10-$75

feature the first public exhibition of elements from the Archive, the world premiere of the 10th Anniversary Edition of Martin Scorsese’s “No Direction Home,” a screening of D.A. Pennebacker’s 1965 classic “Don’t Look Back,” followed by a Q&A with Pennebacker, and more.

Medicine Stone THURS., SEPT. 22 THROUGH SAT., SEPT., 24 Diamondhead Resort, Tahlequah Single day tickets start at $45, three day passes start at $120 medicinestoneok.com Medicine Stone is three days of Red Dirt music and camping, featuring headlining performances from Jason Boland & The Stragglers, Cody Canada & The Departed, Billy Joe Shaver, Turnpike Troubadours, Randy Rogers Band, and Stoney Larue.

facebook.com/OklahomaJewishFilmFestival

This four-day film festival features dramas, comedies, and documentaries, including a special screening of “Rabin in His Own Words,” a film on former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who was assassinated in 1995 for his efforts for peace between Israel and Palestine.

Following the screening will be a Q&A with Rabin’s son, Yuval.

Dylan on Film WED., SEPT. 21 THROUGH SAT., SEPT. 24 Circle Cinema, Guthrie Green, Lorton Performance Center, Zarrow Center for Art & Education Ticket prices vary per screening bobdylanarchive.com/film-festival Get a first glimpse into the Bob Dylan Archive in this film series, which will 30 // FEATURED

Tulsa International Animation Festival FRI., SEPT. 23 Living Arts $7 (free for Living Arts Members) livingarts.org The largest-in-the-region screening of experimental and contemporary animated short films features films from around the country and around the world, in all forms of animation.

XPO Gaming Convention FRI., SEPT. 23 THROUGH SUN., SEPT. 25 Cox Business Center | $30-$75 tulsaxpo.com Get a first look at new gaming technology, hear panels and speakers from inside the industry, and play plenty of games at this inaugural convention. There will be a film festival, cosplay contests, a retro gaming lounge, a live $10,000 Rocket League tournament, and more.

Higher Plains SAT., SEPT. 24 Vanguard | $17-$20 thevanguardtulsa.com The second year of this festival of jazz and grooves features Nolatet, Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey with Oilhouse, Verse & The Vapors, Mike Dee & Stone Trio, Henna Roso, We Make Shapes, Mason, and more.

McNellie’s Harvest Beer Festival SAT., SEPT. 24 McNellie’s Downtown | $30-$35 facebook.com/McNelliesHBF Taste beers from more than 40 breweries and food from McNellie’s, El Guapo, and Fassler Hall, under Tulsa’s beautiful skyline at the 7th Harvest Beer Festival.

Red, White & Brew SAT., SEPT., 24 Rose District, Broken Arrow Free admission, $50 VIP tickets available for unlimited beer thebabuzz.com Craft beer, live music, and local vendors and artisans fill Main Street Broken Arrow to benefit Soldier’s Wish.

Woofstock SAT., SEPT. 24 Riverwalk Crossing, Jenks | Free woofstock.org Find a new furry friend at Oklahoma’s largest pet adoption event. Woofstock brings together area rescues, shelters, and pet-related businesses for a day of peace, love, and pets.

ShalomFest SUN., SEPT. 25 Temple Israel | Free admission templetulsa.com Temple Israel hosts this annual celebration of Jewish food, music, art, and culture.

ShalomFest features something for everyone from the oldest bubbe (grandmother) to the youngest boychik (young boy).

Tulsa State Fair FRI., SEPT. 29 THROUGH SUN., OCT. 9 Expo Square | $6-$10 tulsastatefair.com Along with the usual smorgasbord of sinfully delicious fried foods, livestock

svlw

ShalomFest Temple Israel’s celebration of Jewish food, music, arts, and culture!

Sunday, September 25 Noon - 4:30 p.m.

Sunday, October 11 Temple Israel Noon -Friendly 5:00 p.m.

Family and FREE! Temple Israel www.ShalomFest.com

Family Friendly and FREE!

Bring this ad for a FREE drink www.ShalomFest.com with purchase of meal.

FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH 1914-2014

Temple Israel | 2004 East 22nd Place Tulsa, OK 74114 | 918-747-1309 templetulsa.com

TULSAOKTObERFEST.ORG Title Sponsor

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river west festival park Official Sponsors

Signature Biers:

Media Sponsors

Supporting Sponsors: Miller Truck Lines, Osage Casino, Marshall Brewing Company, Bud Light, Siegi’s Sausage Factory, Pepsi, COOP Ale Works Oktoberfest Sponsors: PediStat Pediatric Urgent Care, German-American Society of Tulsa Official Hotel Sponsors: Hyatt Regency Tulsa, Holiday Inn Tulsa City Center, Trade Winds Central Inn, DoubleTree Hotel Downtown Tulsa THE TULSA VOICE // September 7 – 20, 2016

FEATURED // 31

woodyguthriecenter.org

BLUE WHALE COMEDY SHORT FILM FESTIVAL SEPT. 8, 6:30pm – 8:30pm

Festival passes or $5 at the door.

FILM LINEUP: Lemonade Mafia • Anya Adams Think Twice • Eliaz Rodriguez • The Earpiece Samuel Quiles Palop • Pantry • Jacob Shelton Paper Thin • Jeff Parker • A Bumpy Ride Chang Shu • Get The Hell Out • Jess Castro Angry Max • Megan Porter Artwork by andrew batcheller

Saturday, September 17, 2016 10:00am-6:00pm Historic downtown Joplin, MO

TRUE STORY: “WHERE DYLAN MET WOODY”

SEP

10

As part of a collaborative, multi-venue Mother Road Revival weekend, join us in the WGC Theater on at 2pm.

FOCUS ON WOODY: A DISCUSSION OF GREENWICH VILLAGE & WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK

60+ Artists • Live music • dance • art for kids • face painting • beer & Wine garden • food

for more information, visit joplinartsfest.com or facebook.com/joplinartsfest

Bacon I Smell Bacon

I Love Cheese

As part of the Mother Road Revival Weekend in Tulsa, join us in the WGC Theater at 3:30pm.

address 102 EAST BRADY STREET, TULSA, OK

Macarons

74103

phone 918.574.2710

email INFO@WOODYGUTHRIECENTER.ORG

Bitch & Stud Crowns

Pupcake

“Restaurant Week” Treats... …for the friend who will greet you upon your arrival home Birthday Cake

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32 // FEATURED

1778 Utica Square • 918-624-2600 • Mon-Sat, 10-6

Boxed Lunch

Rotisserie Chicken

Grilled Cheese

Come see us between 5 and 7pm on September 15 during Utica Square’s Fashion in the Square and get a free treat for your pup. The Puppy Fashion Parade begins at Dog Dish!

September 7 – 20, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE

competitions, and thrill rides, this year the Fair features performances by The Oak Ridge Boys, Beatlemania, Oklahoma’s own Color Me Badd, and Ashanti.

Oklahoma International Bluegrass Festival THURS., SEPT. 29 THROUGH SAT., OCT. 1 Cottonwood Flats, Guthrie | $15-$80 oibf.com The brainchild of three-time National Fiddle Champion Byron Berline, OIBF is now in its 20th year. This year’s lineup features Japan’s Blue Side of Lonesome, Hot Club of Cowtown, The Cleverlys, Turnpike Troubadours, Rushad Eggleston, The Bryon Berline Band, and many more.

More than 30 Oklahoma songwriters, including Dustin Pittsley, Monica Taylor, Kalyn Fay, Scott Evans, Craig Skinner, Larry Spears, Jesse Aycock and more, will gather in Tulsa’s Brady Arts District on October 13th to play an intimate festival celebrating the life and songwriting tradition of Oklahoma music legend, Tom Skinner. Hosted by Mike McClure, Paul Benjaman and the Red Dirt Rangers, the festival will benefit the nonprofit Red Dirt Relief Fund.

Eat Street SAT., OCT. 15 Blue Dome District | Free admission eatstreettulsa.com

Catch some of Tulsa’s best food trucks all in one place, along with performances from local musicians.

Linde Oktoberfest THURS., OCT. 20 THROUGH SUN., OCT. 23 River West Festival Park | $7-$10 tulsaoktoberfest.org Tulsa’s celebration of Bavarian culture is one of the biggest Oktoberfests in the country. Polka your heart out to the sound of international German bands, and fill your liederhosen-clad gut to the brim with beer and bratwurst.

WizardWorld Tulsa Comic Con FRI., OCT. 21 THROUGH SUN., OCT. 23 Cox Business Center | $40-$80 wizardworld.com Where else can you run into The Hulk, The Fonze, The Winter Soldier, AND Captain James T. Kirk? The answer, of course, is nowhere but Comic Con, who will host the aforementioned Lou Ferrigno, Henry Winkler, Sebastian Stan, and William Shatner, as well as dozens more. a

Oysterfest SAT., OCT. 8 Guthrie Green | Free admission guthriegreen.com Local restaurants go head-to-head at the Green to see whose oysters reign supreme while local oyster-heads go head-to-head in an oyster eating contest.

Cherokee Art Market SAT., OCT. 8 AND SUN., OCT. 9 Sequoyah Convention Center inside Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tulsa cherokeeartmarket.com One of the largest Native American art shows in Oklahoma, the Cherokee Art Market, now in its 11th year, features 150 elite Native American artists representing 50 different tribes from across the United States. The work on display and for sale will include everything from jewelry and pottery to painting and textiles.

Tulsa American Film Festival WED., OCT. 12 THROUGH SUN., OCT. 16 Circle Cinema, Woody Guthrie Center, Gilcrease Museum All Access Passes start at $60, individual screening tickets also available tulsaamericanfilmfest.com TAFF returns for its second showcase of feature and short films from around the country, with an emphasis on Native American, Latino, Oklahoma-based, and student filmmakers. The festival features screenings of new films, regionally-relevant classics, educational panels, and parties.

Tom Skinner’s Skyline Music Festival THURS., OCT. 13 Vanguard, The Hunt Club, Inner Circle Vodka Bar; Brady Arts District | $15-$40 reddirtrelieffund.org FEATURED // 33

onstage

TATE revamp The Tulsa Awards for Theater Excellence will undergo much-needed changes

by ALICIA CHESSER

O

ver the past eight years, the Tulsa Awards for Theater Excellence, known as the TATEs, have been a boon to the local theater groups that benefit from its annual $20,000 in prize money for the plays judged to be the best of the year. Among theater-makers and audiences, there’s no question the TATEs have improved the quality and audience appeal of local theater by incentivizing excellence.

Julia White, now in her second year as TATE program director, says the awards were originally conceived as “a fun way to encourage those that aren’t wrapped up in the theater world but appreciate it to go and see the shows because at the end of the year there’d be an awards ceremony—a Tonys for Tulsa.”

But recently the program and its understanding of “excellence” have come under fire from many in the Tulsa theater community.

The 2016 ceremony, held in late June, featured a disorderly Gary Busey as its “Distinguished Artist” and saw the largest two cash prizes going to plays produced by the same organization, raising concerns that the awards had become less celebratory than divisive for local artists.

Disgruntlement with the TATEs goes back even further than this most recent ceremony, described as “an absolute farce”

by Odeum Theatre Company’s Whitson Hanna in a widely read post on the blog StageLife918. For those whose organizations already enjoy decent support, wrote director Frank Gallagher on the same blog, the attitude going into the awards is “Free wine and I hope we win.” For those that don’t, he speculates, it’s more like, “We desperately need the money, but 34 // ARTS & CULTURE

Gary Busey, this year’s distinguished artist at the TATE awards | DFREE / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

they’re probably going to [screw] overlook us again.”

First, there’s the awkwardness of celebrities who have little to do with Tulsa being held up as icons representing the greatness of Tulsa theater, purportedly to attract people to the event. It doesn’t help when those celebrities make asses of themselves—as Busey reportedly did (I skipped the event precisely because of his presence)—and thus show a lack of respect for the talent and effort the awards are intended to highlight.

Then there’s the question of the judges and their criteria for choosing which plays are “best.”

What is their experience in the-

ater? Do they have standards in common? Do they even see all the shows? Are they just ticking boxes, or do they have constructive criticism to offer?

Finally, there’s this delicate question: are the TATEs living up to their commendable goal of supporting theater in Tulsa as a whole? When the focus of the event is not local theater itself but outrageous celebrities, when the fairness of the judging is in question, and when many local organizations feel slighted in the process (and thus deprived of money they badly need to make better art), can we say that it’s the excellence of Tulsa theater that’s actually being celebrated?

It was a complex situation to contend with even before the 2016 awards ceremony. The good news?

GKFF is listening.

White reports that on the basis of community input over the summer the TATEs are being entirely restructured, beginning with the inclusion of a representative from each local theater group on an advisory committee, which has made recommendations that are already being implemented. The changes include a revamping of the panel of judges and their process, making it more diverse and more accountable, with a stronger emphasis on critical feedback.

In September, the foundation is bringing in a professional adjudicator from Canada to run a workshop for the new TATE judges and the community at large.

White describes this as part of GKFF’s larger mission “to get the community involved in what’s happening onstage” and says it’s just the first of many planned workshops on subjects like set design, writing, and the process of applying for non-profit status.

“We have [it] better than most,” Hanna (who now sits on the TATE committee) said in an email.

“Most communities don’t have a great benefactor that is pouring money into the system in order to make it better. We are very lucky that the Kaiser Foundation has taken it upon themselves to do this for our community. And they have a broad goal to make theater a viable entertainment option, on par with our ballet or opera.

“I’m glad that they are not only willing to listen, but willing to do the work,” Hanna continued.

“This is only the beginning of the process, and I’m sure there will be some glitches in the system, but I feel like it’s on the right track.” a September 7 – 20, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE

September 30 • 7-9 p.m. • FREE Join us for Gilcrease After Hours: This month is Liquor of the American West. Experience the Golden Age of the Western saloon by exploring various historic beverages from the different regions of the West. Learn how to make specialty cocktails, purchase the featured drinks at the cash bar, sample western-themed food and enjoy live music. Sessions are at 7 & 8 p.m.

The Tulsa Regional Chamber invites you to the second annual BAH-RAH, the Chamber’s premier networking event combining Business After Hours and Restaurant After Hours. Bring your A-game because the tailgatingthemed event provides a fusion of food, fun, football & faces. Make connections with hundreds of the region’s business professionals and enjoy food from some of Tulsa’s best restaurants. Make sure to stay for the balloon drop, where hundreds of dollars worth of prizes will be given away.

OCTOBER 18, 2016 5:00 – 7:00 P.M.

HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO – TULSA 777 WEST CHEROKEE STREET · CATOOSA, OK

Tickets: $10 for members; $20 for non-members For questions, contact aliciajones@tulsachamber.com.

PRESENTING SPONSOR

GOLD SPONSORS

THE TULSA VOICE // September 7 – 20, 2016

HOST SPONSOR

Gilcrease After Hours takes place on the last Friday of the month Explore the museum, grab a drink, network with other young professionals, and support your local art community. FREE.

TU is an EEO/AA Institution.

GILCREASE.ORG

with YMCA of Tulsa sponsored by Fowler Toyota of Tulsa Fusion of Dance, Mondays 5:30 pm YOGA, Mondays 6:30 pm, Weds 5:30 pm Bootcamp, Tues & Thurs 5:30 pm Barre in the Park, Tues 6:30 pm Partner Power, Weds 6:00 am Zumba, Sundays 10:30 am StoryTime, Wednesdays, 10:30 am Food Truck Wednesdays, 11:30 am Music Line­Up Presented By The Woody Guthrie Center 9­7 John Calvin Abney 9­14 Cody Brewer 9­21 Andy Adams 9­28 Adr ienne Gilley 9.8 AARP Presents Catch Me if you Can, 2002 (PG13) 9.15 Steel Magnolias 1989 (PG13) 9.22 DYLAN ON FILM SERIES: FESTIVAL! 1967 9.29 Children of Men, 2006 (R)

9.2 CONCERT: Annual Tulsa Symphony in the Park 7:30 pm 9.8­9.11 Blue Whale Comedy Festival www.bluewhalecomedyfestival.com 9.9 Lindy in the Park 6:30 pm 9.10 OK Lab Rescue Labapalooza 2016 11 am to 4 pm 9.16 CONCERT: PARK SIDE OF THE MOON 8:00 pm 9.23­9.25 XPO Game Festival www.xpotulsa.com 9.24 Guthrie Green GARBA 7 pm 9.30­10.2 CONCERT: REDBULL TV Season of Festivals Presents AUSTIN CITY LIMITS MUSIC FESTIVAL LIVE 7 pm

9.4 Presented by TulsaJazz.com Kissing Cousins Tour "Blues & Jazz" 2:30 pm to 6:30 pm TULSA ROOTS ROCKS THE GREEN every Sunday 2:30 pm to 6:30 pm 9.11 BOK Center Day with Hayes Carll, Travis Linville, Green Corn Rebellion 9.18 Cherokee Nations Day with Sly & Robbie & the Taxi Gang, the 1491s, and Kalyn Fay 9.25 Bank of Oklahoma Day with James McMurtry, Herencia de Timbiqui, & Grazzhopper 10.2 Riverfield Country Day School Day with Stop Light Observations, Count TuTu & Riverfield Youth Band

DÉCOR SPONSOR

ARTS & CULTURE // 35

inthestudio

Curio delight

Chris Ramsay’s art of found objects

by LIZ BLOOD

T

he desks, tables, shelves, and window sills in Tulsa Artist Fellow Chris Ramsay’s two-room studio are covered with hundreds—possibly thousands—of small found objects: vintage pins, feathers, beads, fossilized trilobites and chrinoids, pebbles, smashed pencils, broken glass—you name it. All litter his workspace.

I want to spend hours pouring over them. I sense a kindred spirit in Ramsay—one that loves little things, cast aside or lost-and-thenfound things, things that look meaningless but have had long and storied lives.

But Ramsay is thrilled to show me, first, the advances he’s made in learning how to use 3D modeling software.

“The learning curve for someone who doesn’t have an engineering background is pretty stiff,” he tells me. “I was really struggling with it, but now I actually can do it and operate a shop bot with some authority, and I feel—my confidence has grown tremendously.”

“That’s good,” I say.

“Oh, it’s huge!” His eyes light up.

Ramsay is gleeful and an easy conversationalist. Over the next hour and a half we cover everything from jewelry making to the ever-changing nature of carbon, finding fossils to monarch migration, national parks to America’s love of industry.

From this, I find that, like his collections and work, Ramsay is an amalgamation of many kinds of inspiration: digital and ancient, natural and man-made, found and created—a kind of reliquary, if you will, for things.

“I’ve collected objects, really, since I was a child. I was fascinated by things I would pick up. And 36 // ARTS & CULTURE

Tulsa Artist Fellow Chris Ramsay and his collection of thousands of found objects | MELISSA LUKENBAUGH

usually they’re things that eroded or changed in some way by, you know, process or the environment, handling or age.”

Ramsay started as a jewelry maker—it was the first thing he wanted to make. While a lot of his work now is in the form of sculpture, installation, and wall hangings, Ramsay still makes wearable pieces: brooches.

We stand over a shelf holding a handful of round and ovalshaped brooches decorated with

beads, glass pieces, shells, fossils, stones, each with a centerpiece.

One has a glass bubble containing red dirt, another a small fossilized shell. They are beautiful; each one is unique, and, if worn, could only be referred to as a “statement piece.” But statements that are curious and gentle—that make you question form, history, and the narrative of their making.

The brooches are similar to his wall hangings, which are also oval and round. In fact, they are de-

signed on the same computer program, the very handy Rhinoceros 3D software, which allows him to use the same form but scale up or down its size.

“In the past, I have always hand cut, formed, and shaped [each piece], and so to be able to mill it—” Ramsay says, then snaps for emphasis.

“After I get the form, that’s where the art really happens. And that’s still how it is for me … this is just a way to create forms.”

For “Migration,” a large circular wall hanging, he handformed small birds, each different, and cast them in bronze. They sit inside the viewing circle in the middle of the piece, against its back wall.

We turn to “Witness,” another piece he is currently working on.

“Witness” is made of a found tree trunk onto which Ramsay has installed nine small circular doors on tiny brass hinges. Behind each of the doors, which he designed on Rhinoceros and cut with a shop bot, are images from vintage postcards depicting the wonders of industry—oil rigs, coal plants, steel, smoke, production!

“For me to hand carve those [doors],” he says, “that’s all I would’ve been doing this spring— making those, you know? And that’s not the most important part of the piece. The content is more important.”

And the content is important—and immediate. Ramsay thinks often about carbon and climate change.

“The tree is a witness to what is happening in the carbon cycle.

When I started this residency, I was thinking, ‘how can I deal with climate change?’ But everything started to look like a science project in my mind, and I didn’t want that. I tried to find an artful way to deal with it.” a September 7 – 20, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE

Marcello Angelini | Artistic Director

CHEROKEE ART MARKET OCTOBER 8

& 9

CherokeeArtMarket.com

Troy Jackson –“Industrial Warrior” (sculpture) 2015 Innovator Award

UPCOMING EVENTS

@ the PAC

September

7 Dean Demerritt Brown Bag It, PAC Trust 9-18 The Who’s Tommy Tulsa Project Theatre 10 Gala Anniversary Concert Featuring Joshua Bell Tulsa Symphony Classics 11 Dover Quartet Chamber Music Tulsa 14-18 Disney’s Newsies Celebrity Attractions 23 Soledad O’Brien Tulsa Town Hall 23-Oct. 2 Glengarry Glen Ross Theatre Tulsa 25 Grupo Corpo Choregus Productions 27-28 Once Celebrity Attractions 30 Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters PAC Trust

THE TULSA VOICE // September 7 – 20, 2016

ARTS & CULTURE // 37

thehaps

The Legacy Tribute Sun., Sept. 18, starting at 5:30 p.m., $10 The Venue Shrine, tulsashrine.com

L

ocal and touring musicians will pay tribute to Tulsa guitar legend Steve Pryor and bassist Stan Reed, who played in Pryor’s band at a concert that draws upon Tulsa’s musical past and present.

The bill includes the Mississippi-based and Hammond B3-fronted Wayne Sharp Band and the Arkansas-based blues rock band Earl and Them, as well as performances by locals, including Don White, David Teegarden, Scott Ellison, Jamie Oldaker, Chuck Blackwell, Wanda Watson, Kalo, and many more.

The evening will also feature a video montage of never-publically-screened footage of Tulsa Sound musicians dating back to the 1960s. Culled from the archives of videographer Larry Lieberman, the footage includes behind-the-scenes moments and after-hour performances by Tulsa icons like Elvin Bishop, Leon Russell, and The Gap Band, in such famed Tulsa venues of yore as The Paradise Club.

Proceeds benefit The Red Dirt Relief Fund.

38 // ARTS & CULTURE

HISTORY

FESTIVAL

See over 100 years of Tulsa history at World Tour: Front Pages, Photographs, and Advertisements from the Tulsa World Archives, which features frontpage layouts and vintage press plates dating back to 1907. Sept. 1-30, PAC Gallery, tulsapac.comg

Take a run wearing (a little more than) what the original Olympians wore at the inaugural Toga Run, then wind down with Greek food, beer, and a toga contest. Sept. 10, 6:30 p.m., Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, tulsagreekfestival.com

LITERARY

POETRY

This Land Press hosts Summer Stories, a storytelling series featuring authors published in the This Land’s Summer issue, including William Bernhardt, Michael Meyer, and Apollonia Pina. Sept. 9, 6:30 p.m., This Land Press, thislandpress.com

MUSED. Organization’s POP Series will commemorate the 15th anniversary of 9/11 with poems by Wislawa Szymborska, Bruce Springsteen, and more.

The evening will feature live music from Olivia Riise and Clark Gibson. Sept. 11, musedorganization.org

DRINK

TRIBUTE

Taste what the founders of Prairie Artisan Ales have been up to at American Solera’s Raspbarrel Release. Raspbarrel is a sour ale aged in casks with whole raspberries. Sept. 9, 4-8 p.m., Sept. 10, 1-5 p.m., American Solera, americansolera.com

Listen to “Eclipse” while watching the upcoming penumbral lunar eclipse at Park Side of the Moon, a live tribute to Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon.

Sept. 16, sundown, Guthrie Green, guthriegreen.com

ON STAGE

BIRTHDAY

Sing along to the classic rock opera of pinball wizardry as Tulsa Project Theatre presents The Who’s Tommy. Sept. 9-18, $25-$35, John H. Williams Theatre, PAC, tulsapac.com

Celebrate the Max Retropub’s 6th birthday at a twoday indoor/outdoor street party, with a lineup of DJs who promise to play no music made after 1999.

Sept. 16-17, The Max Retropub, facebook.com/ TheMaxRetropub September 7 – 20, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE

BEST OF THE REST Movie in the Park: Catch Me If You Can // 9/8, Guthrie Green, guthriegreen.com Tulsa People’s Restaurant Week // Restaurant Week is part of Hunger Action Month with the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma and is a good opportunity to sample some of Tulsa’s finest restaurants at a great price and help fight hunger. // 9/10-9/19, tulsapeople.com/ restaurantweek/ MITA’s Foundation Tapas Night // Enjoy traditional Spanish tapas and wine while raising funds for MITA’s Foundation, whose mission is to improve quality of life of underprivileged children in Peru. // 9/10, 6:30 p.m., Living Arts of Tulsa, $25, livingarts.org I Can’t Compose Music // As part of TCC’s free I Can’t workshop series, learn to write a simple classical song with a melody, with help from BART Center for Music. // 9/12, 12:45 p.m., Center for Creativity at Tulsa Community College, TulsaCC.edu/CenterforCreativity Movie in the Park: Steel Magnolias // 9/15, Guthrie Green, guthriegreen.com

Dover Quartet // The Dover Quartet returns to Tulsa to perform Mozart’s “Prussian” Quartet, Caroline Shaw’s “Plan & Elevation (The Grounds of Dumbarton Oaks),” and Bedrich Smetana’s “From My Life.” The Quartet will hold a pre-concert lecture beginning at 2:15 p.m. // 9/12, 3 p.m., Tulsa Performing Arts Center John H. Williams Theatre, $5-$25, tulsapac.com/index.asp Vicki Lawrence & Mama: A Two-Woman Show // Vicki Lawrence, actress and alum of “The Carol Burnett Show” and “Mama’s Family,” performs in Broken Arrow. // 9/16, 7:30 p.m., Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center, $25-$65, brokenarrowpac.com Disney’s Newsies // Inspired by the Newsboys Strike of 1899 and based on the 1992 movie, Newsies tells the story of a group of underdogs who stand up to the most powerful men in New York City.

The musical won two Tony Awards in 2012. // 9/13-9/18, Tulsa Performing Arts Center - Chapman Music Hall, $34-$79, tulsapac.com/index.asp

COMEDY

I Can’t Cut It // As part of TCC’s free I Can’t workshop series, learn about the versatile CNC machine, with help from Fab Lab Tulsa. // 9/19, 12:45 p.m., Center for Creativity at Tulsa Community College, TulsaCC.edu/CenterforCreativity

Working Title Improv // 9/8, 8 p.m., Comedy Parlor, $5, comedyparlor.com

Craig Johnson // author of the bestselling Walt Longmire series of novels (now also a series on Netflix) comes to Tulsa to discuss Longmire and the newest installment in the series, “The Highwayman.” // 9/19, 7-9 p.m., IDL Ballroom, booksmarttulsa.com

Marlon Wayans // 9/15, Osage Casino Tulsa, $20, osagecasinos.com

Taste of Kendall Whittier // Take a trolley tour of Kendall Whittier Main Street, tasting all of the neighborhood’s flavors along the way at the annual Taste of Kendall Whittier. The crawl begins and ends at Marshall Brewing Co. // 9/20, 5 p.m., Kendall Whittier Main Street, historickwms.com

PERFORMING ARTS TSO Gala Anniversary Concert ft. Joshua Bell // Tulsa Symphony celebrates its anniversary with a concert featuring Grammy-winning violinist Joshua Bell. The orchestra will play Strauss’ “Don Juan,” De Falla’s “The Three Cornered Hat: Suite No. 2,” and Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto. // 9/10, 8 p.m., Tulsa Performing Arts Center Chapman Music Hall, $15-$70, tulsapac.com/index.asp

Sunday Night Stand Up // 9/11, 8 p.m., Comedy Parlor, $5, comedyparlor.com

Tulsa Tonight // 9/16, 10 p.m., Comedy Parlor, $10, comedyparlor.com Crayons // 9/16, 8 p.m., Comedy Parlor, $10, comedyparlor.com Comfort Creatures // 9/17, 10 p.m., Comedy Parlor, $10, comedyparlor.com Komedy Kombat // 9/17, 8 p.m., Comedy Parlor, $10, comedyparlor.com Cian Baker says, Laugh it up! // 9/18, 8 p.m., Comedy Parlor, $5, comedyparlor.com Brad Williams // 9/19, Loony Bin, $20, loonybincomedy.com/Tulsa Tracy Smith, Mark Matusof // 9/14-9/17, Loony Bin, $2-$12, loonybincomedy.com/Tulsa John Moses, Renard Hirsch // 9/7-9/10, Loony Bin, $2-$12, loonybincomedy.com/Tulsa

2016 Tulsa Cattle Baron’s Ball Saturday, September 24, 2016, 7:00 – 11:00 pm, Cox Business Center HEADLINE ENTERTAINMENT BY:

Live entertainment, food from top local restaurants, western-themed activities, and silent and live auctions!

SPORTS Freestyle Cage Fighting 53 // 9/17, Osage Casino Tulsa, $40, osagecasinos.com

TABLES AND TICKETS: TULSACATTLEBARONSBALL.ORG Sponsorship Opportunities available!

Contact Erin Cole - 918.477.5415 - erin.e.cole@cancer.org

For the most up-to-date listings

thetulsavoice.com/calendar THE TULSA VOICE // September 7 – 20, 2016

presented by

ARTS & CULTURE // 39

O

onstage

ROAD WORK

Jason Isbell returns to Tulsa for Mother Road Revival

by BOBBY DEAN ORCUTT

Singer-songwriter and guitarist Jason Isbell will headline the Mother Road Revival weekend at the BOK Center on Sept. 10 WES FRAZER

40 // MUSIC

n September 10, Jason Isbell will take the stage as headliner at The Mother Road Revival, a folk music-andfilm festival celebrating Tulsa’s heritage as tied to Route 66—the road, the mythic American byway.

The road is something Isbell knows about. For him, it’s been a long one.

In the early days, three weeks into a tour of the American west coast, the whole band came down with the flu. And that was just the beginning.

“The van got broken into in San Francisco. Stolen equipment, busted window,” Isbell said. “The next day the drummer quit. He asked me for an advance, I gave him a hundred bucks and he went to the airport, his girlfriend bought him a plane ticket, and he went home.”

Then, a spiteful former manager repossessed the co-headliner’s tour bus.

It is a familiar story to the traveling musician—a life led by those called to create music and those audacious enough to attempt to make a living at it.

Isbell’s dues have been paid.

Dedication paved the way for two Grammys, several critically acclaimed records, and a career that has no appearance of slowing down anytime soon.

It is incredible work, but work nonetheless and Isbell is his own boss, accountable only to himself and his customers: the audience and, of course, the band. He handles the responsibility well.

“I like to get to the venue early.

Get a feel for the room,” he said. “… to spend the first 45 minutes or so before a show with just the band … We have to be focused and be able to communicate up there.”

The result of his attention to detail is an inspiring show that often leaves people elated, speechless, and connected to his songs.

Isbell is not a rock star, which is part of his charm and part of why it is so easy to relate to the songs he writes. He is the literal everyman: the type of person that is polite on principal and sincere in every interaction.

As the son of a painter from the unincorporated township of Green Hill, Alabama, he has always had a dedicated work ethic,

September 7 – 20, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE

AFTER FIVE A D M I R A L

&

L E W I S

THURSDAY, SEPT 8, 5:00–8:00pm FOOD » MUSIC » AFTER HOURS SHOPPING Shade Tree Music Series

WENDY COLONNA

Jason Isbell | DAVID MCCLISTER

going all the way back to his days as a cart fetcher at Wal-Mart.

“I’d help the little old ladies out with their groceries and pull the carts back in. It was fun, I enjoyed it.”

Besides endearing himself to the young and old, Isbell’s appeal reaches across tastes and genres.

He was propelled into the mainstream country spotlight when the Zac Brown Band covered his chilling ode to a fallen soldier (also the star of Isbell’s high school football team), “Dress Blues.”

And despite being more frequently associated with the country side of roots music, Isbell’s last record debuted at the top of Billboard’s Rock, Country and Folk charts and at number 6 on the Billboard Top 200. This and the Grammy award for Best Americana Album of 2016 are impressive—but the fact that it was done without major label funding makes it even more so, attesting to his natural brilliance and transcendent performances.

Brilliance and transcendence aside, Isbell is a quiet and reserved man, but with a sense of humor that is sharp and quick. If you need proof, look no further than his Twitter account, which he uses often to interact with fans. The feed is full of poignant and entertaining observations about everything from how bad the new Superman/Batman movie is to his support of TIME Magazine’s recent fried chicken “Best Of ” list. His use of Twitter, a byproduct of constant touring, has allowed a closer glimpse into his personality.

THE TULSA VOICE // September 7 – 20, 2016

“You get bored, it’s something to do on the bus,” he said. “You have a lot of free time, whether you want it or not. I certainly don’t use it as much when I’m at home.”

Which isn’t often.

The commercial success of last year’s album “Something More Than Free” means home, for Isbell, is often a tour bus or hotel. Despite remaining in a state of near perpetual travel, Jason is a dedicated father and husband, sharing responsibilities with wife and fellow touring musician Amanda Shires.

“Nowadays we do a lot touring with the baby and that’s been great. To be able to go out and play with her is just incredible.

If I’d married someone other than Amanda I don’t know that it would work. Unless you’ve toured yourself, you don’t really know how it is. Someone who understands how good the good days and how bad the bad days are.”

When he isn’t spending time with his family, writing, recording, or touring, he moonlights as the voice of Kyle Nubbins, the cool new goatee wearing, blow out sporting, tattooed pastor on Cartoon Network’s cult favorite, “Squidbillies.”

This will be his first return to Tulsa since last year’s sold out show at Cain’s Ballroom. He will be accompanied by Memphis-based Lucero, with Shakey Graves rounding out the bill. a THE MOTHER ROAD REVIVAL

BOK Center | Sat., Sept. 10 | Doors at 7 pm Tickets $35-$65 | bokcenter.com

with JESSE AYCOCK

Free outdoor concert, food trucks and Marshall Brewing Company, plus fun stuff throughout Kendall Whittier!

Leather Recliner Sale! You’ll love the Revive line from Natuzzi Italia.

All unframed prints and posters are 75% off! (excluding Tulsa art)

New art exhibit by Emily Steward, plus $1 espresso!

Mother Road Revival celebrating Route 66! Bagdad Cafe at 7:00pm.

Churro Sundaes are back for After Five, only $2! Plus, Route 66 cookies!

$1 tacos (excludes seafood) and select beers for $2!

KW’s buzzing neighborhood bar, open daily 4pm to 2am.

Screen the 5th of six collectible art prints, only during After Five!

All floral bouquets will be 15% off during After Five!

10% off everything in the store during After Five!

Second Thursdays mean an evening in Kendall Whittier! historicKWMS.com » facebook.com/historicKWMS MUSIC // 41

E, C A P S OUR PARTY YOUR Whiskey, Beer & Wine on Tap Jenks Riverwalk Crossing Book Your Party Now

918-629-6542

Your

VOICE For

Live Music Get the word out

musiclistings Wed // Sept 7 Cain’s Ballroom – Stars Go Dim – ($10) Hunt Club – *Move Trio Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame – Eicher Wednesdays On the Rocks – Don White Soul City – Shrimp n’ Grits w/ Papa Foster’s Creole Trio Soundpony – Evasive Backflip The Colony – Tom Skinner’s Science Project Vanguard – *The Motet, Henna Roso – ($15-$18) Zin Urban Lounge – Randy Brumley

Thurs // Sept 8 Billy and Renee’s – ESE BOK Center – Dixie Chicks – ($42.50-$136.50) Boom Boom Room – DJ MO Hard Rock Hotel and Casino - Cabin Creek – Paul Bogart Hard Rock Hotel and Casino - Riffs – Deuces Wild, Scott Eastman Hunt Club – Ben Neikirk Band Kendall Whittier Main Street – Kendall Whittier After 5 ft. Wendy Colonna w/ Jesse Aycock Lot No. 6 – Jay Rufus River Spirit Casino - 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar – DJ Josh River Spirit Casino - Margaritaville – Ayngel & John The Colony – An Evening with Jared Tyler The Fur Shop – Songwriters Night w/ Justin Driggers The Run – David Thayer Band Vanguard – Bent Knee, Dad. The Band, The Capital Why’s – ($15-$18)

Fri // Sept 9 American Legion Post 308 – Joe Harris BOK Center – *I Love The ‘90s w/ All-4-One, Coolio, Kool Moe Dee, Kid ‘n Okay, Salt-N-Pepa, Tone Loc, Vanilla Ice – ($39.50-$125.50) Boom Boom Room – DJ MO Dusty Dog Pub – James Groves Blues Machine Ed’s Hurricane Lounge – Trouble Comin’ Electric Circus – Phluf N Stuf Gypsy Coffee House – John Paul Ratliff Hard Rock Hotel and Casino - Cabin Creek – Brian Capps Hard Rock Hotel and Casino - Riffs – Travis Marvin, Roy and James Hard Rock Hotel and Casino - The Joint – Bad Company – ($75-$85) Hunt Club – Brandon Clark IDL Ballroom – *Streets Gone Wild w/ Night Ranger, Great White, and more – ($30-$225) Inner Circle Vodka Bar – FM Pilots Mercury Lounge – *The Band of Heathens, LeE HARVeY OsMOND River Spirit Casino - 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar – The Sellouts River Spirit Casino - Margaritaville – Chris Hyde Band Smitty’s 118 Tavern – The Blue Dawgs Soul City – Dan Martin Band, The Great American Wolf The Colony – *The Dustin Pittsley Band The Run – Stars Band The Venue Shrine – *Heart Byrne - A Tribute to The Talking Heads – ($8-$12) Vanguard – *Coolio’s After Party w/ Coolio, DJ Spencer LG, Alan Doyle, SocietySociety – ($10-$50) Woody’s Corner Bar – DJ Mikey Bee Yeti – Cucumber Mike’s Yeti VIP Lounge Yeti – *Grazzhopper

Sat // Sept 10

Send dates, venue and listings to John@LangdonPublishing.com 42 // MUSIC

BOK Center – *Mother Road Revival Feat. Jason Isbell, Shakey Graves, Lucero – ($35-$65) Boom Boom Room – DJ MO Electric Circus – DJ Kylie Gypsy Coffee House – Terry Aziere Hard Rock Hotel and Casino - Cabin Creek – Western Justice Hard Rock Hotel and Casino - Riffs – Travis Marvin, The Hi-Fidelics Hard Rock Hotel and Casino - The Joint – *Gladys Knight – ($45-$55) Hunt Club – November IDL Ballroom – Streets Gone Wild w/ Queensrÿche, Warrant, Stryper, Quiet Riot, and more – ($40-$225)

Mercury Lounge – The Roomsounds River Spirit Casino - 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar – Starr Fisher River Spirit Casino - Margaritaville – The Hi-Fidelics Soul City – *Lauren Barth, Rachel LaVonne, Richelle Sigrist, Sioux City Kid The Colony – *Grayless CD Release show w/ Brad James Band The Fur Shop – PROPAGANDA: DJ Robbo’s 20-year anniversary party The Run – Stars Band Unit D – *Black Joe Lewis, Blank Range VFW Post 577 - Centennial Lounge – The Blue Dawgs

Sun // Sept 11 East Village Bohemian Pizzeria – Mike Cameron Collective Guthrie Green – *Tulsa Roots Rocks the Green w/ Hayes Carll, Green Corn Rebellion, Travis Linville – 2:30 p.m.

Mercury Lounge – Brandon Clark Soundpony – Machine, The Busty Brunettes, Maria Fantasma The Colony – Paul Benjaman’s Sunday Nite Thing Utopia Bar & Lounge – DJ MO

Mon // Sept 12 Hodges Bend – Mike Cameron Collective Soul City – The Writer’s Block Songwriter Night Soundpony – *Honey Bucket, Daddyo’s The Colony – Singer/Songwriter Night

Tues // Sept 13 Brady Theater – Beth Hart, Sheree Chamberlain – ($35-$39.50) Gypsy Coffee House – Tuesday Night Open Mic Hard Rock Hotel and Casino - Riffs – Darrel Cole Mercury Lounge – Wink Burcham Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame – Depot Jazz and Blues Jams Soul City – Tuesday Bluesday w/ Dustin Pittsley The Colony – Chris Blevins & Combs Yeti – Writers Night

Wed // Sept 14 Cain’s Ballroom – *The Melvins – ($18-$20) Hunt Club – Michael Dean Damron & The Do Betters MixCo – Mike Cameron Collective Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame – Eicher Wednesdays On the Rocks – Don White Soul City – Shrimp n’ Grits w/ Papa Foster’s Creole Trio Soundpony – Animal Names, Dead Mockingbirds, Fabulous Minx The Colony – Tom Skinner’s Science Project

Thurs // Sept 15 Boom Boom Room – DJ MO Hard Rock Hotel and Casino - Cabin Creek – James Muns Hard Rock Hotel and Casino - Riffs – Travis Kidd Hunt Club – Erin O’Dowd and Chloe Johns River Spirit Casino - 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar – DJ Josh River Spirit Casino - Margaritaville – The Hi-Fidelics Soundpony – Tulsaxworld presents: Skyped Squad Music The Colony – Honky Tonk Happy Hour w/ Jacob Tovar The Fur Shop – Songwriters Night w/ Gary Richard The Run – Billy Snow The Venue Shrine – Jaron Bell Band – ($5-$7) Whiskey Dog – Cole Lynch Zin Urban Lounge – Brian Parton

Fri // Sept 16

American Legion Post 308 – Double “00” Buck Boom Boom Room – DJ MO Ed’s Hurricane Lounge – Kelli Lynn and the Skillet Lickers Electric Circus – Phluf N Stuf Guthrie Green – *Park Side of the Moon Gypsy Coffee House – Andrew Michael Hard Rock Hotel and Casino - Cabin Creek – Runnin’ On Empty Hard Rock Hotel and Casino - Riffs – Imzadi, The Hi-Fidelics

Hunt Club – Amped River Spirit Casino - 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar – Starr Fisher River Spirit Casino - Margaritaville – Chris Hyde Band Soul City – Brian Whelan, Desi & Cody Soundpony – Afistaface The Run – SeXtion 8 Woody’s Corner Bar – DJ Spin Yeti – Cucumber Mike’s Yeti VIP Lounge Yeti – *Colouradio, Quahlity Vibes

Sat // Sept 17 Baker Street Pub – Drive Billy and Renee’s – Kali Ra Boom Boom Room – DJ MO Cimarron Bar – Screaming Red Mutiny, OKLAHOMBRES Electric Circus – DJ Moody Gypsy Coffee House – Super Darren 65 Hard Rock Hotel and Casino - Cabin Creek – Wilbur Lee Tucker Hard Rock Hotel and Casino - Riffs – Uncrowned Kings, Darren Ray Hunt Club – Smunty Voje Mercury Lounge – TJ Mayes, The Fabulous Minx River Spirit Casino - 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar – DJ Josh River Spirit Casino - Margaritaville Stage – FM Live Soundpony – Big Hush The Colony – *Damion Shade, Zach Short Group The Run – Imzadi The Venue Shrine – *Judas Rising - A Tribute to Judas Priest – ($7-$10) VFW Post 577 - Centennial Lounge – James Groves Blues Machine Yeti – Groove w/ jbrown, Pete Doerr, Deanna Avra, Jitsu, The Pleasure Trap, Skanka, and more Zin Urban Lounge – Brian Parton

Sun // Sept 18 Cain’s Ballroom – *Brian Fallon & The Crowes and Ryan Bingham, Paul Cauthen – ($32-$47) East Village Bohemian Pizzeria – Mike Cameron Collective Guthrie Green – Tulsa Roots Rocks the Green w/ Sly & Robbie and the Taxi Gang, The Cherokee Performers, Kalyn Fay, The 1491s Hunt Club – Ben Neikirk Mercury Lounge – Brandon Clark Soundpony – Conductor The Colony – Paul Benjaman’s Sunday Nite Thing The Venue Shrine– *The Legacy Tribute – ($10) Utopia Bar & Lounge – DJ MO

Mon // Sept 19 Cain’s Ballroom – *Tegan and Sara, Shura – ($33-$48) Coffee House on Cherry Street – Kinetic Meadow Hodges Bend – Mike Cameron Collective Soul City – The Writer’s Block Songwriter Night The Colony – Singer/Songwriter Night The Fur Shop – *North By North, Cucumber and the Suntans The Venue Shrine – *Jessica Hernandez & The Deltas – ($10) Vanguard – PIG, En Esch, Peter Turns Pirate, Pittersplatter – ($20-$55)

Tues // Sept 20

Cain’s Ballroom – Tech N9ne, Krizz Kaliko, JL, Sarrz, Trip-C, Infamous – ($31-$46) Gypsy Coffee House – Tuesday Night Open Mic Hard Rock Hotel and Casino - Riffs – The Tiptons Mercury Lounge – Wink Burcham Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame – Depot Jazz and Blues Jams pH Community House – Sun Riah, Autumn Shade – ($3-$5) Smitty’s 118 Tavern – Scott Ellison Soul City – Tuesday Bluesday w/ Dustin Pittsley The Colony – Chris Blevins & Combs The Venue Shrine – Ego Culture, Bitch’n’ Dudes Vanguard – Delta Rae – ($15-$18) Yeti – Writers Night September 7 – 20, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE

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filmphiles

“Independence Day: Resurgence” | COURTESY

Cruel summer

Would-be blockbusters keep getting worse

by JOE O’SHANSKY ummer sucks. It’s as if the studios transform into Black Friday retailers. A minefield of tentpole release dates between May and July are staked out—often before a single word of script is written—for a slew of over-budgeted, narratively overstuffed sequels, reboots, and synergized comic franchises meant to appeal to increasingly disinterested crowds.

It’s been that way for a while, but the summer of 2016 seems

S

Tulsa’s independent and non-profit art-house theatre, showing independent, foreign, and documentary films.

44 // FILM & TV

like a case study in how not to studio. If Spielberg and Lucas are to be believed, the foundation is buckling—mainly because of insane production budgets, and marketing costs that often double a film’s price tag. Bad marketing, media oversaturation, lame ideas and crippling word of mouth on opening weekend also influence failure. They can sink a film’s chances in the first two days. It used to take a week to register a 60 or 70 percent drop off at the box office. Now that can happen between Friday and Sunday. So if you spent $250 million on another goddamn superhero movie, it had better please (see: “Captain America: Civil War”).

Paramount’s “Star Trek Beyond” (July) was a blast of a movie. And while it seems like every cent of its $185 million budget is up there on the screen, spending that much money for a “Star Trek” film is absurd. It would have been just as much fun if they’d shaved $85 million off the sticker price. Instead, what could have been a healthy return was cannibalized by budgetary overreach.

This sort of hubris is compromising Warner Bros. in their efforts to be Marvel with lamer characters.

In the DC Expanded Universe, “Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice” (March) and “Suicide Squad” (August) embody almost everything wrong with the direction of their properties. At $250 million, the money spent on “BvS” seems an ostentatious metaphor to the film itself—a bloated, dour, bythe-numbers potluck—the trailer for which gave away everything you needed to know in a desperate effort to make people care. The critic and fan reaction to “BvS,” not to mention a severe first-weekend drop off, influenced the entirely unhelpful (and expensive) panic reshoots for “Suicide Squad.”

But at least DC is failing at something arguably relevant. In the realm of clearly bad ideas, Fox decided to milk the emerald anniversary of Roland Emmerich’s B-movie blockbuster, “Independence Day,” with a mega-budget sequel absent the one element from the first film that everyone agreed was worth giving a shit about: Will Smith. Considering the blandness 165 million burnt

dollars bought (though the FX weren’t bad) you’d think they would have been able to convince the Fresh Prince to suit up. But, maybe he read the script.

While deservedly tanking here, it seems the foreign grosses are keeping anyone responsible for “Independence Day: Resurgence” from jumping off a building.

There were others: “Ghostbusters,” “Alice Through the Looking Glass,” “Ben-Hur,” and “The Huntsman: Winter’s War” all lost millions. “The BFG,” a lovely film riding on Spielberg’s cred, fell victim to lackluster marketing and a title that impacted no one.

“Warcraft” (a film that bombed in the U.S. but was saved by the Chinese market) inexplicably went for an all-out walk on thin ice: relying on an unproven theatrical audience based on the popularity of the game and a cult indie director taking on his first mega-bucks fantasy film.

2016 feels like a turning point.

The foundation of summer blockbusters is crumbling, and Hollywood has no one to blame but itself. We’ll see what happens next year. a September 7 – 20, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE

TALE OF WOE

FULL CIRCLE A BRIEF RUNDOWN OF W H AT ’ S H A P P E N I N G AT THE CIRCLE CINEMA

“The Light Between Oceans” is an emotional rollercoaster

by JEFF HUSTON

Mike Birgilia, Kate Micucci, Gillian Jacobs, Keegan-Michael Key, Chris Gethard and Tami Sagher | COURTESY

DON’T THINK TWICE

Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander in “The Light Between Oceans” | COURTESY

Call it highbrow Nicholas Sparks.

Deeply wrought, hewn to feminine sensibilities, but with a more compelling moral hypothetical than the standard sensationalized weeper, “The Light Between Oceans” is a chick lit flick for the arthouse crowd. This lush, sweeping, but brutal tale about the fallout of a desperate decision made by a desperate couple aspires to more than manipulative melodrama, yet that thematic ambition also tempers its emotional catharsis.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing, and even helps undergird this story’s high concept with some laudable conviction, but for as much as these characters are put through (and, by extension, the audience), some viewers—particularly those of the movie’s core demo—may find the melancholy resolution more bittersweet than they’d been holding out for.

Based on the 2012 book club sensation by M.L. Stedman, “The Light Between Oceans” tells an ill-fated post-World War I tale of two beautiful-but-turbulent people whose marriage unfolds where two oceans meet. The “light between” is, in one sense, literally a lighthouse; it stands tall on a remote island far off the western coast of Australia.

Its new caretaker is Tom Sherbourne (Michael Fassbender), a veteran of The Great War still haunted by its horrors. The vocation of lighthouse manager— which leaves him alone on the island for months at a time— proves to be the semi-monastic balm his troubled soul needs.

The prospect of wholeness comes in the form of Isabel (Alicia Vikander), a vibrant, spirited young woman back on the mainland. They fall in love and marry, as Fassbender and Vikander display a tangible chemistry that sparked a real-life romance.

As sure as the sea’s violent storms will come crashing in, so too does nature’s cruelty to Tom and Isabel. They strive to start a family but with heartbreaking consequences until, unexpectTHE TULSA VOICE // September 7 – 20, 2016

edly, a providential occurrence leads to an unethical (and illegal) life-changing decision.

The choice gnaws at Tom’s conscience, but he concedes to Isabel’s agonized pleas. A chance encounter with a woman on the mainland (Rachel Weisz), however, may cause Tom and Isabel’s secret ruse to be exposed.

The result is an emotional roller coaster of delicate intensity, one that will provoke and torment deeply felt maternal instincts. After the couple’s initial romance, their tragic struggles and compromised choices imbue “The Light Between Oceans” with a palpable burden. Tom is being eaten away by moral crisis, and few play fraught and tortured as well as Fassbender. By contrast, Isabel isn’t amoral; she’s inconsolable. Grief has clouded her clarity; her actions, while selfish, are innate psychological survival tactics. Tom needs to be strong enough for them both, but his wartorn psyche isn’t.

Writer/director Derek Cianfrance broke through as an indie naturalist in 2010’s “Blue Valentine” and then displayed 70s-era auteuristic vitality with 2012’s “The Place Beyond The Pines.”

He successfully translates his penchant for raw, intimate devastation in a more formal genre here, with a huge assist from cinematographer Adam Arkapaw (who shot the entire first season of HBO’s evocative “True Detective”). Together, they craft one of the best-looking films of the year, with striking epic portraits.

If “The Light Between Oceans” has one primary drawback, it may be in its unrelenting commitment to go to its dark places. It takes itself too seriously to be voyeuristic four-hanky grief porn, yet the just outcome this dilemma requires is too clear-cut for a movie that wants us to wrestle with what the best course might be. Where it lands is credible, but something slightly more idealized could’ve helped purge the traumatic weight that this tale of woe packs on. a

Comedian Mike Birbiglia (“Sleepwalk With Me”) writes, directs and stars as the leader of a longtime New York improv troupe called The Commune. When Jack (Keegan-Michael Key) lands a gig at an SNL-esque show, his burgeoning success calls into question the future of his comrades, friendship, and their motivation to keep the band together. Also starring Gillian Jacobs, Kate Micucci, Chris Gethard, and Tami Sagher, the mumblecore roots of “Don’t Think Twice” are cemented by its naturalistic performances, and a quasi-documentary window into the lives and loves of its charming misfits. Produced by Ira Glass of “This American Life.” Now playing. –JOE O’SHANSKY OPENING SEPTEMBER 9 “Complete Unknown” A man contemplates moving so that his wife can pursue graduate studies. He runs into an old flame at a dinner party, a woman who often changes her identity. Starring Rachel Weisz and Michael Shannon. Rated R. “2016 Sundance Film Festival Shorts” This 95-minute theatrical program includes eight short films screened at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival. The collection will include shorts from the festival’s fiction, documentary, international, and animation selections.

Not Rated.

SHOWING SEPTEMBER 9/10 “Christine” (1983) Late-night (10pm) screenings of the early 80s Stephen King thriller, directed by genre master John Carpenter, about a 1958 Plymouth Fury with supernatural powers. After being defaced, the car restores itself and goes on a murderous revenge rampage.

SHOWING SEPTEMBER 12 “Little Gandhi” This special documentary presentation is about the modern day Syrian peace activist Ghiyath Matar. An icon of peaceful resistance for the Syrian revolution, he was arrested and tortured for four days by the Syrian government, before being killed. His death led to violent uprisings.

OPENING SEPTEMBER 15 “The Beatles: Eight Days a Week” Subtitled “The Touring Years,” this new documentary from director Ron Howard focuses on the early era of the Beatles craze, tracking 250 concerts from 1963 to 1966. Not Rated.

(On opening night, there will be a Beatle Trivia Contest with prizes.)

FOR SHOWTIMES AND MORE INFORMATION ON EVENTS AND REVIVAL SCREENINGS, VISIT CIRCLECINEMA.COM

SHOWING SEPTEMBER 16/17 “Joysticks” (1983) In anticipation of Tulsa’s XPO Game Festival the last weekend of September, the Circle is having late night screenings the weekend prior for this early 80s video arcade R-rated comedy.

SPECIAL EVENTS “Mother Road Revival: Reception and Movies” In conjunction with the Route 66-themed folk music festival, historian Michael Wallis will host a screening of shorts, a discussion, and the 7pm feature film “Bagdad Café,” Percy Aldon’s Route 66 classic.

(Thurs., Sept. 8, 5:30 p.m.)

“The Mark of Zorro” One of the earliest feature length versions of the iconic character, it stars matinee idol Douglas Fairbanks as the legendary Zorro. Part of the Second Saturday Silents program, this silent movie event is paired with live music accompaniment by Bill Rowland, on the Circle’s original 1928 theatre pipe organ. (Sat., Sept.

10, 11 a.m.)

“Reparation” Premiere/Q&A/ Reception This award-winning indie continues its national tour after a long festival run. A troubled Air Force veteran finds clues to his lost memories in his daughter’s art while confronted by a stranger looking for answers of his own. (Sun., Sept. 11, 7 p.m.)

Oklahoma Jewish Film Festival This 3rd Annual event shares “the legacy of Jewish art, history and religion” over four days. The anchor event is Tuesday night’s showing of the documentary “Rabin In His Own Words,” about the life of Israeli leader Yitzhak Rabin told entirely in his own voice. Festival pass is $75; individual tickets for the Rabin screening/Q&A are $25. (Sun., Sept.

18 through Wed., Sept. 21)

FILM & TV // 45

free will astrology

by ROB BREZSNY

VIRGO

(AUG. 23-SEPT. 22):

Is “Big Bang” the best term we can come up with to reference the beginning of the universe? It sounds violent and messy — like a random, accidental splatter. I would much prefer a term that suggests sublime elegance and playful power — language that would capture the awe and reverence I feel as I contemplate the sacred mystery we are privileged to inhabit. What if we used a different name for the birth of creation, like the “Primal Billow” or the “Blooming Ha Ha” or the “Ma jestic Bouquet”? By the way, I recommend that you consider those last three terms as being suitable titles for your own personal life story in the coming weeks. A great awakening and activation are imminent.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): The last few weeks have been fraught with rich plot twists, naked dates with destiny, and fertile turning points. I expect there will be further intrigue in the near future. A fierce and tender decision at a crossroads? The unexpected arrival of a hot link to the future? A karmic debt that’s canceled or forgiven? In light of the likelihood that the sweet-and-sour, confusing-and-revelatory drama will continue, I encourage you to keep your levels of relaxed intensity turned up high. More than I’ve seen in a long time, you have the magic and the opportunity to transform what needs to be transformed.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In the coming days, you will have more than your usual access to help and guidance. Divine interventions are possible. Special dispensations and charmed coincidences, too. If you don’t believe in fairy dust, magic beans, and lucky potions, maybe you should set that prejudice aside for a while. Subtle miracles are more likely to bestow their gifts if your reasonable theories don’t get in the way. Here’s an additional tip: Don’t get greedy. Use the openings you’re offered with humility and gratitude.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): When my daughter Zoe was growing up, I wanted her to be familiar with the origins of ordinary stuff that she benefited from. That’s why I took her to small farms where she could observe the growth and harvest of organic food crops. We visited manufacturing facilities where cars, furniture, toys, and kitchen sinks were built. She saw bootmakers creating boots and professional musicians producing songs in recording studios. And much more. I would love it if you would give yourself comparable experiences in the coming weeks, Sagittarius. It’s an excellent time to commune with the sources of things that nurture you and make your life better.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Unless you were brought up by a herd of feral donkeys, the coming weeks will be an excellent time to embark on your second childhood. Unless you’re allergic to new ideas, the foreseeable future will bring you strokes of curious luck that inspire you to change and change and change your mind. And unless you are addicted to your same old stale comforts, life will offer you chances to explore frontiers that could expose you to thrilling new comforts.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): These days, my dear, your eccentric beauty is even more unkempt than usual. I like it. It entertains and charms me. And as for your idiosyncratic intelligence: That, too, is messier and cuter and even more interesting than ever before. I’m inclined to encourage you to milk this unruly streak for all its potential.

Maybe it will provoke you to experiment in situations where you’ve been too accepting of the stagnant status quo. And perhaps it will embolden you to look for love and money in more of the right places.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): I’m giving you an ultimatum, Pisces: Within the next 144 hours, I demand that you become at least 33 percent happier. Fifty percent would be even better. Somehow you’ve got to figure out what you can do to enhance your sense of well-being and increase your enjoyment of life. I’m sort of joking, but on the other hand I’m completely serious. From my perspective, it’s essential that you feel really good in the coming days. Abundant pleasure is not merely a luxury, but rather a necessity.

Do you have any ideas about how to make this happen? Start here: 1. Identify your four most delightful memories, and re-enact

Place the numbers 1 through 9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once.

NOVICE

them in your imagination. 2. Go see the people whose influences most thoroughly animate your self-love.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Two seven-yearold girls showed me three tricks I could use to avoid taking myself too seriously and getting too attached to my dignity. I’m offering these tricks to you just in time for the letting-go phase of your astrological cycle.

Trick #1: Speak in a made-up language for at least ten minutes. Example: “Groftyp hulbnu wivgeeri proot xud amasterulius. Quoshibojor frovid zemplissit.” Trick #2: Put a different kind of shoe and sock on each foot and pretend you’re two people stuck in a single body. Give each side of you a unique nickname. Trick #3: Place an unopened bag of barbecue-flavored potato chips on a table, then bash your fist down on it, detonating a loud popping sound and unleashing a spray of crumbs out the ends of the bag. Don’t clean up the mess for at least an hour.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In accordance with the astrological omens, I suggest you spend less energy dwelling in profane time so you expand your relationship with sacred time. If that’s of interest to you, consider the following definitions. PROFANE TIME happens when you’re engulfed in the daily grind. Swarmed by a relentless flurry of immediate concerns, you are held hostage by the chatter of your monkey mind. Being in SACRED TIME attunes you to the relaxing hum of eternity. It enables you to be in intimate contact with your soul’s deeper agenda, and affords you extra power to transform yourself in harmony with your noble desires and beautiful intentions.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): About 1.7 million years ago, our human ancestors began using primitive hand axes made from rocks.

This technology remained in use for over 60,000 generations before anyone invented more sophisticated tools and implements.

Science writer Marcus Chown refers to this period as “the million years of boredom.” Its slow pace contrasts sharply with technology’s brisk evolution in the last 140 years. In 1880, there were no cars, planes, electric lights, telephones, TVs, or Internet. I surmise that you’re leaving your own phase of relatively slow progress, Gemini. In the coming months, I expect your transformations will progress with increasing speed — starting soon.

MASTER

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Prediction #1: You will attract truckloads of good luck by working to upgrade and refine the way you communicate. Prediction #2: You will tickle the attention of interesting people who could ultimately provide you with clues you will need to thrive in 2017. #3: You will discover secrets of how to articulate complicated feelings and subtle ideas that have been locked inside you. Prediction #4: You’ll begin a vibrant conversation that will continue to evolve for a long time.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You know you have a second brain in your gut, right? (If not, read this: http://bit.ly/secondbrain.) During the past three weeks, I have been beaming telepathic instructions toward this smart part of you. Here’s an edited version of the message I’ve been sending: “Cultivate your tenacity, darling. Build up your stamina, sweetheart.

Feed your ability to follow through on what you’ve started, beautiful. Be persistent and spunky and gritty, my dear.” Alas, I’m not sure my psychic broadcasts have been as effective as I’d hoped. I think you need further encouragement. So please summon more fortitude and staying power, you gutsy stalwart. Be staunch and dogged and resolute, you stouthearted powerhouse.

Look in the mirror and tell yourself an edgy but fun truth you’ve never spoken. t h i s w e e k ’ s h o m e w o r k // T E S T I F Y AT F R E E W I L L A S T R O L O G Y. C O M .

46 // ETC.

September 7 – 20, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE

ACROSS 1 Some rulers of the past 6 Night twinkler 10 Fires or ousts 15 Comply with 19 Ear part 20 Hawaiian tuber 21 Beyond the fringe 22 Be a drifter 23 Agassi of tennis fame 24 Bone-dry, as a desert 25 Heirloom location 26 “Follow me!”

27 Wasteful project 29 Old Greek pennies 31 Short order, for short 32 Mathematics ratio 33 Do alternative 34 Whistleblowers, essentially 37 Exotic jelly flavor 39 New Orleans footballer 41 Pesky insects 42 Some salon jobs 43 Turning partner, in sleeplessness 46 Nickels and dimes 48 Assail 49 Orange-yellow earthy hue 50 7 Up alternative 52 ___ cum laude 53 Type of earring 54 Wheezing chest sounds 55 Debate position 56 Barbershop sound 60 It may be overhead 61 Ali Baba’s 40 64 “Have a great cruise!”

66 “So, ___ been thinking ...”

67 Recoiled in pain

68 Persona non grata 69 B&B, often 70 Blackballed in protest 72 Doorframe parts 73 French wine 74 Riding the waves 75 Baseball Hall of Famer Williams 76 Mark over the “n” in “senor” 77 ___ out (apportion) 78 German wine valley 80 Dodges 82 With “fire,” a carnival performer 83 Musburger of sportscasting 84 Butler of “Grace Under Fire” 85 They work the earth 87 Showing disapproval of one’s performance 89 Punjabi princess 90 Russian spirit?

91 Non-earthling 92 Big name in small planes 94 Swelling reducer 95 The Explorer of kids’ TV 99 Hodges or Gerard 100 Inundated with water 102 It has a novel way of keeping your place 105 Far from being a 39-Across 107 Bit of high jinks 109 ___ podrida (spicy stew) 110 White table wine 111 Supermarket downer 112 Court figure

113 114 115 116 117 118

Stalk in a swamp Lab tube “Roots,” e.g.

Bess’ love Type of large bag Metro station entrance DOWN 1 Picket line crossers 2 Vietnam’s capital 3 Off ___ (intermittently) 4 Like a horse with a bit and straps 5 Flexible Flyer 6 Open-house preparations 7 Firing-range object 8 Hard outer covering of a seed 9 Bull-riding event 10 ___ constrictor 11 Current providers?

12 Frolicking animals 13 Vacation excursions 14 The Amish, e.g.

15 “Lord of the Rings” monster 16 Pompous speech 17 Come about 18 Meddle managers?

28 Father of Balder 30 Discriminatory practice against seniors (var.)

35 Completes a merger 36 Points at a dinner table 38 Apprehensive 40 Basketball filler 42 Dismissal, as from an office 43 Samsung competitor 44 6x9-inch book sizes 45 Insomniac’s goal

46 Wanted badly 47 Lubricated, in a way 48 Glen ___, Maryland 51 Be earlier 52 Wore 57 Unsophistication 58 Pyrotechnician’s device 59 Authors 61 Wee hour 62 Batting 63 Key concept in criminal law 64 “Smokey and the ___” 65 Expressions of understanding 68 Southwest worker 71 Classic Sissy Spacek thriller 72 Like some nannies 76 Mountain pools 77 Clumsy or inept 79 Auburn hair dye 81 Military lockup 82 Big game for a hunter 83 In a rage 84 Criticizing 86 Footnote word 87 Rolls with holes 88 John’s “Grease” co-star 89 Any person taking five 90 Shrinking flower?

92 Bel ___ (operatic style) 93 Cancel, as a spaceflight 96 Relative of a giraffe 97 Party hearty 98 Rocky mountain ridge 101 Mud dauber, e.g.

103 Butter alternative 104 Nile snakes 106 Grassy pasture 108 Coquettish

Universal sUnday Crossword Bo danGles

By Timothy e. Parker

© 2016 Universal Uclick

9/11

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THE TULSA VOICE // September 7 – 20, 2016

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Pleas e re cycle this issue.