Allied Arts

Above all, it is a matter of loving art, not understanding it.
- Fernand Leger

Hello, arts fans!  Let me tell you about a show that is sure to put the shriek in your Halloween - Lyric Theatre’s Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street. After seeing a performance, I only have two words to describe it: creepy, awesome!

If you haven’t seen Lyric at the Plaza, you need to. The newly remodeled auditorium is simple and ultra-cool, and there’s not a bad seat in the house. A combination of the Plaza Theatre and a chilly fall night provide the perfect setting for this musical thriller. 

Sweeney Todd will run until November 1 with showings Tuesday through Sunday. If you’d like to buy tickets, I’ll make it easy for you! Click here: http://www.lyrictheatreokc.com/node/222. 

On Friday, October 23, O.K. City Chorus  new director, Mary Rhea, and her fellow members of Zing! quartet were named the “Queens of Harmony” at the Sweet Adelines International competition in Nashville.  Zing! competed against 50 quartets from across the globe to capture the crown.

Mary's first concert with the O.K. City Chorus will be the group's annual Christmas show, An A Capella Christmas Carol, at 3 pm on December 13 at Southern Nazarene University. 

Singers in the metro area will get the opportunity to sing with ‘Queen Mary' through a project called "Come Sing With Us." "Come Sing with Us" encourages aspiring singers (or those who just like to sing for fun) to join the OK City Chorus for a few carols during the Christmas show. Rehearsals begin on Tuesday, November 3 at St. Lukes United Methodist Church, NW 14th & Harvey, OKC, 73103.   

For more information about the O.K. City Chorus or "Come Sing with Us," visit www.okcity.org.




The Zing! quartet - winners of the "Queens of Harmony" crown.

This weekend our agencies are offering a host of events that are sure to set the mood for a spooky (or not-so-spooky) Halloween!  Check them out and let us know what you thought!

Murderers
@ Carpenter Square Theatre
http://www.carpentersquare.com/

Wine and the Wheel
@ City Arts Center
http://www.cityartscenter.org

Sweeney Todd
@ Lyric at the Plaza
http://www.lyrictheatreokc.com/

Frankenstein
@ Oklahoma Children’s Theatre
http://www.oklahomachildrenstheatre.org/

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
@ Oklahoma City Ballet
http://www.okcballet.com/

Film Screenings – I Sell the Dead, Frankenstein and Invisible Man
@ Oklahoma City Museum of Art
http://www.okcmoa.com/film

Not-So-Frightening Fun
@Science Museum Oklahoma
http://www.sciencemuseumok.org/

And don’t forget to decorate your pumpkin Thunder-style!  The Oklahoma City Thunder’s Pumpkin Up! is this Sunday, November 1.  For details, visit http://www.nba.com/thunder/.

 

I hope you all know about the OKCityCard, not only because it benefits Allied Arts, but because it’s the best Central Oklahoma discount card out there.

Not familiar? Here the deal – If you donate $50 or more to Allied Arts, you can choose to receive an OKCityCard. The OKCityCard is an entertainment discount card that offers reduced rates at arts events, as well as at top retail and restaurant locations. Right now the card offers discounts at more than 140 hot spots. Check out more information here: www.okcitycard.com. 

Confession – I’m a girl that loves to make smart shopping decisions. While the CityCard was technically a donation, I’m obsessed with making my $50 back through the discounts. So, I started tallying every time I saved. And then I challenged my fellow blogger, Bailey, to do the same.

Hence the CityCard competition was born. We’ll keep you all posted on how much we’re saving and who’s saving more. We’re hoping it will inspire you to A. get your own CityCard (hint, hint) and B. put it to good use!

I got my CityCard in September and check out my savings so far – I’ve already surpassed $50!

Lindsay’s Savings (September 2009 – October 27, 2009)

• Iguana Mexican Grill (free queso): $5
• Java Dave’s (10% off): $.50
• BJ’s (free pizookie): $6
• State Fair (buy one-get-one free tickets): $14
• Flip’s (free Italian nachos): $9
• Krispy Kreme (buy one dozen, get one for $.99): $6
• Jiffy Lube ($15 off an oil change): $15
• Prairie Thunder (20% off): $2

TOTAL - $57.50 savings in less than 2 months

How do you save with your CityCard? Any hidden gems on the card that you want to share?

This week, we’re introducing you all to Carpenter Square Theatre. We talked to Rhonda Clark, artistic director for the live theatre company, to get the scoop.

Give us the gist of your organization, Twitter-style (that means 140 characters or less). 
Carpenter Square Theatre produces a wide variety of contemporary plays – most that you won’t see anywhere else in the metro area – plus hosts educational programs. 
 
What does your organization bring to Central Oklahoma? 
We produce bold, adventurous theater in an intimate setting where the audience can truly feel involved with the onstage action.  In addition, we present programs specifically for high school students and provide free tickets to students deemed at-risk so that they can experience live theater.  
 
List a few things that your organization is looking forward to in the coming year.
Our 26th season is in full swing with performances through July 17, 2010. Check out our upcoming shows at www.carpentersquare.com. 
 
Also, Carpenter Square Theatre will hold special matinee performances of Arthur Miller’s theater classic “All My Sons” for middle and high school students in April 2010.

And Carpenter Square Theatre’s annual fundraiser – the 7th annual 10-minute play contest for Oklahoma writers – will finale on July 24, 2010. The final event features staged readings of the winning plays from the annual contest.
 
How can people get involved with your organization?
There are many ways to get involved with the organization. Here’s just a few:

• Volunteer. Help usher, participate in the annual fundraising event, clean up after shows or work on other special projects.
• Be on the board. Carpenter Square Theatre needs people who appreciate the arts, especially live theater, and are interested in helping our theater organization grow.
• Act. Carpenter Square Theater’s auditions are always open to the public. We love to get people involved who have never performed with us before.
• Donate. Financial donations and donations of clothing in good condition, especially period clothing and accessories, such as hats, gloves, shoes, etc. are much appreciated. Donations of vintage furniture are also very welcome.
• Advertise. Program advertising ranges in price from $100-$1000.
• Sponsor. Sponsorship opportunities start as low as $100. Or you (or your company) could sponsor our education program and help Carpenter Square Theatre extend free tickets and transportation for students attending our spring production of “All My Sons.”
• Go behind-the-scenes. And for those who are interested in getting “behind-the-scenes,” Carpenter Square Theatre always need assistance in technical theater positions, in the areas of stage management, as well as with the operation of lights and sound.  We’ll teach you! 

Contact Carpenter Square Theatre at (405) 232-6500 or visit www.carpentersquare.com.

 A picture from “Almost Maine” – Carpenter Square Theatre’s most popular show last year.

Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.

- Scott Adams, Dilbert cartoonist

Allied Arts will have a booth at Schmooza Palooza on Tuesday night and we hope you'll stop by!

What is Schmooza Palooza, you ask? It's only OKC's coolest networking trade show/party. There's live music, food, drinks and more than 100 businesses set up to tell you about what they do and new products they have.

Here are the details...
Tuesday, October 27th
4-7 pm
State Fair - Travel and Transportation Building (use Gate 5 or Gate 6)
$10 per person (includes a free drink)

And for one lucky reader, we're giving away a free ticket to the party. Just be the first to comment about your favorite Halloween activity.

Every Thursday we’ll post some of the coolest arts activities and events taking place in the upcoming weekend. Post a comment if you’ve been to any of these shows – we’d love to read your review!

Here’s what’s going on this weekend:

Out of Sight Exhibit
@ IAO Gallery (Oklahoma City)
http://www.iaogallery.org/

Sweeney Todd
@ Lyric at the Plaza (Lyric Theatre – Oklahoma City)
http://www.lyrictheatreokc.com/

Rent
@ The Pollard Theatre (Guthrie)
http://www.thepollard.org/

Film Screening – It Might Get Loud
@ Oklahoma City Museum of Art
http://www.okcmoa.com/film

Murderers
@ Carpenter Square Theatre (Oklahoma City)
http://www.carpentersquare.com/

And don’t forget to create your Thunder pumpkins this weekend (for the Nov. 1st game!).

Yesterday, Allied Arts celebrated six winners of Governor’s Arts Awards with a special reception at Justice Yvonne Kauger’s house.

Award recipients Robert Allee, Rand Elliott, Michael E. Joseph, Donna Rinehart-Keever, Mary Blankenship Pointer and Jim Tolbert each have personal ties to Allied Arts and are dedicated supporters of the organization.

After the ceremony at the Capitol, more than 40 people gathered at Justice Kauger’s house for mingling with the award winners. Guests enjoyed desserts from Prairie Thunder bakery and hors d’oeuvres from the Museum Café (at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art).

Guests included Allied Arts president Deborah McAuliffe Senner, 2010 Allied Arts campaign co-chairs Lance Benham and Linda Haneborg, Allied Arts Board Chair Ann Johnstone, many Allied Arts board members and the award recipients and their families.

Check out a few pictures from the event below. For a full album of photos, visit our Flickr page here.