Allied Arts

Here’s a Ticket Thursday for auld lang syne.  It’s the last of the year, and looking back, we’ve had some pretty amazing arts events this year thanks to our 20 member agencies. 

Cheers to a new year of artful living, learning and event-going!

OPENING NIGHT 2011
Located in the heart of Downtown Oklahoma City
Featuring Ambassadors’ Concert Choir, Science Museum Oklahoma, & Harrison Academy Symphonic Winds
@ Arts Council of Oklahoma City
http://www.artscouncilokc.com/opening-night
2-for-1 wristbands with your OKCityCard

Memento: The Art of Billy Hassell
@ Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art
http://www.mgmoa.org/
2-for-1 admission with OKCityCard

Farinelli
8 ½
Film Screenings
@ Oklahoma City Museum of Art
http://www.okcmoa.com/
2-for-1 admission with OKCityCard

La Serenissima: Eighteenth-Century Venetians Paintings from North American Collections
Jonathan Hils: INTERSECTION
CLOSE SUNDAY
@ Oklahoma City Museum of Art
http://www.okcmoa.com/
2-for-1 admission with OKCityCard

 

Ring in the new year at Oklahoma City's biggest New Year's Eve celebration!  With live performances, games and attractions, Opening Night is sure to be non-stop fun for the whole family.

Produced by the Arts Council of Oklahoma City, Opening Night is set to run from 7 pm until midnight in Downtown Oklahoma City.  Take the kids to the Cox Convention Center for face painting, an inflatable obstacle course and craft projects. Brave the cold weather and make the trek to see tons of performers including Jamie Bramble, Edgar Cruz, OKC Improv, Hartel Dance Group and our member agencies Ambassardors' Concert Choir and Harrison Academy Symphonic Winds.  Plus, you could win some cool prizes in the scavenger hunt!

What would a New Year's Eve party be without the big countdown to midnight?  Brother Summit Band will be rockin' Kerr Park from 9 until 11:30 followed by a sound and light show until the ball rises at midnight.  The new year will come in with a bang with a huge fireworks extravaganza to finish the night.

Does this sound like fun to you?  Get your wristbands at 7-11, Homeland, MidFirst Bank locations, Science Museum Oklahoma or the Arts Council of Oklahoma City.  They'll also be available at various Downtown locations on the night of the event.  Wristbands are $8 in advance or $10 at the door.  Use your OKCityCard to get them for 1/2 price! 

Need more information?  Maps, wristband outlets, food, entertainment and everything else you need to know can be found at http://www.artscouncilokc.com/opening-night. 

It’s the holiday season…a doodle-y –doo and a dickory dock… I’m trying to sing this post.  Is it working?  If it’s not, just go ahead and read this weekend’s events.  They’re going to be way better than my fake singing blog post!

Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some)
@ Carpenter Square Theatre
http://carpentersquare.com/
2-for-1 admission with OKCityCard

Annual Pottery Sale
Christmas shopping! 
@ City Arts Center
http://cityartscenter.org/

Nigel Hall Exhibit
@ City Arts Center
http://cityartscenter.org/

Trois Voyage Separe
@ IAO Gallery
http://www.iaogallery.org/

Contextual: Student Art Exhibit
@ IAO Gallery
http://www.iaogallery.org/

December Divas
@ Lyric Theatre
http://lyrictheatreokc.com/
2-for-1 admission with OKCityCard

Collective Memory and Objects of Inspiration
@ Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art
http://www.mgmoa.org/

The Nutcracker
@ Oklahoma City Ballet
http://okcballet.com/
2-for-1 admission with OKCityCard

ART After 5
TONIGHT!
@ Oklahoma City Museum of Art
http://www.okcmoa.com/

Four Cinematic Views of Venice: Death in Venice
Sweethearts of the Prison Rodeo
Brutal Beauty: Tales of the Rose City Rollers
Film Screenings
@ Oklahoma City Museum of Art
http://www.okcmoa.com/
2-for-1 admission with OKCityCard

A Rough Night at the North Pole
@ Oklahoma Children’s Theatre
http://www.oklahomachildrenstheatre.org/
2-for-1 admission with OKCityCard

Mind Games
Opening Night Tonight!
@ Science Museum Oklahoma
http://sciencemuseumok.com/

 

Who's ready for a break from the holiday frenzy?  I know I am!  It's time to sit down, relax and enjoy the musical stylings of 5 dazzling divas. 

This weekend, Lyric Theatre is presenting December Divas, a cabaret-style show starring five of its favorite leading ladies.  They'll be singing Christmas favorites and delighting audiences with holiday charm.

Showtimes are 7:30 tonight, 8 pm Friday and Saturday and 3 pm on Sunday at Lyric's Plaza Theatre.  As always, you can use your OKCityCard to get 2-for-1 tickets, so don't forget to take it along!

For more information about the show, click here.  Don't miss this holiday treat!

For those of you who are faithful Ticket Thursday followers, I apologize for the tardiness of this post.  I was out spreading artful good cheer all day yesterday, which you will hear about at a later date.

Now, on to the main event!  Here are this weekend’s gleefully good holiday events.  I hope you’ve cleared your personal schedule, because this arts schedule will be enough to keep you running for days!

Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some)
@ Carpenter Square Theatre
http://carpentersquare.com/
2-for-1 admission with OKCityCard

Amahl and the Night Visitors
Wednesday in Norman
@ Cimarron Opera
http://www.cimarronopera.org//

Annual Pottery Sale
Christmas gift alert! Need I say more?
@ City Arts Center
http://cityartscenter.org/

Nigel Hall Exhibit
@ City Arts Center
http://cityartscenter.org/

Trois Voyage Separe
@ IAO Gallery
http://www.iaogallery.org/

Contextual: Student Art Exhibit
@ IAO Gallery
http://www.iaogallery.org/

Book Signing and Lecture with Linda Schaefer
Author of Come and See: A Photojournalists Journey into the World of Mother Teresa
@ IAO Gallery
http://www.iaogallery.org/

The Nutcracker
@ Oklahoma City Ballet
http://okcballet.com/
2-for-1 admission with OKCityCard

The Girl Who Played With Fire
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest
Film Screening
@ Oklahoma City Museum of Art
http://www.okcmoa.com/
2-for-1 admission with OKCityCard

Luis Jimenez: Works on Paper
CLOSES SUNDAY
@ Oklahoma City Museum of Art
http://www.okcmoa.com/
2-for-1 admission with OKCityCard

A Christmas Carol
@ Oklahoma Children’s Theatre
In conjunction with Theatre OCU
http://www.oklahomachildrenstheatre.org/
2-for-1 admission with OKCityCard

A Rough Night at the North Pole
@ Oklahoma Children’s Theatre
http://www.oklahomachildrenstheatre.org/
2-for-1 admission with OKCityCard

Also, check out this cool OKCityCard event:

Cupcakes with Santa
Saturday
@ Oklahoma City Zoo
http://okczoo.recware.com
2-for-1 admission with OKCityCard

The Zoo has tons of events going on this month (animals and Santa – sounds like a blast!). Visit their web site to find out more!  http://www.okczoo.com/

I'm sure you've seen what Desmond Mason can do on the court...



(Photo by Nick Laham)

But have you seen what he can do in the studio?



That's right, your favorite basketball player just turned out to be an artist, too. 

Desmond Mason has returned to Oklahoma City and opened his own studio in Plaza Court at 10th and Walker in MidTown.  This Saturday night, he is hosting his 6th annual art show at the Fred Jones Industries Building. Proceeds from the sale of his work will benefit Allied Arts and EduCare, and we are thrilled!

We can't wait to see what he has on display at this private showing.  Click here to see more of his work. 

I don't know about you, but my Christmas is never complete without seeing a performance of The Nutcracker!  The Oklahoma City Ballet presents the holiday classic this weekend, December 10 - 12 and next December 17 - 19 at the Civic Center Music Hall.

Catch a matinee and you'll get a little extra treat for the kids.  The Ballet has scheduled photos with Santa before the December 11 and 12 matinee performances, Braum's cookies and milk after each Sunday matinee and Sugar Plum Fairy gifts for every child following the matinee performances on December 18 and 19.  My only question is if 25 years old still counts as a child.  Probably not?  I guess I'll have to ask Santa for my Sugar Plum Fairy gift.

Tickets are still available by calling 405-848-TOES (8637) or at http://okcballet.com/.  As always, you can use your OKCityCard for 2-for-1 tickets to the performances!  You must present your OKCityCard at the OKC Ballet ticket office at 7421 North Classen to get the discount.

I'll leave you with a video that will have you dancing!  Seriously, I'm about to leap out of my chair I'm so excited for The Nutcracker.  It's just not Christmas without it!

It’s Holiday time!  Check out this weekend’s festivities – our member agencies are serving up a double dose of Christmas cheer!

Messiah! 
@ Canterbury Choral Society
http://www.canterburyokc.com/
2-for-1 admission with OKCityCard

Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some)
@ Carpenter Square Theatre
http://carpentersquare.com/
2-for-1 admission with OKCityCard

Nigel Hall Exhibit
@ City Arts Center
http://cityartscenter.org/

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
The Girl Who Played With Fire
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest
Film Screening
@ Oklahoma City Museum of Art
http://www.okcmoa.com/
2-for-1 admission with OKCityCard

A Christmas Carol
@ Oklahoma Children’s Theatre
In conjunction with Theatre OCU
http://www.oklahomachildrenstheatre.org/
2-for-1 admission with OKCityCard

A Rough Night at the North Pole
@ Oklahoma Children’s Theatre
http://www.oklahomachildrenstheatre.org/
2-for-1 admission with OKCityCard

Chesapeake Energy’s A Very Merry Pops
@ Oklahoma City Philharmonic
http://www.okcphilharmonic.org/

A Christmas Tea with the Queen
@ Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park
http://www.oklahomashakespeare.com/

Plus, check out this other cool event:

Annual Home Show Weekend
@ Blue Sage Studios
http://www.bluesagestudios.com/
Glassblowing demonstrations, art glass for sale and tasty treats!

 

Canterbury Choral Society is performing the Christmas classic, Handel's Messiah! this Sunday, December 5th at the Civic Center.  Not only is this piece so significant that everyone should hear it during their lifetime (I mean it - this music will blow you away), it is the perfect performance to put you in the holiday mood. 

Now for the deal - Canterbury has special pricing for this performance that runs until tomorrow.  Getting this deal is as easy as 1, 2, 3! 

• Buy 1 ticket, get 1 half price
• Buy 2 tickets, get 2 free
• Buy 3 tickets, get 3 free to the final concert of the season - Music from Two Shores on May 14, 2011

As always, you can use your OKCityCard to get 2-for-1 tickets to the concert (and you must purchase your tickets in person to do so).  To get the special offer, call 232-SING (7464) and ask for 1, 2 or 3!

And now for fun, I'll leave you with a little taste of Messiah!.  The Opera Company of Philadelphia surprised shoppers with "A Random Act of Culture" and The Hallelujah Chorus. Wish I would've been there! (By the way, this video is worth every bit of the 6 minutes...I'll let you listen and think of how much better it will sound in person when you go to Canterbury's concert than listening to it through your tiny computer speakers.)

Happy Thanksgiving, art lovers!  This year, we’re thankful for each of our donors who believe in the power of the arts and for our 20 member agencies that enhance our communities every day with their amazing work.  The unique culture that we enjoy here in Oklahoma would not be the same without you! 

That being said, we’re bringing you Ticket Thursday a day early, because our member agencies have some great holiday events happening this weekend. 

Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some)
Opening weekend!
@ Carpenter Square Theatre
http://carpentersquare.com/
2-for-1 admission with OKCityCard

Amahl and the Night Visitors
@ Cimarron Opera
With the Enid Symphony Orchestra
*Performance at the Enid Symphony Center
http://www.cimarronopera.org//
2-for-1 admission with OKCityCard

Nigel Hall Exhibit
@ City Arts Center
http://cityartscenter.org/

Trois Voyage Séparé
@ IAO Gallery
http://www.iaogallery.org/

UCO Senior Capstone Exhibit
@ IAO Gallery
http://www.iaogallery.org/

Certifiably Jonathan
Film Screening
@ Oklahoma City Museum of Art
http://www.okcmoa.com/
2-for-1 admission with OKCityCard

Black Friday at the Science Shop
7 am – 5 pm – savings on gadgets, gizmos & SMO apparel!
@ Science Museum Oklahoma
http://sciencemuseumok.com/

Enjoy your time with family and friends this Thanksgiving!  And when you start to go stir crazy inside the house, get out and do something artsy!