Weekend Warmup for Nov. 6-8, 2009
Rodney Atkins
Here is a list of events happening this weekend (Nov. 6-8) around Oklahoma. For more information, go to www.wimgo.com.
- NORMAN – Catch country star Rodney Atkins at 8 tonight at Riverwind Casino, 1544 W State Highway 9. Information: www.riverwind.com.
- SHAWNEE — Hear “American Idol” David Cook, who has Tulsa ties, at 7 tonight at Firelake Grand Casino, 777 Grand Casino Blvd. Information: 964-7263 or www.firelakegrand.com.
- Take in art, food and music at the sixth annual Girlie Show from 8 to midnight tonight and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at Farmers Public Market, 311 S Klein. Information: www.thegirlieshow.net.
Classical Mystery Tour
- Watch the Oklahoma City Philharmonic perform with Beatles tribute band Classical Mystery Tour at 8 tonight and Saturday at Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N Walker. Information: 842-5387 or www.okcphilharmonic.org.
- TULSA and THACKERVILLE — Listen to country star Alan Jackson and up-and-coming band Gloriana at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the BOK Center, 200 S Denver. Information: (866) 726-5287 or www.bokcenter.com. Or catch Jackson in concert at 9 tonight at WinStar World Casino in Thackerville. Information: www.winstarworldcasino.com.
- See new art – from small works exhibits to a container show – during the monthly Paseo Gallery Walk in the Paseo Arts District. Hours are 6 to 10 tonight and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday. Information: 525-2688 or www.thepaseo.com.
- Hear Chevelle with Halestorm and After Midnight Project at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Diamond Ballroom, 8001 S Eastern Ave. Information: www.diamondballroom.net.
Billie Letts
- SHAWNEE - Hear Tulsa author Billie Letts (”Where the Heart Is”) give the keynote address at the 2009 Red Dirt Book Festival on today and Saturday. Letts will speak at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Raley Chapel at Oklahoma Baptist University. Multiple writing workshops, special programs and panel discussions with authors and editors will be included in the two-day book festival that’s sponsored by Pioneer Library System. The festival opens at 9 a.m. today. Letts and other featured authors will close out the festival with a book signing at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Geiger Center on OBU’s campus. To register for the free festival (which is required) or get more information, go to www.reddirtbookfestival.org.
- Listen to Billy Joe Winghead, Bloody Ol’ Mule, the Starkweather Boys and more from noon Saturday to 2 a.m. Sunday at “Drumming for Derek,” a benefit for Oklahoma City drummer Derek Dugger, who has brain cancer. The event will be at 66 Bowl, 3810 NW 39 Expressway. Information: 946-3966.
- MIAMI – Catch the Casey Donahew Band in concert at 7 tonight at Buffalo Run Casino. Information: www.buffalorun.com.
“Frankenstein”
- Watch Oklahoma Children’s Theatre and TheatreOCU’s production of “Frankenstein” at 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. today, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday in Oklahoma City University’s Burg Theatre, 2501 N Blackwelder. The production is recommended for middle school and high school students. Information: www.oklahomachildrenstheatre.org.
- TULSA – Hear Rob Zombie with Nekromantix and Captain Clegg and the Night Creatures at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the Brady Theater, 105 W Brady Street. Information: www.bradytheater.com.
- See a Tribute to Woody Guthrie at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Blue Door, 2805 N McKinley. Also, hear Don Conoscenti at 9 tonight and John Fullbright at 9 p.m. Saturday at the Blue Door. Information: www.bluedoorokc.com.
- Watch Red Dirt Improv perform “Music, Mayhem, and Mamet” starting at 7 tonight at IAO Gallery, 706 W Sheridan. Information: www.reddirtimprov.com.
-BAM
OKC Philharmonic going on a Classical Mystery Tour, giving away Beatles box set
Classical Mystery Tour
The Oklahoma City Philharmonic will reunite this weekend with the Beatles tribute band Classical Mystery Tour.
The orchestra and the band will perform together at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N Walker.
In 1996, Classical Mystery Tour joined the ranks of the many Fab Four tribute bands out there, but what sets this group apart is that its appearances are backed by a full symphony orchestra.
The group played a successful engagement with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic in January 2007, so Classical Mystery Tour will help the orchestra open its 2009-10 pops season this weekend.
Band members Jim Owen (John Lennon), Tony Kishman (Paul McCartney), Tom Teeley (George Harrison) and Chris Camilleri (Ringo Starr) will return for two performances conducted by Martin Herman.
For more information, click here to read Fine Arts Editor Rick Rogers’ story about the show. For tickets and information, call 842-5387 or go to www.okcphilharmonic.org.
In conjunction with the shows, the OKC Philharmonic is giving away one of the new Beatles’ stereo box sets and a set of four box seats to one of the performances. Participants must be 18 or older to enter, and the deadline is for entries to be submitted online is 2 p.m. Thursday. The winner will be chosen by a random drawing of all eligible entries.
To learn more or enter the contest, go to www.okcphilharmonic.org/contest-rules.
-BAM
What to do in Oklahoma on Nov. 2, 2009
“Tropical Heat: Broadbilled Motmot” by Deborah Kaspari
Today’s featured event:
NORMAN — View Oklahoma artist Deborah Kaspari’s paintings and sketches in the exhibit “Drawing the Motmot: An Artist’s View of Tropical Nature” at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, 2401 Chautauqua Ave.
The exhibit is on view through Jan. 18.
Most people will never have the opportunity to visit the rainforests of South and Central America. Kaspari’s exhibit aims to give visitors a window into these vast, fragile natural resources through the eyes of an artist.
“Drawing the Motmot: An Artist’s View of Tropical Nature” features the works of Oklahoma nature artist Deborah Kaspari. The exhibition has been several years in the making and will bring together artwork from Kaspari’s rainforest expeditions across Central and South America. The exhibit recreates an artist’s expedition and immerses the visitor in the magical world of the nature artist at work.
The artwork includes sketchbook pages with notes, field drawings, pen-and-ink studies and studio paintings, accompanied by Kaspari’s lively and thoughtful field notes and commentary that give the feeling of a personal conversation with the artist. Adding to the adventure are the sounds of toucans, monkeys and other tropical wildlife recorded in the Amazon and Panama rainforest, plus videos of works in progress in the field.
Kaspari first began drawing and painting the rainforest in Trinidad in the late 1980s. She fell in love with the lush exotic landscape and made many subsequent trips to the tropics, including sites in Panama and Costa Rica. Last winter, a grant from the Don and Virgian Eckelberry Endowment allowed her to make a trip up the Amazon River to work at a research station deep in the rainforest of Peru. There she was able to draw the flora and fauna of the rainforest canopy thanks to an elevated walkway linking 14 trees through a system of platforms and rope bridges.
For the past four years, Kaspari has been working with the museum to develop an exhibit that would give visitors the same sense of peace, beauty and wonder she herself experienced in the field.
“I wanted this to be more than just an art exhibit,” Kaspari says in a news release. “I wanted to share the environment as I see and feel it. I wanted to bring a visitor into the rainforest and give them the chance to connect with it the way I do, through artwork and media.”
With that in mind, and armed with a tiny portable art studio, Kaspari began compiling the various elements that make up “Drawing the Motmot.” A high-tech audio recorder the size of a cell phone allowed her to capture the complex symphony of rainforest sounds, from monkeys to motmots (a colorful tropical bird). A video tripod filming over her shoulder captured the artist’s-eye-view of works in progress in the field. These audio and video elements help to bring Kaspari’s artwork – and her experiences – to life for visitors.
“When visitors walk through ‘Drawing the Motmot,’ they’ll not only hear birds and animals as I heard them, but through the sketches and paintings they’ll see the same things, too,” Kaspari says in the release. “I see much more of the world when I draw it. There’s a wonderfully personal connection that opens up when drawing from nature, and I always come away with a better understanding than if I were simply looking. I hope people will enjoy seeing the rainforest this way, and be inspired to try it for themselves.”
Kaspari’s experiences in the rainforests, and her work on “Drawing the Motmot,” are documented on her blog at http://drawingthemotmot.wordpress.com. Many of the works in the exhibition are available for purchase direct from the artist.
For more information, call 325-4712 or go to www.snomnh.ou.edu.
For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
-BAM
What to do in Oklahoma on Nov. 1, 2009
Today’s featured event:
Watch Lyric Theatre’s staging of the Stephen Sondheim favorite “Sweeney Todd” at 3 p.m. today at Lyric at the Plaza, 1725 NW 16.
For more information, call 524-9312 or go to www.lyrictheatreokc.com.
For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
-BAM
UPDATED: Weekend Warmup for Oct. 30-Nov. 1, 2009
Will Hoge
Here is a list of non-Halloween events going on this weekend (Oct. 30-Nov. 1) throughout Oklahoma. I posted my massive round-up of Halloween happenings earlier today on the blog. For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
- Listen to singer/songwriter/musician Will Hoge at 10 tonight at the Wormy Dog Saloon, 311 E Sheridan. Or hear Mike McClure Band and Turnpike Troubadours at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Wormy Dog. Information: 601-6276 or www.wormydog.com.
- Watch Oklahoma City’s Red Dirt Rebellion Rollergirls take on the Amarillo, Texas-based Route 66 Rollergirls in a banked-track roller derby bout at 8 tonight at the Cox Convention Center in downtown. Doors open at 7 p.m. Information: www.reddirtrebellion.com.
- See Red Dirt Improv engage other local improve troupes in a free jam session at 8 tonight at IAO Gallery, 706 W Sheridan. The performance is free but donations will be taken for IAO. Information: www.reddirtimprov.com.
- NORMAN — Hear country artist Tracy Lawrence at 8 p.m. Saturday at Riverwind Casino, 1544 W State Highway 9. Information: 322-6464 or www.riverwind.com.
- NORMAN — View Oklahoma artist Deborah Kaspari’s paintings and sketches in the exhibit “Drawing the Motmot: An Artist’s View of Tropical Nature” at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, 2401 Chautauqua Ave. Information: 325-4712 or www.snomnh.ou.edu.
- NORMAN – Listen to the Hosty Duo at 10 p.m. Saturday at The Deli, 309 White Street. Information: www.thedeli.us.
Jack Ingram
- THACKERVILLE – Hear Jack Ingram at 8 p.m. Saturday at WinStar World Casino. Information: www.winstarworldcasino.com.
- See Carpenter Square Theatre’s production of “Murderers” at 8 p.m. today and Saturday at Stage Center, 400 W Sheridan. Performances continue through Nov. 7. Information: www.carpentersquare.com.
- NORMAN – Hear Oklahoma City singer/pianist Marcy Priest from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday at Othello’s Italian Restaurant, 434 Buchanan Ave. Information: 503-7902 or www.marcypriest.com. UPDATED: The time of this show has been changed to 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday because of the Oklahoma-Kansas State football game.
Colourmusic
- STILLWATER – Catch Colourmusic with BrotherBear and Gentleman Auction House at 10 p.m. Saturday at The Vault Venue, 716 S Main. Information: www.myspace.com/vaultvenue.
- MIAMI – Hear Jackson Taylor at 7 tonight at Buffalo Run Casino. Information: www.buffalorun.com.
- Listen to Texas bluesman Paul Geremia at 9 tonight at the Blue Door, 2805 N McKinley. Information: www.bluedoorokc.com.
- BAM
Halloween events throughout Oklahoma offer tricks and treats
Dressed in a pink costume, Autumn Hibbert, 16 months, makes her way through the Oklahoma City Zoo’s walkways during last year’s Haunt the Zoo. (Photo By John Clanton, The Oklahoman Archives)
A version of this story appears in Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.
Scare up Halloween fun with these horrid Oklahoma happenings
From enchanted trick-or-treat trails to horrifying haunted houses, Halloween spawns an almost supernatural array of events across the state this weekend.
The 25th annual Bricktown Haunted Warehouse, the twisted masquerade ball Psychopomp and a ballet rendition of the Headless Horseman’s tale are just a few of the horrid highlights. For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
HallOPOLIS, Norman: Hear Rainbows are Free, JP Inc., Crocodile and Shi- -y/Awesome at 9 tonight and Evangelicals, JP Inc. and GentleGhost at 9 p.m. Saturday at The Opolis, 113 N Crawford. Information: www.starlightmints.com/opolis.html.
Bricktown Haunted Warehouse and Haunted Dungeon Dark Ride in 3-D: Celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Haunted Warehouse, 101 E California Ave., opening at 7 p.m. today and Saturday. Information: 236-4143 or www.bricktownokc.com.
Frontier City’s Fright Fest
Frontier City’s Fright Fest: Brave a haunted asylum or take your tot through BooVille at from 6 to 11 p.m. today and noon to 11 p.m. Saturday at Frontier City, 11501 N I-35 Service Road. Information: 478-2140 or www.frontiercity.com.
Oklahoma City Ballet’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”: See the dance company’s retelling of Washington Irving’s classic spooky story at 7 tonight and 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday at the Civic Center, 201 N Walker. Information: 848-8637 or www.okcballet.com.
Psychopomp: Seven Gates of Hell: Check out seven theme stages, a huge dance floor and costume contest at 9 p.m. Saturday at the Oklahoma City Farmers Public Market, 311 S Klein Ave. Information: www.rampageartist.com.
Lyric Theatre’s “Sweeney Todd”
Lyric Theatre’s “Sweeney Todd”: Watch Lyric’s staging of the Stephen Sondheim favorite at 8 tonight, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday at Lyric at the Plaza, 1725 NW 16. Information: 524-9312 or www.lyrictheatreokc.com.
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” Norman: Watch the cult classic shown with a live cast at 10 p.m. Saturday at the Sooner Theatre, 101 E Main. Information: 818-7238.
Haunt the Zoo for Halloween: Take in shining jack-o-lanterns and eco-friendly candy from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. today and Saturday at the Oklahoma City Zoo, 2101 NE 50. Information: 424-3344 or www.okczoo.com.
HallowZOOeen, Tulsa: Tour the Tulsa Zoo, 6421 E 36 Street N, with your treat-or-treaters from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. today and Saturday. Information: (918) 669-6600 or www.tulsazoo.org.
Oklahoma City Theatre Company’s “Eurydice”
Oklahoma City Theatre Company’s “Eurydice”: Make a trip to the Underworld with the company’s staging of the Greek myth at 8 p.m. today and Saturday at the Civic Center, 201 N Walker. Information: 812-7737 or www.okctheatrecompany.org.
Fuego Friday: Halloween Iron Pour and OU Student Costume Contest, Norman: See University of Oklahoma students cast molten iron, show off their costumes and unveil a new artwork at 5:30 p.m. today outside of the Fred Jones Art Center, 520 Parrington Oval. Information: 325-2691 or http://art.ou.edu.
Sonic Spooky Saturday, Norman: Get free admission, courtesy of Sonic, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, 2401 Chautauqua Ave. Information: 325-4712 or www.snomnh.ou.edu.
Oklahoma City Museum of Art’s fright films: Watch “I Sell the Dead” at 5:30 and 8 p.m. today and Saturday and the double-feature “Frankenstein” and “The Invisible Man” at 2 p.m. Sunday at the museum, 415 Couch Drive. Information: 236-3100 or www.okcmoa.com/film.
Trail of Terror, El Reno: Get spooked along the trail or in the new Haunted Barn from 6:30 to 11 p.m. today and Saturday at 2701 W 10. Information: www.trailofterror.org.
35th Annual Freakers Ball, Tulsa: Participate in a costume contest and hear Pitbulls on Crack, Billy Joe Winghead and more at 7 p.m. Saturday at Cain’s Ballroom, 423 N Main. Information: (918) 584-2306 or www.cainsballroom.com.
Haunted Castle Halloween Festival, Muskogee: Find thrills for the whole family from 6 to 10 p.m. today and Saturday inside and outside the Castle of Muskogee, 3400 Fern Mountain Rd. Information: (800) 439-0658 or www.okcastle.com.
Scream Country Haunted Forest, Drumright: Take in three fearsome attractions from 7:30 to 11 p.m. today and Saturday at 15853 W 101 Street S. Information: (918) 607-3327 or www.screamcountry.com.
HallowMarine, Jenks: Celebrate the season with trick-or-treating, pirates and mermaids from 6:30 to 9 p.m. today and Saturday at the Oklahoma Aquarium, Information: (918) 296-3474 or www.okaquarium.org.
The Hex House, Tulsa: Explore more than 20,000 square feet of horrors at 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday at the southeast corner of 71 and Memorial. Information: www.thehexhouse.com.
Terror on 10th Street Haunted House: Get spooked from 7 to 11 p.m. today-Sunday during a guided tour telling the ghostly history of the actual house at 2005 NW 10. Information: 232-1816.
Families enter Arcadia Lake’s Storybook Forest in 2008. (Photo by Doug Hoke/The Oklahoman Archives)
Arcadia Lake’s Storybook Forest, Edmond: Families can take a hayride, roast marshmallows and collect goodies from storybook characters from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. today and Saturday at Spring Creek Park. Information: www.edmondok.com.
“Frankenstein”: See Oklahoma Children’s Theatre and Theatre OCU’s adaptation of Mary Shelley’s classic novel at 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. today, 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at Oklahoma City University’s Burg Theatre, 2501 N Blackwelder Ave. The play is recommended for children older than 12 years of age. Information: 951-0011 or www.oklahomachildrenstheatre.org.
Oklahoma City University’s “Bat Boy: The Musical”: Watch OCU stage the musical based on a tabloid tale at 10:30 tonight, 3 and 10:30 p.m. Saturday and 8 p.m. Sunday at OCU’s Burg Theatre, 2501 N Blackwelder. Information: 208-5227 or www.okcu.edu.
“A Ghostly Affair”: Hear indie duo Mont Lyons play a pre-Halloween show at 8 tonight at the Sauced Annex, 2912 Paseo. Information: 521-9801 or www.yoursauced.com.
-BAM
What to do in Oklahoma on Oct. 30, 2009
Margaret Frankenstein (Elyana Rodzon) plays with The Creature (Robby Gibbons) in the Oklahoma Children’s Theatre/Theatre OCU production of “Frankenstein.”
Today’s featured event:
See Oklahoma Children’s Theatre and Theatre OCU’s adaptation of Mary Shelley’s classic novel “Frankenstein” at 11 a.m. or 7:30 p.m. today at Oklahoma City University’s Burg Theatre, 2501 N Blackwelder Ave. The play is recommended for children older than 12 years of age.
Performances continue at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday and then resume Thursday-Nov. 8.
For more information, call 951-0011 or go to www.oklahomachildrenstheatre.org.
For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
-BAM
What to do in Oklahoma on Oct. 25, 2009
Today’s featured event:
Celebrate Halloween with “light instead of fright” at the annual Magic Lantern Celebration from 3 to 7 p.m. today in the Paseo Arts District, between NW 28 and Walker and NW 30 and Dewey.
The family event includes costume making, a costume parade, live music and dancing. It is free but donations will be accepted.
For more information, call 525-2688 or go to www.thepaseo.com.
For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
-BAM
Weekend Warmup for Oct. 23-25, 2009
Bob Dylan (Associated Press photo)
Here is a list of events happening around Oklahoma this weekend (Oct. 23-25, 2009). For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
- TULSA — Hear legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Brady Theater, 105 W Brady Street. Information: (918) 582-7239 or www.bradytheater.com.
- Browse a vast array of antiques, collectibles, clothing and more at “An Affair of the Heart.” The arts and crafts show will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday in seven buildings at State Fair Park, NW 10 and May. Information: (800) 755-5488 or www.aaoth.com.
- Hear Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers at 8 tonight at the Wormy Dog Saloon, 311 E Sheridan. Or listen to Jackson Taylor with Back Porch Mary at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Wormy Dog. Information: www.wormydog.com.
Emily Skinner (Mrs. Lovett) and Jeff McCarthy ( Sweeney Todd) head the cast of the Lyric at the Plaza production of “ Sweeney Todd.” (Photo by Wendy Mutz)
- Watch Lyric Theatre open its 2009-10 season with “Sweeney Todd” at 8 tonight, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday at Lyric at the Plaza, 1725 NW 16. Information: 524-9312 or www.lyrictheatreokc.com.
- Listen to … And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead with Future Of The Left and Callupsie at 8 tonight at The Conservatory, 8911 N Western. Information: Information: www.conservatoryokc.com.
- NORMAN — Venture into the world of Sasquatch when forensic artist Harvey Pratt participates in a lecture, book signing and art exhibit opening reception titled “They Walk Among Us — Bigfoot: Bewitched and Bedeviled” from 7 to 10 tonight at Tribes 131 Gallery, 131 24 Ave. NW. Information: 329-4442.
- MIAMI – Hear Jack Ingram at 7 tonight at Buffalo Run Casino. Information: www.buffalorun.com.
Alfonso Martin and Karina Gonzalez head the cast of the Tulsa Ballet production of “ Dracula.”
- See the Tulsa Ballet’s performances of “Dracula” at 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Civic Center, 201 N Walker. Information: (918) 749-6030 or www.tulsaballet.com.
- Listen to Built to Spill with Dinosaur Jr. and Lou Barlow & the Missing Men at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the Diamond Ballroom, 8001 S Eastern Ave. Information: www.diamondballroom.net.
- Celebrate Halloween with “light not fright” at the annual Magic Lantern Celebration from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday in the Paseo Arts District, between NW 28 and Walker and NW 30 and Dewey. The family event includes costume making, a costume parade, live music and dancing. It is free but donations will be accepted. Information: 525-2688 or www.thepaseo.com.
Hundreds of torch-bearing skeletons walk in the 2008 “Ghouls Gone Wild” Halloween parade in downtown Oklahoma City. (Photo by Jaconna Aguirre/The Oklahoman Archives)
- See The Flaming Lips’ “March of 1,000 Skeletons” and other spooky spectres in the third annual “Ghouls Gone Wild” Halloween parade, which will begin at 7 p.m. Saturday in downtown. After the parade, Stardeath and White Dwarfs will perform a free outdoor show at about 9:30 p.m. across the street from TAP Architecture, 415 N Broadway Ave. Information: www.ghoulsgonewildokc.com.
- TULSA – Catch Drive-By Truckers with James McMurtry in concert at 7 p.m. Sunday at Cain’s Ballroom, 423 N Main. Or hear Mute Math with Tall as Lions at 7 p.m. Saturday at Cain’s. (Mute Math and Tall as Lions will play the Diamond Ballroom in OKC on Tuesday as well.) Information: www.cainsballroom.com.
- EL RENO - Hear Stone Temple Pilots at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Lucky Star Casino Concho, 7777 N Highway 81, El Reno. Information: www.luckystarcasino.org.
- Take in ’50s-inspired music and fashion at the “Rockabilly Weekend,” which begins tonight at the Oklahoma History Center, 2401 N Laird Ave., as part of an ongoing series of events recognizing the state’s rock ‘n’ roll roots. Doors open at 7 tonight. Performances will begin with The Beltline and then the Stark Weather Boys, who also will perform with headliner Clyde Stacy. A ’50s fashion show will be presented by The Velvet Monkey Salon. At 10 a.m. Saturday, a classic car show will take place outdoors, and games for children such as hula hoops, jump rope and bubble-blowing will be offered inside. People who want to register a car can call the center and get a free ticket for tonight’s concert. Information: 522-0780.
-BAM
Magic Lantern Celebration brings Halloween light not fright to Paseo
Casey Tisdale of Theatre Upon a StarDanceSwan dances in the pumpkin labyrinth during the 2008 Magic Lantern Celebration. (Photo by Skip Largent)
From Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.
Paseo lauds light instead of fright in Oklahoma City
The Paseo Arts District is celebrating Halloween a week early with “a night of light instead of fright.”
The annual Magic Lantern Celebration will take place from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday in the neighborhood businesses, art galleries and outside on Paseo Drive, which will be closed during the festivities.
“It’s to give children a different perspective of Halloween,” said Lori Oden, executive director of the Paseo Arts Association, which sponsors the event with the Oklahoma Arts Council. “It’s making it something fun and not scary.”
The hands-on event also moves the focus away from gobbling up candy and buying Halloween costumes at the discount store, said Lorrie Keller, artistic director of Theatre Upon a StarDanceSwan, the multigenerational Paseo dance company that organizes the celebration.
“The whole philosophy behind it is nurturing creativity and giving parents and children a chance to really work together in an authentic and unique way,” she said.
Children from toddlers to teenagers are invited to come in everyday clothes and make their own costumes in a series of “playshops” in the Paseo.
“The first year of the event, we asked kids to come in their costumes and we noticed that they came in all these store-bought kind of boring costumes, and many were gory,” Keller said. “In my childhood, we took a lot of pride in getting to wear original things that our mothers made, and so within the next year, I said let’s just make the costumes.”
Participants can twist, crumple and tear craft paper and then sculpt it into outfits. They can decorate their costumes with ribbons, sequins, leaves, old photographs and beads. Rather than gruesome monsters, most children opt to dress themselves as fairies, animals, superheroes and the like.
“You can do a whole lot with paper. … It’s not unlike the crepe paper costumes of the Victorian period, but with a contemporary twist,” Keller said. “It really is an exciting way to introduce problem-solving and creativity.”
In other playshops, youngsters can make paper hats, decorate their faces with sparkles and create LED light crowns, the magic lanterns of the event’s name.
“Our concept is that they are the magic lanterns,” Keller said. “It is a celebration of imagination and the light within us.”
The celebration will culminate at 6:30 p.m. with the Spin ‘n’ Sparkle parade, in which Oklahoma City musicians Steve McLinn and Jahruba Lambeth will lead children and parents into a painted pumpkin labyrinth, where they can dance into twilight.
“It does bring the labyrinth to life … when people began to enter it and dance in it,” she said. “It’s a very magical moment.”
New this year, many of Paseo galleries and businesses are decorating their windows with old-fashioned shadow plays, putting up Halloween-theme cutouts and lights against white paper. The shadow windows will stay up through Oct. 31, Oden said.
Children also will have the chance to cut out shadow play silhouettes and decorate pumpkins with natural items such as leaves, twigs and dried flowers.
While some studios will be open and handing out candy, and StarDanceSwan offers a basket of goodies, Keller said the treats aren’t the focal point of the festivities.
“We always have had a basket of candy out here and it doesn’t get touched. They are way too interested in creating than eating candy,” she said with a laugh.
Going on
Magic Lantern Celebration
When: 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday.
Where: Paseo Arts District, between NW 28 and Walker and NW 30 and Dewey.
Cost: Free but donations will be accepted.
Information: 525-2688 or www.thepaseo.com.
-BAM
