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Top Pick

Find Dance. The Monica Huggins Dance Theatre certainly doesn't shy away from variety. For their latest performance, May 18-19 at the Tulsa PAC, 2nd & Cincinnati, this talented company will present one full-length ballet, Finding Reclamation, along with excursions into several other styles, i.e. Lessons, a full-length jazz work; We Want the Funk, dedicated to James Brown, George Clinton and other R&B stars; Savor, a Latin-flavored production, and Recalling Fosse, celebrating the work of -- obviously -- Bob Fosse. Showtime is 8pm.

Thursday, May 17

Shooter Jennings, son of country legend Waylon Jennings, has spent the last several years carving out his own rebellious, rock-tinged niche in the country music industry. Tonight he'll sweep into Tulsa and crank it up on the stage at Cain's Ballroom, 423 N. Main, along with special guests A.D.D. Sure to be loud... sure to be fun. Doors open at 7pm.

Friday, May 18

Tulsa's annual arts festival, Mayfest, takes over downtown this weekend, featuring more international artists, food, music and dance than you can shake a stick at (though we're not sure why you'd want to shake a stick at something). Tonight's musical headliner is country star Steve Azar. Tomorrow night's headliner is local jazz star Wayman Tisdale. Visit www.tulsamayfest.org for a complete list of artists and performance times.

Saturday, May 19

Clark Youth Theatre, 11440 E. Admiral, will wrap up their current season this weekend with The Three Fairy Godmothers, a hilarious take on fairy tale romance featuring a bratty princess who can't find a prince due to certain personal characteristics. Curtain rises tonight at 7:30. To reserve a seat call 669-6455.

Sunday, May 20

Ah... a lazy Sunday afternoon. Time to relax. After napping in front of the TV for several hours, however, we think you should cap off your laidback day with a healthy dash of good ol' American aggression... involving girls in roller skates. That's right, it's time for roller derby! The Green Country Roller Girls will host their debut bout tonight against the Ft. Smith River Valley Roller Girls. The action will take place at Broken Arrow Roller Sports, 551 W. Oakland Pl. Seating is limited, so get there early.

Monday, May 21

Drop by the M.A. Doran Gallery today and check out their current showcase, the "National Contemporary Realism Exhibition," featuring local, national and international art--from still life to portraiture -- that's so real it borders on photography. Must be seen to be believed. M.A. Doran is located at 3509 S. Peoria. Visit www.madorangallery.com for more details.

Tuesday, May 22

If ragtime music is your thing, you certainly won't want to miss the Spring Ragtime Concert tonight at the Tulsa PAC, featuring Nan Bostick (grandniece and biographer of composer Charles N. Daniels), and Terry Parrish (of ragtime faves The Elite Syncopators). The PAC is located at 2nd & Cincinnati. Concert begins at 7:30pm. For more info, visit ragtime4tulsa.org.

Wednesday, May 23

Get out and visit your local neighborhood elephants today. The brand new Elephant Demonstration Yard at the Tulsa Zoo, 6421 E. 36th St. N., gives you an up-close-and-personal view of Asian Cow elephants Sooky and Gunda and their loyal keepers. Visit www.tulsazoo.org for details.

Thursday, May 24

Sometimes life sucks. Need proof? For a sobering look at the harsh realities that have, at times, shaped life in the former Soviet Union, head over to the Circle Cinema, 10 S. Lewis, and experience a pair of documentaries tonight. The first, Blockade, shows actual archival footage of the Nazi siege on Leningrad from 1941-44. The second, Amateur Photographer, is the stark portrayal of a regular Russian citizen who unwittingly becomes a participant in mass murder. Call 592-FILM for showtimes.

Make Way for Waylon Junior. Also known as Shooter, Waylon Jennings' son has made a name for himself in the world that his feather helped form: country music. Though it must be hard being the son of a legend, Shooter seems as at ease on the stage as he probably is on his tour bus. (Guess Waylon's baby did grow up to be a cowboy.) He's descending upon the Cain's Ballroom on Thurs., May 17. A.D.D. will open the show. Doors swing open at 7pm, and you can get advance tickets at all the normal spots for $18.

Gather, Juggalos & Juggalettes. It's time for another ICP show! If you've never seen Insane Clown Posse, you'll really be in for quite a performance (insane, maybe?) on Thurs., May 17 when the duo hits the stage of the Cain's Ballroom, 423 N. Main. The hip-hopsters from Detroit will bring the noise (and perhaps the funk, too), along with "horrorcore" rappers, Twiztid. Doors for the show bust open at 7pm, and advance tickets will cost you $34.50 at the Box Office, Starship Records, Reasor's or gettix.net. So, put on your happy face, and scoot on down there.

In the Very Merry Month of May. Tulsa International Mayfest, scheduled for May 17-20 in downtown Tulsa will feature three stages with over 80 performances, with genres including jazz, rock, R&B, gospel, country and everything in between. The festival is FREE and open to the public. The headline acts include country artists Andy Griggs and Steve Azar, playing on Thurs. and Fri. nights, respectively, and Tulsa's own jazz star, Wayman Tisdale on Sat. night. Find the complete list of performing artists at tulsamayfest.org. Oh, and don't forget the family fun, fabulous art, funnel cakes and all that jazz.

Bibbidy-Bobbidy-Boo. And such. Clark Youth Theatre, 11440 E. Admiral, is winding up their season with The Three Fairy Godmothers, a fairy-tale spoof about a pouty princess who has driven away all the princes. The show will provide a fitting comedic end to a season of comedies. There will be 7:30pm performances May 17-19 and a 2pm matinee on Sunday the 20th. To reserve a seat for this youth production, call 669-6455.

Inaugural Season Coming to an End. Tulsa Symphony Orchestra wraps up its highly successful premiere season with a program by Bach, Barber, Respighi and Tchaikovsky on Sat., May 19 at 7:30pm at the Tulsa PAC.

Adagio for Strings is Samuel Barber's most popular piece. Very popular during World War II, Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5 is somewhat funereal in the first movement, but gradually transforms into a triumphant march. Also on the program are Ottorino Respighi's Church Windows and his orchestral arrangement of J.S. Bach's Passacaglia organ composition. Tickets to TSO's Season Finale range from $5 to $60.

Drillin' for Wins. Let's round up this week as the Tulsa Drillers face those Springfield Cardinals. On May 17, the game starts at 7pm, and it's Thirsty Thursday ($1 beer) and Hollywood Night, meaning the ballpark will be transformed into a glamorous Hollywood-esque place with all the stars. Then, at 7pm on the 18th (after their 1st win, of course), it's time for the Zooperstars, providing entertainment for the whole family. On the 19th, also at 7pm, there are a limited number of free general admission tickets at US Cellular locations, and there will also be fireworks after the game. They'll wrap up the series with a 2pm game on Sunday the 20th with free T-Shirts (1st 1,000), Kids Eat For Free, and a Kids' Clinic. All games are played in the stadium at 15th & Yale, and you can get tickets at the Box Office, tulsadrillers.com or 744-5901.

A Ragtime Revival. Nan Bostick is the grandniece and biographer of ragtime composer Charles N. Daniels. Terry Parrish became interested in piano playing when, as a teen, he and his brother restored a vintage player piano. Later his group, The Elite Syncopators, became regular guests at the St. Louis Ragtime Festivals. Together, they will present a Spring Ragtime Concert to tickle your fancy on Tues., May 22 in the Williams Theatre of the Tulsa PAC. Tickets are $18 for adults and $10 for students. For more info, visit ragtime4tulsa.org.

To Tibet and Back. In Dreaming Lhasa, Karma is a Tibetan filmmaker from New York who goes to Dharamsala, the Dalai Lama's exile headquarters in northern India, to make a documentary about former political prisoners who have escaped from Tibet. She wants to reconnect with her roots but is also escaping a deteriorating relationship back home. As she is sucked into the passion of one exiled monk's quest, her journey into Tibet's fractured past becomes a voyage of self-discovery. This film will show May 18-24 at Circle Cinema, 10 S. Lewis. Get showtimes at 592-FILM.

Rock and Roll, Air Guitar Style! The documentary Air Guitar Nation is about the year that air guitar swept America--from New York to Los Angeles and then all the way to northern Finland. The film chronicles the birth of the US Air Guitar Championships and the personal journeys of those talented contestants who are vying to become the first World Air Guitar Champion from the United States. Air Guitar Nation captures the explosion of competitive air guitar through the eyes of former world champions, fans and media, and through the personal rivalries of those trying to attain the title of "The best Air Guitarist in the world." You have to see this to believe it. It's showing at Circle Cinema May 18-19 and 25-26. For showtimes, call 592-FILM.

Da. It's Real-Life Drama. On May 20, 22 & 24, you can glimpse into the silent horrors that, at times, occupied the former Soviet Union. The first documentary, Blockade, shows actual archival footage of the siege on Leningrad from 1941-44. The second, Amateur Photographer, is a bleak portrait of an ordinary Russian man who unthinkingly becomes a participant in mass murder. The pair of films will show at the Circle Cinema. Call 592-FILM for showtimes.

Don't Call 'em Girly. On Sunday, May 20, the Green Country Roller Girls will host their first home bout of their inaugural roller derby season against the Ft. Smith River Valley Roller Girls. Doors open at 6pm, and the action starts at 7pm at Broken Arrow Roller Sports, 551 W. Oakland Pl. Tickets are $10 in advance from a GC Roller Girl, $11 online at greencountryrollergirls.com, and $12 at the door. Seating is limited. Come see what real dedication (a.k.a. ferocity) is all about.

Movement and Reclamations. Monica Huggins Dance Theatre will present a performance of premier compositions, including one full-length modern ballet, Finding Reclamation, May 18-19 in the Williams Theatre of the Tulsa PAC, 2nd & Cincinnati. Also included in the program are Lessons by Laura Keaton Norman, a full-length contemporary jazz work; The New Has Come, which is a guest work by University of Tulsa Director of Dance Amy Roark-McIntosh; and a special tribute, We Want the Funk, dedicated to James Brown, George Clinton and others. In addition, the troupe will perform Recalling Fosse developed by Feiock and Jennifer Dunham; and Savor, a full-energy contemporary Latin production, also choreographed by Feiock. Showtime is 8pm, and tickets are $10 at the Box Office, myticketoffice.com or 596-7111.

Down in the East End. It's time again for the Blue Dome Arts Festival over at 1st & Elgin area. Yes, it's the same weekend as Mayfest (May 18-20) but it's just a couple of blocks over, and you'll be glad to be a part of this bohemian little-fest. There will be live music all weekend long at the Cain's Stage of Arnie's Bar and 100+ artists showing their wares, including an area especially for emerging artists. The hours are 6-9pm on Fri., 11am-8pm on Sat. and 11am-4pm on Sunday. For more info, visit bluedomeartsfestival.com.

Making a Splash. Thousands of miniature rubber sea lions will make a "splash" into the lake at Bass Pro Shops in Broken Arrow on Sat., May 19. Afterward, trained "dock dogs" will serve as retrievers for the winning sea lions. Splash tickets are $10 each or 10 for $85. The festival begins at 12pm, and will also include live entertainment, food, children's activities, food and zoo docents to answer your questions. The proceeds from the Sea Lion Splash event will go toward the renovation of the zoo's California Sea Lion Exhibit. For complete details, visit tulsazoo.org.

Who Knew Gravity Was Deadly? Apparently the guys who formed Gravity Kills, the industrial rock band from St. Louie, also have ties to Tulsa. And to prove it? They've reuniting to play the Edge Birthday Bash at the Cain's Ballroom on Sat., May 19. How lucky are we? Joining them to help The Edge celebrate their 12th birthday will be UK rockers Failsafe ("Heavier than Alice Cooper, not as heavy as Slipknot") and local rock sweethearts, Radio Radio. The best part? In appreciation of their fans, Z104.5 is offering tickets for only $20. Get 'em at all the usual places.

They'll Put a Spell on You. While they may not be the original "real deal," Credence Clearwater Revisited still has former CCR drummer Doug Clifford and bassist Stu Cook to boast about. And they'll play all your favorite CCR songs from the good ol' days in the dirty, deep South. (Yes, we know they originally hail from San Francisco, but no one really played swamp music quite like these guys.) Now fronted by John Trisasto, they still know how to show an audience a rollicking good time, and that's exactly what they plan to do on Fri., May 18 at the Cherokee Casino, off I-244 at the 193rd St. Exit. Joining them will be Ozark classic rock group, Big Bad Bubba. Doors are at 6pm, and tickets to the show will run you $25-50. You can pick 'em up at the Box Office, Reasor's or gettix.net.

Talented Teens. For the last Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame concert of the season, Joe Metzer, jazz band director of Edison High School's "Screaming Eagles" Jazz Ensemble, will perform with Euell Hanna, jazz band director at Verdigris High School, and the Verdigris Jazz Combo. This finale concert will be at 5pm Sunday, May 20, at the Greenwood Cultural Center, 322 N. Greenwood (next year's at the new Jazz Depot!!). Tickets range $3-10 and may be reserved at 596-1001 or okjazz.org.

Blurring Boundaries. The latest installation exhibit at Living Arts, "Paramnesia," is a collaboration by interdisciplinary artists Jody Boyer and Russ Nordman. It explores paramnesia, a real medical condition where the afflicted are unable to distinguish between what exists and what is imagined. Using a model train mounted with a miniature video camera, Boyer and Nordman guide their audience through a fantastic landscape, where forests, figurines and furniture all serve as metaphorical backdrops. It begs the question: what is real? The installation space outside or the world captured by the train's camera? Come decide for yourself. The exhibit will run through May 26. For more info, visit livingarts.org or call 585-1234.

Attack of the ArtCars! ArtCars are sculptural pieces of art that can be driven, a fantasy made into a reality, a symbol of freedom. Come see this year's entourage of arty-autos. It all starts with a preview and reception at Liggett Studio, 314 S. Kenosha, from 7-9pm on Thurs., May 17. After they tour around area schools on Fri., they'll pit stop for lunch at Mayfest around 1pm. Then they'll cruise into the Admiral Twin Drive In, 7355 E. Easton, for a show at 7:15pm, followed by an ArtCar intermission feature. On Sat. the 19th, their convoy will make several stops around town: the Cherry St. Farmer's Market at 9am, Panera on 15th at 10am, Brookside By Day on Peoria at 11am, and finally, Wild Oats near 41st & Peoria at 12pm. Then they'll take some time to chill at the Blue Dome Arts Festival until 8pm, near 1st & Elgin. (Come check out the kids' box ArtCar parade at 2:30). It all culminates in a Party Thang behind the Blue Dome Diner near 2nd & Elgin with live music by Milk Truck, Sam & the Stylees, Tribe of Souls & Giraffe, plus a performance by artist Max Rada DaDa. $5 gets you in the door, and the proceeds benefit Tulsa's ArtCar Weekend. SO, if you still need more info, get it at livingarts.org or 585-1234.

Your Dream Job... was to be an astronaut when you were a kid, right? Well, now you can glimpse the magnificence of floating in space with Astronaut, the most recent film to show at Tulsa Air and Space Museum's Bertlesmeyer Planetarium. It argues that the exploration of space is the greatest endeavor humankind has ever undertaken. You will explore the amazing worlds of inner and outer space, and encounter the perils that await space travelers, as they subject a test astronaut, Chad, to everything space has to throw at him. Discover if you have what it takes to become an astronaut! The planetarium is located at 3624 N. 74th E. Ave. For showtimes, call 834-9900.

On Modernity. The National Contemporary Realism Exhibition, showing through June 16, brings together a group of local, national and international artists whose paintings stem from the European tradition of depicting everyday imagery with astonishing accuracy. Subjects range from the conventional still life to portraiture and landscape. What differentiates contemporary realists from the past are the subjects that are represented, and the way in which these subjects take life on the canvas. See the work of these artists at M.A. Doran Gallery, 3509 S. Peoria, 748-8700.

Air Your Griefs! Big Beef, a town hall meeting gone terribly right, seems to be the best non-partisan party in T-Town these days. Big Beef takes a satirical look at politics, religion and American culture as seen through the eyes of the EveryTulsan. The unknown quantity of an audience is free at last to speak their piece! See you at the meating (sic) at the Nightingale Theatre, 1416 E. 4th, on May 18-19. Curtain is at 8pm. For more info or reservations, call 633-8666.

Elemental Photography. "Aether" is a collection of backlit photographs of earth, air, water and fire by Elizabeth Downing. Each of the images emphasizes the ability of the four fundamental elements to reflect changes in their environment as tiny shifts and interruptions are made obvious by movement, surface, and texture. This subject translates directly to current conservation and environmental concerns, as small changes can dramatically affect a larger whole. The show will run through May 26 and is free and open to the public.

Get Thee to the Castle. It's that time of year again at The Castle of Muskogee--time for ye olde Renaissance Festival. There will be dozens performers: musicians, jugglers, magicians, mimes, acrobats, sword fighters, comedians, belly dancers, Celtic bands, bagpipers, mud wrestlers, executioners and oh so much more...like people dressed as peasants, knaves, lords, ladies & wizards! Over 100 artisans will sell their unique, handcrafted Renaissance wares. The festival will run every weekend in May and Memorial Day, and tickets run $5-11. Visit OKCastle.com and print your own, or get them at the gate. The Castle is located at 3400 Fern Mountain Rd. in Muskogee.

Trees of Life. "The Wonder of Trees," an exhibit of watercolor paintings by well-known Tulsa artist Anke Dodson will show at Color Connection Gallery during May. The exhibit of watercolor interpretations of the sculptural qualities of trees on a variety of surfaces such as watercolor canvas, Yupo paper and oriental papers. Ms. Dodson's particular, painterly style invites the viewer to travel into a lovely world. This show will run through May 31 at Color Connection Gallery, Utica Square. Normal gallery hours are Tues.-Sat., 10am-5:30pm. For more information, or to make an appointment, call 742-0515.

For the People. The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art, 2021 E. 71st, will display a traveling exhibition on the life and artwork of the Polish-born Jewish artist, Arthur Szyk, through June 24. The exhibition includes a selection of both the artist's manuscript illustrations and political art from the 1930s and 1940s created to call attention to Nazi atrocities across Europe, as well as to advocate for social justice and civil liberties in America. The museum is open Mon.-Fri., 10am-5pm and on Sundays from 1-5pm. For more information on the museum or exhibit, call 492-1818.

A Little Piece of Peace. Every 3rd Fri. of the month, Peace House Tulsa, 306 S. Phoenix, will bring you Infusion, an evening of music and poetry that will transport you back into the Jazz Era of Harlem. The show starts at 9pm, and the lineup includes The Mistress of Metaphor: Sharon Smith Knight, Renowned Drummer: Bob "Pacemaker" Newham, and The Ultra Cool Songstress: Miss Stacie Lynn. There will also be a special performance from Wordweaver: Deborah Hunter. $5 gets you into the show. For more info, call 599-8959.

Close Encounters of the Elephant Kind. Newly opened, the Elephant Demonstration Yard at the Tulsa Zoo, 6421 E. 36th St. N., will bring you and your family closer to the elephants than ever before. There will be daily demonstrations at 11am, and the stadium seating will bring you within a few feet of the mighty beasts and their keepers. Come check out Asian Cow elephants Sooky and Gunda as they strut their stuff and roam their newly renovated and expanded habitat. For more info, call 669-6600.

Golf, It's Tulsa's Kind of Sport. The Tulsa Historical Society and the PGA present "A History of the Season's Final Major," which celebrates the history and tradition of the PGA Championship. The collection tracks the Championship from the beginnings of match play to the modern era of stroke play, from Champions like Gene Sarazen and Walter Hagen to today's icons such as Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. Visitors to the exhibit can see the progression of golf and its technology by viewing mementos from PGA Champions through clothing, equipment, scorecards and other memorabilia. The PGA exhibit will be on display at the Tulsa Historical Society, 2445 S. Peoria, through Aug. 1. Admission is free. To make tour reservations or for more information, call 712-9484.

He is Manuel. He dressed Johnny Cash in black. He created jumpsuits for Elvis. The bands Aerosmith, Lynard Skynard, ZZ Top and the Beatles have all worn his artistry. Presidents and movie stars have proudly donned his couture. He is a designer and an artist. He is Manuel. His current exhibit, "Star Spangled Thank You Tour" is a celebration of his career as a performance costume designer and will also showcase 50 one-of-a-kind jackets that pay tribute to the uniqueness of each of the 50 states. The show will run through July 29 at Gilcrease Museum, 1400 Gilcrease Museum Rd. For more information, call 596-2700 or visit gilcrease.org.

Boomers and Sooners. During the first few years of the twentieth century, a series of events took place that lead Congress to grant single statehood for the Oklahoma and Indian Territories together. The exhibit, "Divided Territory, the Quest for Sequoyah," details the process that led two territories, each desiring to be admitted to the Union as their own separate state, to join together to form the State of Oklahoma. Come see this and other exhibits at the Tulsa Historical Society, 2445 S. Peoria, through July 28. For more info, call 712-9484 or visit tulsahistory.org.

Circa 480 B.C. Witness, for the first time, the Battle of Thermopylae on the massive screens of IMAX for a feel of what it was like to be a Spartan defending your ground against the ferocious Persians. Based on Frank Miller's graphic novel and from the same director of Dawn of the Dead, 300 promises to be a violent, yet powerful, film about defending honor and your homeland, to the bitter end. Showing at Cinemark IMAX, 10802 E. 71st. Call 307-2629 for showtimes.

Celebrate Oklahoma's Rich History! In 1945, Thomas Gilcrease commissioned Vinson Lackey to research, record, and then create works of art representing the early institutions of Indian Territory.

This historic group of Oklahoma's pre-statehood buildings included forts, old Indian capitols, agencies, schools, churches, homes, and industrial structures. Each painting was to be a faithful reproduction of the original structure. The project took Lackey four years to complete.

He traveled to the sites and made sketches of the terrain, took copious notes, and tracked down any available information that might be useful to the project.

Do your civic duty and help the mayor and her cohorts find direction for the museum by letting 'em know you heard about the show in your ever-lovin' UTW. Gilcrease Museum, 1400 Gilcrease Museum Rd., through Sept. 30. For more information, call 596-2700.

America 24/7. In the 1930s & '40s, Oklahoma artists were part of the "American Scene" movement, a reaction in part to abstraction and other modernist movements. These artists documented the America they knew best, whether it was the hills of Oklahoma, the ranch land of West Texas or the shores of New England.

They worked with a single purpose: to capture the myths and truths of an America that was rapidly changing. An exhibit of these works, "The Oklahoma Scene," at Philbrook Museum, runs through Aug. 5. For more information, call 749-7941.

The Longing for Liquid. Oasis in Space is a stunning film voyage that transports the audience through the solar system, galaxy & universe in search of liquid water--a key ingredient for our life on earth.

With a proven, audience-tested story, visually immersive imagery and an original musical score, the film is enjoyable for all ages. You can see Oasis in Space at the Berlesmeyer Planetarium at the Tulsa Air & Space Museum, 3624 N. 74th E. Ave. For showtimes, call 834-9900.