Holiday Time Highlighted by Family Shows at the PAC
Show Buzz By NANCY HERMANN
GRINCH: Icelandic actor Stefan Karl has the title role in Broadway’s family favorite “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” Nov. 4-9 at the Tulsa PAC.
Courtesy Tulsa PAC
Before the month slips away and we’re on to holiday entertainment, here’s a reminder to catch one of the year’s most riveting events. Carmina Burana is a spectacular piece featuring not only Tulsa Ballet’s awesome dancers but Tulsa Opera and Tulsa Oratorio Chorus singers and, of course, musicians from Tulsa Symphony. The music was composed by Carl Orff and based on medieval poetry written by Benedictine monks. Tulsa Ballet’s Ma Cong created it in 2006. It is dramatic and sexy and filled with rigorous choreography. This is dance theatre at its finest. Be sure to catch a performance Oct. 31 through Nov. 2. Nicolo Fonte’s Bolero, with music by Maurice Ravel, also is slated for the program.
Broadway checks in on little Cindy Lou Who and the denizens of Whoville when the much-anticipated musical “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” plays at the Nov. 4-9. Icelandic actor Stefan Karl, who plays the Grinch, is in his seventh year with the Grinch company. Parents and kids may know him from his role as Robbie Rotten in TV’s educational children’s show Lazy Town. Although “he’s a mean one, Mr. Grinch,” he loves performing for kids, and they, along with adults, will love him back in this colorful and happy show, presented by Celebrity Attractions.
Brown Bag It returns and is midway through its autumn schedule. Just to recap, this is a free noontime series held in the PAC’s Westby Pavilion. Informal and catering to the at-lunch crowd, concerts begin at 12:10 p.m. and last about 40 minutes. Look for pianist Amy Cottingham – always educational and delightful (Nov. 5), the Quartet (Nov. 12) and the Bravo Brass (Nov. 19).
People often say that performing arts are uplifting. I experienced that this weekend when I attended the Miró and Aeolus Quartets performing for Chamber Music Tulsa. I’m so happy that another concert is coming right up Nov. 9. The Morgenstern Trio from Germany (piano, violin and violoncello) will play music from Ernest Bloch, Maurice Ravel, Jacqueline Fontyn and Johannes Brahms. Ticket holders can come at 2:15 p.m. to hear a free pre-concert lecture.
We have two celebrity authors (yay, writers!) appearing at the in November: humorist David Sedaris (Nov. 12) and novelist Bill Bryson (Nov. 14). You may know Sedaris from one of his bestselling books, like “Me Talk Pretty One Day,” or recognize that he wrote “Santaland Diaries,” which played for several Decembers at the .
Bill Bryson, who will speak at Tulsa Town Hall, had a runaway hit non-fiction book, “A Walk in the Woods.” His most recent work, “One Summer America, 1927,” brings to life an amazing time in American history with stories about intriguing people of the day, like Babe Ruth, Charles Lindbergh, Al Capone and Dorothy Parker. Bryson is presented in collaboration with the Oklahoma Center for Poets and Writers at -Tulsa.
This really is a great month for children’s entertainment. “The Lost Elephant: A Comedy Concerto” is a perfect way to stir up young imaginations in this collaboration between Tulsa Symphony, Tulsa Zoo and the Children’s Museum. Comedic mime Dan Kamin will be on hand, adding magic and fun to music by Rimsky-Korsakov, Rossini and Saint-Saens. Tulsa Children’s Museum has gone big by presenting this in our 2,300-seat Chapman Music Hall. Bring all the kids you know Nov. 16.
In addition, children and parents can enjoy “Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Jr.,” presented by Theatre Tulsa Nov. 20-23 and “The Adventures of Robin Hood” Nov. 21. This Robin Hood is performed by Scotland’s Visible Fictions theatre group and brought to Tulsa by the Trust. It promises to be an imaginative departure from the “Robin Hood” of old!
The is honored to be a performance venue for “Live and On Stage” Nov. 17-18. These performances are connected to the National Performance Network/Visual Artists Network, which will be in Tulsa in November. Bringing in innovative minds from across the country, that organization supports artists who create and tour contemporary performing and visual arts. Four national acts and four Tulsa-based artists will be showcased over two nights. Get ready for some edgy, evocative work.
If you have Thanksgiving company coming a couple days early or just want to add something special to holiday time, check out “Mannheim Steamroller Christmas,” presented by Celebrity Attractions. This group of diverse musicians rolls into Chapman Music Hall Monday, Nov. 24. Creator Chip Davis released “Mannheim Steamroller Christmas” 30 years ago, and it, alone, sold over 40 million records.
There’s one more attraction to mention. When you are at the , stop by the Gallery. We change out the art exhibit there every month. Often we feature under-the-radar artists, or nonprofit organizations that can tell their story through art. In November, we have A. Nigh Herndon, who will showcase portraits of complex subjects in an exhibit titled “Brothers and Sisters, We Shall Surely Find Our Way.”
We will see you soon when you find your way to the Tulsa this month. Happy Thanksgiving!
Nancy Hermann is Director of Marketing at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center.
Updated 10-27-2014
READER COMMENTS
About Post Author
