Performance Season Kicks in to High Gear at the PAC
By NANCY HERMANN
TULSA BALLET: Edwaard Liang’s Age of Innocence comes to the PAC Sept. 14-16.
Courtesy Tulsa PAC
The performance seasons of many of our arts organizations begin in September. That is one good reason to make your way downtown.
If you haven’t been north of 3rd Street in a while, you will find many surprises. The entire area is taking on a new look and feel. Arts enclaves and entertainment venues are springing up, and restaurants are opening to meet the demand. There are more things to see and do than you can imagine.
Of the many arts groups that use the , Theatre Tulsa and Celebrity Attractions kicked off their 2012-13 seasons in August. Theatre Tulsa’s comedy The Odd Couple continues through Sept. 8, and Celebrity is back with a one-nighter — the too-cool-for-school Late Nite Catechism, Sept. 28.
Tulsa Ballet opens its performance year at the with Age of Innocence. Many ardent ballet fans I know want mostly to see story ballets like Swan Lake and The Nutcracker, but others enjoy the triple-bill programs as much or more.
These ballet packages of three short, stunning ballets from different choreographers are fabulous. If you are trying to get someone interested in going to a ballet with you, I would suggest sampling one of the Ballet’s triple-bills first. I’m a fan of Edwaard Liang, whose Age of Innocence is featured Sept. 14 – 16. A reprise of Jorma Elo’s pleasing Slice to Sharp and the U.S. premiere of Wayne McGregor’s PreSentient are also part of this program.
Tulsa Ballet’s highly theatrical Dracula returns Oct. 26 – 28! It’s phenomenal. Tickets may get sparse, so watch for on-sale notices or buy season tickets now. The Nutcracker makes its annual visit Dec. 8-23, and then the lovely, tragic and wonderful Lady of the Camellias will be danced Feb. 1-3. There are ballet performances planned for several locations around Tulsa. Check out Tulsa Ballet’s full season at tulsaballet.org.
Tulsa Town Hall’s 2012-13 lineup looks like one of the best. Often, the lecturer I’m least familiar with is the one I remember most after the season is over. I do know the Southern writer Pat Conroy. He’s just finishing a new book, The Death of Santini (about his father). I remember reading Conroy’s Prince of Tides in one sitting. I had a stiff neck for a week! I just finished Conroy’s book My Reading Life, in which he touches upon his hellish childhood and the mentors that helped him become one of our greatest living American authors. Conroy’s talk, titled “My Writing Life,” is Sept. 21.
The package of six Tulsa Town Hall speakers is sold at the bargain price of $75 for all five lectures, so you want to get these tickets through Town Hall before the season begins. Included in this year’s season subscription are health guru Andrew Weil, M.D. (Nov. 16), network news broadcaster Ann Compton (Feb. 8), Pulitzer Prize-winning finance expert James B. Stewart (Apr. 5), and Lewis and Clark historian Rex Ziak (May 10).
Tulsa Symphony is using a color theme to describe its concerts this season. “Blue” is coming up Sept. 22, featuring, among many selections, Debussy’s La Mer and Ravel’s Mother Goose. This is the first of six concerts on the season roster, and it will be conducted by Maestro James Paul. The Symphony sells season tickets through its office.
The Trust continues its very popular Imagination Series for children Sept. 28 – 29 with The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, staged by Dallas Children’s Theater. Four other quality children’s programs are scheduled: The Man Who Planted Trees (Oct. 12 – 13), Rock the Presidents (Jan. 25 – 26) and Angelina Ballerina (April 12 – 13). All are presented by highly praised traveling children’s theater companies. To make sure you get seats, contact the ticket office at 918-596-7109 for season tickets.
More children’s theatre comes your way at the in September. There’s The Lost Pages of Oz and the Rise of the Winged Monkeys, Sept. 13 – 16, and Actor’s and Children’s Theatre’s Pinocchio, Sept. 22 – 23.
Our Chamber Music Tulsa has quite a year planned, beginning with Chatham Baroque (Sept. 30). The illustrious Tokyo String Quartet includes Tulsa on its farewell tour after 40 years of acclaimed performances. You won’t want to miss that (Oct. 21)! There are young, cool groups scheduled to perform, like Zodiac Trio (Nov. 18) and Tesla Quartet (Feb. 17). The first tour of Quartetto di Cremona stops in Tulsa Mar. 17, and one of Canada’s best-known piano trios closes the season Apr. 14. has a Saturday night Salon series you should check into also. It includes a meal, wine, and a chance to meet the musicians. For all the details, contact the Chamber Music Tulsa office.
When you’re downtown, look for the PAC’s new color electronic marquees at the corners of 2nd and 3rd streets on Cincinnati. We’ll help guide your way to entertainment you love and maybe something new — all packaged with you in mind.
Nancy C. Hermann is director of marketing at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center.
Updated 08-28-2012
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