Shows Heat Up In May at Tulsa PAC
THIS SHOW STINKS: Celebrity Attractions presents the hysterical Tony-nominated musical “Something Rotten!” May 23-28.
Photo by JOAN MARCUS
As summer swiftly approaches, the shows at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center are heating up too!
Strings & Pearls, a harp duo, comes to the Trust’s Brown Bag It series May 3 at 12:10 p.m. in the Westby Pavilion. Harpists Linda Barton Paul and Vicki L. Smith have been playing together for two years and enjoy performing music of many different genres for concerts, galas, events, and church services. The show is free and open to the public.
“Tosca” was the opera most frequently requested in Tulsa Opera’s recent audience survey. Puccini’s beloved masterpiece will be performed by an international all-star cast led by Russian soprano Evelina Dobra?eva, hot on the heels of her American debut with Cincinnati Opera. Dobra?eva has performed extensively with Cologne Opera, including her recent role debut as Odabella in “Atilla,” Micaëla in “Carmen,” Donna Anna in “Don Giovanni” and Violetta in “La Traviata.” Other recent engagements include Emma in “Khovanshina” with the Bayerische Staatsoper, Tatiana in “Eugene Onegin” for Switzerland’s Theater St. Gallen and Lisa in “Queen of Spades” at Moscow’s Bolshoi Opera. The opera runs May 5 and 7 in Chapman Music Hall.
Mature audiences will enjoy “In The Next Room (Or The Vibrator Play)” presented by American Theatre Company, May 12-20. Set in the 1880s, this 2009 play by Sarah Ruhl is a provocative, funny, touching and entertaining story about a young doctor and his wife. Dr. Givings is obsessed with the marvels of technology and what they can do for his patients. His wife, Catherine, is only a bystander in her husband’s world, listening at the door from the next room as he treats his female patients. Dr. Givings is not sure exactly how the vibrators help the women he treats, but they do keep coming back. The only woman whose problem is not helped by the doctor is his own wife, who longs to connect with him, but not electrically. The show will be performed in Liddy Doenges Theatre.
Theatre Tulsa presents the legendary rock opera “Jesus Christ Superstar,” with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical chronicles the final days of Jesus Christ’s life, told from the perspective of his friend, disciple and betrayer – Judas Iscariot. Experience the power, the glory, the love and the passion. The musical runs May 12-21 in John H. Williams Theatre.
Conducted by Daniel Hege, “The Firebird” from Tulsa Symphony Classics will elicit smiles from seasoned concertgoers and first-timers alike. Haydn’s Symphony No. 90 offers glimpses into his humorous, prankster side. Kodaly paints in impressionistic orchestral colors the comedic tale of a Hungarian-style Don Quixote in his “Háry János Suite.” And Stravinsky captivates listeners with his ballet music suite The Firebird. Even without the ballet theater, Stravinsky’s music summons the imagination to delight in Russian fairy tales of the magical glowing bird that can be a blessing or a curse to its owner. Experience this unique show May 13 at Chapman Music Hall.
Direct from Broadway, Something Rotten! is a “big, fat hit!” (New York Post). Set in the ‘90s – the 1590s – this hilarious smash tells the story of Nick and Nigel Bottom (Tony nominee Rob McClure and Broadway’s Josh Grisetti), two brothers who are desperate to write their own hit play while the “rock star” Shakespeare (Tony nominee Adam Pascal) keeps getting all the hits. When a local soothsayer foretells that the future of theatre involves singing, dancing and acting at the same time, Nick and Nigel set out to write the world’s very first musical. With its heart on its ruffled sleeve and sequins in its soul, Something Rotten! is “The Producers + Spamalot + The Book of Mormon. Squared!” (New York Magazine). Celebrity Attractions presents this musical May 23-28 in Chapman Music Hall.
SummerStage Tulsa officially kicks off early this year with “Sangama,” presented by Kripalaya Dance Academy. Kripalaya’s dance-and-music production “Sangama,” which means “confluence,” depicts how people can embrace individuality and show everyone how wonderful the world can be if they all come together as one. This pre-Memorial Day production is dedicated to United States Military veterans and runs May 25-26 in John H. Williams Theatre.
Theatre North presents “Flyin’ West,” May 27 and June 2-3 in Liddy Doenges Theatre. Following the end of the Civil War, many former slaves, anxious to leave the South and the increasing disappointments and dangers of Reconstruction, take advantage of The Homestead Act and go west to build new lives for themselves and their families. Many of these homesteaders were black women who overcame tremendous odds to work their own land and make a place for themselves in an often harsh and forbidding environment. Set in 1898, “Flyin’ West” by Pearl Cleage is the story of some of these African-American female pioneers who settled together in the all-black town of Nicodemus, Kansas.
SummerStage, Tulsa’s annual festival runs May 25-June 25 and features nearly 25 local and regional acts bringing their music, drama, art and more to the stages of the Tulsa . Catch all of the action by visiting summerstagetulsa.org and see an amazing line-up that includes Theatre Tulsa, Tulsa Youth Opera, Echo Theatre and popular local acts like Mark Gibson, Rebecca Ungerman, Janet Rutland and more.
And in the Gallery this month are artists Brigid Spanier and Jean Kelley. Their dual show features abstract and contemporary art and runs May 2-28.
Tickets for all events are available by calling the Tulsa ticket office at 918-596-7111 or online at TulsaPAC.com. or on social media platforms.
Updated 04-24-2017
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