The Heat is On with Hot Entertainment this Summer
Show Buzz by NANCY HERMANN
1964…The Tribute: Performing songs from the pre-”Sgt. Pepper” era, this July 9th show recreates a live Beatles concert, with period instruments, clothing, hairstyles and onstage banter.
The summer endures, and we know you are looking for a cool and comfortable place to enjoy some kickback time. July and August at the Tulsa offer a variety of musicals and dance programs that will keep you engaged and entertained.
But before we get to those, I have good news for Beatles fans. “1964… The Tribute” is back! The group missed coming to Tulsa last year after more than two decades of continuous summer performances here. Several people wrote to us at the asking if the “1964” tribute show would surface again. Yes! Celebrity Attractions presents this audience favorite July 9.
The Theatre Tulsa Family series stages Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” July 15-24. This is the biblical story of a boy named Joseph who is sold into slavery, much to the delight of his 11 jealous brothers. What was good about Joseph only gets better as he overcomes the challenges of his imprisonment by demonstrating good character. Graduates of Theatre Tulsa’s Broadway Bootcamp perform what could be a wonderful introduction to musical theatre for young people who have an interest in stage productions or may not have experienced a musical before.
“42nd Street,” July 19-24, also is family friendly and has enough action to sustain the interest of all age groups. This touring Broadway production, brought to Tulsa by Celebrity Attractions, is what people might think of first when they hear “Broadway musical.” The heartwarming story about a second-tier performer who gets a big break is told with flash and pizzazz – lively music and plenty of dancing. If you like tap, this is the show for you.
And if you are a dance fan, in general, you will want to check out the very first Summer Heat International Dance Festival that will be held at the July 30 – August 6, presented by Choregus Productions. Five different companies from around the globe will be in Tulsa for this event.
First up on July 30 is Compagnie Hervé Koubi, comprising 12 Algerian and West African male dancers. Choreographer Hervé Koubi’s work “What the Day Owes to the Night” combines martial arts, urban street dance and contemporary dance.
The Philadelphia-based Koresh Dance Company was the first dance group presented by Tulsa’s Ken Tracy when he formed Choregus 10 years ago. I’ve seen them perform for Choregus four different times and can’t get enough. This group is easily one of my favorites. Featured on July 31 is artistic director Ronen Koresh’s “23: Deconstructing Mozart,” a collaboration with Paul D. Miller, also known as DJ Spooky, who is artist in residence at New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Also part of the festival is L-E-V Dance Company from Israel. The troupe is the creation of former Batsheva Dance Company star Sharon Eyal and her longtime collaborator Gai Behar. “Lev” means heart in Hebrew. A powerful work, “OCD Love,” touching on the challenges of obsessive-compulsive disorder, will be performed Aug. 3.
The dance company 10 Hairy Legs joins the festival Aug. 5. These hairy legs belong to men – five of them, of course, who will perform founder Randy James’ work. This company from the Big Apple “celebrates and explores the tremendous technical and emotional range of the male dancer.” Sounds great.
The 10 Hairy Legs company includes women in some productions, and one is “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe,” Aug. 4-5, which is a new work by James. Appropriate for age five and older, this dance-telling of C. S. Lewis’ beloved novel is set in the land of Narnia and features all the well-known characters from the classic tale.
Completing the Summer Heat International Dance Festival on Aug. 6 is the Los Angeles-based BODYTRAFFIC. Choreographer Barak Marshall’s piece “And at midnight, the green bride floated through the village square…” is a dark comedy, partly based on a true story about the negative effects of jealousy on a family of nine children. Also on the program are Hofesh Shechter’s “Dust” and Richard Siegal’s “O2Joy.” BODYTRAFFFIC is an in-demand dance force that has performed in the most prestigious dance festivals in North America.
If you enjoy contemporary dance, please support this festival. Your attendance will give it more of a chance to become an annual event.
We can talk more about August next month, but leave your entertainment calendar open for the musicals “Oklahoma!,” “Will Rogers Follies” and “Heathers.”
This is the PAC’s 40th Anniversary season, and we look forward to seeing you often!
Nancy Hermann is the director of marketing for Tulsa Performing Arts Center.
Updated 06-27-2016
READER COMMENTS
