OKC MUSEUM OF ART
FREE DAY DECEMBER 2:
VICTORIAN RADICALS

SONIC Free Family Day: Victorian Stories at OKCMOA

All are invited to the Museum on Dec. 2

OKCMOA will host SONIC Free Family Day this Sunday, Dec. 2, offering admission to the Museum and special, family-oriented activities FREE of charge to all visitors. SONIC Free Family Day is a bi-annual event taking place from 12 to 5 p.m. Free admission and all activities for the day are made possible by SONIC, America's Drive-In.

WHEN: Dec. 2, 12 to 5 p.m. 

WHERE: The Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Dr., Oklahoma City, OK 73102

WHO: Activities are appropriate for all ages and no reservations are required. 

WHAT: SONIC Free Family Day includes access to all of OKCMOA's galleries (including the special exhibition "Victorian Radicals: From the Pre-Raphaelites to the Arts & Crafts Movement") as well as special Family Day events, including:

• Pop-up library with Metropolitan Library System.
• 2 pm screening of Beauty and the Beast (animated version) in the Samuel Roberts Noble Theater.
• Sketching and hands-on activities in the galleries.
• Art-making activities in the lobby and classrooms.
• Photo opportunities with Mr. Cherry Limeade and Mr. Coney.

PHOTOS/INTERVIEWS: Opportunities will be available to photograph visitors and to interview Museum staff.

CONTACT: Becky Weintz, Director of Marketing & Communications, bweintz@okcmoa.com. 

FOLLOW: Hashtag #SONICFamilyDay on social media. 

Comments:
UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA'S
A CHRISTMAS CAROL IS 
ENJOYABLE AND MEMORABLE

ADDITION: A Christmas Carol opens FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30th, and continues through December 8.

The University of Oklahoma's presentation of A Christmas Carol enjoyable, and particularly memorable because of its appeal to all ages. There are moments of slapstick comedy, and times of real feeling -- as when Ebenezer Scrooge, well played by Micah Weese, repents his miserly ways, and rejoices in his newfound feeling for humanity. There are well-sung a capella Christmas carols -- directed by Mandy Jiran and a very energetic and delightful dances choreographed by Roxanne Lyst.

In the direction of the play, particularly in the opening scenes, Tom Huston Orr presented a play that flowed like water. His direction was particularly effective in staging of the scene with the Crachits and Scrooge's nephew's family in opposite vignettes on opposite sides of the stage, the Ghost of Christmas Present standing on a walkway above stage, and Scrooge standing on the stage in the middle of these actions.  Orr also wrote the adaptation, which sounded like storytelling in the beginning of the play, and led to Scrooge's repentance.

There are well-sung a capella Christmas carols -- directed by Mandy Jiran and a very energetic and delightful dances choreographed by Roxanne Lyst. Scenic director Uldarico Sarmiento is to be commended for his two level set, the rolling stairs and scenery, and the stripped down facades of mid-1800s London. Arresting lighting, particularly in the scene when Jacob Marley appears, was designed by Richard L. Sprecker.

Tickets may be pruchased online at theatre.ou.edu, or by calling 405.325-4101 or by visiting the
OU Fine Arts Box Office in the Catlett Music Center, 300 W. Boyd Street.

Race Ricketts was both effective and appropriately over the top as the ghost of Scrooge's partner Jacob Marley. He was also very funny. Also to be mentioned is Justin Armer, who appeared as Bob Crachit. Lucy Dinsmore was effective as the twittering with laughter Mrs. Topper. The cast as a whole created a world that was good to watch, and a pleasant to be.

UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA
PRESENTS A CHRISTMAS CAROL
DECEMBER 1st - 8th

University Theatre and Helmerich School of Drama takes you on a magical journey with A Christmas Carol. Photo by Sandra Bent, University of Oklahoma.

              Charles Dickens’ story of love and redemption, A Christmas Carol, will be presented by the Helmerich School of Drama and University Theatre at the University of Oklahoma. The production is adapted and directed by Tom Huston Orr, with musical direction by Mandy Jiran and choreography by Roxanne Lyst.

A Christmas Carol will open at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30, with additional performances set for 8 p.m. Dec. 1, 6 and 7, and at 3 p.m. Dec. 1, 2 and 8. All performances will be held in the Elsie C. Brackett Theatre, Fine Arts Center, 563 Elm Ave., on the OU Norman campus. This production is suitable for all audiences.

University Theatre’s cast includes 30 students from OU Helmerich School of Drama, School of Dance, and local community children.  Lavish costumes designed by Lloyd Cracknell with a beautiful set designed by Uldarico Sarmiento enrich the holiday story. 

English author Charles Dickens continues to be one of the most widely read Victorian (nineteenth-century) novelists. Scrooge, David Copperfield, Oliver Twist, and Nicholas Nickelby remain familiar characters today. A Christmas Carol, a ghost story of Christmas published in 1843, is probably the most popular piece of fiction that Dickens ever wrote.

The cast for the production includes Audrey Armacost, Justin Armer, Avery Baker, Craig Caldwell, Sydney Culbertson, Michael Darmon, Lucy Dismore, Grace Evans, Alyssa Fantel, Caleb Hennigan, Nick Hone, Joni Keaton, Chip Keebaugh, Jaden Kelly, Evan Lennon, Becca Mighell, Thomas Peck, Madison Penzkover, Race Ricketts, Celena Rose, Abigail Schmitz, Riley Smith, Emily Stuhler, Reagan Sudduth, Alexandra Swanbeck, Ashtonn Thompson, Julian Walker, Will Warner, Micah Weese, Taylor Yancey and Jon Yawn. Dancers include Alma Cienski, Joni Keaton, Keiran King, Keyveontae’ Martin, Cameron Terry and Claire Willcutt. The youth performers are Hanna Andreassen, Hannah Butler, Joshua Cheng, Alli Dorris, Madilyn Kellam and Harper Orr.

The design staff includes Uldarico Sarmiento, scenic designer; Lloyd Cracknell, costume designer; Richard L. Sprecker, lighting designer; Jarrod Fries, sound designer; and Abigail Schmitz, dramaturg. The production staff consists of Orr, artistic director; Michael Moffitt as composer/arranger; Kaitlin Souter, stage manager; Jeff Baldwin, technical director; Kasey Allee-Foremen, associate producer; and Mary Margaret Holt, producer.

Advance purchase tickets for A Christmas Carol are $25 adult; $20 senior adult (60 and older), OU employee, military; and $10 student, plus processing fee. Tickets at the door are $35 for adult and $15 for student.

Tickets may be purchased online at theatre.ou.edu, by calling (405) 325-4101 or visiting the OU Fine Arts Box Office in the Catlett Music Center, 500 W. Boyd St.

For accommodations, please call the OU Fine Arts Box Office at (405) 325-4101.



OCU PRESENTS
"HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS"
THURS. DEC. 6 - SUN. DEC. 9

Image courtesy of OCU

Oklahoma City University’s American Spirit Dance Company will present its “Home for the Holidays” show Dec. 6-9 in the Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center at N.W. 24th Street and Blackwelder Avenue.

Under the direction of Jo Rowan, the festive, high-energy dance celebration will journey to a Christmas party like no other. This year’s show features new kicklines, tap dances and more from OCU’s nationally recognized dancers and choreographers. It includes an entirely new lineup of dances with the precision and beauty that has made the dance company internationally known.

OnStage, a national media outlet covering the performing arts, ranked OCU’s Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment among the top three dance programs in the nation — ahead of Juilliard — for the second year in a row. The program has alumni credits in more than 86 Broadway musicals and has produced 49 Radio City Rockettes. PlayBill ranked Oklahoma City University among this year’s Top 10 Most Represented Colleges on Broadway.

“Home for the Holidays” has become a yearly tradition for families across the state and beyond. Attendees will have a photo opportunity with Santa’s helpers during the show’s intermission. Sweets and merchandise will also be available in the lobby.

Tickets for the performance are $29.85 and may be purchased online at okcu.edu/tickets or by calling 405-208-5227. Group pricing is available for parties of eight or more.

 Tickets can also be purchased at the Edith Kinney Gaylord Center Performing Arts Ticket Office, 2501 N. Blackwelder Ave., from noon to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

No infants are permitted. Lap seating is not allowed and no booster seats will be provided. It is recommended but not required that children be ages 6 and up.

NAULT GALLERY OPENING
TONIGHT - 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

OKCMOA CONTINUES
THIRD THURSDAY WITH
FALL AND WINTER EVENTS

Murder Mystery Night, Victorian Yuletide, Night of Hygge and Night at the Oscars planned

Building on the success of six months of events that welcomed almost 3,000 visitors to the Museum, OKCMOA has scheduled four more Third Thursdays through February: Murder Mystery Night on Nov. 15, Victorian Yuletide on Dec. 20, Night of Hygge on Jan. 17, 2019 and Night at the Oscars on Feb. 21, 2019. Events are from 5-9 p.m. and are free for members and $12 for non-members. Third Thursday is presented by Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores. “Our special exhibition ‘Victorian Radicals’ provides excellent inspiration for our November and December Third Thursdays,” said Bryon Chambers, OKCMOA manager of tours and adult learning. “It is a fantastically rich exhibition with so many different facets to explore. In November, we will focus on the literary by paying homage to one of history’s great detectives. In December, we will take a look at all the wonderful holiday traditions that began in Victorian England.” The fourth annual Murder Mystery Night at the Museum is inspired by “Victorian Radicals” and includes a Sherlock Holmes twist. Several characters will be dressed in Victorian-themed garb, and the Museum will host a British detective costume contest at 7 p.m. Participants can interview suspects, explore the Museum and follow the clues to catch the murderer and discover the murder weapon. Victorian Yuletide will feature holiday drinks and merriment, art-making activities, a community Christmas tree, tours and more. The Victorian period saw the birth of the Christmas tree, ornaments, holiday cards and Santa Claus in England. These favorite holiday traditions will be highlighted throughout the Museum. During the third annual Night of Hygge, visitors can cozy up with friends and family around (battery-operated) candlelight, enjoy live music in the lobby, spend time in the Museum’s galleries and participate in a craft activity. “Hygge” is a Danish word that loosely translates to “coziness.” The concept represents the Danish art of surviving winter through hunkering down, spending time with friends and living well and is frequently associated with warmth, good food, conversation and joy. The Museum Film program will be the focus of February’s Third Thursday, Night at the Oscars. At the heart of the Museum is the historic Center Theater, opened in 1947 and restored for the Museum’s 2002 move downtown. More details for this event will be coming soon. More information about Third Thursdays, including how to purchase tickets, can be found on the Museum’s website, www.okcmoa.com.

About the Exhibition

“Victorian Radicals: From the Pre-Raphaelites to the Arts and Crafts Movement” is organized by the American Federation of Arts and Birmingham Museums Trust. This exhibition is supported by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional funding provided by Clare McKeon and the Dr. Lee MacCormick Edwards Charitable Foundation.



Victorian Radicals is co-curated by Tim Barringer, Paul Mellon Professor and Chair of the History of Art at Yale University; Martin Ellis, freelance curator, lecturer, and broadcaster who was the Curator of Applied Art at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery for many years; and Victoria Osborne, Curator of Fine Art for Birmingham Museums Trust, specializing in British nineteenth-century works on paper.