ion Oklahoma Magazine May / June 2021

MAY/JUNE 2021

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Lego artist Joseph Kraham

deadCenter Film Festival 2021 Ex-rapper Danny Boy O’Connor turns old movie set into Tulsa museum OKC’s Daddy Daughter Dance Festival of the Arts returns for 2021 has Beach Bash

Lifestyle … Culture … Entertainment

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Contents COVER STORY 12 Renown Lego artist Joseph Kraham creates unique works one piece at a time, sought out by pro sports teams, affluent galleries

by Tim Farley

PEOPLE

24

Ex-rapper Danny Boy O’Connor turns old movie set into Tulsa museum

by Tim Farley

22

44

Law enforcement officer Sarah Pierce puts experience to work in classroom

by Mallory Jones, Chickasaw Nation Media Relations Office

46

Ashley Coffey Emerging opportunities for women in technology

by Garland McWatters

74 80

Oklahoma Hall of Fame’s 2021 Class announced

82

St. Luke’s Methodist Church holds “A Night On Broadway”

State lawmaker, long-term care administrator overwhelmed by veterans and their war stories

37 ART

22

Chickasaw artist Brent Greenwood paints Sulphur with color and positivity

by Brandon Frye, Chickasaw Nation

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34

Cowboy Announces 49th annual Prix de West® Invitational Art Exhibition & Sale

66

deadCenter Film Festival 2021

62

EVENTS

32

OKC Festival of the arts opening ceremony set for June 22

37

Summer Days at ‘The Cowboy’ full of education, inspiration

54 58 62

Happening in the Myriad Botanical Gardens Allied Arts brings back events with return of OPUS OKC’s Daddy-Daughter Dance

70 GIFTS 42 Fathers Day Fun Facts and Gift Ideas FASHION

36

Summer essentials

by Linda Miller

FOOD

70

Wayne’s Drive In

by Tim Farley

SPORTS 50

OKC Dodgers 2021 schedule

52

OKC Energy 2021 schedule

82

IN EVERY ISSUE

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Publisher’s Note

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE ion Oklahoma Magazine has grown to more than 46,400 subscribers located primarily in four counties and 79 zip codes of central Oklahoma. Our six printed editions published annually can be downloaded FREE from our website or printed copies can be ordered on demand and mailed to your home or office.

Welcome to ion Oklahoma Magazine, an online digital lifestyle magazine and news-entertainment website www.ionok.com.

It is and has been our mission as storytellers to share the success stories about people, events and the tremendous progress Oklahoma is making as a state.

Today, the State of Oklahoma has been experiencing a certain noticeable growth among young people under the age of 30. The cost of living is one of the most affordable states in the nation. The unemployment rate in Oklahoma is one of the lowest in the nation. The job opportunities for young tech entrepreneurs are plentiful.

In 2020, the NextGen Under 30 Award Recognition Program celebrated its 10th year also and a record response of 374 honorees from 421 different Oklahoma companies and organizations. www.nextgenunder30.com The inaugural NextGen TALKS Oklahoma event was created and premiered at the Oklahoma City Community College VPAC Auditorium.

Our half-day matinee type event with an intermission was attended by more than 485 people. This event included 14 speakers delivering 15-minute talks. Our premiere event was a huge success and inspired by the TEDx Talks Style programming.

KGOU in Norman Oklahoma rebroadcast three one-hour Sunday NextGen TALKS matinee programs for all Oklahomans to enjoy.

Please visit www.nextgentalksok.com and click on View Videos to watch these TALKS from three Now community leaders and 11 New and NEXTGEN community leaders sharing their stories from this live event.

During the upcoming summer 2021 there are many traditional events returning to Oklahoma City. The Festival of the Arts, deadCenter Film Festival, Allied Arts Opus, Western Heritage Awards, and Lyric Theatre’s production of “Greece” are just a few.

At ion Oklahoma Magazine we plan to publish many of the quality lifestyle stories from Oklahomans who are best representing the “Oklahoma Spirit.”

We want to hear from you, our readers, and your stories, so please email your ideas, thoughts and success stories.

Sincerely, oklahoma

Donald B. Swift, Publisher, www.ionok.com

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COVER STORY

Renown Lego artist creates unique works one piece at a time Joseph Kraham sought out by pro sports teams, affluent galleries

BY TIM FARLEY

J

oseph Kraham was working as an engineer when his dog’s death set him on an artistic path that has proven to be rewarding and lucrative.

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Kraham, one of four brothers in his family, had played with Legos all of his life so when his beloved canine died he decided to use Lego pieces and created a mosaic as a memento in honor of his dog.

But that was just the beginning.

Kraham posted a photograph of the mosaic online and before he knew it, people were requesting him to do Lego artwork for them. In 2014, Kraham received a call from the Cartoon Network asking him to put together a 4-foot by 4foot mosaic for their company. It was the first paying gig he received, the Edmond artist said.

Since then, he’s created about 70 pieces including artwork for the Houston Texans football team, Formula 1, Houston Rockets basketball team, Houston Astro baseball team and MAY/JUNE 2021 ion Oklahoma 13

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various galas, schools and churches. A special project was completed for the charitable foundation led by NFL star J.J. Watts, who formerly played for the Texans. Another client is Rackspace, the world’s largest cloud computing service company.

Kraham is the only artist in the world that offers this exclusive service and beautiful acrylic artwork. His service also includes custom commissions including famous artwork, pop artwork, abstract and modern works. All works of art are unique and are not reproduced.

The extraordinary artwork doesn’t happen by chance.

Kraham uses his computer skills by using a computer program he wrote which assists him with each piece of artwork. He’s even created more colors than Legos offers, which numbers about 40. Since beginning his newfound

path, Kraham has put together about 300 different colors with various shades of all the primary colors. Inside his home studio, Kraham has a rack of almost 500 cans of paint and 500,000 pieces of pre-painted Legos.

After he’s created one of his many masterpieces, Kraham is usually afflicted with sore thumbs after putting all the Lego pieces together, he said, half-jokingly.

“Simplicity is what makes each piece unique,” he said.

“When people see my artwork, they can see it took months to create.”

Currently, 10 pieces of Kraham’s Legos artwork are on exhibit at the White Room Gallery in The Hamptons in New York. As an engineer for a medical company, Kraham doesn’t rely solely on his artwork to provide income for his wife, three children and their Irish wolfhound, but having that MAY/JUNE ion Oklahoma 15

much of his artwork in an affluent New York gallery doesn’t hurt. It also allows him to work on charity pieces that are close to his heart.

“Absolutely, I’m going to keep doing this,” he said. “I love doing it. It’s most rewarding to finish a piece and get the approval from my kids. Winning shows and exhibitions is great, too. The wife is a tough customer. She provides constructive critique.”

The average artwork pieces take more than 10 hours per square foot, Kraham said. In addition, there are more than 1,400 Lego pieces in a square foot of artwork, which limits the number of creations Kraham can do each year. On average, Kraham is able to create 10 pieces annually.

Because each Lego piece is painted, none of the Á 16 ion Oklahoma MAY/JUNE 2021

Meyers Young Audience Theatre at Oklahoma City University will host a two-hour fundraising preview June 15 of “Rushmore,” a musical about America, four of its most notable presidents and their views on the nation.

The Meet the Composers fundraiser will be held 6-8 p.m. at Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club. The musical is being written for children in first through fifth grades.

The evening will include a unique fundraising opportunity for people to sponsor a Lego tile with their donation, and signatures will be incorporated in Lego artist Joseph Kraham’s completed work of art that depicts a one-of-a-kind Mount Rushmore sculpture. The artwork will be unveiled at the Nov. 22, 2022 world premiere of “Rushmore.” Lego tiles can be purchased for $20 each.

A group of singers, accompanied by a pianist, will perform a series of songs from “Rushmore” during the June 15 fundraiser. The commissioned musical is being written by professors Jan McDaniel and David Herendeen.

“Their directive was to write a play about America, its history, its amazing constitutional authors and its lasting impact. The result is Rushmore where you see emblazoned four presidents who come alive and observe their influence on America,” Meyers said.

The four presidents are George Washington who speaks on leadership, Abraham Lincoln on freedom, Thomas Jefferson on education and Theodore Roosevelt on world markets.

More than 60,000 Oklahoma schoolchildren have attended theatre productions commissioned by the Meyers Theatre since 2005. The goal of the Meyers Young Audience Theatre is to produce plays that focus on the United States, its constitution, Bill of Rights, Declaration of Independence, presidents and its history.

Sponsorship opportunities for the theatre range from $500 to $50,000. For more information, contact Sandy Meyers at Smeyers5@cox.net. All contributions are tax deductible.

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pieces are glued to the baseplate. According to Kraham, a small mallet is used to tap each piece into its spot. Pieces will not come out and require the use of pliers to pull out. For cleaning, Kraham said his customers should use a soft brush to clean and remove debris. Kraham also advises his customers to keep the artwork in a climate controlled environment and out of direct sunlight. Each piece of artwork is protected with UV varnish to maintain the integrity of the creation.

For more information about Kraham and his artwork, visit www.josephkraham.com. n

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Surround Your Event with Oklahoma History

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The Oklahoma History Center (OHC) is where Oklahoma history lives and is the final resting place of thousands of artifacts that represent her past.

The History Center building has just celebrated its 15th year in its current location and is an architectural masterpiece. Five permanent galleries and other selected areas within the building present exhibits and collections that can only be seen there. Á

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However, events are a distinctive service offered by the OHC and no matter what kind of event is being planned, either celebratory or organizational, the History Center should be a serious consideration.

With the hundreds of venues vying for such business in the Oklahoma City area, the History Center can provide any or all of the assistance needed. Approximately 350 events are held annually at the OHC. An average of 35 weddings are held in the awesome beauty of the Devon Great Hall with the capital building as a breathtaking backdrop with corporate meetings and various workshops making up the difference.

A full-service events staff is available to take care of all the details, removing the worry and concern associated with planning. So, plan on surrounding your event with Oklahoma history…where Oklahoma history lives. n

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PEOPLE

Ex-rapper turns old movie set into Tulsa museum Message from 'The Outsiders' captivated Danny Boy O'Connor

BY TIM FARLEY

F

Above, Danny Boy O’Connor inside the Outsiders house. ormer hip hop star Danny Boy www.theoutsiders.com O’Connor watched the movie “The Right, Gray Frederickson and director Francis Ford Copolla.

Outsiders” when he was 13-yearsold and its message stuck with him. house used as one of the sets for the 1983 film. The movie

Decades later, he bought the north Tulsa house where much of the movie was filmed and turned it into a museum honoring the legendary flick that included a plethora of current day stars including C. Thomas Howell, Tom Cruise, Rob Lowe, Matt Dillon, Emilio Estevez, Patrick Swayze, Ralph Macchio and Diane Lane.

The movie was directed by Francis Ford Coppola and produced by Gray Frederickson, who lives in Oklahoma City.

But it was the movie’s message that attracted O’Connor, who made his home in Los Angeles until the big move to Tulsa where he and many volunteers would renovate the old 24 ion Oklahoma MAY/JUNE 2021

focused on two rival gangs in Tulsa during the 1960s – the poor lower-class greasers and the rich Socs, short for Socials. Issues of gang violence, underage smoking and drinking, foul language and family dysfunction permeated the book and movie and created public controversy.

O’Connor, the former hype man for the hip-hop group House of Pain, has been a longtime fan of the film and S.E. Hinton’s novels, which include “The Outsiders.”

“The movie mirrored my life in a lot of ways,” O’Connor said, referring to a dysfunctional family that included his father who was in prison at the time. “I became obsessed

with it (movie). I identified with all the characters. I saw this brotherhood in that family (greasers gang) and I looked to recreate that in the streets growing up. It was an inspiring movie to me.”

O’Connor said he used hip-hop as a way to be part of a family that rapped together and danced together.

“I used it to fill a void of a broken family,” he said.

Over the years, O’Connor would travel through Tulsa for hip-hop performances and would often drive by the old house where The Outsiders was filmed. After a while, he recognized the need to buy the crumbling structure or face the realization that it might be torn down. O’Connor’s thought almost came true.

After buying the old house for $42,000 (a price unheard of in California, he says), O’Connor learned about a group that wanted to buy the house and demolish it. They never got the chance.

Instead, O’Connor and key donors began a long renovation process that took more than three years.

“I bought it sight unseen,” he said. “I humbled myself and asked for help. I wondered if I had bitten off more than I could chew.”

O’Connor quickly learned about the Oklahoma Standard where help is just around the corner. Soon after buying the house, he received help from neighbors who volunteered to fix plumbing and mow the yard. There were all sorts of inkind donations and then there were cash donations that came from The Outsiders author and Jack White.

“Okies really stepped up and saved the day,” O’Connor said. “I have never seen so many acts of kindness. That would not happen in California. People out there are too hip and slick.”

Frederickson recalled that the movie almost didn’t get filmed at the north Tulsa house. The owners of the house, who lived across the street, had to be convinced. As a gesture of goodwill, Coppola, who insisted on using the house, and producers paid for the family to spend a month in Hawaii, Frederickson recalled.

“We shot 10 to 15 days in that house and were out before they got home,” he

Scenes from the film superimposed over their current locations. Created by Patrick McNicholas. Visit www.theoutsiders.com for the full gallery.

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C. Thomas Howell, “Ponyboy Curtis” donates the sweatshirt he wore in The Outsiders. www.theoutsiders.com

joked. “It was a fun shoot, crazy and wild. The entire cast was young and having a good time. Tom (Cruise) was the only one who was serious.”

With the renovations complete, O’Connor began his quest to collect The Outsiders memorabilia, which he says is the largest such collection in the world. The museum unveils a behind-the-scenes layer that everyone loves: the tri via, the untold yarns, the story behind the story, the museum’s website claims.

“STEPPING INTO THE MUSEUM gives fans young and old a chance to stand in the living room where Ponyboy and Darry quarrel, visit the kitchen and recall all the talk about chocolate cake for breakfast, see Dallas Winston’s leather jacket, hear about the mysterious disappearance and reappearance of Francis Ford Coppola’s Director’s Chair, see rare and never before seen photos, movie artifacts and more,” the website states.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, the museum was open on weekdays and weekends. After the pandemic, hours have been shortened to weekends only. However, scheduled school and private tours can be arranged at The Outsiders House Museum, located at 731 North St. Louis 26 ion Oklahoma MAY/JUNE 2021

The house looks just like it did when the movie was shot. It’s the spitting image. …there’s a renewed pride in all the neighbors.”

— Danny Boy O’Connor Avenue in north Tulsa, O’Connor said.

“The house looks just like it did when the movie was shot,” the former rapper said. “It’s the spitting image. This (museum project) has given me a new lease on life, a purpose. When we started this, it was a lower-class neighborhood. But now, there’s a renewed pride in all the neighbors and the city has helped with new streets and sidewalks.”

O’Connor is trying to turn the venue into more than a museum about The Outsiders. C. Thomas Howell, who portrayed Ponyboy Curtis in The Outsiders, will perform in an already sold-out musical concert on the museum’s lawn Aug. 3.

For more information about The Outsiders House Museum, visit www.theoutsidershouse.com

ART

Chickasaw artist paints Sulphur with color and positivity

BY BRANDON FRYE, CHICKASAW NATION

C

hickasaw artist Brent Greenwood recently put the finishing touches on a new mural on the north wall of the 3rd & Broadway boutique in downtown Sulphur.

Greenwood said the painting is an engaging way to enrich the community with beauty and meaning. In this case, the meaning is expressed with contemporary imagery, and centered around family and Chickasaw cultural values.

Artist Brent Greenwood in front of his latest mural in downtown Sulphur. (Provided photo)

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“This mural is open for interpretation while having intent,” Greenwood said. “I wanted to reinforce the positive impact that the Define Your Direction (DYD) campaign is making in the area; instilling pride in oneself and community.”

The mural is easily spotted by those strolling downtown.

Greenwood said he thinks having both of his Sulphur murals facing the downtown plaza stage adds to the overall aesthetic of the area.

“It adds a nice colorful vibe, while complementing the nostalgic downtown feel,” he said.

DYD made this mural possible and its message is at the heart of it.

DYD is a campaign and movement inspiring teens and young adults to be leaders in their communities while living healthy lifestyles. The aim is to steer them toward positive futures, and away from underage drinking and prescription drug abuse.

“By educating teens and young adults about the dangers of both subjects, we are creating a generation of students eager to participate in their communities, live healthy lives and be positive role models,” the group’s direction statement reads.

DYD’s listed goals are to inspire leaders, raise awareness, educate individuals, provide resources and change attitudes. Greenwood kept these goals in mind while designing his mural.

That’s how he decided to focus on family and Chickasaw values.

The mural features a young Chickasaw looking over their shoulder to see their family in a field of flowers cheering them on. Swirls of wind and color fill the upper portion of the mural. Tribal water designs flow through the bottom portion.

“I always want to embody energy and movement through my process. From the swirling sky, which is on both murals, to the contemplative youth and traditional Southeastern references.”

Greenwood explained that while reflecting on family, the contemplative youth reinforces hope, smart decisions and pride in oneself. The youth is a blend of graffiti styled

traditional and contemporary – as depicted by a swan headdress, shell necklace and facial marking, but also a pair of headphones.

Reflecting the purpose of the mural, the youth’s shirt displays the DYD logo.

In addition to expressing what DYD is all about, Greenwood said, as a personal goal he hopes this public piece fosters a deeper appreciation of art for those who stop by and take it in.

DYD is grant-funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in collaboration with the Chickasaw Nation and Southern Plains Tribal Health Board.

More information can be found at DefineYourDirection.com, along with free resources to use when talking to teens about prescription drug abuse and underage drinking.

Pedestrians and drivers can see Greenwood’s mural on 3rd Street between West Broadway Avenue and Muskogee Avenue. It is a stone’s throw away from his previous Sulphurbased mural on the side of Mahota Studios.

The boutique is owned and operated by a trio of ladies, including young Chickasaw entrepreneur Madeline Jack and her Choctaw mother Julie Jack.

“We are excited about it! It adds a lot of color,” Madeline Jack said.

A native Oklahoman and contemporary artist of both Chickasaw and Ponca heritage, Greenwood was born in Midwest City. He is a graduate in fine arts disciplines from the Institute of American Indian Arts and Oklahoma City University.

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His artistic journey with the Chickasaw Nation began more than 20 years ago as a tribal artist.

He started teaching at the Chickasaw Arts Academy in 2013 and was appointed Chickasaw Nation Director of Fine Arts in 2017. He now facilitates the Chickasaw Arts Academy and other programming, including arts education, outreach, workshops and student initiatives.

“I’ve been able to employ what I’ve learned over the years.

We have a lot of budding young artists that just need some direction, and I know exactly where they are coming from, because I was there too,” he said.

He also maintains work as an independent artist on commission. Even early in his career as a rural letter carrier with the U.S. Postal Service serving as a means to pay bills, he worked as an artist.

“I consider myself an artist first. That’s my passion. That’s what I love to do. That’s always going to be there,” he said.

He is known for more than his murals. His figurative works in vibrant acrylic paints are a staple among his creations, but he also is known for his ledger, print making and mixed media art. His originals and prints adorn numerous tribal facilities and even have been applied to a Pendleton blanket sold exclusively at the Chickasaw Cultural Center in Sulphur.

As for his mural work and student mentorship, Greenwood said there are always new plans and tempting walls. He hopes to spark creativity in those who view public art as well as his students.

“Public art engages the community. It encourages and fosters the arts. It enhances the community, it spawns other projects, it leads to beautification. It’s a visual expression for the community in a public setting,” Greenwood said. “It’s free. It’s not in a museum. You don’t have to pay to see it.

It’s there if you want to see it. That’s what makes public art so great.” n

Other paintings by Brent Greenwood: Native Sisters (left), Iron Horse Blues(lower left) and Stomp Dancer (below).

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EVENTS

Festival of the Arts opening ceremony set for June 22 Arts shindig has been tradition since 1967

A

rts Council Oklahoma City (ACOKC) has announced its Festival of the Arts opening ceremony, an in-person and livestream event. Malcolm Tubbs, Thunder Game Day Emcee, will host the ceremony which occurs on Tuesday, June 22nd, 11:00am on the east steps of City Hall.

Festival of the Arts dates are June 22nd through June 27th at Bicentennial Park; hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11:00am – 9:00pm and Sunday 11:00am – 6:00pm. Festival of the Arts celebrates the community of visual and performing arts, bringing a variety of talented artists together in downtown Oklahoma City’s Bicentennial Park.

“I’m so excited Festival can finally be produced once again after the difficult time we all have been through this past year,” says Seth Lewis, Festival of the Arts Director. “Our artists and food vendors have also expressed their delight to once again be interacting with the community on such a grand scale.”

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Festival’s got talent!

Below, Youth Art Sales.

Festival of the Arts has been an Oklahoma City tradition since 1967. The event is considered a rite of spring and an ACOKC signature event. The festival site has been extended this year all the way to Hudson Street, creating more space for food vendors and performances.

More than 550 visual artists from across the nation jury for one of the highly coveted 144 spaces in the Plaza Artist area surrounding Bicentennial Park. There are 12 mediums in the show, ranging from paintings and photography to sculptures. Additionally, more than 200 performers of all ages will showcase their talents on stage.

“Special thanks go-out to many departments of the city of Oklahoma City for their undying support and encouragement in the production of Festival of the Arts,” says Peter Dolese, Executive Director. “We simply could not have done it without their professionalism. Also, a big shout out to the thousands of volunteers who work for months to produce the event.”

For more information on performances, artists, and food head to our website artscouncilokc.com n

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ART

Cowboy Announces 49th annual Prix de West® Invitational Art Exhibition & Sale

F

eaturing nearly 300 paintings and sculpture by the finest contemporary Western artists working today, the 49th annual Prix de West Invitational Art Exhibition & Sale at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum opened June 7, with the Art Sale Weekend scheduled for June 25 – 26.

Prix de West is the nation’s premier Western art exhibition and sale showcasing original works ranging from historical depictions of the American West to more contemporary and impressionistic pieces. Artwork from this world-renowned event will be on exhibit at The Cowboy June 7 – August 8, 2021.

“Prix de West remains the most anticipated event in the Western art world, and we are proud to continue this tradition for the 49th year here at The Cowboy,” said Museum President & CEO Natalie Shirley. “We are excited to continue building on the successes of last year to provide an even more rewarding experience for our guests.”

This year’s Prix de West will host nearly 100 invited artists and welcome renowned artist Ed Mell as well as guest artists Thomas Blackshear II, Huihan Liu and Roseta Santiago.

Sale weekend events include seminars, a live auction, receptions, awards, the art sale and trunk shows at The Museum Store.

The Cowboy will closely monitor city and state ordinances concerning crowd size and social distancing to ensure the

The Finalist by Walter T. Matia, left. Song of the open road by George Carlson, below

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Places Never Seen, by Logan Maxwell Hagege.

Unity, by Kent Ullberg.

Cold Front, by John Moyers.

Art Sale Weekend is safe for all involved.

“The safety and well-being of our patrons, volunteers and staff is always our top priority here at The Cowboy," said Shirley. “This year, we anticipate Prix de West will be a combination in-person and virtual experience, with several smaller-scale, preview events held to ensure everyone has the opportunity to see the artwork in person before the sale.”

To make reservations, see a full schedule or arrange to bid by proxy, visit nationalcowboymuseum.org/prixdewest. n Right: Young Apprentice, by Carrie Ballantyne.

Below, L to R: Swallows of Capistrano by George Hallmark; Spanish Santo with Grapes and Leaves, by Sherrie McGraw, and Ultimate Thule, by Tim Shinabarger.

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EVENTS

Summer Days at ‘The Cowboy’ full of education, inspiration Fight summer boredom with summer camps, events, new exhibitions and a book club at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

S

addle up for a fun summer for all ages with a full schedule of events and exhibitions at the Cowboy.

“We have something for everyone at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, and that doesn’t stop over summer break,” said Museum President and CEO Natalie Shirley. “We’re excited to provide our visitors with an

opportunity to dive a little bit deeper into the stories of the West this summer with camps, a book club and several new exhibitions.”

Beginning June 29, The Cowboy offers weekly, half-day Western Explorers Summer Camps for children ages 6-10.

Half-day camps are from 9 a.m. to noon with before and aftercare available. Camps are $125 per week and $100 for members. Before and after care is offered at an additional

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$40 per week per child. With a broad scope of topics and a new camp each week, parents are sure to find something to interest all their children this summer.

Adults are invited to join the Museum’s Read the West Book Club this summer and explore the histories of the American West. Read the West Book Club meets July, August and September and refreshments are provided. Club membership is $9, $6 for members, books must be purchased separately. Members can purchase select books from the Museum Store at a 15% discount.

Aside from camps, book clubs and events, Museum curators at the Cowboy have several exhibitions planned, starting with Prix de West, the nation’s premier Western art exhibition and sale on exhibit from June 7 – August 8.

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Museum visitors can continue to explore the diversity of the West through “¡Viva Mexico!”, on exhibit July 9 – October 17 and Find Your North, on exhibit August 20 – October 17.

Visitors can explore the history of tattooing in North America with Tattoos: Religion, Reality and Regret on exhibit August 27 – May 8, 2022.

For a complete schedule of events and exhibitions visit nationalcowboymuseum.org.

WESTERN EXPLORES SUMMER CAMP SCHEDULE Heart for the Arts Tuesday, June 29 – Friday, July 2 Young artists will explore the Museum’s galleries, create original artworks and showcase their masterpieces in a

special exhibition on the last day of camp. Museum educators will inspire your child to look closely, experiment with materials and try new techniques.

Register by June 14.

Animal Adventures Tuesday, July 6 – Friday, July 9 Cougars, eagles, bears and more lurk within the gallery walls. Adventurers will sharpen their eyes and tune their ears as they explore wildlife in art, create animal-themed crafts, identify pelts and tracks and play some wild games. Caution – they are closer than you think! Register by June 15.

Full STEAM Ahead Tuesday, July 13 – Friday, July 16 Campers stretch their imagination, build skills and explore science, technology, engineering, art and math through this exciting STEAM summer camp. Register by June 22.

Into the West Tuesday, July 20 – Friday, July 23 Campers spend a day in the life of the people that inhabit the West by playing traditional games, learning to build a shelter in Liichokoshkomo’, practicing cowboy skills and more. Register by June 29. n MAY/JUNE 2021 ion Oklahoma 39

FASHION

essentials Summer fashion

BY LINDA MILLER PHOTOS PROVIDED

Sweating out an Oklahoma summer in style is never easy.

Oh, sure, splashing around in the pool or the lake every day is one option. So is a months-long staycation holed up in the living room with the air conditioner set at a cool 68 degrees. On second thought, a staycation feels a bit too much like summer 2020.

For most of us, neither option is practical. That’s where a few stylish essentials come into play. And, yes, one of those is a swimsuit. If you’re ready to take the plunge and buy a new one, consider these trends – tie-dye, one-shoulder styles, animal prints, tie and belt accents, and ruffles.

Other items long on style and function include a widebrimmed hat, sunglasses, the perfect pair of sandals, a breezy dress for those days when you don’t want to wear anything tight or clingy and, of course, sunscreen and moisturizing lip balm. n

Sun Bum lip balm with SPF 30, aloe and Vitamin E. Available in several flavors at Ulta.

Sunglasses, a must for summer, from Boutique One.

40 ion Oklahoma MAY/JUNE 2021

Top, Bleu Rod Beattie blue swimsuit Below, Ombre maxi dress with off-the-shoulder neckline and ruffled hemline from Milo & Lily online boutique, miloandlilyboutqiue.com.

MAY/JUNE 2021 ion Oklahoma 41

GIFTS

Father’s Day and

BY LINDA MILLER

F

ather’s Day rolls around every June, but for some it’s still a last-minute scramble to find a gift.

Before we offer a few suggestions, here’s a little background on the day we celebrate fathers, grandfathers and those men who are father figures in our lives.

Though several theories can be found regarding the observance of Father’s Day, one is that the day was established on June 19, 1908 in the state of Washington and took place a few weeks later on July 5 in Fairmont, West Virginia.

This theory puts that first celebration at a church service to celebrate fathers who had died at a recent mine explosion in Monongah, West Virginia. More than 300 lives were lost.

Another theory is that Sonora Smart Dodd came up with the idea of Father’s Day while listening to a Mother’s Day sermon in 1909. She wanted to honor her selfless and loving father, who raised six children after their mother died.

42 ion Oklahoma MAY/JUNE 2021

This Kobalt 28-ounce smooth face plastic head plastic dead blow hammer from eliminates bounce-back when striking hard surfaces and the soft face helps prevent marring. It’s $23.73 from Lowe’s.

Paco Rabanne Invictus Legend eau de parfum is described as bold as victory and made for legends. It’s a spicy, woody scent. Prices range from $80 to $100 at Macy’s, Dillard’s and Ulta.

She wanted the celebration to be on June 5, her father’s birthday, but others felt more time was needed to plan such an event. That first Father’s Day was held on June 19, 1908 in Spokane, Wash. The idea caught on with politicians and others who praised the celebration.

President Woodrow Wilson became the first U.S. president to celebrate Father’s Day in June 1916. Of course, there was a party, He declared it a national holiday in 1924. Fast forward to 1966 and President Lyndon Johnson officially declared that Father’s Day would be celebrated on the third Sunday in June all across the nation.

Here are more fun facts from theholidayspot.com.

• Female shoppers spend 50 percent more than men on gifts for their dad.

• The world’s oldest father was an Indian farmer named Nanu Ram Jogi, who fathered his 21st child at the age of 90, in 2007.

• Martin Luther King Jr. was originally named Michael, like his father. When Jr. was 5, his father changed both their names to Martin.

• Hammers, wrenches and screwdrivers are high on the list for Father’s Day gifts in the U.S. n Can’t think of the perfect gift? Write a heartfelt and personal note inside a Father’s Day card. Maybe something like “Dad, you’re my favorite grill master.”

“Daddy, you were my first hero.” “You made growing up fun and I’m lucky to have you.” “Thank you for being the best father to our baby.” A home-cooked dinner or an outing to a favorite restaurant would be nice, too.

MAY/JUNE 2021 ion Oklahoma 43

PEOPLE

Law enforcement officer puts experience to work in classroom

BY MALLORY JONES, CHICKASAW NATION MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICE

SAYRE— When Chickasaw citizen Sarah Pierce decided to pursue law enforcement as a career, eventually becoming an educator wasn’t what she expected. But she couldn’t be happier with where she’s landed.

Through her journey as a police officer and later a detective, Pierce has employed her knowledge of law enforcement and applied it to her current role — criminal justice instructor for Western Technology Center at Sayre.

Pierce, 50, is originally from Norman. She graduated from Norman North High and attended the University of Oklahoma where she received her bachelor’s degree in law enforcement administration.

Law had always interested Pierce. But it was her time at OU that sparked a different interest under the umbrella of law.

“I really wanted to become an attorney,” she said. “I thought that that would be what I wanted to do until I took a police administration class.”

After taking that class, Pierce waded into law enforcement. She took a job as a clerk with the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office.

There, she was placed anywhere she was needed. Whether it was in the wards or in the lab, helping develop pictures.

“I learned how to work with people,” she said. “And I learned what the scope of law enforcement really was. Doing that while in college was really important because it gave me on the job experience.”

After graduating from OU, Pierce worked as a drug enforcement administration task force secretary for the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

44 ion Oklahoma MAY/JUNE 2021

Sarah Pierce

Taking that position ended up being a turning point in her life. She met an Edmond police officer who shared the news that a patrolman position was open.

Pierce applied and was hired, solidifying her choice to pursue law enforcement.

“Taking that leap and being willing to do something that wasn’t that immediate next step was something that set me up for what changed my life,” she said of her time with the DEA.

Eventually, Pierce would move with her family to southern Oklahoma, taking a brief break in her law enforcement career.

During this period, she enrolled in East Central University at Ada and worked at the Chickasaw Nation as a social worker for a short season before relocating to Blackwell.

She accepted a position with Northern Oklahoma College where she would first wade into mixing her knowledge of law enforcement with education by teaching an introduction to criminal justice class.

After working in education for several years, Pierce moved to Elk City and took a job as a detective for the city. Though she hadn’t worked in the force for some time, her knowledge of the field was expansive after years of teaching criminal justice classes.

“Detectives will work everything from embezzlement to homicide to child abuse, investigations, robberies, etc.,” she said. “It gave me an incredible amount of training and experience that would mold me into who I am today.”

Pierce found that being an instructor benefitted her in her detective career where communicating with people and learning how to work with them was of the utmost importance.

She continued to bring her past experience to the table as a detective, always remembering that being authentic and communicating would help bring the truth out.

“It’s very important to keep your head on finding the truth, making sure that you always know that that’s your goal, to keep the integrity of the case, and always look for the truth,” Pierce said.

Her passion for law enforcement led her down a familiar path when she discovered Western Technology Center was starting a criminal justice program during the fall of 2014.

It was an opportunity she couldn’t pass up.

“I loved being a detective, but I always wanted to get back to teaching because I had done it for so many years,” she said.

The technology center needed an instructor who had been

a police officer and had teaching experience. The job was a perfect fit.

She became the criminal justice instructor for the program. Since then, she has helped the program grow to where it is today, helping students learn and getting them into the workforce.

“Career tech was very different than higher education,” she said. “You’re working with diverse amounts of people rather than with only adult learners. I’m working with juniors and seniors and adults. It’s been another chapter where I’ve had to learn and be teachable.”

The technology center needed an instructor who had been a police officer and had teaching experience.

The job was a perfect fit.

And once again, Pierce found similarities between education and her previous jobs. Working with her colleagues was instrumental as a detective and just as much as a teacher.

“We are a team,” she said. “We support each other. When a new teacher comes on, we help them in any way that we can. Our success of the school and your success as a teacher are interdependent. It’s all about collaboration completely.”

Being with the technology center for almost seven years, Pierce doesn’t see herself leaving anytime soon.

“I would like to continue to grow this program,” she said.

“I’m hoping to continue to serve my students at career tech for as long as I possibly can. Because age is just a number.”

Overall, Pierce looks back on her career with happiness, and celebrates the chances she took that led her to where she is now.

“I’m grateful to be able to do what I do,” she said. “And I’m grateful that I’ve been protected in so many ways, especially being a police officer. I really value it when I sit back and reflect on my journey so far. But I’m only halfway there.” n MAY/JUNE 2021 ion Oklahoma 45

PEOPLE

ASHLEY COFFEY: Emerging opportunities for women in technology

BY GARLAND MCWATTERS

A

shley Coffey, the current president of Women In Tecthnology, says one of the lessons of leadership she has learned is the importance of speaking up and addressing issues that are inappropriate or unfair.

She says that even though the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) industries are booming in Oklahoma, she believes there is a need to speak out for more access to educational and certification opportunities for women seeking technology careers.

Coffey is the Director of Technology and Integration at XALTER in Tulsa, a technology company specializing in virtual reality applications. XALTER worked with the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission to develop the Greenwood Rising XR app.

Coffey explains, “It’s a great app to take the audience through the rich history of Black Wall Street and the businesses that thrived down Greenwood Avenue. . . It’s an exciting representation of taking technology and storytelling and bringing that to the forefront.”

Women under-represented in technology U.S. Census Bureau statistics show that 7% of U.S. workers are in STEM occupations. Within that segment, men hold 73% of the jobs and women only 27% although women make up 47% of the total workforce.

46 ion Oklahoma MAY/JUNE 2021

Ashley Coffey

According to Built In, a national community united around a shared passion for tech, women account for only 34.4% of the total workforce at the world’s five largest tech companies (Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google, and Microsoft).

Coffey encourages women not to under value their skills and qualifications but to give themselves credit for their knowledge and skill and apply for tech jobs.

“Don’t feel like you have to be perfect to apply for a job.”

She advises women not to preempt themselves in

Ashley headed to Apple HQ for training, above.

Ashley and her husband, Shawn, right.

the job market.

“They look at a job description and say, ‘I only meet ninety percent,’ and they still don’t apply for a job.”

Hot opportunities for women in tech careers Ashley says that for the next decade she expects the top hot career to be in cyber security. She explains that since the recent cyberattacks on American companies by foreign powers, the nation is becoming more aware of the need for internet and cyber security.

With what she calls the “crazy amount of data we MAY/JUNE 2021 ion Oklahoma 47

Ashley presenting at OKWISE conference with panelists Tammy Torkelson (r) and taylor Potter (l).

Ashley tries out virtual reality viewer, below.

Ashley as a Presenter on Virtual Reality and Storytelling at 2021 South by Southwest Education Conference online.

produce every day,” data science and data analysis are other hot areas.

Coffey singles out project management as another career area where women could stand out.

Any job in development that involves writing computer programs or apps, programs for virtual reality and building virtual experiences, such as in vocational training, all are STEM areas. She predicts these areas will quadruple in growth during the next few years.

Lessons learned for future growth Coffey was recognized in 2016 in the NextGen Under 30 Oklahoma representing the technology and STEM category. She also presented a TEDxOU talk (2019) on cultivating women’s empowerment with technology.

She quotes Henry David Thoreau when her thoughts turn to what success means to her.

“What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as who you become.”

48 ion Oklahoma MAY/JUNE 2021

Ashley presenting at TEDxOU.

Coffey speaks about how the journey to success is never a direct route, and the journey is more important than the destination.

Along those lines, Coffey says she has learned that she doesn’t have to try to control everything. There are very few things over which she has any control. However, she can control her attitude.

“Your attitude toward life can make the difference between you having a great day and you having a horrible day,” she said.

Furthermore, cultivating a spirit of gratitude has made a profound difference to her.

“I couldn’t do what I do on my own. I do it with the amazing support of my friends and family… Let those people who are part of your support system know you are grateful for that. They are the unsung heroes behind all of us,” she said. n Listen to the complete interview with Ashley Coffey on The Spirit of Leading podcast at https://liveinpowered.com/spirit-of-leading-podcast/ MAY/JUNE 2021 ion Oklahoma 49

2021 SChedule SUN MON TUE WED THU 2

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OKLAHOMA CITY DODGERS | CHICKASAW BRICKTOWN BALLPARK DR. | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73104 | 405.218.1000

2 S. MICKEY 50 ion Oklahoma MAY/JUNE 2021 MANTLE

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ALBUQUERQUE ISOTOPES EL PASO CHIHUAHUAS OKLAHOMA CITY DODGERS ROUND ROCK EXPRESS SUGAR LAND SKEETERS

(COL) (SD) (LAD) (TEX) (HOU)

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LAS VEGAS AVIATORS RENO ACES SACRAMENTO RIVER CATS SALT LAKE BEES TACOMA RAINIERS

(OAK) (ARI) (SF) (LAA) (SEA)

MAY/JUNE 2021 ion Oklahoma 51

DATE

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Indy Eleven Birmingham Legion

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All times are Central Time.

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MAY/JUNE 2021 ion Oklahoma 53

EVENTS

Happening in the Gardens 301 W. Reno Oklahoma City Many activities require registration; register online at myriadgardens.org *Subject to change due to COVID protocols.

Children’s Garden Festival June 11-20 $8 per person, FREE for members SPONSORED BY: E.L. and Thelma Gaylord Foundation, iTinker Federal Credit Union, Devon Energy Corp., Geico OKC-South, Burnett Equity, Goldfish Swim School, Bank of Oklahoma, Gray, Blodgett & Company, Red Earth Landscaping, IPGI Screen Printing, Embroidery, Promotional Products 10 DAYS OF ACTIVITIES, crafts and creative displays inspired by a selection of books featuring tiny people and magical creatures.

Enchanting vignettes will be created by local artists to bring these books to life. The 2021 theme, Tiny Gardens and Enchanted Woods, highlights a variety of books that will appeal to a wide range of ages.

Selected titles include Thumbelina, Hilda and the Hidden People, The Borrowers, Backyard Fairies, Unicorns Are The Worst, A Natural History of Fairies and more.

Visit the wwebsite toee the daily schedule and register.

Children’s Garden Festival Tiny Homes and Enchanted Woods Myriad Botanical Gardens Public Programs Storytime on the Children’s Garden Porch Daily, 11am Children’s Garden Porch Flower Fairy Fashion Walk-Up Monday, June 14 and Wednesday, June 16, 1-2pm Events Tent $3 per child 54 ion Oklahoma MAY/JUNE 2021

Best for ages 5 to 10, but all are welcome Help us create outfits that fairies and other tiny forest creatures would wear to a royal ball. We have gathered petals, leaves and other natural materials to help you build a tiny ensemble.

No pre-registration is required, walk-up program Help us create outfits that fairies and other tiny forest creatures would wear to a royal ball. We have gathered petals, leaves and other natural materials to help you build a tiny ensemble.

Tea Dragon Tea Party

FREE Dog Agility Training in the Gardens

Tuesday, June 15, 1-2pm & Thursday, June 17, 1-2pm Events Tent M $10; NM $12 Best for ages 6 to 10 Pre-registration is required by Friday, June 11 June 15 & June 17 Visit our Tea Dragon raised bed in the Children’s Garden during the Bringing Books to Life – Children’s Garden Festival and discover the tasty world of tea and the magical world of dragons. We’ll learn about all the different types of tea and how they grow, then we’ll read a few books and end with a tea party. Tasty tea and snacks included.

Presented by OKC Vet Campus Thursday, June 24, 5:45pm The Devon Lawn FREE Bring your pup – all sizes welcome to OKC Vet Campus’ FREE Dog Agility Training! Canine agility coursing keeps a dog fit, increases endurance, helps prevent obesity, and strengthens bones and joints. In addition to the physical aspects, agility courses exercise a dog’s mind, giving them an opportunity to learn and solve problems.

Their training will also help you keep in shape!

EVERY FULL MOON NIGHT THROUGH OCTOBER Friday, July 23; Sunday, August 22; Monday, September 20; Wednesday, October 20

Sensory Night at Children’s Garden Festival Presented by Bank of Oklahoma Sponsored by Goldfish Swim School Friday, June 18, 6-7:30pm M $10; NM $12 Registation required Geared for families with children with special needs, this pre-registered event provides a more controlled Children’s Garden Festival (or Bringing Books to Life Festival) experience with no loud music. Your entry fee includes complimentary rides on Mo’s Carousel.

Flower Fairy Fashion Walk-Up Monday, June 14 and Wednesday, June 16, 1-2pm The Children’s Garden Porch $3 per child Best for ages 5 to 10, but all are welcome

#FullMoonOKC Bike Ride Presented by OU Health Sponsored by Geico – OKC Southwest & OKC Vet Campus Thursday, June 24, 8:45pm (Strawberry Moon) Meet at the Bandshell on the Devon Lawn Suggested $5 per person donation Route announced that night at the meetup by race coordinator Steve Schlegel A non-competitive, leisure ride under the full moon in downtown. Bring your bike for a one-hour, 6 to 8-mile leisurely ride through the downtown OKC area under the light of the full moon. Meet up at the bandshell stage on MAY/JUNE 2021 ion Oklahoma 55

the Devon Lawn. It’s free however the Myriad Gardens asks for a $5 donation, which goes towards the nonprofit foundation that runs the Gardens.

Routes are specially planned by bicycle enthusiast Steve Schlegel from Schlegel’s Home Inspections.

Monthly Classes Sunday Twilight Concert Series June 20, 2021 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm Myriad Botanical Gardens The Arts Council of Oklahoma City is BACK in the Gardens with their 2021 Sunday Twilight Concert Series presented by The Chickasaw Nation! Each week offers a different genre of music from local and regional acts from 7:30 to 9 p.m.

The lineup at the Myriad Botanical Gardens on the Devon Lawn: 6/20: Scott Keeton Band – Roots Rock 6/27: 145th Infantry Band – Big Band 7/11: David Chamberlain – Southern Rock/County 7/18: Injunuity – Native American Fusion 7/25: Talk of the Town – Jazz/Swing 8/1: Banda Lamento Show De Durango – Regional Mexican (Tamborazo) 8/8: Shortt Dogg – Funk/R&B/Smooth Jazz 8/15: Weston Horn and the Hush – Rock/Soul 8/22: Smilin Vic – Rhythm & Blues 8/29: Yacht Rock Legends – 60’s, 70’s, & 80’s Yacht Rock

Gardens Monthly Walking Tour 10:00 am Saturday, June 26 Last Saturday of each month, 10-11 am Garden Grounds, meet in the south lobby

56 ion Oklahoma MAY/JUNE 2021

Bike Rental options can be found on the Myriad Gardens’ website.

ADDITIONAL DATES & TIMES: Friday, July 23, 8:45pm (Buck Moon) Sunday, Aug 22, 8:30pm (Sturgeon Moon) Monday, September 20, 7:30pm (Corn Moon) Wednesday, October 20, 7pm (Harvest Moon)

FREE – Registration required Expand your knowledge of Oklahoma plants and find inspiration for your own garden with an educational walking tour. Each month will feature different plants from our outdoor collection that make great choices for this region – from year-round color to drought-tolerant choices and more.

Self-guided plant tour handouts are available in our north lobby. Attendees must wear a mask for the walk and must social distance themselves in order to participate.

Botanical Balance FREE YOGA Presented by Fowler Auto Sponsors: Tinker Federal Credit Union and OU Medicine Tuesdays 6 pm and Saturdays, 9 am Instructors from YMCA The Devon Lawn Bring a mat, water Recommended for ages 16 & Up Practicing yoga in the Gardens connects you with nature.

The Gardens offer a space of beauty and tranquility to help relieve stress and quiet your mind. Classes are open to all levels, whether you are a beginner or an experienced yogi.

Thanks to our presenting sponsor Fowler Auto, and our generous ongoing sponsors Tinker Federal Credit Union and OU Medicine, yoga is offered two times weekly free of charge. n

ART

ALLIED ARTS BRINGS BACK EVENTS WITH RETURN OF OPUS Event raises vital funds for central Oklahoma's arts community

A

llied Arts is preparing for the return of its signature biennial fundraiser, OPUS, on June 18 at The Criterion.

OPUS XI Club Cabaret will showcase local and nationally-known performing artists. Performances from Erin Elizabeth Clemons, who starred on Broadway and in the national tour of Hamilton as Eliza, Emmy Award-winning hip hop artist Jabee and renowned violinist Kyle Dillingham will dazzle on the OPUS XI stage.

Country star Miranda Lambert will perform virtually, as will winner of America’s Got Talent, Darci Lynne. Emceeing the event will be the father-daughter duo of Mark and Annie Funke. Guests will recognize the latter from Broadway and her recent role on the hit TV show, This is Us. An Oklahoma native, Annie honed her skills at Lyric Theatre’s Thelma Gaylord Academy before making it to New York City and Hollywood.

In addition to the stellar entertainment lineup, guests will enjoy a decadent meal with a chance to win one-of-a-kind auction items. Packages include four exclusive trips via private jets to top wineries in Oregon and Napa Valley as well as to luxury golf retreats and spa-cations at Omni Barton Creek in Austin and Rancho Las Palmas in Palm Springs.

Also included in the live auction are custom jewelry from Naifeh Fine Jewelry, artwork by Oklahoma-born and Santa Fe-based Poteet Victory, a private, catered dinner with Oklahoma coaching legends including Bob Stoops and Barry Switzer, and much more.

The evening will also recognize local first responders who inspired the community with their courage and selflessness during the pandemic.

58 ion Oklahoma MAY/JUNE 2021

Erin Elizabeth Clemons

“OPUS is consistently one of the best artistic and fundraising events in Oklahoma City,” said event co-chair Celina Harrison who is spearheading the event with her husband, Russ. “The level of entertainment and caliber of auction items are unparalleled. Through sponsorships, ticket sales and auction proceeds, OPUS helps raise awareness of and vital funds for Allied Arts and its network of more than 40 arts groups.”

Each year, Allied Arts funding reaches more than 40 local arts organizations that provide vital programming to more than 1 million people. In addition to blockbuster exhibits and performances, the network of Allied Arts agencies transport

AnnieFunke

cultural experiences to underserved and rural schools, to veterans and senior center facilities, and to hospitals statewide.

Presenting sponsors for OPUS XI include Celina & Russ Harrison and Paycom. Other major sponsors include Claims Management Resources, Heartland Payment Systems, ARVEST Bank, Devon Energy Corporation, Freestyle Creative and Mansions Senior Living.

Individual tickets to the event are $300. For tickets and more information on the event or auction packages, visit opusokc.com or email blair.sims@alliedartsokc.com.

About Allied Arts As a United Arts Fund, Allied Arts works to broaden support for the arts by raising financial support for cultural organizations, encouraging participation and attendance, advocating for arts education, and promoting excellence in the arts and arts management. Since its founding in 1971, the organization has raised more than $79 million to advance the arts in central Oklahoma. Learn more at www.alliedartsokc.com.

ALLIED ARTS COUNTS MORE THAN 40 NONPROFIT CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS under its umbrella. Member agencies include: Ambassadors’ Concert Choir Arts Council Oklahoma City Canterbury Voices Carpenter Square Theatre

Cimarron Opera deadCenter Film Firehouse Art Center Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma and Thelma Gaylord Academy Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art Metropolitan School of Dance National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum OK City Chorus Oklahoma Children’s Theatre Oklahoma City Ballet Oklahoma City Museum of Art Oklahoma City Philharmonic Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center Oklahoma Shakespeare Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition (OVAC) Oklahoma Youth Orchestras Opry Heritage Foundation of Oklahoma Prairie Dance Theatre Red Earth, Inc. Science Museum Oklahoma The Sooner Theatre For more information, contact Allied Arts at 405.278.8944 or visit alliedartsokc.com. n MAY/JUNE 2021 ion Oklahoma 59

Allied Arts provides grants to 25 nonprofit groups Total support hits $2.8 million this fiscal year Allied Arts has awarded more than $130,000 in grants to 25 local arts and cultural nonprofits through its annual grant programs focusing on two areas: Educational Outreach and Capacity-Building.

These grants bring Allied Arts’ total support of more than 40 cultural nonprofits to $2.8 million this fiscal year.

“The Allied Arts Educational Outreach Program supports a broad range of programming that provides schoolaged children across Oklahoma the opportunity to learn and grow through arts education and cultural experiences,” said Allied Arts President and CEO Deborah McAuliffe Senner. “From virtual or in-person fieldtrips to museums and performing arts venues to adding lessons from artists in underperforming schools to enhance comprehension of core subjects, grants like these help provide vital arts education.”

The focus of the Allied Arts Educational Outreach Program is providing arts-based educational opportunities for underserved and at-risk K-12 students across the state who otherwise might not be exposed to or benefit from experiences with the arts.

The Allied Arts Capacity-Building Program provides assistance to nonprofit arts and cultural agencies as they work to strengthen their organizational capability to better 60 ion Oklahoma MAY/JUNE 2021

fulfill their missions. Examples of projects funded by this program include board and volunteer management exercises, staff development opportunities and strategicplanning assistance. Another area of assistance is technological upgrades, which proved vital to many organizations being able to offer virtual classes and livestream performances during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Allied Arts is committed to enhancing access to the arts for more Oklahomans,” said Bill Schonacher, Allied Arts grants chair. “Donor investments in Allied Arts are directed to strong, relevant nonprofits meeting the diverse needs and populations of our community. Every grant proposal and applying organization is carefully examined by a committee of community and corporate volunteers and then shared with the Allied Arts executive committee for final approval.”

Organizations interested in applying for Allied Arts grant awards can visit www.alliedartsokc.com/grants for more information. For questions, contact Jennifer Bryan at Allied Arts at 405.278.8944. n

EVENTS

7th Annual Daddy-Daughter Dance with Beach Bash theme

O

klahoma City Parks and Recreation revamped its seventh annual Daddy Daughter Dance as a safe and fun outdoor event with a new summer theme: Beach Bash.

Oklahoma City dads treated their daughters to a fun day and evening in the sun during one of three socially distanced dance options held Saturday, April 24. More than 600 people attended the event. Á 62 ion Oklahoma MAY/JUNE 2021

MAY/JUNE 2021 ion Oklahoma 63

The event was at Sky Rink at Scissortail Park, 801 S Robinson Ave. Activities included a dunk tank, DJ, photo-booth, lei-making craft and horse-drawn carriage rides

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for an additional $20 per dad. Raffle prizes from local businesses, the OKC Parks and others were given throughout each of the three dance sessions.

More on the event The seventh annual Daddy Daughter Dance was catered by 84 Hospitality Group, serving up dishes from either Burger Punk, Empire Slice House or TORI TORI! Fried Chicken. Kona Ice served up snow cones, and Insomnia Cookies provided dessert.

COVID-19 safety measures included temperature checks, a 200-guest limit per session, required masks for staff, recommended masks for participants, individually wrapped food and drinks, hand sanitizing stations and socially distanced seating.

This year’s dance was sponsored by 84 Hospitality Group, the Law Office of Lindsey W. Andrews, Bob Moore Subaru, Oklahoma Shirt Company, DJ Connection and Insomnia Cookies. n

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ART

deadCenter Film Festival

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ward winners for the 21st annual deadCenter Film Festival were announced during a live celebration highlighting 16 categories filtered from the record-breaking slate of 180 films screening from June 10-20.

The winners were selected by an independent panel of film industry professionals, including respected directors, writers, producers, and actors from around the country. New this year is an award for Best Indigenous Short Film, sponsored by the Cherokee Nation Film Office with the largest, to-date, cash prize of $1,000.

Winners include filmmakers from around the world and, of course, a highlight of Oklahoma-based writers and directors.

After this opening weekend with select in-theater and outdoor venues, the duration of the festival will be available online, with passes still available at www.deadcenterfilm.org.

2021 deadCenter Film Festival Award Winners Best Narrative Feature: Inbetween Girl, Dir. Mei Makino Best Documentary Feature: Holy Frit, Dir. Justin Monroe Best Live Action Short: Play It Safe, Dir. Mitch Kalisa Best Short Documentary: The Box, Dirs. James Burns, Shal Ngo Inbetween Girl

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Holy Frit

Play It Safe

Play It Safe

Totsu

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Best Indigenous Short: Totsu (Redbird), Dir. Jeremy The Chimney Swift Charles Best Animation: The Chimney Swift, Dir. Frédéric Schuld Best Music Video: Ekaterina Yashnikova - Recover, Dir. Adelina Nigmatova Best Screenplay: Too Many Wades, Written by Stirling J McLaughlin & Wilder Konschak Best Episodic: Blackwater, Dir. Boise Esquerra Virtual Cinema Visions Award: The Eye Doctor of Death, Dirs. B Rich, Brian Schrank, Brian Andrews Special Jury Narrative Feature: Moving in 2008, Dir. Calogero Carucci Special Jury Documentary: Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) Special Jury Short: Touch, Dir. Nir Berger Best Okie Short: Totsu (Redbird), Dir. Jeremy Charles Best Okie Feature: Sakthi Vibrations, Dir. Zoe Sherinian Best Oklahoma Screenplay: 4.15.95, Written by Matt Skuta

deadCenter Film Festival is Oklahoma’s largest film festival, recognized as one of the “Top 20 Coolest Film Festivals in the World” by MovieMaker magazine. More than 40,000 people attended deadCenter Film Festival virtually in 2020, representing audiences in 42 states and 24 countries.

The 21st annual edition is made possible through Moving in 2008

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presenting sponsors Allied Arts, The Chickasaw Nation, Citizens Bank of Edmond, Kirkpatrick Foundation, and Inasmuch Foundation. n

Blackwater

Summer of Soul

The Eye Doctor of Death

Touch

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FOOD

WAYNE’S DRIVE INN

BY TIM FARLEY

LAWTON - First dates and marriage proposals at Wayne’s Drive Inn is part of the folklore that has been passed down from one generation to another during the last 71 years.

Wayne’s Drive Inn is more than hamburgers, onion rings and large Coke. It’s a Lawton institution that almost everyone in the city knows about. It’s a hangout and part of the drag strip where teenagers cruised on Friday nights starting in 1950. It’s also been a venue to show off some of the fastest and best looking hot rods in town.

“There’s a lot of stories about things that have happened here,” said Joe Abshere, owner of Wayne’s Drive Inn, 6810 NW Cache Road. Abshere is the grandson of Wayne’s founder Wayne Abshere. Joe Abshere and his father opened the Cache Road location in 2006 after Joe decided he wanted to 70 ion Oklahoma MAY/JUNE 2021

be involved in the family business.

“It’s been good for us and the community,” Joe Abshere said. “The community takes care of us and we try to take of them when we can.”

During the past few years, Wayne’s Drive Inn has expanded its menu while still providing quality customer service “with a smile on our face,” Joe Abshere said.

Wayne Abshere, the family patriarch, died in 2001. His sons, Bobby and Chuck, still operate the first Wayne’s Drive Inn at Sheridan and Gore.

“When my grandfather started it was only hamburgers and hotdogs,” Joe Abshere said.

The menu has expanded to include breakfast, complete dinners, pizzas, steak fingers, salads, kiddie food and a variety of sides. Burgers, still considered the top menu choice, ranges from regular-sized hamburgers to triple-

cheeseburgers to big-as-you-want-burgers.

“We always strive to keep moving forward to see where it takes us,” Joe Abshere said. “It’s important we serve our customers because they’re the reason we’ve been around 71 years. We have customers who remind us of their first visits to Wayne’s or their first date or the time they proposed to their sweetheart. There are so many stories and we’ve probably heard each one a few times.”

Employee loyalty has been one of the ingredients to Joe Abshere’s success with the second Wayne’s Drive Inn. “A lot of people have been with me since we opened on the west side,” he said. “For some it was their first job and for

others it’s been their only job. That’s how long they’ve been with us.”

The beginning In 1947, Wayne Abshere began his restaurant venture in Arvin, Calif., after serving in World War II. He and his wife, Mary, and his best friend Charley Barrett decided California was the place to be so they loaded up and moved there to start a new life. Once in California, they opened a hamburger stand – a seven-foot by 14-foot trailer. That lasted about a year before Wayne and Mary returned to Lawton and opened a sit-down hamburger restaurant called

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Nostalgic views of Wayne’s Drive In, starting with the original location (left).

Wayne’s Burger Bar, 201 B Avenue.

After expanding to three locations, Wayne changed the company name and reduced his operation to the Sheridan Road location.

In the early 1960s, he decided to construct a new building and extend the parking lot so he could better serve his customers. The inside counter seating was removed and curb service by carhops was created. The carhops took orders on a pad and calculated the total price in their heads.

Several years later in 1974, an electronic ordering system was installed to increase customer service.

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Hours for the original Wayne’s Drive Inn are 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Restaurant hours for Wayne’s Drive Inn II are 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 7 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Both restaurants are closed on Sunday and Monday.

This article was reprinted with permission from the Southwest Ledger. n

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PEOPLE

Oklahoma Hall of Fame’s 2021 Class announced Induction ceremony set Nov. 18 in Tulsa

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ight Oklahomans who made significant contributions to the state will be inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame during a Nov. 18 ceremony at the Cox Business Convention Center in Tulsa.

The 2021 Oklahoma Hall of Fame Honorees are: Stanley L. Evans, Oklahoma City; Scott Hendricks, Clinton; Hannibal B. Johnson, Tulsa; Yvonne Kauger, Colony; Paula Marshall, Tulsa; Harvey Pratt, El Reno; Jim Stovall, Tulsa; and Roscoe Dunjee (posthumous).

The 2021 Induction Ceremony will include each Honoree’s acceptance remarks, presenters’ remarks, and video biographies, all hosted by Oklahoma Hall of Fame Members Governor Bill Anoatubby and Chief Gary Batton. The 2021 Honorees will be recognized with the unveiling of their portraits at the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and Gaylord-Pickens Museum and their biographies, photos, and videos will be accessible through interactive exhibits in the Museum. In addition, the Inductees are recognized on granite monuments in the Heritage Plaza at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds.

Being inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame is Oklahoma's Highest Honor. Since the Oklahoma Hall of Fame’s inception in 1927, 714 accomplished individuals have received this commendation.

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Stanley Evans – Oklahoma City Immediately after graduating from the University of Oklahoma College of Law, at the age of 57, Stanley L. Evans was named dean of students—the first African American to be appointed to a dean position at an

Oklahoma law school.

In his first year, incoming minority enrollment nearly doubled. During his tenure, OU Law achieved a 100% minority bar passage rate multiple times and was named one of the top 20 law schools for diversity experience by U.S. News & World Report.

Evans is a proud veteran, serving 32 years in the Army, including in Vietnam as a company commander. He was the first African American to command Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, and dean of the prestigious Command and General Staff College, in addition to presenting a $120 million project to Congress for the construction of a 413,000-square-foot instruction facility.

As chair of the Oklahoma Human Rights Commission, he energized the state on human rights awareness. The Oklahoma Lawyers for America’s Heroes Program, in which Evans is one of the founders, has helped more than 4,000 local veterans. As chief legal coordinator for Oklahoma City’s Make-A-Will Program, over 900 families have been given access to financial planning and wealth management.

Evans’ efforts have earned him numerous awards, including the Oklahoma Bar Association’s Trailblazer Award, two Oklahoma Governor’s Commendations, and the military’s Distinguished Service Medal and the Bronze Star.

Scott Hendricks - Clinton Scott Hendricks is country genre’s most successful producer of the last quarter century, amassing 122 Top 10 singles and counting. . . 78 peaking at No. 1. He has earned eight Academy of Country Music awards, four CMAs, and an Emmy Award. His production credits are a list of country’s “who’s who,” including Restless Heart, Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, Faith Hill, Trace Adkins, Chris Cagle, Dan + Shay, and Blake Shelton, among many others. And, he has appeared four times as a mentor on NBC’s The Voice.

Hendricks’ love for music began in his hometown of Clinton where he was a 2-time All-State guitar/bass musician in the stage band. After graduating from Oklahoma State University, Hendricks relocated to Nashville where he sold recording equipment by day and worked for free in a recording studio at night. Quickly making a name for himself, Hendricks was soon engineering and mixing sessions for Nashville’s top producers.

Since that time, he has worked both independently as a producer and engineer, as well as in executive positions. He founded the music publishing company Big Tractor and a Nashville division of Virgin Records, in addition to serving as president and CEO of Capitol Records, all before being named Executive Vice President of Artists and Repertoire for Warner Music Nashville.

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Rising. His ten books, including Black Wall Street 100: An American City Grapples With Its Historical Racial Trauma, chronicle the African American experience in Oklahoma and its indelible impact on American history. Johnson’s play, Big Mama Speaks—A Tulsa Race Riot Survivor’s Story, was selected for the 2011 National Black Theatre Festival and has been staged in Caux, Switzerland.

Johnson, who resides in Tulsa, has held leadership positions on nonprofit organizations at the local, state, and national levels and for this work, and a strong passion for community service, has received numerous honors and awards.

Hannibal B. Johnson – Tulsa An author, attorney, and independent consultant, Hannibal B. Johnson graduated from Fort Smith, Arkansas’ Northside High School, the University of Arkansas, and Harvard Law School. He has taught at The University of Tulsa College of Law, Oklahoma State University, and The University of Oklahoma. He serves on the federal 400 Years of AfricanAmerican History Commission, a body charged with planning, developing, and implementing activities appropriate to the 400th anniversary of the arrival, in 1619, of Africans in the English colonies at Point Comfort, Virginia.

Johnson chairs the Education Committee for the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission and serves as local curator of its world-class history center, Greenwood 76 ion Oklahoma MAY/JUNE 2021

Yvonne Kauger - Colony Yvonne Kauger is a fourth-generation Oklahoman from Colony. She grew up on what will be named a centennial farm next year.

She graduated from Colony High School as class valedictorian and from Southwestern Oklahoma State University magna cum laude. She became a certified Medical Technologist to put herself through Oklahoma City University’s night law school, graduating first in her class.

She worked for Rogers, Travis, and Jordon, before becoming the first woman judicial assistant to the Oklahoma Supreme Court for Justice Ralph B. Hodges. On March 14, 1984, she was appointed by Governor George Nigh to the Oklahoma Supreme Court.

The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma adopted her the same year. Kauger founded the Gallery of the Plains Indian; co-founded Red Earth with Ken Bonds; coordinates The Sovereignty Symposium; received the Governor’s Arts Award twice; and chaired the Building Committee and Arts Committee for the Oklahoma Judicial Center, transforming and elevating the historic Wiley Post Building into one of Oklahoma’s most incredible preservation sites for art by Oklahoma artists.

With Lonnie Yearwood, she is turning her hometown of Colony into an “arts colony.” Murals by Eric Tippiconnic and a sculpture by Patrick Riley and Ron Lowry already have been added to the John Kauger Memorial Park.

Paula Marshall – Tulsa A third-generation Tulsan, Paula Marshall obtained her Associate’s Degree from Tulsa Community College and her Bachelors, Masters and Doctorate from Oklahoma City University. Marshall has served as CEO of Tulsa-based international food manufacturer, Bama Companies, Inc. since 1990.

Bama’s mission statement is: People Helping People Be Successful. This not only includes helping Bama team members, but also their families and the community in which they live, work, and serve.

In honoring this mission, Marshall has started, served, and partnered with numerous organizations and causes in and around the Tulsa area, including Tulsa Chamber of Commerce, Tulsa Area United Way, the Margaret Hudson Program, DVIS, Food On The Move, and Ronald McDonald House Charities.

For her commitment to others, she has been recognized with numerous awards and recognitions, including induction to the Tulsa Hall of Fame, Advocate of the Year for DVIS, The Journal Record’s Woman of the Year, and named one of 25 Tulsans “Who Shaped Our City” by Tulsa People Magazine in 2011.

The first manufacturer in Oklahoma to become a certified B Corporation, given to those who balance purpose and profit, Bama Companies has been recognized by the Tulsa Regional Chamber, McDonald’s, and Yum Brands as a top inclusive workplace and received the prestigious Malcom Baldridge National Quality Award by the U.S. Department of Commerce.

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with the Midwest City Police Department and retiring in 2017 from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, Pratt is a nationally and internationally recognized expert in forensic art. He has been involved in many high profile cases, bringing closure to the families of loved ones and the capture of some of the most notorious criminals. During his service in Vietnam, a U. S. Marine in Air Rescue and Security, he was stationed at Da Nang Air Base.

An inductee to the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Hall of Fame, Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame, and the Oklahoma State Bureau Hall of Fame, Pratt also has been recognized by the Cheyenne People as an outstanding Southern Cheyenne and was inducted as a traditional Peace Chief— the Cheyenne Nation’s highest honor. Pratt currently serves as chairperson of the Indian Arts and Crafts Board of the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Jim Stovall

Harvey Pratt – El Reno Self-taught Oklahoma artist and Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal Member Harvey Pratt was selected to create the Smithsonian’s National Native American Veterans Memorial for the National Museum of the American Indian.

The “Warriors’ Circle of Honor” was unveiled last year and brings together 573 federally recognized tribes. From El Reno, Pratt is a self-taught artist who works in oil, watercolor, metal, clay, and wood. His works include themes of Native American history and tradition and the Cheyenne people.

With more than 50 years in law enforcement, beginning 78 ion Oklahoma MAY/JUNE 2021

Jim Stovall – Tulsa Native Oklahoman Jim Stovall is proud to be able to make his home and operate his business in his Tulsa hometown.

In spite of blindness, Stovall lost his sight in his 20s, he has been a National Olympic weightlifting champion, successful investment broker, founder and president of the Emmy Award-winning Narrative Television Network, and a highly sought-after author and platform speaker.

He is the author of 40 books, including the bestselling novel The Ultimate Gift—a major motion picture distributed by 20th Century Fox and starring the late James Garner.

Another five books also have been made into movies with two more in production including his novel, Will to Win featuring the life, wit, and wisdom of Will Rogers.

For his work in making television accessible to our nation’s 13 million blind and visually impaired people, The President’s Committee on Equal Opportunity selected Stovall as the Entrepreneur of the Year. He has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes Magazine, USA Today, and has been seen on Good Morning America, CNN, and CBS Evening News. He was also chosen as the International Humanitarian of the Year, joining Jimmy Carter, Nancy Reagan, and Mother Teresa as recipients of this honor.

Roscoe Dunjee – Oklahoma City (POSTHUMOUS AWARD) For 40 years as editor of Oklahoma City’s only black newspaper, The Black Dispatch, Roscoe Dunjee led the way in the struggle for civil rights.

In his own words, he was endeavored “to interpret the mind, the aspiration, the object, and longing of his people.”

Publishing the first edition at the age of 31, Dunjee was aware of the dire need for his people to have a voice in the affairs of the city and state.

He saw and experienced firsthand the terrible discrimination and knew there was no representation at any level of government. He played an integral role in court cases that would affect and change segregation laws in Oklahoma, including fights for equal access to higher

education by Ada Lois Sipuel and George McLaurin. He also served on the National board of directors of the NAACP and 16 years as president of the Oklahoma State Conference of Branches.

Born in Harper’s Ferry, Virginia, with his family Dunjee relocated to Oklahoma Territory in 1892. Although he briefly attended Oklahoma’s Colored Agricultural and Normal University, known today as Langston University, it was the inheritance of a 1,500-volume library, combined with his analytical mind, that made him one of the most educated men in Oklahoma. n

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PEOPLE

State lawmaker, long-term care administrator overwhelmed by veterans and their war stories

BY TIM FARLEY

MARLOW - As Memorial Day came and went, long-term care administrator Jessica Garvin remembered the many times she has listened to the war stories of her residents and saw their tears as they spoke.

“It makes me cry a lot and I’m not really a big crier. It’s overwhelming,” she said.

Garvin, who doubles as a state lawmaker from Duncan, said the veterans who reside in the facilities she operates, are from an era of tough, rugged men and women who made life work for them and their families despite incredible obstacles.

“For some of these people, we’re talking about them living through the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl and a World War. They have such knowledge and a wealth of stories that are priceless,” she said. “It’s not often that a veteran speaks of their own heroism. Most of the time, when these stories begin to pour out, it’s bragging on a shipmate or someone who was in the

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trenches with them that never made it home. Listening to the stories from these veterans is heart-wrenching. Watching them relive those memories, although difficult to hear, brings me such pride in my country and thankfulness for their sacrifice.

When these aging veterans begin to tell their stories Garvin and her staff usually just listen. In some cases, they ask questions.

“Some veterans will remember specific days when they were at war,” she said. “So many World War II veterans are passing away, but we have quite a few from Vietnam, Korea and even some Iraqi and Afghanistan war veterans who are here for rehab or long-term care.”

When the veterans begin to tell the war stories, their spouses are often present.

“Sometimes, they will cry together and sometime they will laugh together,” Garvin said. “Sometimes, they open up about writing letters back and forth. I’ve even heard some stories about vets who lied about their age to join the military. Hearing their stories really puts things into perspective, especially when I heard a Normandy Day survivor talk about missing his prom because he was fighting in a war. So many of these veterans missed out on their birth of their children, a high school prom and even high school graduation.”

About two years ago, Marlow High School students, in conjunction with Garvin’s West Wind Assisted Living Center and the Gregston Nursing Home and Rehab Center, organized a prom for the veterans who didn’t go to their own prom because they were serving in a war far away.

“They loved it and so did we,” Garvin said.

After the 2021 legislative session ended last month, Garvin sent a letter to all of her constituents about Memorial

Day and her connection to military veterans. In the letter, Garvin wrote “I think of how incredibly blessed I have been over the past seven years to serve veterans in their most vulnerable and difficult time of life. As a nursing home and assisted living administrator, I’ve been able to spend quality time around men and women who served our country in the armed forces, as well as the spouses of these heroes. When I’m back at work in Marlow, I hear their stories about their long-distance relationships, the letters they wrote during periods of war, coming home to meet their children for the first time, and sometimes, and occasionally, I’m fortunate enough to get to hear stories about their time in battle.”

Over the years, Garvin said she’s heard stories about the atomic bombs being dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki from the man who placed the switches on the bombs, and two-stepped with an original Rosie the Riveter. She also held the hand of a Normandy survivor as he took his final breath.

“I’ve listened to Taps be played more times than I can remember, but what I will never forget about each funeral service is watching the flags folded and gently placed in the hands of a family member left behind to honor the memory of their loved one and hearing the 21-gun salute by the Honor Guard,” Garvin wrote in her letter. “The veterans I serve experienced incredible loss during their time in war.”

Garvin’s letter, written prior to Memorial Day, urged her constituents to say a prayer of thanksgiving for the men and women “who had the courage to enlist, the bravery to fight and the selflessness to lay down their lives for those they loved, for those they had never met and for the generations of Americans who will enjoy freedom for years to come.”

This article was reprinted with permission from the Southwest Ledger. n

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PEOPLE

St. Luke’s Methodist Church holds “A Night On Broadway”

W

ith Broadway on hold because of the pandemic, a group of theatre stars came to Oklahoma City June 4-6 to perform for a fundraiser at St. Luke’s Methodist Church.

The evening was billed as “A Night On Broadway.”

All three performances were sold out as the events helped raise money to support the church’s food ministry which reduces food insecurity through the Meals on Wheels and Mobile Market programs.

Through the Meals on Wheels Oklahoma County, the ministry oversees and delivers nutritious meals to homebound seniors as well as pet food to seniors in partnership with the Pet Food Pantry.

Together with the Oklahoma City-County Health Department’s Wellness Now programs and Strong Neighborhoods initiative, the food ministry delivers free food and produce throughout Oklahoma City weekly on the Mobile Market truck.

Bob Long, St. Luke’s Methodist Church Pastor.

Broadway thespians who participated in the fundraiser were Tamar Greene, Eryn LeCroy, Dan Micciche, Meghan Picerno and John Riddle.

The stars sang a variety of songs from theatre classics including “Oklahoma,” “Guys and Dolls,” Rent,” “My Fair Lady,” “Hamilton,” “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” “The Phantom of the Opera,” and “The Sound of Music.” n

Broadway thespians participating in the fundraiser were Tamar Greene, Eryn LeCroy, Dan Micciche, Meghan Picerno and John Riddle.

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