July 2013

TOWN

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Q&A We sat down with artist Michael Joy Wilson

How To...

Beat the heat

July 5, 2013

Urinetown Sooner Theatre presents the musical

M A fte r th e s n a m u s ic i c h

a r tis ts , r e , O k l a ., o o M d e g o n o e s ra v a g e d p u ttin t r a t s y l ya t o r n a d e ia t r s im m e d e c te d . a n d a c to th o s e a ff p l e h o t s t n a r ity e v e

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From the editor 24 Works on Paper Art Exhibit Andrew Freeman Creative Studio

Artist Q&A

“Urinetown” at Sooner Theatre Book & Music Reviews

12 “1 in 3” wins 14 Bronze Telly Kuhn Exhibit at 15 Fred Jones Oklahoma gives 16 back to Moore 24 Improv Festival Top 10 26 Social Calendar 28 To...

30 How Beat the Heat

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Photos of Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute

Alex Irwin, who plays the Cat in the Hat in “Suessical”, accepts books for the Moore Book Drive. photo by Kyle Phillips

7.5

The 2013 Jetta only $13,491

& No Payments until September

(405)310-4444 FowlerVW.com Facebook.com/FowlerVW Jetta Stk#13525, with approved credit.

Twitter.com/@FowlerVW

from the editor’s desk

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TOWN

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clock. concert, a simple reminder that no matter As the dust settled, others got to work our station in life we are all human — all forming donation centers capable of feeling sorrow, pain, where donors dropped off joy and optimism, and for the every imaginable necessity.

There’s no doubt in same reasons, from the same Shelters popped up sources of inspiration. my mind, Oklahoma: around the metroplex in Though many were stripped dormitories, churches, hotels You’ve made me a of their worldly possessions in the and apartment complexes. month of May, what has remained stargazer forever. is an awe-inspiring demonstration Clean-up crews came out in droves from throughout the Thank you for the of humans using their God-given state and nation to assist in talents to uplift and bless the reminder that state-wide recovery efforts. downtrodden. life can be And soon, artists set about There’s no doubt in my mind, restoring beauty.

Oklahoma: You’ve made me a incandescently As discussed in this stargazer forever. Thank you month’s cover story on page beautiful despite the for the reminder that life can be NUMBER, Oklahoma artists incandescently beautiful despite darkest of trails. united to serve in any way the darkest of trials. they could. Musicians wrote For up-to-date information on original songs of grief and N-town, like us on Facebook or hope and quickly assembled to host benefit follow us on Twitter and Instagram. concerts. Visual artists created works to Have any suggestions for us? Comments? commemorate the experience and sell for Praises? Give me a shout out at hcruz@ recovery efforts. Writers wrote essays and normantranscript.com. pt . I’ I’d lo love ve tto he hear ar ffrom poems documenting the events. you. yo u.

The collaborative effort of artists and non-artists alike created an environment that fostered charity and removed loneliness and vulnerability for everyone reeling from the destruction. Many have found themselves bonding with strangers over a good clean-up session or a benefit

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Since May 20 rocked the lives of countless Oklahomans I have been struck with one undeniable truth: The human spirit’s capacity for resiliency is unbounded.

In the midst of what has been described as devastation or a living nightmare, I have been witness to many who stand as beacons of faith, bravery and courage.

These individuals embody the idea of a silver lining — finding glittering flecks of hope when most would accept defeat.

It would seem these Okies took a cue from Oscar Wilde. While countless are in the gutter of loss, many can’t help but to look at the glimmer of stars.

Among the stargazers are those creatively using their talents to lighten the load of their fellow Oklahomans. Almost immediately after the May tornadoes weakened and dissipated, they descended upon the destruction like angels from heaven: School teachers comforting students, neighbors checking on neighbors, first responders administering aid and medical personnel working around the

Publisher Terry Connor

Ad Director Debbi Knoll

Executive Editor Andy Rieger

Advertising Representatives Rebekah Collins Robin Escarcega Kimberly Lehenbauer Lee Roberts Sherry Romack Nick Sheats

Editor Hannah Cruz Layout Artist Kerry Friesen

Marty Zumphe Production Manager Rob Rasor

Doug Hill Kerry Friesen Photographers Kyle Phillips

Writers Hannah Cruz Arianna Pickard Amber Hodge Zachary Elledge Kimberly Lehenbauer

N-town is a monthly publication of The Norman Transcript, 215 E. Comanche St, Norman, OK 73070. (Phone: 405.321.1800). Letters or editorial contributions should be sent to: N-town, P.O. Drawer 1058, Norman, OK, 73070 or emailed to hcruz@normantranscript.com. N-town is not responsible for unsolicited submissions. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content in any manner, without permissions is prohibited. Address advertising inquiries to Debbi Knoll, 405-366-3554 or dknoll@normantranscript.com. N-town can be found online.

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Eric Piper

24 WORKS ON PAPER

Four Norman artists are featured in a travelling art exhibit.

by Hannah Cruz

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The work of living Oklahoma artists, including four Norman artists, is hitting the road for a state-wide tour during 24 Works on Paper, a traveling exhibition.

The collaborative project between Individual Artists of Oklahoma (IAO) and the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition (OVAC) features 24 works created on paper, including media such as printmaking, drawing, painting and photography. Participating Norman artists include Eyakem Gulilat, Eric Piper, Laura Reese and Betty Wood.

Kelsey Karper, OVAC associate director, said the exhibition happens every other year, giving audiences a regular opportunity to view a snapshot of what contemporary Oklahoma artists are creating.

“We hope viewers will be inspired by the artwork included and enlightened by the educational components, which shed light on the artistic processes represented in the show and hopefully help audiences to understand the work on a deeper level,” she said.

The exhibit opens 6 p.m. July 26 at the IAO Gallery, 706 W. Sheridan Ave. in Oklahoma City, and will be on display there through Aug. 3.

It will then travel to 11 venues across Oklahoma such as the Goddard Center

in Ardmore, Ponca City Art Center, East Central University in Ada, and the Leslie Powell Foundation & Gallery in Lawton.

Karper said the exhibit features work from artists all over the state who range from newly established artists to professionals.

Reese, Norman printmaker, has a print in the exhibit titled “Wanderlust.”

The piece features two overlapping orange and teal squares layered with text of an original poem exploring Reese’s decision to stay in Oklahoma rather than move away.

Reese said the exhibit traveling gives a broader audience a chance to become acquainted with her work.

“I want it to resonate with people,” she said. “Perhaps not everyone will experience wanderlust, or a sense of belonging, but by using descriptive text and images, I can hope to communicate those feelings for others to understand and empathize. I want people to empathize with my art, and ultimately, their environment.”

The 2013 guest juror is Kirsten Olds, University of Tulsa assistant professor of art history.

For more information call 405-232-6060 or visit 24works.org.

24 Works on Paper Tour Schedule

• Sept. 27-Nov. 25: Goddard Center, Ardmore • Nov. 25-Jan. 4, 2014: Ponca City Art Center, Ponca City • Jan. 4-Feb. 9, 2014: Northern Oklahoma College, Tonkawa

• July 12-Aug. 3: Individual Artists of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City • Aug. 5-Sept. 27: Redlands Community College, El Reno

• Feb. 9-March 21, 2014: East Central University, Ada • March 28-April 28, 2014: Graceful Arts Gallery and Studios, Alva • May 31-June 28, 2014: Tulsa Artists’ Coalition, Tulsa

Eyakem Gulilat

Laura Reese

• June 28-Aug. 25, 2014: Oklahoma State University Gardiner Gallery, Stillwater • Aug. 25-Oct. 27, 2014: University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, Chickasha • Oct. 27, 2014-Jan. 2015: Leslie Powell Foundation & Gallery, Lawton

paid advertisement

Norman

Nathan Andrew deftly colors the hair of long-time client Charla Bird.

Andrew Freeman Creative Studio offers a full range of hair services and products. photos provided

Lindsey Freeman, managing partner, and Nathan Andrew, owner and artistic director, opened the salon, located in the Park on Main center at 36th and Main.

STYLISTPHENOM raises the bar

by Kimberly Noe-Lehenbauer

Are you like me?

I consider myself a remedial hair client.

I have curly hair and trust issues with stylists. I’ve had a few I trusted over the years, but mostly I bounce from one bad poodle cut to the next. I don’t have the vocabulary to tell a professional what I want them to do to my hair, but I know when I don’t like what they’ve done.

And then there was Nathan Andrew.

Andrew is the owner and artistic director of Andrew Freeman Creative Studio, 3750 W. Main St. From the moment I met with him and co-owner Christopher Saint John, the passion for the art of hair design came through.

From their almost reverential regard for the client, to the continuing-education philosophy driving Andrew’s skills, their business model is so much more than cut and color.

“We don’t want to just stay with the trends,” Saint John said.

“We want to set the trends.

“Because if you’re with the trends, you’re already behind.”

Andrew and Managing Partner Lindsey Freeman have worked together for several years and have studied under top professionals in New York, Los Angeles and places in between to expand the portfolio of techniques and services available to clients in Norman.

So when they decided to take the leap and open their own salon, of course they turned the entire philosophy of the local business model on its head.

“We’re here to make a statement,” Andrew said. “I don’t feel like there’s room for mediocrity here, because there’s enough of that.”

Andrew is humble and unassuming and adamantly nonjudgmental of any other stylist. But he’s so passionate about his

craft, he can’t help but push himself away from the crowd.

“When I do a cut, I do my best,” Andrew said. “Then the next time, I find a way to do it better.”

Andrew sets aside an hour to an hour and a half to do a cut, because he says his clients deserve his undivided attention to every last detail of the experience.

Andrew and Freeman strive to give every client more than just a haircut, but a confidence boost – inside and out – that makes each person walk a little taller than they did when they arrived.

“I use my craft to help others see the beauty that’s already there,” Freeman said.

Ultimately, though they were obviously more passionate than any stylist I’ve ever met, none of this made sense until Andrew got me in his chair.

As he gently washed my hair – including hot towel treatment – I asked Andrew what the difference was between the salonbrand treatments I’ve used and the deep conditioning treatment he suggested trying that day.

“Those will make your hair feel better,” he said. “This will make your hair be better.”

Turns out, he was right. But more about that later.

I explained the poodle-cut problems and cautionary hair tales I’ve experienced before, but he was undaunted.

He told me about Ouidad, the New York stylist whose trademarked curly hair cutting technique – described as “internal cutting” - so revolutionized the industry that she is known as the Queen of Curly Hair. And Andrew studied with her in New York.

His sure-handed motions – even while blow drying my hair straight – were so gentle and methodical that I literally almost fell asleep in my chair.

“Some people will actually start to fall asleep in the chair, and they’ll get embarrassed and apologize,” Andrew said. “But really, in a way, it’s a compliment that they trust me that much, to unplug their brains and not have to be tense and watch everything I’m doing.”

Throughout the cut and styling, he explained what he was doing and why and then showed me how to duplicate it at home, a testament to the education-based philosophy Andrew Freeman applies to clients and the stylists he works with.

In the end, my hair looked the best, softest, bounciest it has ever looked in my life. Andrew even sent me home with four weeks worth of at-home conditioning capsules to follow up the treatment he did that day.

It’s been two weeks since I left Andrew’s chair, and he was right. My hair is incredibly soft and full of body, with less frizz and more shine than ever before. And the cut is the best I’ve ever had.

I’ve been getting compliments on my hair, but also on my clothes, makeup, even my glasses. None of that has changed, so I guess he accomplished his goal of creating a style that would accentuate my overall look.

Andrew and Saint John told me when we first met that being in that chair once would make a believer of me.

“If I can just get someone in my chair once,” Andrew said, “then my goal is to make them feel so special and pay so much attention to detail that they say, ‘Wow! Have you experienced that salon?’”

I will definitely be back.

Visit andrewfreemanstudio.com or call 234-0456 to learn more or book your appointment, and follow Andrew Freeman Creative Studio on Facebook for daily style tips and tricks.

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&A

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Taxidermy and rhinestones. Not many associate the two things together but Norman artist Michael Joy Wilson has blended the two to create art that is shockingly both beautiful and humorous.

With a Master of Fine Arts in printmaking from the University of Oklahoma, Wilson dabbles in many 2-D and 3-D mediums. Her taxidermy sculptures began as a way to express the dichotomy Wilson found in preserving the beauty of a living animal by killing and stuffing it.

Seven of Wilson’s taxidermied, bejeweled fish are on display at

photos provided

with Michael Joy Wilson

MAINSITE Contemporary Art, 120 E. Main St., through midJuly. Her work is being exhibited as part of the award for earning Norman Arts Council’s 2012-2013 Individual Artist Award.

Q

How did you get into taxidermy?

A

I’ve always found it really interesting and weird.

by Hannah Cruz

My parents went hunting and stuff and I’d seen taxidermy.

They had all these how-to books that I read when I was a kid. I have a collection of taxidermied things people have given me over the years.

I’m really interested in animals. I spend a lot of time outside and taxidermy,

it’s kind of like an art form, it’s kind of like

sculpture but you have to kill the animal to make the taxidermy which I always thought was scary.

The pieces in the show are old mounts and a lot of them were damaged, in fact I think all of them were damaged.

They were discarded pieces I ended up with.

For this particular show the pieces have a lot of meaning for me. My partner’s father was a fisherman and actually caught most of them. He passed away and left behind a lot of messed up mounts. I also have a compulsion to fix things so it combined my weird interest with taxidermy and fixing things and things that had meant something to me in the past. They’re like little memorials. They were an actual life.

What did you do to the taxidermied pieces to fix

them?

A

I repaired a bunch of them, rebuilt the fins and stuff that was broken on them and cleaned them up. Then they’re covered in glitter and they have rhinestones on them and gold leaf and they’re painted and kind of shinied up. It’s meant to be making them into icons, there’s a reverent part to it and also a funny part, too.

Q

What was your creative process like?

Were they planned beforehand?

A

I’d been thinking about them for a while because there was quite a few of them. People had given me weird art supplies, that’s another thing about me, I tend to collect googley eyes, and someone had given me a box of glitter, like a big box of glitter, and my partner had given me these big jars of rhinestones and it kind of worked in the way of quilting. I’ve done a lot of quilting with my mom where you have pieces of fabric that came from a dress from when you were a kid or a patch from your dad’s shirt and fabric from your grandma. So a lot of the materials might not have any meaning to anybody else but they have personal meanings to me.

It was just the coming together of a lot of things I’d been thinking about and were really important to me.

For the pieces in the show I really wanted to do work that felt like something from Norman and living in Norman. The fish and the materials and all those things are memories I’ve collected in my life, but most of them from living in Norman and things I really enjoy about it. So it seemed to celebrate

this particular area for me which is what I wanted to have in the show.

I wanted something that connected me to Norman.

Q

How did you feel when you were selected for the Individual Artist Award?

A

I was really excited about it. It means a lot to be acknowledged by the community that you live in. I think the work that I do is sometimes a little weird for this area of the country. I just noticed from when I was in Boston and living here, different attitudes about what I do. But it means a lot to me because it’s important to me and this is where I live so it’s a big deal.

Q A

What inspires you?

I’m a really visual person. I would say nature because there’s so much variety and beauty in there and just the color combinations and the shapes and the forms — the intricacy of it all.

I also like fabrics and elaborate wall papers and just visual diversity.

It’s fascinating to pick something out of there and just focus on it and learn from it, it all gets incorporated in somewhere.

Q

What kind of audience do you think will appreciate this the most?

A

God, I hope most anybody can. Oh, one of the things about the taxidermy I was really interested in is it seemed like a really masculine thing, like for the man cave or whatever. They’re

trophies of their sporting activities and the way that I transformed them, I felt was a more traditionally feminine take on it by putting all these memories into it, making them a special thing and kind of releasing them from that trophy aspect and presenting them in a different way.

There’s a lot of symbolism with fish, as well as derogatory terms about women related to fish, so I liked playing with that and creating something a little more fun and more powerful.

I don’t think everyone is going to go in there and think, “Oh, this is feminist art,” but I hope it’s a positive experience and fun.

A

It’s really important to believe in yourself and the things that you’re interested in even if they seem weird. I wanted to be an artist and I wasn’t quite sure how to do that. I grew up out in the country and I thought moving to the city there was a way to be an artist. Whatever your life is you come across things you’re interested in and those things are the things that will make your art great, those things that mean a lot to you as an individual. That’s really, I think, where people connect to the work and know it’s from a real person.

Q

Q

What do you want your audience to get out of these pieces?

It’s kind of like the saying, “Write what you know.”

A

Yeah, I mean you’re always learning and if you keep doing it and you keep doing I always am attracted to really whatever it is — sometimes you awkward passages in things, have to just not listen to people. little odd things that make stuff real.

That’s kind of like the taxidermy thing and the humor of it. There’s serious and funny — I wanted both of those things to come through.

They’re for enjoyment, I guess. I want people to be happy about them. I want them to feel the fun in them. That line between reverence and irreverence.

A

Q

Where do you see yourself in the future?

A

Oh, I’d love to make more of these. A lot of my paints and prints also have fish and images that have to deal with women as well.

Q

What kind of advice would you give to another artist?

“

Whatever your life is you come across things you’re interested in and those things are the things that will make your art great...That’s really, I think, where people connect to the work and know it’s from a real person.

“

Q

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Urinetown Sooner Theatre presents the musical about a town that’s gone down the toilet.

By Arianna Pickard

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“Urinetown the Musical.” Don’t over think the title. This production, coming to the Sooner Theatre in August, is exactly what it sounds like: Cue the potty jokes.

Despite the questionable title, Director Brandon Adams said the story, performed by 32 junior high and high school students, is remarkably clean.

“It’s a blessing and it’s a curse that people don’t know much about [‘Urinetown’],” Adams said. “The good side of that is you go in without many preconceived notions. The only downside is you’ve got to get people in here.”

“Urinetown,” written by New York playwright Greg Kotis in 2001, tells the story of a company capitalizing on a water shortage after a 20-year drought lead the government to ban private toilets. The company owns all the bathrooms and charges the public exorbitant fees to satisfy their needs. When people can’t pay, they are escorted to a mysterious place called Urinetown.

Bobby Strong grows sick of the mistreatment and leads a revolution against the executives.

Adams said the irreverent production is one of the more brilliant and witty musical

theater scripts he’s seen over the past 10follow,” he said. “If you want to just 15 years. “Urinetown” uses devices like acknowledge that you’re outside of your light or this person came satire and humor — Performances of out of nowhere or all of comparable to “The a sudden you’re in song, Simpsons,” “Family “Urinetown the Musical” those kinds of things you Guy,” or sketches from are 7:30 p.m. Aug. 1-3 can poke fun at that in “Saturday Night Live” — and 2 p.m. Aug. 2-4. this show.” to make a statement.

Maura McMurray, Regular theaterTickets are $10.

Norman North High goers will recognize Tickets can be purchased School sophomore who both subtle and overonline at soonertheatre.com, plays a scientist for the the-top blatant satires of classic musicals, by phone at 405-321-9600 or company that owns the Adams said, like “Les at the Sooner Theatre box bathrooms, described the production as a dark Miserables,” “West Side office, 101 E. Main St., 10 company.

Story” and “Annie.”

But despite the Musical theater a.m. to noon and 2-5 p.m. dreary synopsis, the play itself is even parodied Tuesday–Friday. is hilarious on stage, said in “Urinetown” by Chelsea Thiessen, Norman High School emphasizing the absurdity of “everybody just erupting into song and dance in a tense sophomore who plays the overseer of one of the urinals. situation,” Stewart said.

Adams said the talented group of Contrary to perhaps the whole idea of comedic performers was key in the decision acting, Adams said characters acknowledge they’re performing on stage from the very to pick this show. beginning. This gives them a more free and “It seemed like this was a really good relaxed atmosphere, almost an ad-libbed group that could carry, not just perform, but improv. the ability to recognize what style the show is,” he said.

“There’s less rules that you have to

photos by Kyle Phillips

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Who’s Who in the Cast?

Officer Lockstock: Tony Wilkinson

Old Man Strong: Eaton York

Hot Blades Harry: Eaton York

Penelope Pennywise: Brooke Lashar, Chelsea Thiessen

TinyTom: Jacob Livesay

Billy Boy Bill: To be determined

Bobby Strong: Riley Stewart

Soupy Sue: Maggie Gibson, Alexis Lanzo

Little Sally: Kylie Anderson,Taylor Carmen

Little BeckyTwo Shoes: Conor Austin

Dr. Billeaux: Maura McMurray, Abby Puckett

Bobby the Stockfish: Brady Bell, Stockton Cobb

Mr. McQueen: Tommy Graham

Caldwell B. Cladwell: Tate Robison

Senator Fipp: Jake Musgrove

4 Cops: Hannah Beeson, Katie Maloan, Ellen Melton

Officer Barrel: Robert Gibson

Josephine Strong: Sarah Royse

Ensemble: Hannah Beeson, Brady Bell, Riley Benson, Rachel Chan, Bailey Churchill, Stockton Cobb, Katie Coggins, Nathan Ferrell, Sarah Geffre, Maggie Gibson, Hannah Hill, Emma Hochman, Sadie Hosler, Owen Joyner, Alexis Lanzo, Jacob Livesay, Katie Maloan, Riley McGinnis, Maura McMurray, Ellen Melton, Anna Carman Paden, Abby Puckett, Allison Pugh, Ashlea Stewart, Ben Yarborough

Hope Cladwell: Maddie Breedlove, Katherine Lock

Mrs. Millennium: Emma Hochman

reviews books

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by Amber Hodge Book: And the Mountains Echoed (2013, Riverhead Hardcover) Author: Khaled Hosseini Why you should read: Resting at No. 3 on both the New York Times and USA Today’s bestseller lists, Khaled Hosseini’s “And the Mountains Echoed” is yet another masterpiece to be devoured by fans and newcomers alike.

From the same talented mind that created “The Kite Runner” and “A Thousand Splendid Suns,” comes a story filled with beauty, love and sorrow that spans continents and connects not only with readers’ minds but their hearts.

In “And the Mountains Echoed,” the subject of family is taken and molded in several different ways. Hosseini shows readers the consequences of decisions made to hurt, protect, betray and honor family, and how they resonate through time. The opening pages set the tone for the rest of the story, beginning with a folk tale of a man who must give up one of his only children to a beast in order to save the rest of his family. The old man telling the story, Saboor, uses the tale as a way to make his own son, Abdullah, understand his coming plans.

The resulting separation of Abdullah from his sister, Pari, is a blow both characters and readers must bear, and the pages only become more and more emotional. The characters in this story, including Abdullah’s stepmother and her brother, overlap and entwine with one another.

Some are aware of that fact and some aren’t. Ultimately, the pages seem to turn on their own, and the deeper the story goes, the more interesting it gets.

All in all, Hosseini has done a wonderful job in creating this globe-spanning novel. His knack for flawless writing and description keep the interest rock solid, and he provokes a myriad of emotions through it all. However, the excess characters do slow the story down a bit, and the urge to get back to the main characters is strong on occasion. But in the end, the overall satisfaction for the read is well worth it.

by Zachary Elledge Book: Star Wars: Vader’s Little Princess (2013, Chronicle Books) Author and Illustrator: Jeffrey Brown Why you should read: When I was a young boy I would run through the halls of my home holding my plastic X-Wing fighter while pretending to blow up the Death Star. Then, at night, I would battle hordes of Stormtroopers in my dreams.

Obviously, Star Wars was very much a part of my childhood, especially since my parents were fans of the original three long before I was born. So it goes without saying that I was excited to check out “Star Wars: Vader’s Little Princess.” It’s a small book of comic strips that play with the idea of Darth Vader struggling to be a good parent to a rebellious Princess Leia.

It’s like the comedy of Bill Cosby thrown into the Star Wars universe, and the result is a cute little book that kids will enjoy several times over.

The ideal audience here would be a parent reading this along with their children.

Older fans of Star Wars will enjoy the subtle inside jokes that a casual fan might miss, and kids will laugh as they see a young Leia go through the same growing pains that they experience.

The humor is meant for a younger audience. A middle-aged fan of the series may not find this one appealing, but it is worth taking a look at just in case. I enjoyed it simply for the nostalgia. Parents need not worry about any adult content. I have a 6-yearold niece who loves Star Wars as much as me, and I couldn’t find any jokes that would be inappropriate for her to read. In fact, this will probably be her birthday present.

If you are a die-hard Star Wars fan with a little padawan-learner or two running around the house, this is good buy. If you do enjoy this one, then you might also like “Star Wars: Darth Vader and Son,” also by Jeffrey Brown. May the Force be with you.

music

by Doug Hill Album name: Self-titled (2013, Rhonda Sue Records) Musician: David Egan Why you should listen: David Egan has been around the block a few times and that acquired wisdom is to our advantage in this set of tunes straight from the heart. The Shreveport pianist and gentleman crooner’s original album epitomizes the soul of southern America.

Egan spent the early part of his career on the Cajun music circuit as a band member. In 2001 he broke out on his own and the artistic results have been extraordinary. There’s a relaxed fluidity in Egan’s pipes that suggest heat, humidity and drowsy Louisiana summer afternoons.

Lyrics manage to combine a poetic sensibility of “helpless hopeless dreams” with the gritty reality of an irate lover bouncing an empty bottle off his head and breaking the sliding glass door. “Outta Mississippi” is an old dude’s fantasy blues of being 20 years younger so he could rescue a cute waitress from a dead end life at an all-you-can-eat buffet.

“Little corn pone handles on your sides…” don’t escape Egan’s hungry gaze as Dickie Landry’s alto saxophone solo screeches like a banshee into the magnolia scented night.

“One Foot in the Bayou” is the reverse scenario. It’s about a lady who once had Morgan City mud on her shoes now living the high life in a Big Apple penthouse. Egan pines for her return to the south with a jump blues blaster.

“The Outside” is among the album’s most powerful tracks. “Someday they’ll know they had it wrong/ But likely I will be dead and gone/ Children everywhere will sing my song/ Keep me rockin’ and reelin’ in the great beyond.” That’s not going to happen. A very much alive Egan has already been recognized as being on the inside with America’s other fine singer/songwriters.

by Doug Hill Album name: Solo Live from the Meisenfrei Blues Club (2013, Screen Door Records) Musician: Kirsten Thien Why you should listen: Ask any musician what the toughest gig is. They’ll tell you it’s playing all by your lonesome with just a guitar in a joint where liquor is flowing freely. On this disc Kirsten Thien lays down a troubadour clinic that makes it sound like the easiest of tasks. Amazingly, the recording wasn’t even planned for commercial development. Thien’s sound guy at the Bremen, Germany, joint handed her a stereo mix of the show at evening’s conclusion and she just thought it would be a cool souvenir. The recording turned out to be a pristine gem.

“We had captured this moment in time that already had a special place in my heart and mind,” Thien said.

The Georgetown University business school graduate has a terrific songbook of originals but presumably because it was a saloon about half these 15 tracks are covers. Thien takes the challenge of chestnut “Fooled Around and Fell in Love” and spins it with a personal style that’s spellbinding. Her vocal clarity, phrasing and range are charming at every turn.

“Please Drive” is Thien’s own tune that’s hotter than love in August. She performs an initially languid version here that starts deceptively at an erotic simmer and builds to a climatic boil. Because of the club atmosphere a certain amount of banter is expected between songs but to her credit there aren’t any interminable spoken stories. Typically Thien fronts a full band and probably always will. But Live at Meisenfrei shows without doubt she can go it alone and hold an audience transfixed with just her voice and guitar. It’s a stellar addition to Thien’s previous three-album discography.

Find a complete list of events and specials going on in Norman at 2ndfridaynorman.com.

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SMOKING AND MOUTH PROBLEMS Robert C. Wells, D.D.S. 808 24th NW, Norman, OK 329.2121 robertwellsdds.com

Views On

DENTAL HEALTH from Dr. Robert C. Wells, D.D.S.

What does smoking have to do with teeth? Plenty! Smoking affects your whole mouth.

Smokers have more periodontal (gum) disease than non-smokers.

Periodontal disease is the largest cause of adult tooth loss. Smoking can delay healing in your mouth, it is also a cause of bad breath.

Smoking stains your teeth, making them yellow or brown. Irritants and tobacco smoke attack your taste buds, thus preventing you from fully enjoying foods.

Perhaps the most devastating

danger of smoking is oral cancer.

Smokers have a four times greater risk of oral cancer than nonsmokers. Last year oral cancer struck more than 24,000 people, 8,000 of whom died from it.

You can help prevent almost all of these problems if you don’t smoke. The next time you think about lighting up, stop and remember the harmful effects smoking causes in your mouth.

For your health’s sake-and the comfort of others-don’t smoke.

Prepared as a public service to promote better dental health.

7.5

Oklahoma indie film “1 in 3” awarded Bronze Telly recognition

by Doug Hill

7.5

Oklahoma filmmaker Lagueria Davis’ life was forever changed when she took a job she stumbled upon by coincidence.

The University of Oklahoma alumna was looking for a way to put herself through school when she found a newspaper ad for a position at the Women’s Resource Center shelter in Norman. Though she had no experience or understanding of

photos provided

From her own lack of knowledge, Davis understood that others were unaware of domestic violence as well and knew the story needed to be told.

According to the movie’s website, the story follows an abused woman Ophelia Metz as she fights to flea from her own cycle of violence. Upon arriving at a shelter, Ophelia meets shelter worker Sydell Thomas, who becomes Ophelia’s advocate. Slowly, it is revealed that Sydell’s life is not unlike the lives of the women who come into shelter — for it is closer than she thinks.

Davis based the movie off of experiences at the Norman shelter but said she took creative liberties for entertainment value.

Davis received tips on authenticity from police officers to other more senior women’s advocates. One actual dramatic event from her work days used in the film involved a judge ordering Davis into a confrontational situation with a client who had a victim’s protective order against her abuser.

“In the film the abuser pulls a gun when the woman and her advocate go to the house to get her things,” she said.

For more information on the

movie visit 1in3movie.com.

In a new current project Davis is searching for that elusive combination of marketability and social commentary. It’s a feature film comedy titled “Spectacular Testicle Spectacle” with a male character who suffers verbal abuse from his girlfriend.

“It’s entertaining and funny without selling out,” she said.

“If you know what ‘The Vagina Monologues’ is about, it’s like that but in the realm of masculinity with my little stamp on it.”

Although she’s a Texan by birth, Davis is getting extremely close to being a sure enough Okie. One of her industry jobs involves the extreme sport of catfish noodling, where people go into farm ponds or along river banks and catch live catfish by reaching into their dens and grabbing them through the gills or mouth with their bare hands. Davis has been a production assistant for Brad Beesley’s National Geographic channel TV show “Mudcats” that premiered in 2012. All episodes have been filmed in Oklahoma with a cast of genuine noodling yahoos.

“You can even see me on screen in Mudcats’ first season,” Lagueria said. “I’ve become an Okie by default.”

“

The award gives the film a little more validation and credibility

“

14

1 in 3

what she was getting herself into, Davis accepted the job for its flexible schedule.

Three months later Davis was self-described a “mess of emotions.”

It didn’t stop her from throwing herself into advocacy for abused women by creating the indie feature film “1 in 3.”

The film, loosely based on her experience at the Norman shelter, refers to the statistic that 33 percent of women will be abused physically and/or mentally at some point in their lives. “1 in 3” was recently named a Bronze Winner of the 2013 Telly Awards in the Social Issues category. It was chosen from among 11,000 entries representing all 50 states and international competitors.

“The award gives the film a little more validation and credibility,” Davis said. “In the industry, films are judged by recognizable faces and marketable subject matter.”

The Bronze Telly is a merit boost for what might be easily writtenoff as a downer movie because it’s about domestic violence.

Davis is currently plumbing the TUGG organization that brings independent movies to local theaters based by popular demand and negotiating with Netflix to put “1 in 3” before larger audiences.

“1 in 3” has been screened at several festivals including at Oklahoma City’s deadCENTER Film Festival. Much of “1 in 3” was filmed in Norman, Oklahoma City and Edmond using Oklahomans for the cast and crew.

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photos provided.

By Hannah Cruz

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PUTTING THE PIECES BACK

TOGETHER After the May tornadoes ravaged Moore, Okla., artists, musicians and actors immediately started putting on charity events to help those affected.

In the wake of a violent central Oklahoma spring that killed 48 and left many injured, homeless or desperate, Oklahoma artists are uniting to restore hope.

Despite the scars that still mark the state’s landscape, these artists are using their various mediums to help tornado victims put the pieces back together emotionally, financially and physically. continued on page 18

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photos provided.

By Hannah Cruz

16

7.5

PUTTING THE PIECES BACK

TOGETHER After the May tornadoes ravaged Moore, Okla., artists, musicians and actors immediately started putting on charity events to help those affected.

In the wake of a violent central Oklahoma spring that killed 48 and left many injured, homeless or desperate, Oklahoma artists are uniting to restore hope.

Despite the scars that still mark the state’s landscape, these artists are using their various mediums to help tornado victims put the pieces back together emotionally, financially and physically. continued on page 18

17

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continued from page 17

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Star-studded benefit concerts For country star Toby Keith the May 20 Moore tornado struck a little too close to home. The Norman resident and Moore native didn’t hesitate in assembling some of his most talented peers to host a relief concert.

“I know these folks and they’re resilient, but we’re going to keep helping them any way we can,” he said. “I’m proud to get together with some others from around here who are just as committed as I am to supporting these communities.”

Tickets went on sale June 21 for Keith’s Oklahoma Twister Relief Concert scheduled for 3 p.m. July 6 at the University of Oklahoma’s Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman.

With a lineup including Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Willie Nelson, Sammy Hagar, Ronnie Dunn, Krystal Keith, Mel Tillis and John Anderson as well as Carrie Underwood via satellite from the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, it’s no wonder the concert sold out within the hour.

It wasn’t long after Brooks heard news of a tornado hitting Keith’s hometown that he and his wife, Yearwood, volunteered their talents.

“I am amazed at the human spirit the tornado victims have shown,” Brooks said. “I am humbled by the giving of the volunteers. It is an honor to get to be a part of this healing process.”

Hagar said joining the lineup for the concert was a no-brainer.

“He’s put together a hell of a concert lineup to help raise funds for the brave and resilient people of Oklahoma,” Hagar said. “My job is going to be to help them take their minds off their problems and have some much needed, good old-fashioned fun.”

Ford Trucks, Verizon Wireless, Academy of Country Music Lifting Lives and Walmart are on board as sponsors. Sponsorship donations and underwriting of the concert, and donated services from suppliers and vendors from all over the country, will allow the net proceeds of tickets (after tax and credit card fees) to benefit the United Way of Central Oklahoma May Tornadoes Relief Fund.

More artists may still be added to the lineup. For updates on the event visit tobykeith.com.

Country stars aren’t the only ones joining the cause. The Flaming Lips, Oklahoma psychedelic alternative rock band, are teaming up with fellow Oklahoma rockers Kings of Leon, Jackson Browne, Built to Spill and other special guests during Rock for Oklahoma, another benefit concert for Oklahoma tornado victims.

Proceeds from the 6:30 p.m. July 23 show at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City are also going toward the United Way of Central Oklahoma May Tornadoes Relief Fund.

Tickets, on sale now, start at $42 and can be purchased at ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000.

“Shakespeare said ‘It is not enough to help the needy up, but to support them after,’ and in our small way we are trying to not just be here at the moment of immediate need, but to stay and help with the rebuilding,” said Wayne Coyne, The Flaming Lips frontman. “After all, this is our home and they are us and we are them.”

Jared Followill, Kings of Leon bassist, said performing in the concert was the least his band could do.

“We couldn’t be more proud to lend a hand to our home state,” Followill said. “We were all devastated by what happened there.”

Student actors pay it forward Sooner Theatre’s cast and staff for “Seussical the Musical” couldn’t act out the whimsical story of Horton the Elephant selflessly protecting his friends without being inspired themselves.

The cast of 63 third to seventh grade students began collecting books during rehearsals to later donate to Moore Books for Moore Kids, a group collecting new and gently used books to rebuild the libraries of Moore elementary schools, Plaza Towers and Briarwood, destroyed in the May 20 tornado.

Melany Pattison, co-director of “Seussical the Musical,” said the drive was the perfect way to teach her students about service.

“That’s one of the things that I’m so passionate about in my school teaching and here: It’s not just to make these kids good singers and dancers, it’s to make them good citizens,” she said. “I know they’re not all going to go on to be on Broadway...but being a good citizen and taking care of everybody else, you’ve got to learn by example.”

Students were able to fill bins with books several times over before inviting audience members to donate books at performances. Audience members were invited to hand books to the Cat in the Hat during the intermission of each show.

For more information on donating books or money to Moore Books for Moore Kids visit gofundme.com/MooreBooksforMooreKids. continued on page 20

Alex Irwin, who plays the Cat in the Hat in“Suessical”, accepts books for the Moore Book Drive. photo by Kyle Phillips

Flaming Lips frontman, Wayne Coyne. photos provided.

Kings of Leon members. photos provided.

Donations are currently being accepted for the United Way of Central Oklahoma May Tornadoes Relief Fund. Give by credit card at unitedwayokc.org or by calling 405-523-3598, 405-523-3597, or the United Way of Central Oklahoma’s main number at 405-236-8441.

Checks may be mailed to the United Way of Central Oklahoma, P.O. Box 837, Oklahoma City, OK, 73101 with notation for May Tornadoes Relief.

Verizon Wireless is offering a text-to-donate capability before, during and after Toby Keith’s Oklahoma Twister Relief Concert.

Currently, customers of any wireless carrier may donate by texting the keyword “REBUILD” to 52000, which will give an automatic $10 donation to the United Way of Central Oklahoma’s May Tornadoes Relief Fund. Verizon Wireless customers will be limited to five text donations.

Fund dollars will be distributed without administrative fees to United Way Partner Agencies working on the tornado relief efforts. Agencies must clearly prove services provided and demonstrate need for financial support. Organizations that receive United Way disaster fund assistance will be evaluated and held strictly accountable. The May Tornado Relief Fund will serve not only immediate needs, but intermediate, and longterm care for years to come.

Debby Hampton, United Way of Central Oklahoma President and CEO, said the United Way has been overwhelmed with generosity from artists and the public alike.

“I’m not surprised because that’s what Oklahoma does. We have received contributions from all over the world and letters from children.

It’s amazing how this disaster has impacted the world and they have really come through on all levels.”

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Maggie McClure and Shane Henry perform their song “Carry Me, Carry On”as they record a music video near tornado destruction in Moore. See the video on Youtube. photo provided

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continued from page 18

Healing through creating As a singer-songwriter, Maggie McClure naturally expresses herself through music. After hearing about the tornadoes that hit her home state, this former Norman resident took up her pencil.

McClure created ate the song “Carry Me, Carry On,” in partnership ership pw with her husband and fellow Okie musician, Shane Henry.

“We're We're re both from Oklahoma. It's truly uly ho home and nd we don do don't n know what else to do o besidess write a song g aand n try to be ambassadors basssa s dorss ffor or ourr state and try to rraise a awareness,” McClure said.

“Because we'ree iindependent ndeepend nd musicians we can’t d do donate nate tons o off money eyy ourselves.” urselves ess.””

Lyricss iinclude, ncl c ude, “Lord “Lord, d, it’s going to take some tim time/ me/ T To o put the he pieces ba back ac together/ And try to move on with h ou o ourr lives// Th Those ose tthings hiings have h chan ch changed anged forever/ G God o h od has as alway alwayss be b been en o on n ou our ur side side./ e./ C Carry arry me, ccarry arry on./ SSee ee th the he li llight ght of the ght gh hee morning sun./ Carry me, carry on./ There’ll here’lll be b grace at the break of dawn./ Carry me, car carry arry ryy on.”

Henry said he hopes their song brings healing to those effected by the tornadoes.

“A lot of times where words fail a song can speak to someone,” he said. “We hope this song can bring some peace and healing to people who are in the trenches out there and going through it. We were out there and saw it — it’s unbelievable. But it's not going away for those people. It's going to last for a long time.

We just hope that this song ccan help some of those people who are dealing aling w with some of the struggles.”

The couple is working on recording g thee song to place on iTunes with the ultimate te g go goal o off pr p proceeds oceeeds d going to Good Goodwill. For mo m more or information visit maggiemcclure.com ree.co or sha shanehenry.com. haneh ••• W When Mitchell’s Jewelry welry ryy o owner w err Gina wn Mitch M Mitchell’s 112-year-old 2 year-ol dau 2daughter, ughter, C Cloie, loie, heard d abo about out th the he d devastation vasta fro from om the tornadoes she immediately began creating im mmediately beg reatiing ng an n image im im with a

rainbow and the text “Pray for Oklahoma.”

Soon after Gina said they were using Cloie’s image as an inspiration for a piece of jewelry.

The finished product is the shape of Oklahoma with Cloie’s original concept of a rainbow w aand text.

Mitchell’s Jewelry is selling the piece fforr $50 as a necklace, charm or lapel pin with all proceeds donated onatte to United Way to distribute locally toward tornado recovery efforts.

Gina said creating the was a way h jewelry wel w her family to process what had happened as ffor or h well aass a way to give back to the community. mu unit She hopes the jewelry serves as a memento for those who pu purchase it. th hose wh purc rc ““We W have all been touched ch and heart-broken because there’s so many that have been effected bec by tthe by he ttornadoes does and we’re just hoping to give do little bit a litt ttle l b i back ttowards the healing of our it state,” Gina said. st tat ate,” G ina said Brockhaus B rockhaus Jewelry has also created a pendant help commemorate the May 2013 pend dant ant to he

Laura Reese’s benefit postcard. All proceeds will benefit the Red Cross. photo provided

21 Mitchell’s Jewelry“Pray for Oklahoma”charms, necklaces and lapel pins available now. All proceeds benefit United Way. photo provided

storms. The stamped, silver pendants feature the shape of Oklahoma on a round disc with either a stamped heart inside the state shape or a raised, pink gold heart. The back will of the pendant will include the text “Remember May 2013.”

Katherine Brockhaus, Brockhaus Jewelry co-owner, said the pieces are made to order and designed by Heather Moore Jewelry, with 100 percent of proceeds benefiting storm victims.

Pendants can be created into a necklace, bracelet or ring, with prices starting at $225. The made-toorder pieces are being sold through December.

Brockhaus said jewelry has always had significant sentimental meaning for people — like wedding rings representing a couple’s love — and she hopes this pendant serves the same purpose.

“People all over Oklahoma love their state so this gives them an opportunity to have a very nice piece of jewelry that will be something they can touch, feel, see, to help express that,” she said.

•••

Brockhaus Jewelry has a custom charm designed by Heather B. Moore Jewelry. photo provided

As Laura Reese, Norman printmaker, listened to radio coverage of the May 20 storm destruction during her drive home from work that day, she knew she needed to do something to get involved.

Reese created a 4 inch by 6 inch postcard featuring the state of Oklahoma in red, with letterpressed text "home, plenty of heart, plenty of hope" in brown. The back has Reese’s contact information as well as information on how to donate to the American Red Cross.

“Letterpress is a very physical and textural media. It feels good to have a little token reminder in your hand that you have helped,” she said. “I thought it might encourage people to help out.”

Reese said she is selling the postcards until they run out. To purchase, email Reese at l.myers. reese@gmail.com. Customers can either show proof of donation to the American Red Cross, or pay Reese directly and she will donate all proceeds.

7.5

N

THE CORNER

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Showcasing the best that Campus Corner has to offer.

BALFOUR R OF NORMAN For Everything g SOONER!

For more than 30 years, Balfour hass been the place to go in Norman for OU merchandise. Located on historic Campus Corner, you will find great brands like NIKE, Champion, Cutter & Buck, Antigua, Glitter Gear, Ping & many others. Whether it’s an OU gift or sportswear, you will find the best quality and selection at Balfour.

Jerry & Libby invite you to stop by or go to www.crimsonproud.com to see the newest and best in Sooner gear.

BALFOUR OF NORMAN 792 ASP AVE NORMAN, OK P 405-321-6539

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restaurants to fuel your appetite

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merchants that can’t be beat

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additional services and more Eat, Shop and Enjoy Campus Corner every day of the year!

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Come in to see our great selection of apparel and home decor for spring! wwwBeLovedBridalBoutique.com

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Spontaneous Combustion... of Laughter

The fifth annual Improv Festival Oklahoma graces the stage of Sooner Theatre July 12-14

by Arianna Pickard

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It might come as a surprise, but for improv actors spontaneity takes practice.

For improv performer Kenny Madison, member of O.U. Improv!, rehearsals are the difference between mere amusement and laugh out loud funny.

“Terrorism and disease are two worse things than bad improv,” he said.

Madison is a member of one of the 15 local and national improv troupes preparing for impromptu performances during the fifth annual Improv Festival Oklahoma July 12-14 at the Sooner Theatre, 101 E. Main St. For more information on ticket prices visit festival.reddirtimprov.com.

Organized by Red Dirt Improv, this year’s festival brings a variety of comedic talent from across the state and nation together for three days of unpredictable humor.

“No show is the same, and anything can happen in a festival like this, since there are so many different groups,” said James Murray, actor for Red Dirt Improv and a festival organizer.

Festival headliner Jill Bernard from Minneapolis, Minn., is performing a one-woman 30-minute piece called Drum Machine, Murray said.

Another headliner is IMP, an improv duo made up of Karen Wight from New York City, N.Y., and Asaf Ronen from Austin, Texas, who will silently perform stories using gestures and musical accompaniment, Murray said.

Oklahoma troupes include One State Two State Red State Blue State, Everybody and Their Dog, Homemade Fireworks, O.U. Improv!, Red Dirt Improv and Red Letters. Additional

groups performing include Maestro, The Band Wreckers, The Victims, In Our Prime, David & Terry, After School Special, Improv in the Dark, Fun Grip, KC Improv Company and ¡ZARZAMORA!.

While people can’t necessarily be taught how to be funny, they can be taught how to tell a story, Madison said. O.U. Improv! actors practice by reviewing basic story-telling elements.

Sue Ellen Reiman, who will be performing with Oklahoma Citybased Everybody and Their Dog, said improv may not need as much preparation

as a rehearsed performance but the trick is thinking on the spot and being able to build off of each other.

“It’s different — it’s a different skill set than scripted theater,” Reiman said.

In an improv performance, Reiman said the elements of the performance aren’t set in stone until a performer begins stating facts to build the scene. That’s why troupe members have to be well-acquainted and able to communicate easily with each other.

“We try to tell people things about themselves,” Reiman said. “‘You’ve been waiting here for the last hour, haven’t you?’ and suddenly they have been. Or, ‘Boy, your house is messy,’ and suddenly it is.”

But improv is good for more than just entertainment. Improv is becoming a popular training tool for companies to encourage employee innovation and team-building, Reiman said.

“It’s really good to teach people how to brainstorm and not just shut down ideas but go with them and follow them to their natural conclusion,” she said.

After watching a few of these performances, many people want to try improv themselves, Murray said.

This year’s festival includes eight improv workshops for people at any skill level interested in learning from professionals from around the country.

Workshops are 2-5 p.m. July 12-14 and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 1314 and cost $35 per class or $160 for a five-class pass. For more information visit festival.reddirtimprov.com.

Improv teams perform during the 2012 Improv Festival Oklahoma. photos provided

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CAL

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See our detailed calendar in N-town lite in the main edition of The Norman Transcript for a complete guide of this week’s events.

N-town staff picks the top 10 things you can’t miss this month.

1

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Summer Breeze at Lions Park The next month brings many opportunities to enjoy free music in the park during the 2013 Summer Breeze Concert Series at Lions Park, 450 S. Flood Ave. Hosty Duo performs 7:30 p.m. July 7, Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band perform 7:30 p.m. July 21 and Honeylark performs 7:30 p.m.

Aug. 4.

For more information on the bands visit pasnorman.org.

2

Ventriloquist Gary Owen at Norman Library Gary Owen, professional ventriloquist, and his hilarious puppets will have youngsters of all ages rolling with laughter during his two performances 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

July 8 at the Norman Library, 225 N. Webster Ave.

Owen’s 35 years of experience in the entertainment industry make this a can’t-miss entertainment experience. He has been featured on Good Morning America and in Time Magazine and performed on cruise ships and in Branson, Missouri.

5

“Ruddigore� by Cimarron Opera Watch Norman’s very own Cimarron Opera perform “Ruddigore,� a melodrama about a witch’s curse, July 12-14 at the Nancy O’Brian Center for the Performing Arts, 1809 Stubbeman Ave. Performance times are 8 p.m. July 12, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

July 13 and 2 p.m. July 14.

Tickets, $20 for adults and $15 for students and seniors, can be purchased online at cimarronopera.org.

Call 405-364-8962 for more information.

3

4

Norman residents perform at Lyric Theatre Head up to Oklahoma City to see several Norman residents perform during Lyric Theatre’s summer shows.

Vince Leseney is taking the stage for “The King and I� July 9-13. He will also perform alongside Marilyn Govich during “Big River� Aug. 6-10.

Woody Guthrie Folk Festival in Okemah, Okla.

Sooner Theatre favorite Addison Baker and University of Oklahoma School of Drama Director Tom Orr star in “The Will Rogers Follies� July 23-27.

For more information visit lyrictheatreokc.com.

6

8

9

Get wild at the Sam Noble with the museum’s exhibit, Bob Kuhn: Drawing on Instinct.

Museum, 2401 Chautauqua To register visit Ave., by learning how to paint wineandpalette.com. animals during a Wine and Palette event 7 p.m. July 18.

The event is in conjunction

Enjoy throwback performances of rock ‘n’ roll classics during a Tribute Show 8 p.m. July 20 at Riverwind Casino, 1544 West State Highway 9.

Art After Noon at Fred Jones

N. Webster Ave. The Norman Friends of the Library will also host their Annual Cookbook Sale.

Refreshments will be served.

Wine and Palette at the Sam Noble Museum Tribute Show at Riverwind Casino

Norman like Parker Millsap, Susan Herndon, The Damn Quails, John Fullbright and more.

Visit woodyguthrie.com for more information.

7

Cookbook Swap at Norman Library Swap unused cookbooks and enjoy a sampling of delicious food from a cooking program during Cookbook Swap 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 13 at the Norman Library, 225

Many local musician favorites are performing at the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival in Okemah, Okla., July 10-14.

Listen to the likes of musicians who frequent

Get acquainted with Latin American art in the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art’s permanent collection during Art After Noon, 30-minute discussions 12:30 p.m. Tuesdays at the museum, 555 Elm Ave. The July 16 discussion focuses on

the sculpture “MesteĂąo (Mustang)â€? by Luis JimĂŠnez.

Guests are invited to bring a lunch; dessert and drinks will be provided.

Talks are presented by Susan Baley, the museum’s director of education.

Admission to the museum is free.

10

Tickets are $15 for the show featuring music from Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Karen Carpenter.

Visit riverwind.com for more information.

Susan Herndon at Othello’s Listen to the sound of For more information Oklahoma favorite singer/ on Herndon visit songwriter Susan Herndon susanherndon.com. during a free performance 9 p.m. July 27 at Othello’s, 434 Buchanan Ave.

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Faith Bercier

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CAUGHT on camera

Norman students at Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute in Quartz Mountain from June 15-30. Photos provided.

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On behalf of Midway Deli We want to thank our fans for supporting The Midway Concert Series.

Hope to see you back in September.

Mike & Bob

by Kerry Friesen

how to BEAT THE HEAT

Summer has officially begun and the temperatures keep rising.

Luckily, Norman offers many escapes from the summer sun.

option 1 COMMUNITY POOLS One surefire way to beat the heat is to get in the water.

Norman has several community pools to make that option possible for those of us not lucky enough to own our own.

Westwood Water Park, 2400 Westport Drive, offers a couple water slides as well as a high and low dive. OU opens their outdoor pool to the public which also offers a diving pool.

option 2 WATER PARKS & SPLASH PADS Just up the road a couple miles, Andy Alligator’s, 3300 Market Place Drive, has opened their water park for the season.

Offering two big slides, a lazy river and a section for younger children, Andy Alligator’s has

something for everyone.

Children can also visit Splash Pads in Andrews Park, 201 W. Daws, and Colonial Estates Park, 1641 E. Lindsay. These pads are a great place for younger kids looking to cool off.

option 3 LAKE THUNDERBIRD 30

The Sooner Theatre’s Republic Bank & Trust’s Studio Series Presents 7.5

2002 Best New Musical Tony Award Winner!

Lake Thunderbird State Park has everything you need to beat the heat (or embrace it).

Bring your boat to one of the two marinas or nine boat ramps and let the day pass on the lake.

You can also visit one of the two swimming areas on the lake, or choose to go horseback riding or hiking in the area.

Whatever your outdoor wants, Lake Thunderbird can help.

To Pee, or not to Pee...

option 4 MOVIE THEATERS With three movie theaters within easy driving distance, one super easy way to beat the heat is to go sit in a dark room for two hours and watch a movie.

Make your experience Music by Mark Hollmann Lyrics by Mark Hollmann and Greg Kotis Book by Greg Kotis

That is the question.

August 1-4, 2013 Tickets $10 (on sale beginning July 13) URINETOWN is a hilarious tale of greed, corruption, love, and revolution in a time when water is worth its weight in gold.

Featuring a the talents of Studio students in grades 7-12.

101 E Main St. Downtown Norman (405) 321-9600

www.soonertheatre.com

complete with popcorn and a drink and forget that you’ll be able to literally see the heat rising off the parking lot when you leave. It’s a rude awakening, but worth it to escape for a little while.

option 5 GRAB A COLD SNACK Norman offers several places to find a snack to temporarily cool you off.

From Snowcones, Icees, ice

cream and the ever popular Sonic, it’s easy to find something to help stay cool.

option 6 JUST STAY INSIDE If all else fails, the easiest way to beat the heat is stay at home.

The heat can’t get to us with our air conditioners running.

Just hang out inside with a cold drink and wait until the sun goes down before planning too many outdoor activities.

Having More Retirement Accounts is Not the Same as Having More Money.

When it comes to the number of retirement accounts you have, the saying “more is better” is not necessarily true. In fact, if you hold multiple accounts with various brokers, it can be difficult to keep track of your investments and to see if you’re properly diversified.* At the very least, multiple accounts usually mean multiple fees.

Bringing your accounts to Edward Jones could help solve all that. Plus, one statement can make it easier to see if you’re moving toward your goals. *Diversification does not guarantee a profit or protect against loss.

SHOP, DINE AND ENJOY

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To learn why consolidating your retirement accounts to Edward Jones makes sense, call your local financial advisor today.

3720 W Robinson St #126, Norman, OK 73072 (405) 217-9556

www.edwardjones.com

Beth Dutoit .

3770 W Robinson St Ste 108 Norman, OK 73072 405-360-3284 IRT-1435B-A

Hours: Mon-Sat 11-8 Sun 11-3

NORMAN BROOKHAVEN VILLAGE 3770 W. Robinson, Ste. 100

579-8500

Eat Something Good!

31

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www.brookhaven-village.com NW 36th & Robinson, Norman

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405-321-8474

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