NTown - August 2015

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Aug. 14, 2015

+ Q&A: The return of Norman’s discount movie theater • Midsummer Nights • One last Summer Breeze

from the editor’s desk H

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The heat is on, but the summer is winding down. Pretty soon it’ll be pumpkin-flavored everything, frigid wind gusts, school zones, shorter days and longer nights.

It can be hard to enjoy the summer when you’re baking in your car or pondering the notion of sidewalks as cooking surfaces, but with so little of it remaining I encourage everyone to make the most of it. Given that swimming pools, air conditioners and/ or fans are at our disposal in some for or another, the summer often isn’t as bad as people make it out to be. Sure, Northerners melt like crayons, but not us. We can take it. Or, at least we can pretend. Either way my point is that it’s not that unbearable. At least not now.

Imagine what it would’ve been like, say ... in 1900. Can you even fathom that? Imagine living through a string of triple-digit-summers with no escape.

No respite. Nothing. I used to wonder how people survived the winters in the frigidly cold culture hubs of the north before the advent of modern heating. But, you can always start a fire. You can always put on another blanket or a jacket — provided you have on, of course.

Heat, on the other hand, is only beatable through the power of technology. Electricity remains our only true ave and even then, it’ll cost you.

Some people can sweat it out, stubbornly resisting relief, delaying A/C usage until the last drop of willpower falls from their brow. One by one, they all cave to the power of comfort. Most of us have that ace up our sleeve. Most of us.

Publisher Mark Millsap Editor Mack Burke

It’s hard to imagine what life must have been like for the people who settled the Sooner State in its infancy.

They endured brutal elements, the likes of which most of us have never had to endure for more than a couple of hours at a time. Yet, there are people who still have to endure those elements. There are people who don’t have permanent escapes. Imagine living without a home. Norman’s homeless population endures the elements, because they have to.

We all hack our way through the summer heat and the bitter cold of winter, but nobody lives it the way they do. It’s a tough life. We can all handle the heat for a while when we know that relief is around the corner, but it becomes dangerous when there’s nothing to break up the unrelenting solar blast.

So, apart from making the most of summer’s last set, if you find yourself cursing the heat, just remember those that don’t have the means to fight it.

Donating to local charities like Food and Shelter for Friends, that help the homeless find relief can make a big difference. We’re all trying to beat the heat, but some people could use all the help they can get. Let your sweat serve as a reminder.

Yeah, I know. This kind of turned into a soapbox rant, but I felt it needed to be said. Maybe the heat’s getting to me. Maybe its my fresh sun burn.

Whatever it is, helping people is never a bad call.

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• Online: normanscript.com/ ntown

ello Norman,

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Q&A with Robinson Crossing theater revivalist Joshua Evans

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Midsummer Nights’ Arts Festival brings back the hits

8/9

Book Reviews & Album Reviews

10

Hidden gems on Netflix

12

Galileo’s World: OU celebrates 125 years

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Eclectic grooves: Summer Breeze wraps up

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Caught on Camera: Thunder Girl tryouts

Top 10/ 18/21 NTown’s 2nd Friday Art Walk schedule

Cover Design Anthony Kimball

Nathan Ward Rebecca McKenny

Advertising Rebekah Collins Robin Escarcega Ryan Dillard Nick Sheats

Production Manager Rob Rasor Writers Mack Burke

Doug Hill Mary Newport Scott Strandberg Photographers Mack Burke Kyle Phillips

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 mburke@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 Rebekah Collins, 405-366-3554 or Rebekah@normantranscript.com. N-town can be found online at normantranscript.com/ntown.

&A

Q

Norman’s only “dollar theater” closed its doors in the summer of 2013. Like so many other the4

8.14.15

aters across the country, the Robinson Crossing Theater couldn’t afford to make the jump from film to digital. The location, 1300 N. Interstate Dr., remained vacant over the last two years and looked like it may never again be what it had been. That is, until a 30-year-old movie house entrepreneur from Washington set his sights on the little theater. Joshua Evans and his father, Martin Evans, started planning the theater’s revival earlier this year and have gotten an overwhelming response. The people of Norman have spoken. They want their theater back. With massive renovations already underway, Evans is hoping the newly dubbed Evans Theater will be opening its doors in November. NTown caught up with Evans via phone to talk about his plans for the beloved theater and how him and his father found themselves in Norman.

——— NTown: How did you find an interest in a former dollar theater in Norman, Oklahoma?

Evans: Me and a couple of partners used to have a theater in Connecticut a few years back. Unfortunately, we were unable to negotiate a favorable lease with the landlord at the time so we ended up closing that. Ever since we have been looking for a location that we thought would do well in a community that we enjoyed. I found this theater in a property listing website. We went down and met with the property owner and really fell in love with the property. We thought we would give it a go.

NTown: How many theaters are you operating right now?

By Mack Burke

with cinema entrepreneur Joshua Evans on bringing discount theater back to Norman

Evans: It will be just this one.

NTown: You sound really young. How long have you guys been in the movie theater game?

Evans: I am 30, so I’m not that young. I have been in and out of the theater business for the past five years. We have been trying to find a location that was solid, that we could build off of and make something that is permanent and long lasting. We’ve been looking around for a place for the last three years.

NTown: What made this theater so enticing?

Evans: Actually, we were still on the fence about it up until we made our Facebook page. We got a lot of likes. Other businesses, other organizations, people in general were reaching out to us, telling us how excited they were. We talked to the property owner who gave us some insight on the location with the last operator, and we just felt like it was a good time to get back into the area of discount theater. I remember as a kid that discount theaters were all over the place. They kind fell over the wayside for a little, but over the past few years, discount theaters have made a huge comeback. They are very successful if you can operate them right. It was the right timing.

NTown: Yeah, when I was growing up, going to the dollar theater was standard fare. We did it all the time. How does it work as far as what films you get, the licensing, how long you wait? How do you decide what you are going to get?

Evans: It depends based on geographical location. For example, the standard is about three miles, so any theaters that are within three miles of each other can’t show the same stuff at the same time. The Hollywood Theater across the street is an established first-run theater owned

by Regal. They are going to get first dibs on the films. When they are done playing them, we will move them over to our theater and continue to run them.

NTown: So a typical scenario, this movie came out on August 1st, and it runs until November 15.

It would make its way to your theater immediately or a bit after?

Evans: That depends on the film. Some of them allow you to pick up the movie immediately after. Hollywood will make us wait a gap, usually a week or two weeks. Large grossing films would probably allow us to play right away, films that petered out at the first run, they usually wait two weeks and relaunch them at the discount theaters.

NTown: What’s your background? How did you get into film in the first place? Were you a film major? I assume you’ve been a life-long movie lover.

Evans: That’s pretty much it. I’ve always had a passion for movies. I worked for Movie Gallery and Hollywood Video for a long time and also spent some time with Blockbuster Video. I’ve always loved talking to customers about their favorite movies, their favorite actors, what kind of genres they enjoy. I’ve always just had a passion for it, so I figured when all the movie rental places went away, the next best thing was the movie theater.

NTown: Agreed. What do you think about 3D movies? Would you guys have the potential to show those?

Evans: We will definitely be able to show 3D films.

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Kyle Phillips / NTown

The location of the soon-to-be opened Evans Theater, 1300 N Interstate Dr., has sat vacant since the Robinson Crossing Theater closed its doors in 2013.

NTown: So people would be able to get the same experience for a lot cheaper, but just a little bit afterward?

Evans: Yup. If they are willing to wait a little longer, they can get the same experience for a lot cheaper.

NTown: Do you think with all of the streaming services and this culture of immediacy, and the fact that most theaters are pretty expensive, do you think that has a lot to do with a lot of the first-run movie theaters taking a bit of a hit over time?

Evans: Yes and no. Movie theaters still draw more people than sporting events and amusement parks combined. So yes, you might look in a news article saying that the overall box office sales was down over $100 million this year compared to last year. But any industry you will see fluctuation up and down. I think it’s the crowd experience. People want to enjoy the experience on the big screen. In my opinion, until they make 40 foot screens available for the average consumer in their home, I really don’t think movie

theaters will be going anywhere anytime soon.

The technology to display the films in high quality, crisp pictures and sound is advancing, and I don’t see movie theaters going anywhere. The only thing that I think could affect movie theater budgets is that Hollywood hasn’t been able to come up with good, original films lately.

NTown: That’s a great point. Our film critic, Scott Strandberg, made the point that the only reason why a film should be rebooted is if there were movie making limitations at the time of release.

Evans: Well, we also plan on showing a lot of cult classic movies. Films that I loved as a kid.

Yeah, they might have a remake coming out soon, but you can’t ever touch the original. Just to be able to see those films in the original is amazing. We are excited to offer that also. A lot of other discount theaters will just run the blockbuster majors, but we want the opportunity to showcase the classics, indie films, foreign films, anything we can as well as movie marathons and double features of old classics.

NTown: That’s such a cool idea. I’ve always

thought it would be neat to have the opportunity to see those kinds of movies in the theaters.

Especially the ones before my time. That kind of goes back to the point of why remake the movie, why not just rerun it? If you already have the awesome movie, you don’t need to do it again.

That’s a very cool opportunity. So, what are some of your favorite movies? Top five favorites.

Evans: I have a kind of odd taste in film. “Little Shop of Horrors,” the whole “Ghostbusters” series, all of the original “Star Wars” films, and also the original and new “Star Trek” movies.

NTown: What do you think of CGI versus practical effects?

Evans: I don’t really have a preference. If they are used right, they can actually look pretty amazing. I honestly think it’s based off the budget of the film.

See Q&A, Page 22

8.14.15

Midsummer Night fever • Firehouse Art Center’s premier visual arts festival brings back old favorites and new twists

By Mack Burke

After nearly 40 years, the Midsummer Nights’ Fair continues to draw thousands of art lovers to Lions Park for two nights dedicated to the visual arts. This year marks the 38th anniversary of the Firehouse Art Center’s marquee event. Once again Lions Park will find itself overrun by unique artist booths, demonstrations, live music, kids’ crafts and one-of-a-kind creations.

The juried arts festival will feature nearly 30 artists from the full spectrum of mediums and styles, some of them returning favorites and some fresh faces.

There’s plenty of art for sale, but looking is free.

Listening is too. With a stockpile of favorite local musical acts set to take the stage, along with students from the McMichael Music Student Showcase and plenty of free artistic activities for kids and adults, the festival offers something for everyone looking for a summer dose of artistic enrichment.

The event runs from 6 to 11 p.m., Aug. 21 and 22.

This year, children and adults can seek their inner artist through activities such as foil sculpting, portrait drawing from a live model, and creating entirely personal “thumbprint” drawings.

The Children’s Art Wall, a festival mainstay, will also be at the event for children to paint their own creative vision with the guidance of Firehouse art

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educators. The central tent will also host additional Firehouse faculty, demonstrating techniques in mediums such as wheel-thrown pottery, painting, jewelry, sculpting, printmaking, thumbprint drawings and traditional drawing.

With all of the returning favorites, it’s the same as it ever was, but with a few minor alterations. For starters, the name has changed from the Midsummer Nights’ Fair to the Midsummer Nights’ Arts Festival.

Though a handful of the festival’s regulars were unable to commit to the show this year, some newcomers will get a chance to showcase their artistic vision and there are even more new programs for the creatively inclined.

“One of our new programs is thumbprint drawing, which may sound a little strange, but master artists like Chuck Close did major portraits just with his thumbprint. We did it out at Earth Day and it was a big hit. Children of all ages and even adult kids who want to play, they can step up and we’ll be encouraging all of their creativity using their unique thumbprint to create master works,” Firehouse Art Center director Douglas Elder Shaw said.

“We’ll have models again, so anyone can draw the model. My teachers are going to be out demonstrating what they do at the Firehouse and this year, the Fred Jones Museum is going to join us. They’re going to have a tent adjacent to the Firehouse tent, so they can talk to the public about their programming and

we also get to talk about our beautiful partnership with them ... Everything we do at the Firehouse for the kids is tied into the state standards. Dealing with texture and understanding it, that’s one of the principles of design.”

Though the Firehouse is always willing to accept donations, that’s not the goal of Midsummer Nights’.

In fact, it’s something the Firehouse has to raise money for. From the Firehouse and its sponsors, it’s more of a gift to the community. And like art itself, it’s a gift that keeps on giving.

“This is truly the Firehouse’s way to bring the community together and highlight an institution that has been a part of Norman since 1971. It is truly, along with the Sooner Theatre, a gem of Norman ... This is our way of showing that the visual arts are not only an important part of everyday life, but something we can all come together and experience,” Shaw said.

“This year we have at least three artists coming from out of state. We love bringing people together.”

Two nights, four presenters, 28 artist booths, 10 headlining bands and about 3,500 people. If the goal is bringing people together, then the Midsummer Nights’ Arts Festival hit its stride a long time ago — even if it went by a slightly different name.

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Mark Andrews - Photography Frances Barton - Painting / Photography Clifton Brown - Photography Chris & Dion Burnett - Glass / Crafts Chris Burnett - Fabric Dyeing Susan Chambers - Glass / Jewelry Monica Fallini - Oil / Acrylic Painting Amy Foster - Jewelry Shane Glover - Metal Vernon Hatley - Photography Beverly Herndon - Watercolor Lara Holland - Jewelry Randy Jones - Photography Gloria Lamar - Oil Painting Darci Lenker - Crafts Stasia Long - Clay / Metal / Glass Becky Portera - Crafts Dana Reed - Glass Jim Shelley - Glass / Jewelry Kent Sowers - Stained Glass Thomas Stotts - Painting Tara Tipton - Jewelry Jim Watkins - Graphite / Charcoal Bud & Beverly Webster - Crafts Cecilia Yoder - Jewelry

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ands

Friday, August 21 6 p.m. Sweet Brenda 7 p.m. Aron Holt & Alan Orebaugh of Mama Sweet 8 p.m. Mike Hosty 9 p.m. North Meets South 10 p.m. The Oh Johnny! Girls

Saturday, August 22 6 p.m. Headbutt 7 p.m. Nowhere Band 8 p.m. Annie Oakley 9 p.m. Kierston White & the Dirty Dishes 10 p.m. Bungalouski

Kyle Phillips / NTown Rashawn Okewole paints a picture on the Children’s Art Wall during the 2014 Midsummer Nights Arts Festival.

The ClosesT Thing To a VaCCine Robert C. Wells, D.D.S. 808 24th Ave NW, #101 Norman, OK 405.329.2121 robertwellsdds.com

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

For the past 45 years I’ve heard of the great cavity prevention solution…a vaccine. While it’s true that several attempts have produced limited vaccine success, the true safe and effective vaccine has not emerged. However, due to advances in technology, a safe and effective preventative tool has definitely come to dental care. Smaller electric motors and better rechargeable batteries have allowed for better electric toothbrushes. These brushes are amazing and have drastically reduced not only tooth decay,

but also gum disease. Used for the toothbrush’s two minute timer, twice daily, combined with flossing will almost certainly eliminate 90% of an individual’s dental disease. This one advancement has changed my practice dramatically. We might have a vaccine after-all.

Prepared as a public service to promote better dental health.

book reviews ‘Go Set a Watchman’ is a heartbreaker Author: Harper Lee Released: 2015

“Go Set a Watchman” made a splash this month as the most pre-ordered book on Amazon, and quite possibly the most controversial. The book has been simultaneously lauded as an important literary piece in a time of racial tension and booed as a terrible sequel that ruins the legacy of “To Kill A Mockingbird.”

One thing is certain: If you think Atticus Finch is a man without flaw, you’re going to be heartbroken — and that’s the whole point.

The book opens as Jean Louise Finch, a.k.a. Scout, returns from New York and university life to Maycomb, Alabama. The story meanders through her lazy reunion with her hometown and the sun-kissed memories she has of her childhood there.

There is little narrative force present as she interacts with her family and flirts with the idea of marrying her sweetheart, Henry, but Harper Lee paints a vivid, engaging portrait of small-town Southern life that coaxes the reader sweetly on. Vignettes of childhood escapades and social politics make for pleasant, though not groundbreaking, reading.

The pleasant idyl ends when Jean Louise, puzzled and upset by a racist pamphlet in her father’s things, follows Atticus to a meeting of the Citizen’s Council.

There she learns with horror that her father, the upstanding lawyer who has been her moral compass all her life, has become part of a racist group dedicated to preserving segregation and preventing advances

By Mary Newport

in black rights.

Jean Louise is beautifully real in her pain and shame. Readers will feel deep kinship with her as she lashes out against the betrayal of her childhood faith.

She has all the passionate arrogance of a well-educated adult returning to her small childhood home, and all the baffled misery of a young woman faced by the smooth patter of scholarly bigots.

“Go Set A Watchman” is memory when the shine wears off, a gauzy veil of rich Southern nostalgia ripped away by the disillusionment of adulthood.

Growing up means realizing that our heroes are not perfect, our convictions can be shaken and no truth is absolute. Every reader has faced the loss of longheld faith, and those who fight racism will recognize Jean Louise’s storm-tossed emotions upon learning that a loved one embraces hatred.

“Go Set A Watchman” is engaging, but it’s not the literary masterwork its predecessor was. The dialogue is often convoluted and the lectures stilted.

The book lacks any clear conclusion; the end is an ambiguous rush of emotion, with Jean Louise still angry about her family’s hidden bias, her mind now clouded by their skillful defense of their racist attitudes. It is not a particularly satisfying finish, but perhaps it is not meant to be. Her dilemma remains true to life in its bitter end.

There is no quick fix or easy answer in the face of prejudice.

The novel’s merit lies in exactly this coarseness.

Many critics have called it a rough draft of “To Kill A Mockingbird,” and that is correct — but not necessarily a damning criticism. “Go Set A Watchman” touches the heart. It eschews smooth narrative in pursuit of deeper truth. Real life is messy, hypocritical and bitter-sweet, and the novel echoes that in every line.

Read if: You value evocative prose over smooth lines.

Don’t read if: You want to hold Atticus Finch pure in your heart.

——— See more reviews from Mary Newport at takingthingsliterary.wordpress.com.

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album reviews

By Doug Hill

Artist: Aqueduct Album: “Wild Knights”

Artist: Frank Brown Album: “Last Season’s Love Songs”

Aqueduct’s website opens to the strains of Bob Wills’ “Take Me Back to Tulsa” transmogrified into a 21st-century-pop confection. David Terry launched his one man band in T Town but Aqueduct has been based in Seattle for over a decade.

His first album in over eight years dropped last month. You’ll be forgiven if the title sounds as if it’s a disco revival attempt.

Terry teamed with Centromatic’s drummer Matt Pence to make these songs with names such as “The Ballad of Barbarella,” “Young Guns II” and “Paranoid Much?”

Terry’s vocals and songwriting are fundamentally appealing. He strays away from those strengths with an annoying over-utilization of synthesizers. It’s as if he’s performing his compositions around an orchestra of pesky chipmunks with an arsenal of miniature theremins. The seemingly inexhaustible supply of electronic squiggles are layered into a distracting aural confusion that takes away from what would be otherwise enjoyable songs. It can’t just be a good yet simple piano introduction for “Past the Point” there has to be spacey embellishments to make it even better. Terry has wandered into this electronic wilderness but it’s likely his talent will lead him out on future projects.

Email Doug at hillreviews@gmail.com

Vocalist/ guitarist Frank Brown is a fixture on Tulsa’s jazz scene. He plays nearly every night in joints such as Hey Mambo and Lefty’s on Greenwood. Brown’s Love Songs album on Tortoise Records is ten original tracks tapping the talents of a dozen of his musician friends.

Right out of the chute “I’ll Find You Some Time” arrests attention. This is genuine sophisticated American jazz that would be welcome in watering holes around the globe. Listening to it in this Oklahoma summer made a sweltering evening miraculously cooler. It took a lot of confidence for Brown to include Olivia Duhon’s enchanting solo vocals in his album. Many musicians wouldn’t have risked her seizing the entire project’s spotlight on “We Had It All.” It’s a haunting song, the style regularly heard on Molaskey and Pizzarelli’s Radio Deluxe program on NPR. Brown’s lyricism is remarkable on all these compositions.

True to title they’re all love songs with a weighting toward squandered opportunity and regretful loss.

“Get Well Soon” is an unlikely Hallmark card of a tune. Its sweet sentiments are intensified by an adorable 1950ish-sounding mixed male and female vocal chorus of six voices. This is a jazz record for any season.

Artist: Samantha Crain Album: “Under Branch & Thorn & Tree” This is Samantha Crain’s senior album.

Her melancholy tone has changed little.

Crain’s virtuosity as a vocalist, musician and songwriter has only grown through these first four records. The entire content of this review could easily be focused on just one song. Track three, “Elk City,” may be the most quintessentially Oklahoma song ever

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written. It’s not a saga of a surrey with fringe on top. The song chronicles a teen mother whose boyfriend came to the Anadarko basin to get rich in the oil patch.

She’s abandoned when the boom goes bust. Her baby grows up and gets a university education, allowing escape from the small town. It’s doubtful that Elk City’s chamber of commerce will embrace this unflinching song but working folks at The Longhorn Saloon mentioned in the lyrics might. “You Or

Mystery” tells the story of 35-year-old neighbor man, whose name isn’t even known, found dead at home. Crain’s gentle vocals and simple guitar breathe touching humanity into the gloomy event.

“Big Rock” is the disc’s lone upbeat tune and is not in praise of rock ‘n’ roll. It’s about being stranded on a big rock with a river of life’s problems rushing on all sides. Crain has cultivated a tall tree of music with this album and it’s a mighty strong one.

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movie reviews Hidden gems on

“The Guest” (2014)

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Still grieving the loss of her war-hero son, Laura Peterson (Sheila Kelley, “Gossip Girl”) receives a most unexpected visitor. The young man at her front door — David (Dan Stevens, “Downton Abbey”) — is a close friend of her late son.

David just received his discharge from the military, and rushed to the Petersons’ house first thing. He claims that he made a promise to their fatally wounded son to relay messages to them, and is here to fulfill his friend’s dying wish.

From the beginning, there doesn’t seem to be much reason for the Petersons to doubt David or his intentions. He has a kind, trusting face. He is exceedingly polite. He’s even able to spot himself in a small group photo from basic training on the family’s mantle.

Still, something just feels off about the whole situation. David seems to be a bit too nice, like he’s forcing it just a touch. His story seems slightly odd as well, with strange little details that raise an eyebrow here and there.

For instance, David claims to have jogged to the Petersons’ house from the bus station, which Laura implies is quite far from the house. How, then, is his breathing so slow and steady?

Why is he not the least bit sweaty, even though he’s wearing a sweatshirt and jeans? How is his hair so perfect?

By Scott Strandberg

In this age of digital media, Netflix Instant Play is entering nearly everyone’s homes. The streaming service is now part of approximately 40 million American households, a number which is growing by the day.

This is a tiny detail from the film’s opening few minutes, but it struck me immediately. It’s the kind of thing you or I would notice, but could easily slip past a grieving mother who instinctively finds comfort in the company of her late son’s friend.

It’s not that the setup for “The Guest” is particularly original, because it’s not. Yet, there is so much unease in the details; a sort of disquiet that lurks over even the most innocuous scenes.

Director Adam Wingard also helmed the tremendously entertaining “You’re Next,” which released just last year (and is also currently available on Netflix). Both films revolve around outsiders upsetting a family dynamic by entering their home, but do so in completely different fashion.

“You’re Next” is a home-invasion thriller, with a twisted tongue-incheek zeal that gives the film a crazed sort of energy. “The Guest” possesses that same liveliness, but amplified exponentially, and refined to near-perfection. Each moment of violence is built upon so much anticipation that the action sequences vibrate with vitality.

Although the film occupies a modern setting, Wingard injects a strong 1980’s vibe into “The Guest,” which turns the film into a fascinatingly unique aesthetic playground. The dreamy soundtrack of layered synthesizers, the wacky clothes and hair; all of these small touches combine to help make “The Guest” far more than the sum of its parts.

Trying to avoid hyperbole when discussing Stevens’ performance is near-impossible. It’s one of those incredibly rare star-making turns on the level of Ryan Gosling in “Drive” or Matthew McConaughey in “Mud” —

With that in mind, this column serves to highlight films you may have overlooked on Netflix.

——— Follow Scott on Twitter @scottstrandberg

the kind of achievement in acting that guarantees future mega-success.

Stevens has a sort of machinistic allure, oddly reminiscent of Robert Patrick’s turn as the T-1000 in “Terminator 2,” but made far more relatable.

I am fully confident when I say that the next big thing has arrived in Hollywood, and his name is Dan Stevens.

“The Guest” is a bold statement by two young artists at the top of their craft. There is no ceiling for talents like Stevens and Wingard, and the fact that they converged in the same film on their way to the top is something to be savored. I cannot recommend “The Guest” highly enough.

“The Guest” is rated R for strong violence, language, some drug use and a scene of sexuality.

“Benny and Joon”(1993) Before checking out on his career — settling for an endless series of “Pirates of the Caribbean” paychecks and minimum-effort Tim Burton retreads — Johnny Depp was a fantastic actor. In the early nineties, Depp was just entering his prime.

Fresh off his breakout performance in Burton’s “Edward Scissorhands,” 1993 saw Depp showcasing his versatility with tremendous turns in “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” and “Benny & Joon.”

Benny (Aidan Quinn, “Legends of the Fall”) is a lonely mechanic, whose entire life revolves around looking after his sister Joon (Mary Stuart Masterson, “Fried Green Tomatoes”).

Joon suffers from a mental illness that renders her incapable of caring for herself. Benny dreams of a life of adventure and travel, but settles for playing cards with his buddies from the shop.

Depp enters the picture as Sam, a newcomer in town who is the cousin of Benny’s co-worker. Sam is a little bit ‘off’ as well — as if he’s been transported from the 1930’s — and strikes up an unlikely friendship with Joon. Before long, he’s living with Benny and Joon, further complicating Benny’s life.

“Benny & Joon” finds a young Depp channeling the legendary Buster Keaton, dressing in a top hat and suspenders, while keeping his mind occupied by performing Vaudevillian stunts and jokes. Depp’s Sam is immensely endearing, both to viewers and (eventually) Benny and Joon.

Quinn and Masterson provide excellent comic foils for Depp to play off of, and the supporting cast is rife with talented performers. Julianne Moore (“The Big Lebowski”), Oliver Platt (“X-Men: First Class”) and William H. Macy (“Fargo”) round out the film’s impressive ensemble.

There’s a gentle playful streak running through “Benny & Joon” that is all too rare in Hollywood these days. It’s refreshing to watch a film so good-natured. There are no villains, no antagonizing figures. This sort of ‘slice of life’ filmmaking rarely works — even comedy usually isn’t funny without some sort of conflict.

The only real conflict in “Benny & Joon” is Benny’s internal strife over

whether to check Joon into a group home. Even that subplot is relatively minor, as viewers never truly believe that Benny is going to follow through.

It’s a beautifully unique piece of filmmaking from director Jeremiah Chechik (“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”). Chechik’s film simply gives viewers the chance to watch these characters get to know each other, as Sam’s presence alters the relationships around him.

It’s a shame that Depp chose to forego challenging roles in thoughtful films, settling instead on being a corporate shill. He was so talented in his youth; one can only imagine the heights he’d have reached if he had simply kept trying.

“Benny & Joon” is rated PG for a scene of mild sensuality and one use of harsh language.

“Lost Soul” (2014) The 1996 John Frankenheimer film “The Island of Dr. Moreau” has the reputation as one of the worst movies ever made.

It is in no way worth watching.

However, David Gregory’s 2014 documentary “Lost Soul” is a thoroughly enjoyable look back at the myriad difficulties that doomed “Dr. Moreau.”

Following the highly successful low-budget cult classic “Hardware,” South African filmmaker Richard Stanley was given the opportunity of a lifetime. Stanley — a lifelong fan of H.G. Wells — spent four years developing Wells’ “The Island of Dr. Moreau” for the big screen, before New Line Cinema approved the project in 1993.

Stanley’s vision was meticulously detailed — it had a slick, modernized screenplay and thorough storyboards for every scene. Yet, from the very start, he clashed with the studio over nearly every aspect of the film’s production.

When New Line tabbed Marlon Brando to play Dr. Moreau, the studio decided to hand over the directorial

reins from Stanley to Roman Polanski.

Enraged, Stanley demanded a meeting with Brando to plead his case to the legendary actor face to face.

Stanley enlisted the help of a friend who he claims was a very powerful warlock. This warlock performed some sort of ritual which cast a black magic over Stanley’s meeting with Brando. After the two spoke, Brando told New Line executives that he was out on the project, unless Stanley was back in as director.

Stanley is one strange individual — a man who seriously believes he won Brando’s favor by using witchcraft. The weirdness was far from limited to Stanley, however.

Brando’s daughter tragically committed suicide shortly before filming, and he was unavailable for the first several weeks of production. When his co-star Val Kilmer and Stanley clashed over creative decisions — and with Brando not on-hand to back Stanley’s vision — New Line executives grew wary of the increasingly unstable Stanley’s ability to direct the film.

A hurricane hit just a few days after shooting began, and production was forced to temporarily shut down. Actor Rob Morrow called New Line’s president and begged him to remove him from the film. After Morrow left, the studio pulled the plug on Stanley as director.

Upon hearing the news, actress Fairuza Balk — a Stanley supporter — jumped in a limousine and fled from the film’s northeast Australian location.

She traveled over 1,500 miles across the continent to Sydney, and only returned to the set when New Line threatened her with a lawsuit.

A week later, Stanley was replaced

by Frankenheimer, who clashed with the cast as much as Stanley had clashed with New Line executives. Things only got worse when Brando showed up.

Brando hadn’t even read the script, but still insisted on sweeping changes to the production on the fly.

The story truly just gets crazier from there. Watching “Lost Soul,” it’s easy to see why “The Island of Dr. Moreau” was such a terrible film.

All the major players hated each other’s guts, and no one was willing to give an inch. “Lost Soul” is not rated.

——— Follow Scott on Twitter @scottstrandberg

FIREH OU SE

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AUGUST + MIDSUMMER NIGHTS: 2015 ART FESTIVAL August 21 and August 22, 2015 | 6 - 11 PM Lions Park on the corner of Flood and Symmes.

Artist Booths | Live Music | Artist Demonstrations Family-Friendly Visual Art Activities & Experiences

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FALL 2 0 15 S EM ES T ER N O W EN R O L L I N G Classes begin the week of September 13, 2015 Visit normanfirehouse.com for class listings

+ CHILDREN’S SUMMER ART SHOW 2015 August 7 - August 22, 2015 Reception: August 14, 2015, 6 - 8 PM Extended gallery hours: August 21 and August 22, 6 - 11 PM, during Midsummer Nights.

An exhibition featuring work from every student in this year’s Children’s Summer Art Program.

444 S. Flood Avenue Norman, Oklahoma 73069 normanfirehouse.com 405.329.4523 Mon - Fri: 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM | Sat: 10 AM - 4 PM | Sun: Closed Sponsored in part by the Norman Arts Council and Oklahoma Arts Council

By Mack Burke

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alileo Galilei is known for many things.

Most identify with his work as an astronomer and a mathematician, but during his time (15641642) he was a pivotal Renaissance figure whose work touched on many fields and exemplified the interconnectedness of learning. His contributions to astronomy and physics were rivaled only by his role in advancing the concept of scientific fact.

His observations of the night sky and contributions to the development of the telescope helped immeasurably in proving that, in contrast to the ancient theories of Aristotle, that the Earth was not in fact the center of the universe. Though the heliocentric theory of the solar system is credited to Copernicus, Galileo’s efforts were vital in reaffirming his predecessor’s theories. His work had a resounding effect on modern science. After all, he didn’t get the nickname “The Father of Modern Science” without earning it.

Galileo’s legacy is the central theme behind OU’s 125th anniversary celebration, “Galileo’s World.” The celebration features 20 exhibits, spanning seven locations and three campuses.

The colossal undertaking features hundreds of volumes from Galileo’s time, some of which contain his handwriting and signature. Like the man himself, the works touch on nearly every facet of scientific advancement, with exhibitions featuring rare books, instrument replicas, digital resources and student projects.

The exhibition begins in full with a public open house at 3 p.m., Sept. 5, coinciding with OU’s first home football game. The open house will be in the newly renovated fifth floor of Bizzell Memorial Library. An opening forum, followed by the opening reception for the National Weather Center exhibits on Sept. 25.

“The history of science collection began in 1949. We’ve been around for quite a while.

Scholars come from around the world to study here. The books are not new to Oklahoma, but they’ve been steadily acquired over more than 60 years. So, really what’s new is the 125 anniversary. We feel like giving the campus and the public a chance to experience the world of Galileo will shed light on the experience at OU today,” history and science collection curator Kerry Magruder said.

OU Libraries, which is sponsoring the exhibition, maintains one of the most important collections of early manuscripts in the United States. Its History of Science collections include all 12 first editions by Galileo published in his lifetime, four of which contain Galileo’s original handwriting.

This exhibition will be the first time all 12 works will be on display at one time.

“These are world class works … All 12 works published by Galileo in his lifetime, four with his own handwriting and one with his signature. It’s a steal for the state of Oklahoma. This is kind of a way for us to showcase those resources on campus,” project coordinator Chelsea Julian said.

When the idea was forming we had more and more departments seeing connections between these works and the idea of fusing science with the humanities to come up with new innovations.

So, that’s how it turned into a campus-wide event.

The ideas behind the scientific revolution and the cross-disciplinary approaches are still very relevant here today,” Julian said.

A 16-foot-tall recreation of the leaning tower of Pisa, designed and build by OU engineering students and faculty, is already on display at OU’s Bizzell Memorial Library. The tower, famous in its own right, is also famous as the location where Galileo is said to have demonstrated that objects of different weights (in this case, two cannonballs) fall at the same speed. Visitors to the exhibit can test it for themselves by making the famed cannonball drop.

At the Sam Noble Museum of Oklahoma Natural History’s opening exhibit, which is already open to the public, visitors will see the work of Galileo and his contemporaries as naturalists. The exhibit, Through the Eyes of the Lynx: Galileo, Natural History and the Americas, written works of The Academy of the Lynx, showcases works from one of the world’s earliest scientific societies. Founded by an Italian aristocrat Federico Cesi in 1603, the Accademia dei Lincei (The Academy of the Lynx) published the research of Francisco Hernandez, the court physician to King Philip II, who traveled across the ocean to explore the Americas in the 1500s. His works described hundreds of plants and animals — and, perhaps most importantly, the medicinal and daily uses of each.

Though the Lynx was founded by Cesi, its most well-known member was Galileo Galilei, who joined the Lynx in 1611, bringing his expertise

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Kyle Phillips / NTown

A 16-foot-tall replica of the Tower of Pisa, constructed by OU engineering students and faculty, is just one of the many highlights visitors can expect to find in the sprawling “Galileo’s World” expose.

Mack Burke / NTown

Sam Noble Museum’s head of exhibits, Tom Luczycki, carefully places a centuries-old book in a display case at the museum.

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in mathematics, engineering, literature, art and medicine. “Through the Eyes of the Lynx is a unique opportunity for the Sam Noble Museum to provide an authentic, all-encompassing experience for our visitors to witness how discoveries in the 16th century were made,� museum spokesperson Jen Tregarthen said.

The exhibit explores the flora and fauna of the Americas and the classical works that influenced members of the Lynx to experiment with their own theories .

Those two exhibits represent a mere fraction of the celebration’s scope. Trying to tackle in its entirety in a day would be next to impossible.

So, the university is giving the public a full trip around the sun to take it all in, with staggered exhibit openings and receptions throughout the year at the Bizzell Memorial Library, the Sam Noble Museum, the National Weather Center, the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, Headington Hall, the Robert M. Bird Health Sciences Library and the OU-Tulsa Schusterman Library.

Exhibits will be shown in Norman, Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Through the Galileo’s World series, a total of 300 books will be displayed throughout the year. These include works of antiquity by Pliny the Elder, Ptolemy and Aristotle, as well as works by Galileo himself, Sebastian

Munster, Giovanni Battista Ferrari and more.

Other exhibit locations already open to the public include the National Weather Center, the Robert M. Bird Library at the OU Health Sciences Center and the Schusterman Library at OU-Tulsa.

The story of Galileo reveals the creativity and interconnectedness of human achievement. Galileo’s works illustrate a lifetime of engagement in science, art, literature, music, religion, philosophy, politics and culture.

Tom Luczycki, who has served as head of exhibits at the Sam Noble Museum for the last decade, said the exhibit is special for a number of reasons. Its scope is impressive, but for him it comes down to the fact that the exhibits play host to genuine articles of history.

“What’s incredible is that these books are hundreds of years old and you start realizing that we’re in an age where we have constant migration of media. We go from phonographs to tape recordings to digitization and as media has changed everything must be migrated ... but no matter how media progresses, if you keep books moisture free and in a low light level, they’ll last virtually forever,” he said. “The same can’t be said of any of the other recorded mediums. We don’t know how long digital media is going to last ... There’s a great history of how books are saved throughout time. To hold something in your hand that’s 400 or 500 years old and see the notes written in the margins, it’s incredible.

It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

Galileo’s creative achievements live on today and continue to shape our world. The interconnectedness of science and culture, which characterized Galileo’s world, remain the common heritage of humanity. This collection brings all of those disciplines together.

“It’s tremendous to see how it’s bringing the entire campus together. The Fine Arts College is participating this fall with lectures and concerts related to Galileo and his father. Galileo’s father, Vincenzo Galilei, wrote a major work on music theory that will be on display … Music shaped Galileo’s life from childhood. If he had not been trained in music, it’s likely he would not have been able to perform his science.”

For Galileo and his worldly contemporaries, everything was connected. Galileo’s World is all about connecting the dots and inviting the public to take a look at the big picture.

“I can think of no better way to celebrate the University’s 125th anniversary than the showcasing of our internationally recognized collection of first editions and items related to Galileo,” OU President David L. Boren said.

As far as celebrations go, this one has more depth and impact than your average anniversary party. It’s the crossroads of entertainment and enlightenment.

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ALILEO’S WORLD EXHIBIT CALENDAR

• A New Physics In 1638, Galileo published his masterwork of physics, Discourse on Two New Sciences. The two sciences were tensile strength and mechanics, the study of machines in motion.

(Bizzell Memorial Library — 5th Floor Special Collections) • An Artful Observation of the Cosmos In the Starry Messenger (1610), Galileo reported his discovery of four satellites of Jupiter and mountains on the Moon. These sensational telescopic discoveries would have been impossible were it not for Galileo’s training and experience in Renaissance art. (Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art)

When Galileo pointed his telescope toward the Moon, he discovered rugged and mountainous landscapes similar to Earth’s terrain. In a short treatise, Galileo reproduced his observations through detailed illustrations. (Bizzell Memorial Library — Main Floor) • Galileo Today Galileo Today examines how the concepts pioneered by Galileo and his contemporaries have shaped our understanding of research and exploration.

(Bizzell Memorial Library — Main Floor)

• Controversy over the Comets Galileo’s controversy over the comets illustrates how difficult it can be to implement novel research methods in science.

(Bizzell Memorial Library — 5th Floor Special Collections)

• Galileo, Engineer In the Republic of Venice, Galileo’s day-to-day work as a professor of mathematics was that of a scientist-engineer. City officials and notable individuals called upon his expertise to solve civic, military and nautical problems in engineering.

(Bizzell Memorial Library — 5th Floor Special Collections)

• Copernicus and Meteorology Astronomy, optics, chemistry and the Earth sciences are just a few of the disciplines once studied in close association with meteorology. Throughout history, meteorologists have adopted innovative methodologies to address emerging research problems that require multidisciplinary expertise. (National Weather Center)

• Music of the Spheres Music and astronomy were taught as complementary sciences, and both were understood as subdisciplines of mathematics in Galileo’s world. The harmonious motions of the planets created the music of the spheres. (Bizzell Memorial Library — 5th Floor Special Collections)

• Galileo and China Science has traditionally played a key role in cultural exchange.

Johann Schreck, one of Galileo’s friends a member of the Academy of the Lynx, went to China and taught astronomy.

(Bizzell Memorial Library — 5th Floor Special Collections)

• Oklahomans and Aerospace Aviators, astronauts, scientists and engineers from Oklahoma have participated in aerospace activities throughout the history of the state. This special exhibit explores how the pioneering spirit that brought space scientists’ to Oklahoma also inspired them to explore the new frontier of space. (National Weather Center)

• Galileo and Experimentation Galileo’s experiments and innovative scientific instruments opened up new worlds of discovery. His thermoscope facilitated quantitative comparison of temperatures over time and under varying circumstances. (National Weather Center) • Galileo and Kepler The Kepler space telescope launched in March, 2009, to search for terrestrial planets around other suns. One month later, five Jupiter-like planets had been discovered. As of 2015, the Kepler telescope has discovered a total of 1,000 confirmed planets.

(National Weather Center) • Galileo and Space Science With his telescope, Galileo discovered mountains on the Moon, four satellites of Jupiter, the phases of Venus, dark spots tracking across the face of the Sun, the enigmatic “ears” of Saturn, and countless stars that were invisible to the unaided eye. (National Weather Center) • Galileo and Sports Galileo and Sports examines the role of fitness, anatomy, and the physics of sport from Galileo’s world to today. (Headington Hall) • Galileo and the Health Sciences Galileo studied medicine and was once called as an expert medical witness in a trial. It was a friend of Galileo’s, who was a physician in Venice, who invented a device to measure the pulse, called the pulsilogium. (Robert M. Bird Health Sciences Library) • Galileo and the Quest for Other Worlds

• Science on a Sphere Science On a Sphere® (SOS) is a room sized, global display system that uses computers and video projectors to display planetary data onto a six foot diameter sphere, analogous to a giant animated globe. (National Weather Center) • The Galileo Affair Sometimes in harmony, sometimes in conflict, science and religion interact in diverse and historically contingent ways. The Galileo Affair turns out to be much more complicated than a simple conflict of science and religion. (Bizzell Memorial Library —5th Floor Special Collections) • The Scientific Revolution When Galileo announced that “mathematics is the language of nature,” he was making a then-controversial claim about how nature is best known and understood. (OU Schusterman Library) • Through the Eyes of the Lynx: Galileo and Microscopy Galileo and the Academy of the Lynx, or Accademia dei Lincei, were responsible for the first published report of observations made with a microscope (Apiarium, 1625), as well as with the telescope.

(Sam Noble Museum) • Through the Eyes of the Lynx: Galileo, Natural History and the Americas The king of Spain commissioned a physician, Francisco Hernandez, to compile Native American plant and animal knowledge. Hernandez worked closely with Aztec artists and physicians in central Mexico. (Sam Noble Museum)

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Eclectic grooves • Summer Breeze Concert Series wrapping up season with melting pot of sound

By Mack Burke

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If ever there was a Summer Breeze group that defied classification, it’s Tequila Azul. The band is based in Oklahoma City, but its roots traverse continents. With South-American rhythm infusions, pop and rock influences and songs in three languages (English, Spanish and Portuguese) they would probably take on the amorphously vague genre tag “world music” at a brick and mortar record store, but a more fitting genre might be “melting pot.” That’s not a recognized category, but when Tequila Azul took on the Summer Breeze stage on Aug. 9 at Lions Park, the band made a strong case as the poster child for the newly, unofficially minted genre.

Formed in January 2014, the band features Adriana Brito on vocals.

Armando Rivera on Congas, Cecelia Vargas on vocals, Edgar Salazar on bass, Hector Lopez on guitar, Ivan Castillo on vocals and guitar, Paulo Valles on drums and Ricardo Sasaki on keyboards.

That’s a lot of names and they come from all over the map — South America, Spain, Central America, Oklahoma City. The band draws on that diversity, mixing sounds and rhythms from different Latin styles, rock and pop.

“In the repertoire that we have, it covers a lot of different countries.

You don’t find a mix of people from every South American country like you do here. This is the only country in the world where you find people from Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Panama, Nicaragua in one city. Or, you know, in a bar,” Valles said. “The rhythm is different in every country. It’s defined by regions. Brazil’s rhythms are different than those in Colombia. In Colombia there are

Cecilia Vargas sings over the Latin rhythms of Tequila Azul during the band’s Summer Breeze performance at Lions Park.

different rhythms depending on the region. If it’s tropical, or by the beach it will be different than say, in the Andes.”

That melting-pot approach gives Tequila Azul its special sound. There’s authenticity from three continents converging on one groove. After a stellar Summer Breeze performance, the band, still only a year into its

development, will continue to blaze its own trail. Like so many of this season’s Summer Breeze acts, they have something different.

Now, the concert series looks ahead to the final show of the season.

On Aug 23., Lions Park will play host to a band with a similar approach and a vastly different style.

The Elders is a six-piece group

Mack Burke / NTown

rooted in Americana and Celtic folk that combines elements of storytelling with its own brand of acoustic mutation. Like Tequila Azul, The Elders are cut from a unique cloth. It will be a fitting end to the season which has brought so many different flavors to the summer.

——— Follow @Transcriptntown

CAUGHT on camera

Thunder Girl tryouts at Riverwind Casino — Photos by Kyle Phillips — The Oklahoma City Thunder solidified the lineup for the 2014-2015 Thunder Girls dance squad after an extensive tryout session in July at Riverwind Casino. The 19-person squad includes returning veterans and some new faces who will take to the floor for the first time at Chesapeake Energy Arena for the 2014-2015 Oklahoma City Thunder season.

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NTown’s Top 10 events for the month of August

• Midsummer Nights’ Arts Festival

When: 6 p.m. - 11 p.m., August 21-20 Where: Lions Park Midsummer Nights’ Arts Festival is one of the largest art fairs in Norman, taking place in the evening, with a oneof-a-kind atmosphere. The Firehouse Art Center takes this opportunity to showcase regional artists, share its mission to provide quality art experiences and demonstrate the passion for the visual arts to the community. This juried arts festival features nearly 30 unique, high-quality artist booths that offer pottery, jewelry, glass, sculpture, woodworking and more.

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A partnership between Girl into the Library Gallery Space Scouts of Western Oklahoma and beginning with the 2nd Friday the Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Art Walk.

Affairs will bring artwork from incarcerated young women

A second reception featuring the vivid color and organic forms of John Brandenburg’s “Noble Laundry Paintings” will be brightened further by the music

• A Sunday Afternoon With John Brandenburg When: 2 p.m. - 4 p.m., Aug. 16 Where: The Depot, 200 S. Jones Ave.

• Gene Watson, Moe Bandy and Johnny Lee Live When: 8 p.m., Aug. 21 Where: Riverwind Casino

A Sunday afternoon with John a discussion of his “Noble Laundry Brandenburg, longtime Norman Paintings” now on display in The artist and writer, will feature Depot Gallery. a reading of his recent poetry beginning at 2:00 pm, followed by

Put on your best boots and enjoy an evening with some classic country music icons. Gene Watson, Moe Bandy and Johnny Lee have been entertaining

• Douglas Shaw Elder and Craig Swan Exhibitions • Journey of a Survivor • Noble Laundry Paintings Meet Loose Shoes When: 6 - 10 p.m., Aug. 14 (through Sept. 11) When: 6 - 10 p.m., Aug. 14 - Sept. 11 When: 6 p.m. - 9 p.m., Aug. 14 Where: MAINSITE Contemporary Art, 122 E. Main St. Where: MAINSITE Contemporary Art, 122 E. Main St. Where: The Depot, 200 S. Jones Ave. The Norman Arts Council will host the opening reception for a pair of solo exhibitions from Douglas Shaw Elder and Craig Swan during the 2nd Friday

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Art Walk. Elder’s work takes an abstract perspective. Swan — like Elder — works in sculpture, wood carvings, paintings and sketches.

• Mark Chesnutt Live When: 8 p.m., Aug. 15 Where: Riverwind Casino Mark Chesnutt is one of country’s biggest names. Critics have hailed him as a classic country singer.

Mark Chesnutts’ stature is easily gauged; he has 14 No. 1 hits, 23

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top ten singles, four platinum albums and five gold records.

Country music critics and fans alike need look no further when it comes to Country music basics.

• Summer Breeze Concert Series: The Elders When: 7:30 p.m., Aug. 23 Where: Lion’s Park The final concert of the Summer Breeze series will feature The Elders. Founded in 1998 by six veteran musicians with a passion for music rooted in Americana & Celtic Folk, their ability to

bring together the art of story telling with a cross-pollination of elements that is progressive yet rooted in tradition, has won them a broad international fan base.

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• Michael Bolton in Concert When: 8 p.m., Aug. 28 Where: Riverwind Casino Michael Bolton, the multiple Grammy Award-winning Singer, Songwriter and Social Activist, who has sold more than 53 million albums and singles worldwide, continues to tour

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the world every year all while writing, recording and taping for a wide array of projects spanning music, film, television and theater.

of Loose Shoes, a group who synthesize Zydeco/Cajun, Western swing, old time Country, cowboy music, Jazz, Blues, Jugband, Rockabilly, Surf music and more.

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audiences for nearly 50 years with their many hit singles. See these titans of country music share the stage together for what is sure to be a memorable night.

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• “Galileo’s World” Opening Reception When: 5:30 p.m., Aug. 28 Where: Sam Noble Museum In celebration of OU’s 125th anniversary, Galileo’s World is a series of exhibits, events, and programs at the Bizzell Memorial Library, the Sam Noble Museum, the National Weather Center, the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, Headington Hall, the Robert

M. Bird Health Sciences Library, and the OU-Tulsa Schusterman Library. Starting August 2015 through February 2016, Galileo’s World illustrates connections between science, art, literature, music, religion, philosophy, politics and culture.

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CAUGHT on camera

“In the Heights” at Sooner Theatre — Photos by Kyle Phillips — The cast of “In the Heights” performs last month at the Sooner Theatre. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical, which focuses on the urban life of first-generation New Yorkers, pushed the cast of 30 high schoolers into new territory.

Many of them had to learn Spanish, or at least bits of it, to perform in the bi-lingual stage production. The Sooner Theatre’s next production is a revised version of the stage show “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown,” which will begin showing in mid October.

Main and Gray) will feature a variety of Oklahoma food trucks offering up all sorts of delicious street food in Downtown Norman, including Mim’s Bakery & Nosh, Odie May’s, Paddy Cakes, Phil Me Up Cheesesteaks, Healthy Hippo, Snow S’more and La Gumbo Ya Ya. • The Loaded Bowl, MT Express Tacos, Pinky’s Rolling Fresh and Big Truck Tacos will be parked out in East Downtown (300+400 blocks of E. Main).

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS: • MAINSITE Contemporary Art: Home of the Norman Arts Council (122 E. Main) will host the opening reception for a pair of solo exhibitions from Douglas Shaw Elder and Craig Swan. Elder’s work takes an abstract perspective, his latest series of SCAPES demonstrating the force of creativity, growth, destruction and erosion with raw, dark forms. Swan — like Elder — works in sculpture, wood carvings, paintings and sketches. Journey of a Survivor — a partnership between Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs — will bring artwork from incarcerated young women into the Library Gallery Space while the results of July’s teen analog photography workshop with studio1409 will be on display in the Water Closet Gallery.

• The Firehouse Art Center (444 S. Flood) will celebrate Norman’s youngest artists with the annual Children’s Summer Art Show, featuring the creative talents of the over 260 students who participated in the Firehouse Art Center’s Children’s Summer Art Program this year.

• The Depot Gallery (200 S. Jones) hosts a closing reception for Noble Laundry Paint-

ings, an art exhibition from John Brandenburg, a longtime Norman artist known for his use of vivid color and organic forms. All the acrylic paintings on display were created during the hours Brandenburg did laundry at home. The evening will be furthered brightened up by the music of Loose Shoes.

• Dreamer Concepts: A Community Art Space (428 E. Main) will have the work of a variety of local artists on display.

• Pioneer Library System presents The 2nd Friday Adult Story Time, which takes place from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Campbell Gallery Reading Room of the Norman Public Library (225 N. Webster). July’s theme is “Dino Fiction,” exploring Jurassic narratives in modern fiction.

• Visit Norman (309 E. Main) presents a collaboration with Firehouse Art Center to showcase the work of Firehouse photography students in the Visit Norman offices.

• Earth Rebirth (325 E. Comanche) will have two artists living painting in their Innovation Center will works

by Barrett Tarr, Josh Farrell and Lauren Rosenfelt will be on display in the lobby. Free, local and organic snacks will be available, as well.

FOOD TRUCKS: • The 2nd Friday Food Truck Park (Peters between

GALLERIES, SHOPS & STUDIOS: • STASH (412 E. Main) — in coordination with Robinson’s Repurposed — is transforming East Downtown (EDO) into a Maker’s and Flower Market, with food trucks, live music, art and fresh food & plants ready for purchase. Kelsey and Jeremy Philo will perform and also make their custom hula hoops on the spot. The Friendly Market will host a pop-up shop featuring their best sellers. Tulsa-based artist May Yang will showcase her latest series of work in the store. Exploring image manipulation while blending typography and photography, Yang borrows themes from remix culture currently prevalent in popular music.

• Dope Chapel (115 S. Crawford) is alive with a closing reception for INKspit — featuring prints by Jenna Bryan, Derrick Adams, Eric Piper, Curtis Jones, Tarantuga & many more — and the album release show for Shishio’s Canine Heart Sounds, which also brings Cherry Death, Spitwad, Sardashhh and Askanse to the stage for live performances.

• Studio Ink (220 E. Main) welcomes Jon Stone, an accomplished photographer and storm chaser whose work ex-

hibits how these elements play together. Brendon Williams will also be on hand for live drawing.

• D.M. Wealth Management (201 E. Main) is playing host to two artists this month. Amanda Christine is an artist working in acrylic, oil and mixed media to paint pictures of strong women in surreal scenes. Sculptor David Rainbow will have his pieces on display in the lobby of the Financial Center.

• The Social Club (209 E. Main) hosts Trooper & Bee, a husband and wife who’ll pair reconstructed and repurposed images with 3D geometric figures. There will be delicious bites and refreshments on hand, as well.

• Gallery 123 (123 E. Main) is hosting artist Judy King as their artist of the month. Come up to see her work and much more by the many residents of the gallery, including pieces of a wide variety of mediums.

• Scissortail School of Art (123 E. Main) is celebrating their expansion with an artist market, featuring the work of Scissortail students and friends.

They’ll also be holding signups for fall art classes!

• Sergio’s Italian Bistro (104 E. Gray) is welcomed to their first 2nd Friday Norman Art Walk by featuring a pair of Oklahoma artists: photographer Sharon Farris and James Rittig.

• Sandalwood & Sage (322 E. Main) will host an evening with conceptual and impressionistic Oklahoma native Garrett Bollig. Bollig’s graphic art culture, fantasy game illustrations, graffiti and futurist ideology influences his unique marriage of future and fantasy scenes of hyper-saturated scapes that play with time, space and reality. Musical guest and drummer Jahruba will perform live from 7 to 9 p.m. as well.

• The Bluebonnet Bar

(321 E. Main) will have The Struggle Bus Art and Clothing Co. out front where they’ll be selling Okie-centric and classic country-themed art and clothing from a bus converted into a gallery space.

• The Gallery (123 W. Main) is hosting a Kids Create Art Show from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., featuring work created through the summer at Journey Church’s Kids Create Days.

• Bigfoot Creative (315 E. Main) will have the work of featured artist/printmaker Logan Sweetwood in the shop, along with other works by local artists.

• The Artist Studios above MAINSITE (122 E. Main) have new works by Bill and Juanita Williams.

• Robinson’s Repurposed (325 E. Main) has items given an artistic touch by makers from all over town.

• Michelangelo’s Coffee & Wine Bar (207 E. Main) has work by local artists on display and music in the air.

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CONCERTS : • 2nd Friday Concert Series: Tulsa folk duo Desi & Cody, along with Chicago act Campdogzz and Oklahoma singer-songwriter Kayln Fay Barnoski. It’ll happen at Opolis (113 N. Crawford) and is free, but 21+ only! Doors open at 8 p.m. with the show starting at 9 p.m.

• Random Noise: an eclectic series bringing you even more free music during the art walk.

This month features a pair of DJ sets from Fancy Lad and Lost & Found. It’ll start at 7:15 p.m. and wrap up before 9!

• The Bluebonnet Bar (321 E. Main) will have A Third Voice performing their multi-instrumental folk rock at 10 p.m.

• Red Brick Bar (311 E. Main) has Lawrence, Kansas musician Nicholas St. James performing at 7 p.m., followed by karaoke at 10 p.m.

8.14.15

Q&A: (from page 5)

Just Sayin’

NTown: What do you think about the graphics people getting underpaid, or not getting the respect they deserve given how much they are responsible for? Do you have any thoughts on that?

Evans: I don’t really have too many thoughts on that. I definitely believe in equal pay for people.

I think they do an amazing job and people need to recognize that it takes hours and hours of computer programming and graphic design to do what those people do. They should be paid a fair wage for that job.

NTown: Casting is such an important part of the movie making, but there’s still not an Oscar for casting. Do you think there should be?

Evans: I don’t know. I have seen some pretty awful movies with some amazing stars in it so I think honestly it’s all about the writing. I’ve some amazing films with nobody famous in them. It’s more about the writing.

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8.14.15

NTown: When are you guys aiming to open?

Evans: We are really focusing on a November opening. We have already started to partner up with local organizations, including Norman PTA Council, as well as individual elementary school PTA groups to host fundraiser nights for them.

Hopefully we can have a once-a-month night where we donate 10 percent of our ticket sales to a PTA organization as well as just hosting local events altogether. We want to host film festivals for the University of Oklahoma Film and Media Studies department where they can feature shorts, feature-length films or documentaries that students of that program can produce. We did that in Connecticut. We actually did an opening for film students who had produced a feature-length film.

We gave them 75 percent of ticket sales. We kept some of the money because we facilitated the opening and used our facilities. But it was pretty exciting for them to make money from something they had put together and filmed and produced themselves. We would like to offer that same kind of opportunity to film and media students here to showcase their work.

NTown: So you guys are looking at angles different than what’s done over and over again. I like that.

Evans: Also, we are actually coming up a little short on funding to complete the project. We are about $10,000 shy. We started an Indiegogo funding campaign where we have a lot of gift certificates, annual passes, private movie parties,

Pace yourself Carl. It’s a long summer. as well as advertising opportunities for local businesses. Anytime you purchase one of our perks, you get a gift certificate. One of our most popular ones is the $50 annual pass. We made 50 of those available. It is four free movies every month and you also get 10 percent off of your concession purchases all year long. Another big one is one year of on-screen advertising for $1,250. We have already sold all three of those. We are just trying to drive traffic to that, drive traffic to our Facebook page. Norman has been amazingly accepting of the idea. People are so excited to have this theater back. It’s a perfect opportunity for us to come in, upgrade to digital, update the seats, update the screens and provide an amazing movie-going experience for just a few dollars.

NTown: How many screens will you have?

Evans: There are six.

NTown: How were you able to raise all this capital?

Evans: Most of the equipment will be financed through a lease program through the manufacturer until the end of the term. Then we have to buy the equipment. The landlord has been amazing as far as helping us cover some of the upgrade costs. She’s helping us upgrade the seats, remodeling the lobby and bathroom, she’s making the facility available to us as far painting, replacing the screens and masking. It’s really a partnership between us, the landlord and the community of Norman. I think all parties involved want the

same thing: an affordable, clean and safe environment to watch films both old and new. We are very excited to be able to provide that.

This is a family-run business with my dad, Martin Evans. We are president and vice-president.

NTown: How did your dad manage to get roped into this?

Martin Evans: Oh I didn’t really get roped into this. We both have had dreams for years of running a business together. I have extensive background in customer service. I have managed several fast food chains and I have owned my own construction business. Unfortunately, I started dancing with MS about 23 years ago and it got to the point where when you put that on a job application, they find someone else who is more qualified than you. Security was not that secure. So when we saw this opportunity, we saw it as a way for Josh’s mom, who’s also a silent partner, and I to become more involved together and open a business that could benefit our entire family.

NTown: So you all are in Washington right now?

Evans: Yes but our goal is for all of us to be in Norman by winter. We fell in love with Norman.

It has a very small town feel to us and we really enjoyed it down there.

For more information about the Evans Theater, visit facebook.com/evanstheatres.

——— Follow @TranscriptNTown

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