4 minute read
The Outsiders
by okcfriday
Concerts
April 18 •
Wind Ensemble
The Wind Ensemble of the famed Academy of St. Martin in the Fields will perform at Armstrong Auditorium on Tuesday, Apr. 18 at 7:30 pm. Making its U.S. debut, the ensemble will be joined by British pianist Caroline Palmer in a program featuring two quintets for winds and piano by Mozart and Beethoven and trios by Romantic Era composers Carl Reinecke and Erwin Schulhoff. Tickets start at $35 for adults and youth aged 6 and up (under 6 not recommended). For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit ArmstrongAuditorium.org or call the Box Office at (405) 2851010.
Awards
April 11 •
Excellence Luncheon
The Societies of Oklahoma City University present the 35th Annual Awards of Excellence Luncheon at the OKC Golf and Country Club. The 2023 Honorees are Hilarie Blaney, Sally Starling, Patsy Homsey and Christina Mallory Chicoraske. Reception with the honorees at 11 am with lunch and program beginning at 11:30 am. Entertainment provided by OCU.
April 1 • Farmers Market
The Farmers Market at Scissortail Park sponsored by Bank of Oklahoma, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma, and Renewal by Andersen returns for the fourth season, Saturday, April 1. Located at the NE corner of the Park at Oklahoma City Blvd and S. Robinson Ave., the weekly outdoor market has become a favorite destination in downtown Oklahoma City. The Farmers Market at Scissortail Park is open every* Saturday from 9am – 1pm, April through October. *Closed on Saturday, April 29. Free parking during market Saturdays is available around the perimeter of the Park and in the special event parking lot across from the Park located off of SW 2nd St. between S. Harvey and S. Hudson Aves.
Gardening Event
March 30 •
All Things Gardening Impact Oklahoma presents its All Things Gardening Educational Event with Linda Vater. Vater is a garden designer and stylist who writes and produces garden content for TV, magazines, social media and her website. The educational series is at the Will Rogers Gardens Exhibition Center, 3400 NW 36th St. Light appetizers, beverages (alcoholic and other) will be served. Space is limited, please register at impactok.org.
This Weekend
Through April 2 • Disney’s Frozen
The Tonynominated Best Musical is now on tour across North America and is at the Civic Center Music Hall. Disney’s Frozen is an unforgettable the atrical experience filled with sensational special effects, stunning sets and costumes and powerhouse performances. It is everything you want in a musical: It’s moving. It’s spectacular. And above all, it’s pure Broadway joy. Go to okcciviccenter.com for tickets.
March 2326 • OKC Home + Outdoor Living Show
The Show and will offer guests a myriad of ideas on everything from home renovation and improvement to inspiration for entertaining both inside and outside. The show will be Friday 128 pm, Saturday 10 am 8 pm and Sunday 11 am 5 pm in the Bennett Event Center at the OKC Fairgrounds. Adult admission is $11 at the box office. Children 12 and under are free with a paid adult ticket. Seniors 60+ receive discount.
Send calendar events to jennifer@okcfriday.com
Paycom Center Events/Shows: Harlem Globetrotters March 25
Stevie Nicks March 30
Katt Williams March 31
Kenny Chesney Apr. 1 Walker Hayes Apr. 22
The Kid LAROI Apr. 30 Brooks & Dunn May 5
Thomas Rhett Aug. 17
Jason Aldean Oct. 13
Zoo Amphitheatre: Kattfest May 12
Weezer June 10
Matchbox Twenty 2023 June 21 Young the Giant June 30
Happy 40th birthday to The Outsiders. The movie based on the classic teen novel from Tulsa writer Susan S.E. Hinton, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, and produced by Academy Award winner and Oklahoma Hall of Fame honoree Gray Frederickson, premiered 40 years ago this weekend. The film launched the Oklahoma film industry and introduced to the world to some of the biggest stars of the past 40 years.
The Outsiders was filmed in Oklahoma because of producer Gray Frederickson. Frederickson, a proud Casady School graduate, was the producing partner for six-time Academy Award winning writer and director Francis Ford Coppola. Together, they created some of the most celebrated films ever produced, including Apocalypse Now, The Godfather, and The Godfather, Part 2, which earned both of them Oscars.
Frederickson was the person who convinced Coppola to film The Outsiders on location in Oklahoma. Frederickson flew the director to
Tulsa, led the location scout, and reminded him that the studios would be far less intrusive if they made the movie in Oklahoma. Coppola agreed and then stayed in Tulsa to film Hinton’s next book, Rumble Fish
The success of The Outsiders led to a string of studio movies that touched down or brought entire productions to film in Oklahoma in the 1980s and 1990s, including UHF, Rain Man, Far and Away, and Twister. Those films laid the groundwork for the steady stream of television and film productions that film in Oklahoma today.
The Outsiders was a box office success, earning $33.7 million against a $10 million budget, according to Box Office Mojo. But the film is perhaps best known for launching the careers of some of Hollywood’s most successful actors: Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe, Emilio
Civic Center Music Hall: Frozen Mar. 22Apr. 2
Amy Grant Mar. 30
Other Events/Shows/Awards: Brave Ball Mar. 25
Western Heritage Awards Apr. 1415 Celebration of Hope Apr. 15
Estevez, Matt Dil-
lon, Diane Lane, Ralph Macchio, and C. Thomas Howell
According to producer Gray Frederickson, there was one young actor that stood out amongst all of those future stars. There was one teenager who worked harder, stayed focused, and spent all of his free time rehearsing or watching behind the camera. That young actor was Tom Cruise, who is now the highest grossing box office star in history, with $11.5 billion worldwide, and a recent Oscar nominee for producing Top Gun: Maverick
In honor of the 40th anniversary, Rodeo Cinema is screening the movie The Outsiders this weekend. Check their website for screening times. You can also watch the movie on HBO Max, Hulu, Amazon Prime and other streaming channels.
As always, I am forever grateful to Gray Frederickson for all he did for the Oklahoma film community, the digital cinema program at Oklahoma City Community College, and the film industry at large. Rest in peace.
