By Glenda Rice Collins
Oklahoma City, Okla., USA — From a high-profile, expanded American Indian-themed outdoor Distant Thunder world premiere to a current COVID pandemic-delayed homecoming return to the indoor Plaza Theater, Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma continues to celebrate dramatic diversity with the ongoing Head Over Heels musical production, continuing through April 30, 2022.
Featuring music by the most successful all-female rock band of all time – The Go-Go’s, this recent Broadway hit delivers ‘a musical mash-up of posh and pop,’ where members of an Elizabethan-era royal family travel on an outrageous escapade to save their beloved kingdom and find love and acceptance, — time honored pursuits, indeed!
Ongoing At Lyric Plaza Theatre: “We Got the Beat”
Opening the 2022 season with the impressive Distant Thunder recent premiere met with rave reviews and standing ovations at the new, architecturally-inspiring venue, the First Americans Museum, where it landed to its advantage in March, after a two-year COVID pandemic-related delay. BRAVOS to all!!!
Photo by Glenda Rice Collins.
Photo by Miki Galloway.
–(Watch for a related Oklahoma Indian Territory arts news feature coming soon to this website, https://glendaricecollins.com/)
Back home now at Plaza Theatre
Head Over Heels hijinks continue, in iambic pentameter no less, contrasting hysterically with iconic 1980s chart toppers such as “We Got the Beat,” “Our Lips Are Sealed” and “Vacation.” (The production occasionally contains strong language and situations).
Photo by Miki Galloway.
“After two years, I couldn’t be more excited to return to our home at the Plaza Theatre with this new, ‘80s-inspired pop/rock show bursting with fun energy, comic love triangles, and vibrant colors,” said Michael Baron, Lyric’s producing artistic director.
“I love The Go-Go’s, and I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate their music than with this hysterical production featuring outrageous costumes and an awesome onstage band.
A Fictitious Kingdom with an Oklahoma Twist
“The musical is set in the fictitious kingdom of Arcadia, Greece,” director Baron explains, “but I’ve decided to have our production be inspired by a place closer to home, Arcadia, Oklahoma. Full of fun pop icons along Route 66, this will be a ‘vacation’ you’ll definitely want to take!”
*(See Route 66 new exhibit sidebar, herewith, for Tulsa Historical Society & Museum somewhat related news).
Photo by Miki Galloway.
The new, 90-minute Head Over Heels created by Lyric Theatre is choreographed by Amy Reynolds Reed, with music direction by Reagan Casteel, and a fabulously fun…
*Route 66 landmark-inspired scenic design by Deb Sivigny.
Written by Jeff Whitty and adapted by James Magruder, the production is based on The Arcadia by Sir Philip Sidney. Head Over Heels creative designers include: Jeffrey Meek (costumes), Brawna Brinkley Gfeller (wigs), Corey Ray (sound) and Fabian J. Garcia (lighting). Rachel Reiners presides as stage manager.
For more information or tickets to Head Over Heels, visit LyricTheatreOKC.org or call Lyric’s box office at (405) 524-9312. To support the production through individual donations or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Kerrie Brinkman-White at (405) 524-9310, ext. 211 or Kerrie@LyricTheatreOKC.org. Additional details about the show can be found at https://lyrictheatreokc.com/shows/head-over-heels/.
For more details about the continuing Lyric 2022 season, visit: https://lyrictheatreokc.com/
Credits: Banner photo by Miki Galloway.
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Now Open: TULSA 66: America’s Main Street in the Oil Capital
*Tulsa, Okla., USA –__*Route 66 News from the Tulsa Historical Society and Museum
Photo by Glenda Rice Collins.
Learn more about the historic “Get Your Kicks” scenic American highway star, and Tulsa’s part in it, through this newly-installed, colorful exhibit, featuring hundreds of historic photographs and nostalgic artifacts.
As one of the most famous roads in the U.S., originating in Chicago, Route 66 runs through eight states before ending in Santa Monica, California – a symbol of freedom, mobility, and independence.
Conjuring nostalgic images of small towns, family road-trips, and neon signs, Route 66 became a lasting pop culture icon.
The Tulsa Historical Society and Museum, with eight exhibit galleries, is located in the historic Travis Mansion at 2445 S. Peoria Ave. just south of the Tulsa Garden Center and Woodward Park. Museum entrance and parking lot are on the northeast side of the building.
Museum hours: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.
For additional exhibit and event details, visit https://www.tulsahistory.org/visit/exhibits/ and https://www.tulsahistory.org/?fbclid=IwAR2cQNE9u4GMpk9tQNONLxIYoun27vRWgBi4NGPILH468bNCIbDkmv4hEEU
You can still, “get your kicks on Route 66” driving through Tulsa!
#####4-22-22
Glenda Rice Collins 