Oklahoma
Trans-Siberian Orchestra to ‘Handel’s Messiah,’ Christmas shows to watch across Oklahoma
OKC director explains Lyric Theatre’s new staging of ‘Christmas Carol’
Lyric Theatre’s 13th annual production of the beloved holiday classic runs Nov. 24-Dec. 24 inside OKC Plaza District.
The sights and sounds of the holiday season are coming to stages across Oklahoma.
From the beloved ballet “The Nutcracker” and the Dickensian drama of “A Christmas Carol” to popular seasonal concert tours like Mannheim Steamroller and Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Oklahoma boasts more plum options for live yuletide entertainment this season than Santa Claus can carry.
Here are 30+ live shows you can catch in the Sooner State this season:
‘A Very Merry Pops’ with Take 6 and Sandi Patty
When: 8 p.m. Dec. 1-2.
Where: Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N Walker.
Tickets: https://www.okcphil.org/events-tickets/2023-24-season.
The Oklahoma City Philharmonic’s new holiday Pops extravaganza features the return of its tap-dancing Santas and the new medley “Kris Kringle’s Okie Jingle.” The show will star contemporary Christian star Sandi Patty, an OKC resident who recently relocated to Indiana, and Take 6, a Grammy-winning a cappella gospel sextet.
OKC Philharmonic Brass Ensemble
When: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 9.
Where: Center Court, Penn Square Mall, 1901 Northwest Expressway.
Information: https://www.facebook.com/okcphilharmonic.
The musicians will treat shoppers to seasonal hits.
‘Handel’s Messiah’
When: 7 p.m. Dec. 3.
Where: Civic Center.
Tickets: https://canterburyokc.com.
Canterbury Voices will continue its holiday tradition of performing George Frideric Handel‘s masterwork, accompanied by the OKC Philharmonic.
Canterbury Youth Voices Holiday Concert
When: 7 p.m. Dec. 2.
Where: Oklahoma City Community College’s Visual and Performing Arts Center Theater, 7777 S May Ave.
Tickets: tickets.occc.edu.
The four choirs of Canterbury Voices’ education program will perform a yuletide show, featuring 150 children from more than 90 OKC metro schools.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra, OKC and Tulsa
OKC: 7 p.m. Dec. 7, Paycom Center, 100 W Reno.
Tulsa: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15, BOK Center.
Tickets: https://www.trans-siberian.com/tour.
The rocking holiday favorite returns to the Sooner State on its 2023 winter tour, titled “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve – the Best of TSO & More.”
The 395th Army Band Holiday Concert
When: 2 p.m. Dec. 3.
Where: OCCC’s Visual and Performing Arts Center Theater.
Tickets: tickets.occc.edu.
One of the 13 Army Reserve Bands in the United States, the group will play a free seasonal show. Tickets are required and limited to four per household.
Michael Martin Murphey’s Cowboy Christmas Ball
When: 5 p.m. Dec. 3.
Where: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63.
Tickets: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/cowboy-christmas-ball.
The Grammy-nominated Texas native will bring his long-running Western holiday tradition back to the OKC museum, with Oklahoma fiddler Kyle Dillingham as guest artist.
Cirque Dreams Holidaze, OKC and Tulsa
Tulsa: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 29, BOK Center, 200 S Denver.
Tickets: https://cirquedreams.com/tickets.
The Broadway-style production infused with contemporary circus arts swings into Oklahoma for two shows.
Red Dirt Rangers’ Kids Christmas Show
When: 2 p.m. Dec. 17
Where: Blue Door, 2805 N McKinley.
Tickets: https://reddirtrangers.com/schedule.
The venerable Payne County band brings its long-running holiday gig back to the renowned OKC listening room.
‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas in Concert,’ Stillwater and Tulsa
Stillwater: 7 p.m. Nov. 30, McKnight Center for the Performing Arts, 705 W University Ave.
Stillwater tickets: https://mcknightcenter.org.
Tulsa: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 1, Tulsa Performing Arts Center, 110 E 2.
Tulsa tickets: https://tulsapac.com/events.
The Tulsa Symphony Orchestra will perform James Horner’s score to Ron Howard’s 2000 live-action movie, which will play along with the musicians.
Meet Mike Hosty, the man behind the hit song ‘Oklahoma Breakdown’
Norman one-man-band performer Mike Hosty is the songwriter behind the hit song “Oklahoma Breakdown,” which he played at The Deli in Norman.
Addison Kliewer, Wochit
Mike Hosty’s Christmas Show, Norman
When: 9:30 p.m. Dec. 25.
Where: The Deli, 309 White St., Norman.
Information: https://www.facebook.com/michaelhosty.
The beloved Oklahoma one-man band will move his usual Sunday night show at The Deli, a 21-and-older, nonsmoking bar on Campus Corner, to Monday so he can play his original songs and serve up free Pizza Shuttle slices on Christmas Day.
Bricktown Water Taxi Caroling Cruises
When: 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays through Dec. 22.
Where: Bricktown Canal.
Information: https://artafloatokc.org/#events.
The holiday season of 45-minute musical excursions will feature talented local performers Sarafina Byrd, Rod Porter, Ckai Dawson and more. Passengers check in and board at Put a Cork In It Winery, 115 E California Ave.
The Imaginaries’ ‘Christmas at the Washita,’ Chickasha
When: 7 p.m. Dec. 2.
Where: Historic Washita Theater, 509 W Chickasha Ave., Chickasha.
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com.
The husband-and-wife folk-rock duo of Maggie McClure and Shane Henry will play an all-ages show immediately following the Chickasha Lighted Christmas Parade. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Proceeds benefit the Chickasha Community Theatre.
‘Amahl and the Night Visitors,’ Pauls Valley
When: 7 p.m. Dec. 10.
Where: First Presbyterian Church, 320 N Walnut, Pauls Valley.
Tickets: https://www.garvincountysings.com.
The Garvin County Choral Society and Sinfonietta will perform a fully staged production of Gian-Carlo Menotti’s family-friendly Christmas opera, which debuted on NBC in 1951. The show centers on a poor widow and her son, Amahl, whose lives are changed when three kings traveling to visit the newborn Christ stop at their home for rest.
Mannheim Steamroller, Tulsa
When: 8 p.m. Dec. 9.
Where: River Spirit Casino Resort, 8330 Riverside Pkwy, Tulsa.
Tickets: https://tickets.riverspirittulsa.com.
The brainchild of record producer and composer Chip Davis, the Grammy Award-winning holiday staple rolls into Tulsa for one night only.
A Drag Queen Christmas, Midwest City and Tulsa
Midwest City: 8 p.m. Dec. 1, Rose State College Hudiburg Chevrolet Center, 6000 S Prosper Blvd.
Tulsa: 7 p.m. Dec. 2, Tulsa Theater, 105 W Reconciliation Way.
Tickets: https://www.dragfans.com/tour/drag-queen-christmas-2023.
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” standout Miz Cracker will host the Oklahoma stops on the touring show.
JD McPherson’s ‘Socks: A Rock ‘n’ Roll Christmas Tour,’ Tulsa
When: 6:30 p.m. Dec. 9.
Where: Cain’s Ballroom, 423 N Main, Tulsa.
Tickets: www.cainsballroom.com.
The singer-songwriter and guitarist, who hails from Broken Arrow, is again unrolling his yuletide tour, featuring songs from his 2018 original holiday album “Socks,” in his home state.
Tequila Songbirds Christmas Show
When: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 22.
Where: Blue Door.
Tickets: http://www.bluedoorokc.com/calendar.
The local singer-songwriters will flock together to play an all-ages holiday concert.
‘Jane Austen’s Christmas Cracker’
When: Dec. 7-23.
Where: Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park’s black box theater, 2920 Paseo.
Tickets: https://www.okshakes.org/indoor-black-box.
Oklahoma Shakespeare closes its 39th season indoors with its original holiday production, which local playwright Erin Woods has adapted from Austen’s iconic novels.
Star Dance Company Holiday Spectacular
When: Dec. 7-10.
Where: Oklahoma City University’s Kirkpatrick Theatre, 2501 N Blackwelder Ave.
Tickets: https://www.okcu.edu/dance/performance/homeholidays.
More than 120 performers from OCU’s Ann Lacy School of American Dance will put on a high-energy holiday celebration.
Christmas Vespers
When: 8 p.m. Dec. 8 and 4 p.m. Dec. 9.
Where: First Presbyterian Church, 1001 NW 25.
Tickets: https://oklahomacity.csstix.com.
More than 250 choral singers and orchestral musicians will join forces for OCU’s 44th annual celebratory concert, including scripture, poetry, congregational singing of cherished carols and a candlelit finale.
Egg Nog Extravaganza
When: 6 p.m. Dec. 23.
Where: Tower Theatre, 425 NW 23.
Tickets: https://towertheatreokc.com.
Oklahoma-based Irish composer Brian Byrne and the Oklahoma Film Orchestra will perform holiday hits, rarities and sing-alongs at the show, which will include an ugly sweater contest.
Lyric Theatre’s ‘A Christmas Carol’
When: Through Dec. 24.
Where: Plaza Theatre, 1727 NW 16.
Information: https://lyrictheatreokc.com.
After staging the yuletide classic outdoors at the Harn Homestead for the past three years due to the pandemic, Lyric is bringing its 13th annual production of Charles Dickens’ often-adapted “Ghost Story of Christmas” back indoors.
‘Little Women: A Holiday Experience’
When: Nov. 30-Dec. 9.
Where: Harn Homestead, 1721 N Lincoln Blvd.
Tickets: https://harnhomestead.com.
After hosting Lyric Theatre’s “A Christmas Carol” for the past three years, Harn Homestead is hosting a new immersive outdoor traveling production of Louisa May Alcott’s beloved 1868 novel, adapted by Storyteller Theatre Arts Co.
‘A Territorial Christmas Carol,’ Guthrie
When: Through Dec. 23.
Where: Pollard Theatre, 120 W Harrison Ave., Guthrie.
Information: https://thepollard.org.
The nonprofit theater has staged its signature seasonal show — adapted by the late Oklahoman Stephen Scott from the classic novel by Charles Dickens — for 1,000 performances and 150,000 patrons over more than 30 years.
3rd Act Theatre Company’s ‘A Sherlock Carol’
When: Dec. 8-23.
Where: Shoppes at Northpark, 12100 N May Ave.
Tickets: https://www.facebook.com/3rdActTheatreCo.
The community theater presents the Oklahoma premiere of Mark Shanahan’s Dickens of a holiday mystery, starring Don Taylor as Sherlock Holmes and Peter Fischaber as Ebenezer Scrooge.
OKC Ballet’s ‘The Nutcracker’
When: Dec. 8-18.
Where: Civic Center.
Tickets: https://www.okcballet.org.
It’s the 60th anniversary of Oklahoma City Ballet’s first production of “The Nutcracker.” The company’s classic version of the yuletide mainstay will feature the OKC Philharmonic and Canterbury Voices, who will perform Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s treasured score live. A sensory-friendly performance is set for 6 p.m. Dec 18.
UCO’s ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas,’ Edmond
When: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7-9 and 2 p.m. Dec. 9-10.
Where: UCO Jazz Lab, 100 E 5, Edmond.
Tickets: https://www.ucojazzlab.com/events.
The University of Central Oklahoma’s Musical Theatre Division is staging the musical adaptation of the iconic TV special.
‘RACE’s Hip Hop Nutcracker’
When: Dec. 8-10.
Where: OCCC Visual and Performing Arts Center Theater.
Tickets: https://www.racedance.com.
RACE Dance Collective — a local professional hip-hop, contemporary and jazz dance company — is bringing back its original reimagining of the seasonal favorite, featuring students from OKC Public Schools. The 7 p.m. Dec. 9 performance will be presented with Spanish-language narration.
OU School of Dance’s ‘The Nutcracker’
When: Dec. 1-10.
Where: Elsie C. Brackett Theatre, 563 Elm Ave., Norman.
Information: https://dance.ou.edu/performance-schedule.
Oklahoma Festival Ballet and children from across OKC will sweep audiences away with the University of Oklahoma School of Dance’s production of the fairytale ballet.
‘Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet,’ Midwest City
When: 7 p.m. Dec. 7.
Where: Rose State College Hudiburg Chevrolet Center.
Tickets: http://www.nutcracker.com.
The touring production features a multinational cast of 40 professional performers, including principal dancers from Ukraine and artists from Japan, Italy, Turkey and more.
‘Edmond’s Nutcracker’
When: 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 2.
Where: Oklahoma Christian University’s Baugh Auditorium, 2501 E Memorial Rd., Edmond.
Information: https://okyoutharts.org/edmonds-nutcracker.
Oklahoma Youth Arts Foundation and Oklahoma Youth Ballet are putting on this inaugural production.
‘The Polar Express Train Ride’
When: Through Dec. 27.
Where: Oklahoma Railway Museum, 3400 NE Grand Blvd.
Information: https://okcthepolarexpressride.com.
A full theatrical show with a train car for a stage, the immersive ride faithfully follows Chris Van Allsburg’s beloved 1985 children’s book and Robert Zemeckis’ enduring 2004 computer-animated film starring Tom Hanks.
Norman Ballet Company’s ‘The Oklahoma Nutcracker’
When: Dec. 2-3.
Where: Nancy O’Brian Center for the Performing Arts, 1809 Stubbeman Ave., Norman.
Tickets: https://www.facebook.com/normanballetcompany.
The local family favorite intertwines Oklahoma history and themes of nature with the traditional storyline and musical score of “The Nutcracker.”
Central Oklahoma Ballet Company’s ‘The Nutcracker’
When: Dec. 2-3.
Where: Yukon Fine Arts Center, 850 Yukon Ave., Yukon.
Tickets: https://www.centralokballet.org.
Professional guest artists and local performers, accompanied by the Oklahoma Community Orchestra, will follow “The Nutcracker” heroine Clara on her enchanted journey.
ALBUQUERQUE – The American Civil Liberties Unions (ACLUs) of New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arizona, San Diego and Imperial Counties, Colorado, Missouri, Arkansas and Kansas issued an advisory warning their residents about the threat of civil and constitutional rights violations when traveling in the state of Oklahoma after the passage of an extreme anti-immigrant law.
Oklahoma’s new law, HB 4156, makes entering and remaining in Oklahoma a crime if a person entered the United States unlawfully. It would also make reentering Oklahoma after being ordered removed from the U.S. a crime.
When implemented, this law will pose a risk to any person while in Oklahoma, since travelers and Oklahoma residents, including life-long undocumented Oklahomans or residents of neighboring states, are at risk of arrest and imprisonment. The law also raises the possibility of racial profiling by law enforcement officers who are untrained in complex federal immigration law.
“HB 4156 is an attack on immigrants everywhere. By taking on unconstitutional immigration enforcement power, the government in Oklahoma is threatening immigrants who have lived and worked in their communities for decades. This is also a threat to New Mexicans who are undocumented, have mixed-status families or are simply a target for racist profiling overeager and undertrained local law enforcement officers,” said ACLU of New Mexico Border and Immigration Policy Advocate Leonardo Castañeda. “That is why states surrounding Oklahoma, as well as across the border, are issuing this advisory as both a warning to our residents and in solidarity with Oklahomans who do not want this law and believe in treating immigrants humanely, not as political pawns.”
Countless residents of states bordering Oklahoma have family and loved ones who may be at risk from this law that threatens their civil liberties. This joint travel advisory highlights the solidarity of communities surrounding Oklahoma against punitive and counterproductive policies that harm our immigrant communities and do nothing to welcome people seeking safety and refuge.
People traveling in Oklahoma are advised to remain calm if stopped by police and encouraged to exercise their right to immediately ask for an attorney and otherwise remain silent. More guidance is outlined in the travel advisory found here (link will take you to the ACLU of New Mexico’s website).
Oklahoma tornado damage in Barnsdall, Bartlesville
Video captured the aftermath in Oklahoma after multiple tornadoes and severe storms left behind damage and destruction.
Areas across multiple states in the Great Plains and Midwest were damaged and thousands lost power as severe weather and tornadoes swept through early this week, with more bad weather on the way.
The National Weather Service in Wilmington, Ohio is working to assess damage and confirm any tornadoes from Tuesday’s storms, as the region braces for more severe weather Wednesday. Jim Lott, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Wilmington, told Fox19 in Cincinnati that radar detected rotation in Butler County, Warren County, and in southeastern Indiana. Another tornado was confirmed by the weather service in Hancock County, near the Pennsylvania border.
In Michigan, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency in Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, Branch, and Cass counties after severe weather on Tuesday. Tornadoes were confirmed by the National Weather Service Tuesday in Union City and Portage in southwestern Michigan.
On Monday, at least an EF3 tornado tore through Barnsdall, Oklahoma, a small city of about 1,400, one of at least five confirmed tornadoes to hit the state that day. It was the second time Barnsdall was hit by a tornado this year, with another one moving through April 1.
See photos as communities across the country recover from the severe weather.
Weather updates: 4 tornadoes confirmed in Michigan as severe weather threatens Central US
Damage and destruction from tornadoes in Michigan
Tornadoes rip through parts of Ohio
Cleanup continues after heavy storms, tornadoes sweep through Oklahoma
Contributing: Cheryl Vari and Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer.
What’s at stake for the legacy of Luka Doncic in latest playoff run?
Luka Doncic has been one of the most prolific basketball players in recent years, but has little playoff success to his name. Will that change this year?
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander produced 29 points, nine rebounds and nine assists to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 117-95 win over the visiting Dallas Mavericks in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series on Tuesday.
Gilgeous-Alexander shot 8 of 19 from the floor but 11 of 13 from the free-throw line in his first career second-round playoff game. The Thunder became the youngest team in NBA history to win a conference semifinal game.
Kyrie Irving scored 19 points and Luka Doncic finished with 19 points and nine assists for Dallas.
Less than five minutes into the third quarter, the Mavericks cut a 12-point Thunder lead to one on Irving’s 3-pointer off a feed from Luka Doncic.
Oklahoma City outscored Dallas 51-30 the rest of the way.
“I think it’s a muscle we’ve built at this point,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said of the poise his team showed in responding when Dallas cut his team’s lead. “We’ve had to endure a lot of those situations during the course of the season. I think a lot of it comes from respect for your opponent.”
The Thunder quickly answered Irving’s trey out of a timeout, with Isaiah Joe draining a 3-pointer to kickstart a 14-4 run over the next three minutes.
Gilgeous-Alexander assisted on two of the Thunder’s four 3-pointers during the run, then added the exclamation point on the stretch by sinking a 3-pointer from the top of the key to send the home crowd into a frenzy.
Before the game, Doncic heaped praise on Oklahoma City’s Luguentz Dort, calling him one of the top perimeter defenders in the NBA.
Dort showed why during the key sequence, knocking the ball away from Doncic near midcourt, diving to collect the ball before quickly finding a streaking Joe, who fed it up to Jalen Williams for a dunk.
Dort helped the Thunder hold Doncic to 6-of-19 shooting, including 1-of-8 from beyond the arc.
“They’re a great team, great defensive team, great offensive team, so it’s not going to be easy at all,” Doncic said. “We’ve got to play very good basketball – focused basketball – for 48 minutes.”
The Mavericks went nearly four minutes without a field goal late in the third as Oklahoma City stretched its lead as high as 15 before Dallas cut it back to 10 with two baskets in the final 30 seconds.
Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren had 19 points, seven rebounds and three blocks, Williams added 18 points and Aaron Wiggins had 16 off the bench, including 12 in the second quarter.
The Thunder scored 22 points off Dallas’ 16 turnovers.
The Mavericks shot just 39.3 percent, while the Thunder hit 44.9 percent.
Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is scheduled for Thursday (9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN) in Oklahoma City.
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