Weekly Arts and Entertainment Highlights (Jun 21, 2012)

An acclaimed saxophonist comes to Norman’s summer jazz festival, a contemporary film series confronts urbanization, and the town of Sweet Apple, Ohio is put in the spot light in this week’s calendar of events.

Jazz in June began as a small concert in 1984 and quickly became an annual Norman festival. This Thursday through Saturday, jazz and blues music can be heard in Brookhaven Village, Andrews Park, and other locations around Norman for the 29th year in a row. This year’s lineup includes headliners Carolyn Wonderland, The Ivan Peña Ensemble, and saxophonist David Sanborn. Clinics with the Artists and post-concert jazz and blue jams provide an opportunity to hear the artists speak about their craft and see them perform in a more personal setting. For more information, visit the Jazz in June website.

The Oklahoma City Museum of Art with Urban Land Institute Oklahoma presents “Urbanology” from June 21st through the 24th. This series of contemporary documentaries on urbanization covers a wide range of topics from light pollution and eminent domain to developmental myths and the definition of urban success. The museum screens “Urbanized,” “The Battle for Brooklyn,” “The City Dark,” and more over a four day period. Some screenings include panel discussions and Skype Q&A sessions with the director.

The girls of Sweet Apple, Ohio sing “We love you, Conrad! Oh yes, we do!” once again during Lyric Theatre’s production of “Bye Bye Birdie.” Set in 1958, the title character is inspired by Conway Twitty and Elvis. Birdie is drafted into the army and must appear on The Ed Sullivan Show with a new song and fan club contest winner before he leaves. This very limited run of the Tony award winning and highly adapted 1960s musical begins at 7:30 p.m. on June 26th. Performances continue through June 30th in the Thelma E. Gaylord Performing Arts Theatre at the Civic Center Music Hall in Oklahoma City.

Science Museum Oklahoma hosts a special, one time only Science Live! show with the Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus performers. “Science of the Circus” takes place June 27th at 1:00 p.m. in Oklahoma City. Audience members learn about the chemical and physical reactions used to balance objects, spin plates, juggle, create optical illusions, and more.

Actors and actresses ages 8 to 13 bring the Wicked Witch of the West, the Lollipop Guild, and the Yellowbrick Road to life during their production of “The Wizard of Oz” at the Sooner Theatre. Part of the theatre’s summer production camps, performances begin June 27th at 7:30 p.m. and continue daily through July 1st.

The Form + Function Lab in Norman welcomes southern gothic Americana folk duo Sea Couch for an acoustic show June 24th at 7:00 p.m. Local performers Magnificent Bird, Luna Moth, Young Readers, and Nathan Richards perform before the duo in the art gallery above the Guestroom Records’ Norman location.

For more events and details, log on to our calendar page.