Fine arts briefs: Sunday, Nov. 23, 2008 Yesterday | Add a comment THEATER ‘Annie’ to be staged NORMAN — The Sooner Theatre, 101 E Main, opens its production of the musical "Annie” at 8 p.m. Friday. Based on the comic strip...

Trombonist relishes instrument’s versatility Yesterday | Add a comment Successful musicians often have an epiphany at some point during their years of study. Will music be their life’s work or just an enjoyable avocation? For John Allen, principal trombonist...

Give gifts kids will love Yesterday | Add a comment It’s a Christmas scenario all parents dread: After the effort and expense of shopping, their child gets more excited about the crumpled wrapping paper and empty box than the actual present....

Stephen Colbert tips his hat to Christmas Yesterday | Add a comment It’s two weeks before Election Day, and Stephen Colbert is more than ready for the campaign season to end. He’s been going flat-out since mid-August doing his political talk-show satire...

Local band stirs hype to plug performance in Norman 6 hr ago | Add a comment NORMAN — When I received an e-mail earlier this week notifying me guitarist Randy Hall from local band Blue Trixter would be playing a guitar behind his back — with a live scorpion...

Squeezing in some time for accordion music at UCO Jazz Lab in Edmond 6 hr ago | Add a comment For the musicians who play the accordion, it’s considered a 28-pound orchestra in a box. Some of the finest local accordion musicians will be in Edmond for the third annual Big Squeeze...

In Brief 10 hr ago | Add a comment UCO to present holiday concert The University of Central Oklahoma’s School of Music will present a free holiday choral concert at 4 p.m. Sunday at The Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help,...

Edmond accordion festival set at Jazz lab 6 hr ago | Add a comment EDMOND — Accordion musicians will converge on the UCO Jazz Lab for the third annual Big Squeeze Accordion Extravaganza from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Oklahoma Accordion Club President Dan Orza said...

Going on: Free Will Baptists plan Thanksgiving service 6 hr ago | Add a comment Free Will Baptists plan Thanksgiving service The First Oklahoma Association of Free Will Baptist Churches will hold a Thanksgiving Praise Service at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Northwest Free Will Baptist...

Oklahoma singer reinvents self 7 hr ago | Add a comment The concept of home has possessed particular meaning the past few years for Oklahoma country music star Blake Shelton. The Ada native moved back to his home state from Nashville, Tenn., three years...

UCO plans holiday concert 6 hr ago | Add a comment The University of Central Oklahoma’s School of Music will present a free holiday choral concert at 4 p.m., Sunday at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, at 3214 N Lake in Oklahoma...

New Kids hang tough with ‘The Block’ CD Yesterday | Add a comment The New Kids are back on the Block. The popular 1980s group has a new CD — naturally titled "The Block” — and is touring. And if the guys have anything to do with it,...

Al Green continues to tune up Yesterday | Add a comment "Man, I wish the Derby was going on while I was there,” said the Rev. Al Green of his upcoming performance in Kentucky. "We could go out and put some money on those horses. But...

Nada Surf bringing alt-pop music to Bricktown Yesterday | Add a comment Matthew Caws thinks he sings about himself too much. The voice, songwriter and guitarist of Brooklyn-based alt-pop trio Nada Surf wishes he could be more like his good friend and label-mate at...

CD Review: John Legend "Evolver” Yesterday | Add a comment R&B John Legend "Evolver” (G.O.O.D. Music/Columbia) Too breezy and disconnected for its own good, "Evolver” is the sound of John Legend betraying the musical promise he...

Boss’s new CD set for January 12 hr ago | Add a comment NEW YORK — Five days before he takes the stage at the Super Bowl, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will release a new album written and recorded during breaks in their concert tour....

Country rockers roll to Oklahoma City show 12 hr ago | Add a comment Cody Braun, co-founder, singer and multi-instrument musician for Reckless Kelly, readily admits that his band’s rootsy country-rock sound isn’t the most obvious choice to match with...

'Idol' champ David Cook keeps rocking on new album Yesterday | Add a comment NEW YORK - When he was on "American Idol," David Cook — as cool as a cucumber for much of last season — fought back tears after performing for a studio audience that included his brother Adam,...

Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame gets new director Yesterday | Add a comment Hall of Fame gets new director Justin Lenhart was named director for the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Jim Thorpe Museum. Lenhart will supervise collections, preservation, exhibits, education...

Short takes/Celeb birthdays: Thursday, November 20, 2008 Wed, Nov 19, 2008 | Add a comment BIRTHDAYS →Actress-comedian Kaye Ballard, 83. →Actress Estelle Parsons, 81. →TV personality Richard Dawson, 76. →Comedian Dick Smothers, 70. →Singer Norman Greenbaum,...