In the News
The Tulsa Gridiron recently donated $1,000 to the Tulsa Community College journalism scholarship program during a preview of the 2010 Gridiron show held at the Tulsa Press Club. Randy Krehbiel, Tulsa Gridiron chair (left), presents the check to Jerry Goodwin, a TCC Journalism professor, who accepted the donation on behalf of TCC.
Proceeds from the Tulsa Gridiron show are used to support scholarship programs for journalism and communications students at local colleges and universities.
The 2010 Tulsa Gridiron show, entitled, “Dewey Dare? Or, Laughter is the Best Public Option!” will be performed March 12 and 13 at the Liddy Doenges Theatre in the Tulsa Performing Arts Center.
Nothing off limits for Gridiron roasting
by: KAREN SHADE World Scene Writer
Sunday, March 07, 2010
3/7/2010 7:11:21 AM
The “Underwear Bomber,” health care reform, Tiger Woods and Mayor Dewey Bartlett Jr. — no person or topic is too sacred for a good old-fashioned grilling in front of a live audience.
These subjects and more from the last 12 months have occupied the mind of Rebecca Ungerman, Tulsa blues singer.
“If you’d asked me a week and a half ago, I would’ve said I was all about this Jewish album I just released,” Ungerman said. “Now, I’m all about Tulsa Gridiron.”
“The Jewish Album” will have to wait until the Tulsa Gridiron 2010 makes funny faces at politics, pop culture, celebrity, scandals and everything coming across the news wire. The satire-laden “Dewey Dare? Or, Laughter is the Best Public Option” swings both left and right.
“I hate to say it’s one of Tulsa’s best kept secrets,” Ungerman said. “We’re trying to fix that because your average Tulsan hasn’t heard about the Tulsa Gridiron. That’s awful for something that’s been going on over 80 years. It’s such a hell of a show.”
Well-known entertainers mix with civilians better known for things other than their work on stage, but it’s just a formula Ungerman and others behind the annual bash like when it comes to musical parody.
Gridiron, she added, is Tulsa’s version of Capitol Steps, the comedy troupe out of Washington, D.C., that puts a sharp spin on politics with words and lyrics set to popular songs. The Gridiron prods plenty at national affairs, but local politicians, personalities and topics also end up on the hot plate.
This year’s Gridiron will feature Joe Kelly, making his debut in the show as the interlocutor. Also look for Natasha Ball, Darell Christopher, John Cory, Pam Crosby, Olivia Duhon, Virginia Harrison, Bob Hendrick, Kathleen Kennedy, Sharon King-Davis, Kathy LaFortune, Kerry Malone (doing double duty as producer), Rebecca Marks, D.J. Morrow Ingram, Heather Richetto-Rumley,
Meredith Lee Wegner and Ungerman.
The original dialogue and song lyrics were written by volunteers, including chief author Randy Krehbiel of the Tulsa World and Mimi Gooden.
Ungerman doesn’t want to give everything away, but she will confess to finding the perfect Kate Goslin (“Jon and Kate Plus 8″) wig, that Ball in glasses is a dead ringer for Sarah Palin and that some songs are still in progress as the Tulsa Police and Fraternal Order of Police negotiations continue.
The only thing that really hurts is having to edit songs to fit the time slot.
“When you have over 30 numbers with over 30 people in the cast (and crew),” Ungerman said, “it’s really quick, so you can do all the wonderful numbers.”
Tulsa Gridiron 2010
When: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Where: Liddy Doenges Theatre of the Tulsa Performing Arts Center, 110 E. Second St.
Tickets: $25 for general admission, $50 for table seating; 596-7111, tulsaworld.com/mytix
Karen Shade 581-8334
karen.shade@tulsaworld.com