NEWS
OKLAHOMA CITY – The University of Oklahoma Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts hosted its annual Arts! Arts! Arts! Gala on March 8 at the Skirvin Hilton Hotel, bringing together alumni, supporters and community members for an evening celebrating the arts and recognizing distinguished alumni and partners.
The event featured performances by OU students from the School of Dance, the Helmerich School of Drama, the School of Music and a faculty performance from the Weitzenhoffer School of Musical Theatre. It also included remarks from OU President Joseph Harroz Jr., College of Fine Arts Dean Mary Margaret Holt, Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby and Max Weitzenhoffer.
Weitzenhoffer, whose family endowed the college, was presented with the Crystal Seed Sower Award, a distinction for donors whose philanthropic support of $25 million or more has helped shape OU. He is among a small number of individuals to receive the honor.
Anoatubby, the event’s honorary chair, was recognized for his longstanding partnership with OU and leadership in strengthening collaborations that support the arts and culture at OU, in the Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts and across the state.
The college also presented Luminary Awards recognizing alumni and artists whose work reflects the excellence and impact of OU’s fine arts programs. Honorees included:
Courtney Crappell (DMA, 2008; MM, 2005), of Leawood, Kansas, is dean of the Conservatory at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and a graduate of the School of Music.
Kristina Love (BFA, 2011), of Houston, is a graduate of the School of Musical Theatre and has built an international performance career, appearing in productions across Europe, including Tina: The Tina Turner Musical and Disney’s Aladdin.
Brittany Ray (BFA, 2012), of Belmont, Massachusetts, formerly on the programming team at Madison Square Garden, serves as director of programs for the American College Dance Association and is a School of Dance graduate.
Iqbal Theba, of Los Angeles, is an actor known for his role in the television series Glee and a former student in the School of Drama. Theba earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture from OU in 1986.
Laura Warriner, of Oklahoma City, is an artist whose career spans more than five decades, who impacts the arts in Oklahoma by mentoring artists through ARTSPACE at Untitled.
During the reception, the School of Visual Arts presented lobby displays, including two virtual reality experiences and a large photo display with an olfactory element. The School of Drama also featured student design and production exhibits, including costume, scenic and lighting designs.
Throughout the evening, student performances showcased talent within the college, including selections from dance, music, drama and musical theater.
Proceeds from the Arts! Arts! Arts! Gala have supported student and faculty enrichment opportunities across the college for 35 years.
The Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts at the University of Oklahoma produces more than 400 concerts, recitals, plays, musicals, operas and dance performances annually. Learn more at ou.edu/finearts.
About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. As the state’s flagship university, OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. For more information about the university, visit www.ou.edu.
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