Cast members (left to right) Marnie Ducato, Jeff Lea and Jillian Nielsen sing along with musical director Sonny Gray during a rehearsal for the 71st annual Tulsa Press Club Gridiron Show, which opens Wednesday.
STEPHEN PINGRY / Tulsa World

Tulsa Public Schools will get a share of the proceeds from the 71st annual Tulsa Press Club Gridiron Show, which will be performed Wednesday through Friday.

The donation could be as much as $5,000 depending on the ticket sales to the shows at the Bernsen Community Life Center at Seventh Street and Boston Avenue, organizer D.J. Morrow said.

Proceeds usually go exclusively to the Tulsa Press Club Educational and Charitable Trust, which distributes thousands of dollars in scholarships each year, Morrow said.

"This year we really wanted to do something to help the financial situation in our public schools," she said.

The Gridiron is busily polishing the material for the show, which is guaranteed to be full of politically incorrect observations and rhymed barbs that will get to the funny bone about what really went on in the news last year.

The Tulsa Zoo penguins, the teacher's rally and even Winona Ryder's court woes are all targets for this year's show, titled "Oh Henry! or Call Me A Cockfight Optimist."

The Roasting Ear Award will be presented at Friday's show to Tulsa Mayor Bill LaFortune, who, the Gridiron has judged, has received the most press attention in the past year.

"We don't favor any political party over another or use the show as a soapbox," said Morrow. "Our only goals are to get a laugh or two, raise money for our scholarship fund and, hope fully, have fun while we're doing it."

The Gridiron dates back to 1932, when the Oklahoma City troupe introduced its production to Tulsa, which started its own in 1954. The show had an all-male cast until 1986, when females were first introduced.

This year's writers are a diverse mix with several new members, including local blues and jazz diva Rebecca Ungerman.

Onstage performers include Tulsa Zoo public relations director Marnie Ducato, KTUL's Jeff Lea, artist Virginia Harrison and Tulsa first lady Kathy LaFortune.

KJRH news anchor John Walls will serve as the interlocutor for the show. Music will be directed by Tulsa jazz legend Sonny Gray.

The Wednesday and Thursday night shows serve as warmups for Friday's gala event, attended by politicians and the press, which receive equal lampooning on stage.

Tickets for the 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday performances are $10 and are available at Novel Idea bookstores and at the Tulsa Press Club, 415 S. Boston Ave.

The Friday event, which begins with a reception at 6 p.m. and continues with dinner at 6:45 p.m. and show at 8 p.m., is $75 for Tulsa Press Club members and $100 for nonmembers. Reservations can be made by calling Morrow at 295-6612.

Brian Barber, World staff writer, can be reached at 581-8322 or via e-mail at brian.barber@tulsaworld.com.

 

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