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Gala opening Davis-Waldorf Performing Arts Series’ 22nd season to be held Sept. 15


Casino Night event will feature live music from local crooner Wade Tower, drinks, and games
Casino Night event will feature live music from local crooner Wade Tower, drinks, and games

The University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma will hold a Casino Night Cocktail Party to kick off the 22nd season of the Davis-Waldorf Performing Arts Series (DWPAS) on Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. in the USAO Ballroom.

Local crooner Wade Tower will perform with live accompaniment as part of the evening’s entertainment, and each ticket also includes two drinks as well as tokens for the game tables. All gaming is for recreation only, but fun prizes will be raffled, and hors d’oeuvres and entertainment will continue all evening.

Tickets are $30 if purchased along with a season subscription or $40 for individual admission, with all proceeds benefitting the series. Season tickets for this year are $60 for the general public and may be purchased online at usao.edu/dwpas or by returning an order form to the USAO Business Office in Troutt Hall.

“After two decades of this acclaimed series, we are thrilled with the quality of the shows, but we need for members of the community to step up and show that they value this exceptional project through their donations,” said Katie Davis, professor of theatre arts and executive director of DWPAS. “Our annual gala fundraiser makes giving back a fun event that includes the kind of live performance that our supporters love. Every ticket sold helps us meet the costs of producing the series, and there will also be multiple chances for members of the community to pledge their support throughout the evening.”

Hailing from Stillwater, Okla., Tower performs a range of timeless music including Frank Sintra, Nat King Cole, and Michael Bublé that helps give any event a feeling of simple elegance and cool. With shows tailored to each group, he not only sings audiences favorite standards, but interacts with the crowd and keeps the room laughing throughout the evening.

The 2022-23 DWPAS season promises a thrilling year of fun and exhilarating live events, offering affordable access to a diverse range of professional performances. This season, the series puts the talent and stories of under-represented artists center stage with two multi-media dance shows, a piano concert, and the regional premiere of an award-winning play.

A major project of the USAO Foundation, DWPAS has brought world-class performers from range of styles to the USAO campus for more than two decades. DWPAS is also made possible by additional support from the Oklahoma Arts Council, Chickasha Public School Foundation, the Culture and Recreation Committee of the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, and corporate partners.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit usao.edu/dwpas or call (405) 574-1213.