members an opportunity to beat the traffic jams – on Thursdays at least.
The series is designed to fit the bustling lives of both the Oakland community and the community at large. Instead of driving home, MTD invites patrons to enjoy an “early night out,” attending performances that begin at 6 pm. Food and beverages are available on the mezzanine outside of Varner Recital Hall beginning at 5 pm for $9. Most events will finish by 7 pm, allowing plenty of time for an after-show dinner in a local restaurant or at home.
The Thursday Arts-After-Work series provides patrons with the opportunity to experience the entire range of Oakland’s performing arts programs, with offerings including student and faculty performers in large and small music ensembles, an opera, plays including Shakespeare and musical theatre, modern dance, soloists, and guest artists. And all for the unbeatable price of “pay what you wish.” Tickets are available for purchase in advance at the Varner Hall box office and online through Star Tickets at startickets.com, but audience members can set their own price, making the series affordable to everyone. Tickets can also be purchased on the afternoon of the performance beginning at 3pm, but the department anticipates that some events, especially theatrical productions scheduled for the Studio Theatre, will sell out in advance.
Thursday Arts-After-Work provides a welcoming place for friends, colleagues, and neighbors to enjoy one another’s company, and is a program that encourages the intersection of OU faculty, staff, students, and the community. Alumni are encouraged to attend as a group and if they let the department know of their visit in advance, MTD will welcome them from the stage.
The series opened with a bang and all the fanfare 
MTD could muster on September 22, 2011 when the fabulous OU Jazz Faculty performed. Miles Brown, Carl Cafagna, Vincent Chandler, Sean Dobbins, Mark Kieme, Mark Stone, Tad Weed, and guest trumpeter Dwight Adams, who plays with Stevie Wonder's band, offered up a top-flight concert that earned them a well-deserved standing ovation. Audience members who had also enjoyed the appetizer hour were equally appreciative of the Chartwell Chef who supplied exceptional hors d'oeuvres, with roasted vegetables and the bleu cheese-stuffed dates wrapped in bacon being particular favorites.
More information about Thursday Arts-After-Work and MTD’s regular performance schedule is available here.
The students and faculty of MTD hope you will decide to “jam” with them, instead of joining the rush hour jams on the road, and they look forward to sharing their work with you.
September 22 OU Jazz Faculty
September 29 MTD Student Showcase
October 13 Little Mary Sunshine
October 20 Six Strings Too Many, faculty guitar concert
November 10 Oakland Chamber Players
November 17 OU Jazz Band
December 1 Oakland Dance Theatre and OU Repertory Dance Company
December 8 From Floor to Ceiling, faculty dance concert
January 12 Cosi fan tutte
January 26 OU Percussion Faculty
February 9 Much Ado About Nothing
February 16 Wind Symphony
March 8 Percussion Pops
March 29 University Chorus and Oakland Chorale
April 5 MTD Faculty Collaboration
April 26 Meadow Brook Estate, musical theatre showcase
For more information, visit oakland.edu/mtd or call (248) 370-2030.