Does anyone know of an old-fashioned New Year's Eve party featuring big band music? We would love something like the old Al Good Orchestra. Something very 1940s is what we're looking for. Seems you must drive to Dallas for these kinds of Guy Lombardo-like parties anymore. We're too big of a city to not have a "classic" New Year's Eve option anymore. Al Good, RIP. If anyone knows of something I don't - fill me in!

Thanks!!!!

Is there no big ban music as part of Opening Night? Seems like there would be at one of the venues.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure you can find one downtown on opening night. Go to www.downtownokc.com for more info or contact them directly for event details

The New Years party at the Will Rogers Theater on Western is a 'vintage themed' party. I would imagine the music would be period appropriate.

Yes, I forgot about their parties too, they are usually "authentic" and "period-esque"

Well I checked...The Edmond Jazz Orchestra will be playing at a venue in the Chase building. But that's not what I mean. I'm not just talking about a place to stand around and hear this or that kind of music. I mean the whole shebang. A party. Food, drinks, party favors, nice atmosphere where you're expected to dress up. An Opening Night venue (as nice as Opening Night is) is not what I'm looking for.

As for the Will Rogers Theater, their website has nothing at all about New Year's Eve. John, where did you get information about the vintage themed party at WR? I tried to call and I just got an answering machine, with no information.

I wish I had brought a copy of this home - I saw many New Year's parties advertised yesterday -

The Oklahoma Gazette free publication.. if you can pick one up, it has plenty of functions that might fit the bill...

Here's the list of 2006 Opening Night performers:

Opening Night Performers

Opening Night 2006
Performance Schedule


Aly Akers - World Champion Baton Twirler, Venue 1, Cox Business Services Convention Center, Children's Area, Exhibit Hall 3, 7:30 - 10:30
The Ambassadors' Concert Choir -- Choral/Gospel, Venue 9, Chase Tower, 7:00
Amos Cunningham -- Jazz/Standards, Venue 6, Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library, 7:30, 8:30, 9:30, 10:30
Arbroath Pipes and Drums -- Bagpipes, Venue 9, Chase Tower, 8:40, 9:40, 10:40
Basically Ballet! -- Dance, Venue 1,Cox Business Services Convention Center, Children's Area, Exhibit Hall 3, 7:00
The Bricktown Clowns – Strolling, Park Avenue 7:00 to 11:00
Callen Clarke & Nur -- Word Music -- Middle Eastern, Venue 2A, Myriad Gardens -- Crystal Bridge, 7:00, 9:00, 11:00
Calliope House -- Irish/Celtic, Venue 5, City Hall, 7:30, 8:30, 9:30, 10:30
CeCe Farha's Range of Motion Dance Studio -- Dance, Venue 1, Cox Business Convention Center, Children's Area, Exhibit Hall 3, 8:00
Celtic Praise Troupe -- Dance -- Irish, Venue 1, Cox Business Convention Center, Children's Area, Exhibit Hall 3, 9:00
Dr. Don White -- Hypnotist/Comedian, Venue 11, Kerr-McGee Auditorium – 7:00, 8:30, 10:00
Edgar Cruz -- Acoustic Guitar, Venue 10, Untitled (Art Space), 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00
Edmond Jazz Orchestra – Big Band, Venue 9, Chase Building, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00
Everybody and Their Dog -- Improvisational Theatre, Venue 3, Stage Center -- Arena Theatre – 8:00, 9:00, 10:00
Fredrick Douglass High School Marching Band – Instrumental, Strolling Park Avenue, 7:00 to 11:00
Harrison Academy Symphonic Winds -- Venue 8, First National Center, 7:00
Jahruba and Dave Duo – Reggae, Venue 2A, Myriad Gardens - Crystal Bridge, 8:00, 10:00
Jerry Russell & Ray Polk – Venue 1, Cox Business Convention Center, 7:15, 8:15, 9:15, 10:15, 11:15
Oklahoma City Repertory Theatre (CityRep) presents, “Messhuggah-nuns!” – Musical Comedy, Venue 4, Civic Center Music Hall, 7:00, 8:00, 9:30, 10:30
Master Leturia’s Lion Dancers – Strolling, Park Avenue, 8:00 – 11:00
Mental Elastic Dynasty – Hip Hop/Rap, Venue 7, Park Avenue Stage, 8:00, 10:00
Music Central – A cappella Choral, Venue 8, First National Center, 8:00, 10:00
Mr. Thank You – Comedian, Strolling on Park Avenue, 7:00 to 11:30
New Union Gospel Choir -- Choral, Venue 8, First National Center, 9:00, 11:00
Pinkie & the Snakeshakers – Rockin’ Blues, Venue 3, Stage Center – Tolbert Theatre, 7:30, 8:30, 9:30, 10:30
Sodder – Rock Alternative, Venue 2B, Myriad Gardens, Dean A. McGee Center, 7:00, 8:00
Stardust Music with Scotty Graham – Easy Listening, Venue 4, Civic Center Music Hall, 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00
Straight Shooter – Country, Venue 12, Bank of Oklahoma, 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00
Sugar Free All Stars – Rock, Venue 2B, Myriad Gardens, Dean A. McGee Center, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00
Tall Cotton String Band – Bluegrass, Venue 1, Cox Business Convention Center, Exhibit Hall A& B, 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00
The Wise Guys - Rock, Venue 13 Kerr Park, 8:15, 9:15, 10:15, 11:30
Visual MPACT – Muralist, Park Avenue, 8:00 to 11:00
Welcome the Silence –Progressive Rock, Venue 7, Park Avenue Stage, 7:00, 9:00, 11:00
Wilbur T. Bottoms the Clown – Venue 1, Cox Business Convention Center, Exhibit Hall 3, 7:00 to 11:00
Who DEAN the Great – Magician, Venue 1, Cox Business Convention Center, Children’s Area, Exhibit Hall 3, 7:00 – 11:00
World of Magic with David Thomas – Venue 4, Civic Center Music Hall, 7:45, 9:00, 10:15

The latest Oklahoma Gazette didn't list anything like what we're looking for.

Keith, Thanks for posting the Opening Night listings. Like I said, I know there IS an orchestra playing at a venue, but I am looking for a complete party with food, drinks, party favors, everything.

So far, nobody here has any details that would show there is even such a thing anymore in Oklahoma City. That's too bad. I don't want to have to drive to Dallas!

I can't find my latest Gazette, but it had the advertisement for the party at Will Rogers. I think your best bet would be to call Sushi Neko or Musashi's and ask them about the event. I know they have specials where you would eat at one of those and head next door/across the street to dance in the New Year. ...even if you weren't interested in eating at one of those, they would probably have the info you need.

Sushi Neko - 528-8862
Musashi's - 602-5623

or better yet call Will's Coffee Shop which is at the Will Rogers Theatre

Don't forget to drop by First National Center that night -- it's one of the few times each year that the great hall is open to the public. It is without question the finest (or maybe 2nd only to the State Capital's "dome" room) the finest interior of any building in the state. Completely magnificent -- a great reminder about our past.

I'll be here as usual at venue 11. the ball drops on our corner and I have seen it drop here 11 times. it should be nice weather and a big turnout.

Are the water taxis from meridian running yet? that would be a great way to make the transfer to bricktown on New Years Eve. I'm looking for a hotel that evening & can't throw down $200 to stay downtown.