Ahead of the Sept. 15 premiere of the new Ken Burns documentary series, Country Music, the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority (OETA) will host two previews of this highly anticipated series.
Each screening event will feature a sneak preview of clips from the series and a moderated discussion and Q&A with Country Music writer and producer Dayton Duncan and producer Julie Dunfey. The Country Music national tour is made possible with support from Bank of America.
The first screening will be at 7 p.m., Sept. 6 at the University of Central Oklahoma’s Nigh University Center, 100 N. University Dr., Edmond, OK. The second screening will take place at 7 p.m., Sept. 7 at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center, 110 E. 2nd St., Tulsa.
To reserve your seat for either one of these free screening events, go to www.OETA.tv/countrymusic.
“Ken Burns’ work is the gold standard in documentary filmmaking,” said Polly Anderson, executive director, OETA. “And, since country music is the sound of Oklahoma, our state will be featured heavily in this new docuseries. We are thrilled to welcome Dayton Duncan and Julie Dunfey to town to share their storytelling with Oklahomans.”
The eight-part series, Country Music explores crucial questions ― “What is country music?” and “Where did it come from?” ― while focusing on the biographies of the fascinating trailblazers who created and shaped it ― from the Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers, Bob Wills, Reba McEntire, Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Vince Gill and many more. Much like the music itself, the film tells unforgettable stories of hardships and joys shared by everyday people.
“Helping to illuminate the diverse experiences and perspectives that shape America is one way we can build deeper understanding of our shared history, spark dialogue on complex issues and build stronger communities,” said Bill Lissau, Bank of America Oklahoma state president. “We are honored to extend our partnership with Ken Burns, who has been the nation’s preeminent storyteller for many decades.”
OETA provides essential educational content and services that inform, inspire and connect Oklahomans to ideas and information that enrich our quality of life. We do this by consistently engaging Oklahomans with educational and public television programming, providing educational training and curriculum, outreach initiatives and online features that collectively encourage lifelong learning. For more information about education curriculum and programs, local productions, digital television, community resources and show schedules explore OETA.tv or visit us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.