Red Tie Night is Turning Back Time in the 405

By  Mark Beutler

Special to The Gayly

Get ready to be Moonstruck on Saturday, March 5, as the 24th Annual Red Tie Night presents an evening of Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves at the first-ever After Party at Angles, beginning at 9 p.m. Famed Cher impersonator Chad Michaels will be turning back time as the Dark Lady herself.

“This is the first time in the history of Red Tie Night that we are hosting an after party,” said Cher Golding, Executive Director of the Oklahoma AIDS Care Fund, the umbrella organization for Red Tie Night. “It is our way of saying ‘thank you’ to the community for their support these many years. It will be so much fun, and I think everyone will enjoy seeing Mr. Michael’s impressive impersonation of another famous Cher,” Golding said with a laugh.

Michaels has dedicated more than 20 years to the art of celebrity impersonation. Most notably, his tribute to Cher has earned him international acclaim and granted him the opportunity to collaborate with and entertain for Elton John, Cyndi Lauper, Christina Aguilera and even the Diva herself, Cher.

In 2012, Michaels joined the cast of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, which pits the best drag queens in the business against each other. He quickly rose to the top, became the winner of the $100,000 grand prize, and was the first person inducted into the Drag Queen Hall of Fame.

“Chad is in demand all across the country,” Golding said. “We are so fortunate he is bringing his high-energy show to Oklahoma City. Just like Cher, he is a seasoned performer who will leave you uplifted, entertained, and wanting more.”

Tickets to the Red Tie After Party are $35 for general admission by phoning the OACF office at (405) 348-6600 or online at okaidscarefund.com or $45 at the door. Special VIP tickets are available for $75 and include light hors de ’oeuvres, full bar service and a special meet-and-greet with Michaels.

Tickets to the Red Tie Dinner are available by calling the OACF office at (405) 348-6600, or online at OKaidscarefund.com. Complimentary general admission tickets to the After Party are provided to Red Tie Night attendees.

“At OACF we always want to be inclusive, and this after party gives everyone a chance to contribute,” Golding said. “Our work toward an AIDS-free generation continues, and the money we raise from Red Tie Night and the After Party stays right here in Oklahoma to help our service agencies and their clients.”

Red Tie Night has become known as the premiere party in Oklahoma, Golding said. It is traditionally held the first Saturday in March at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City. Red Tie Night and the After Party are the sole fundraisers for the OACF. It was first organized in 1991 by the late Jackie Cooper, his wife Barbara, and a small group of volunteers. This year Cooper’s daughter, Cindy Cooper-Colton will chair the event, along with her son, noted musician Graham Colton.

“The next generation of the Cooper family taking the helm is a great time for a younger crowd to get involved,” Golding said. “We want to expand the exciting atmosphere so even more people can come out and enjoy Red Tie Night. Our After Party, along with the nation’s number one Cher impersonator, promises to be an evening Oklahoma City will be talking about for a long time to come.”