GILBERT & SULLIVAN PIRATES LAND AT SHSU

The "Pirates of Penzance," by Sir W. S. Gilbert and Sir A. S. Sullivan, is Sam Houston State University's spring musical. It opens Wednesday, with performances at 8 p.m. through Saturday. There is also a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday.

Dr. James R. Miller, who chairs the Department of Theatre & Dance and directs the production, calls it "an exciting musical romp spoofing grand opera and the Victorian modes of behavior and belief systems."

In the production, Frederick, who was accidentally apprenticed by his nanny to a pirate, decides upon reaching his 21st year that he will pursue instead a life of honor and virtue.

He begins by telling the Pirate King of his decision, with a whimsical story of true love, mistaken identities and skewed Victorian ideals following.

Tickets are $10 or $7 with senior citizen identification. Group rates are also available. All seats are reserved. For more information call the University Theatre office at 409-294-1339.

BIDS GO BETTER WITH COKE

An informal group of 125 Sam Houston State University staff and faculty raised more than $5,600 to purchase Walker County Fair projects exhibited by relatives of university employees. An additional $1,000 was contributed to the SHSU bidding pot by the Conroe Coca-Cola Bottling Co.

The amount raised this year was more than twice that raised last year, when 73 employees participated, said Debbie Birdwell.

Major purchases included the reserve grand champion rabbit, shown by Curtis Billinoske, and the 7th place lamb, shown by Robin Kolb. Additional exhibits were bought at the food, horticulture and freezer sale.

The group's fund collectors included Tommy Childers, Kathy Bowman, Ronnie Choate and Birdwell. Employees who would like to participate in next year's effort should contact Renee Starns at 294-1906.

FUTURE FARMERS HERE FOR CONTESTS

More than 1,200 FFA members from Southeast Texas will be on campus Wednesday for the annual area round of the Texas FFA Career Development Events.

The area contest are conducted by SHSU faculty, staff and students. Top-placing teams will be eligible to participate in the various state career development events to be held on other campuses in coming weeks.

Events include agricultural mechanics, agricultural sales, dairy cattle, dairy foods, farm business management, horse judging, land, livestock, meats, poultry, range and pasture, and woodland clinic.

More than 200 SHSU agriculture students and 13 faculty members will conduct the contests. Results of the contests will be announced and awards made in the Lowman Student Center at 2:30 p.m.

DIIULIO BETO CHAIR LECTURES SET FOR THURSDAY

Dr. John J. DiIulio Jr., professor of politics and public affairs at Princeton University, will give two Beto Chair lectures Thursday.

DiIulio is scheduled to speak at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., both in the Beto Criminal Justice Center Killinger Auditorium. His first lecture will be on the subject of "The Future of Corrections." His second will be on "Violent Crime, Representative Democracy, and Religion."

The Beto Chair Lecture Series was begun in 1981. It honors the late Dr. George J. Beto, a clergyman, educator, and correctional administrator who was instrumental in development of the Criminal Justice Center.

Faculty, students, and members of the community are welcome. There is no admission fee.

ART AND PHOTO AUCTIONS

The 11th Annual Student Art Association and Sixth Annual Photographic Society auctions will be held next weekend.

The art auction is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at the Huntsville Community Theatre, 1304 Sam Houston Ave., with a preview hour beginning at 6 p.m. Prints, paintings, sculpture, jewelry, ceramics, and pottery will be auctioned, with 20 percent of the proceeds going toward art scholarships and the balance going to the artists.

The photo auction is scheduled for 8 p.m. Saturday at the Sam Houston Memorial Museum's Walker Education Center, 1402 19th St., with a preview at 7 p.m. It will feature works from both emerging and established artists, including many FotoFest featured photographers. Proceeds benefit the SHSU photography program.

To enter or donate art work for the auction, contact the Art Department office at 294-1315. For more information on the photo auction, call 294-1481.

RECORD NUMBERS POSSIBLE FOR "SATURDAY AT SAM"

A record 1,200-plus potential students, their family members and friends, are expected for the "Saturday at Sam" recruiting day at SHSU April 13, according to Barrie Glasscock, event coordinator.

For those not registered previously, registration will begin at 7:15 a.m. outside the Johnson Coliseum. There is no registration fee.

A general assembly, with welcomes by university and community leaders and information on the day's activities, will begin at 8:30 a.m. in the Coliseum.

Other activities will include sessions with representatives from SHSU academic departments, information on financial aid and residence life, an organization fair, and tours of campus.

MUSICIANS TO COMPETE

An estimated 200 musicians from about 10 schools are expected for the Fourth Annual Solo and Ensemble Contests Saturday.

The Kappa Kappa Psi national honorary band fraternity and Tau Beta Sigma national honorary band sorority will conduct the contests, to be held beginning at 10 a.m. in the Music Building.

"The contests are held to allow local and regional high school and junior high schools to perform solos and ensembles in a positive environment," said Robert Munoz, Kappa Kappa Psi president. "We try to make it the best experience possible for the young musicians who attend."

SHSU students Ronnie Reneau and Jenny Kaylor are the contest coordinators.

JAZZ ENSEMBLE TO TOUR

The 25-member Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Rod Cannon, will perform in the Bryan area Thursday and travel to Brazosport High School Friday.

A highlight of the trip will be a hamburger cookout hosted by SHSU alum Jim Raatz on Thursday evening. Bryan area music alumni as well as approximately 100 senior musicians from area high schools are also invited.

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SHSU UPDATE is produced by the Office of Public Relations at Sam Houston State University. Faculty, staff, and students may contribute material by mail (Box 2105), (fax) 294-1834, e-mail pin_frk@shsu.edu, telephone (294-1836), or visit (212 Rather Communications Building).
April 7, 1996