Theatre Year Starts With Musical

Dedicated to the "good guys" of the 1950s, "Plaid" is the story of four nerdy crooners with angelic voices who are "snuffed out mid-coda" on the way to their first "big gig" at the Airport Hilton Cocktail Bar. After a little divine intervention, the group is allowed to stage the career-launching performance they were cheated out of.

The Plaids, an endearing harmony group, perform a wide range of popular fifties tunes including: "Catch a Falling Star," "Chain Gang," "Cry," " Heart and Soul," "Love is a Many Splendored Thing," "Moments to Remember," "No Not Much," "Rags to Riches," " Sixteen Tons," and "Three Coins in the Fountain."

The SHSU Department of Theatre and Dance presentation of "Forever Plaid" will be directed by senior musical theatre major Shay Rogers. The show features musical theatre majors Scott Sidler, as Sparky; Greg Graham, as Jinx; Tyler Jones, as Frankie; and Casey Burden, as Smudge.

Set design is by Mandy Heinold, a senior theatre major; lights are by Patrick Pearson, a senior musical theatre major; and costume design is by Becjt Kemp, a theatre and dance graduate.

The show will play at 8 p.m. nightly with a special 2 p.m. Saturday matinee. Tickets are $12 for general admission or $10 with a valid SHSU or senior citizen ID. Group rates are also available. For more information, or to reserve tickets, call (409) 294-1330.

In a related event, the Lowman Student Center Art Gallery will feature costumes and displays from upcoming SHSU Theatre and Dance Department productions Monday through Sept. 11.

Music Events/Friends of Music

The music department is also hosting an All-State Choir Workshop in the Fine Arts Building and the Criminal Justice Auditorium Saturday (Sept. 5).

Planning is also under way for the Friends of Music Faculty Gala Concert scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 8, at 7:30 p.m. in the Killinger Auditorium. A special reception honoring 1998-99 Friends of Music will be held in Austin Hall following the concert.

Highlights of the 1998-99 Fall Semester Friends of Music season include an Oct. 8 Wind Ensemble performance of Frank Ticheli's "Blue Shades," an Oct. 24 Symphony Orchestra performance of Sergei Rachmaninoff's "Piano Concerto No. 2," and a Nov. 17 Chorale presentation of Ralph Vaughan Williams's "Hodie."

Friends of Music membership ranges from $25 to $500, with named scholarships available for donations of $1,000 or above. Corporate and business sponsorships, with listing in the special business section of the Friends of Music membership list and in all programs, are also available.

For information on the Friends of Music program or music events, call 409-294-1360.

Shipp Exhibit Opens Monday

"My constructions present multiple physical and psychological layers through which we penetrate into a mysterious and ambiguous world of sexuality, mortality and pseudo-science," said Shipp.

A closing reception is scheduled for Sept. 17 from 5 - 7 p.m. For more information, call the SHSU Department of Art at (409) 294-1315.

Matthys Retirement Reception

For details on the reception and a special gift being planned to honor Matthys after 27 years of service to SHSU, contact Nancy Sears at 409-294-1049.

Hewlett-Gomez Gives Keynote Speech

The presentation was in Rio Mar, Puerto Rico at the Second Annual Dual Language Immersion Symposium sponsored by the International Educational Consultants for educators and administrators designing educational programs for English and non-English speaking children.

Hewlett-Gomez's speech was entitled "Staff Development and Mentoring Programs for Dual Language Programs," and focused on the training and evaluation of teachers for this type of program.

Collins Serving Speech Group

Collins, who assumed office in April will become vice president in 1999 vice president and ascend to the office of president for the 2001 convention in Lexington, KY.

Collins came to SHSU in 1995 from Hardin-Simmons University, where she was chair of the Communication Department.

SSCA is the second-largest professional communication organization in the world, and the largest of the four regional associations in the U. S.

Excel Programs Start With Library Usage

For details, call the Office of Student Life at 294-1785 or stop by Lowman Student Center room 309 and pick up a booklet detailing all of the 1998-99 Excel Series programs. Student may also register by computer using the SamInfo Line.

Staff Meeting is Wednesday

The university will also honor Staff Excellence Award recipients and staff who have served the university for 25 and 35 years. It is scheduled for 3 p.m. in the Beto Criminal Justice Center Killinger Auditorium.

Media Contact: Frank Krystyniak
Aug. 30, 1998
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