Theatre, music and lectures highlight Fanfare's final week
Monday, October 17, 2016 
by: Tonya Lowentritt
FANFARE FAVORITE RETURNS– Southeastern Louisiana University Fanfare favorite Missoula Children’s Theatre returns on Oct. 24 with auditions for the production of “Peter and Wendy.” Auditions begin at 4 p.m. at the Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts. “Peter and Wendy” will be performed twice – on Oct 28 at 7 p.m. and on Oct. 29 at 2 p.m.
HAMMOND – Children’s theatre, musical performances and lectures highlight the final
week of Fanfare, Southeastern Louisiana University’s annual October-long arts festival.
Fanfare’s finale begins on Monday, Oct. 24, with auditions for Missoula Children’s
Theatre’s production of Peter and Wendy at 4 p.m. at the Columbia Theatre, located
at 220 E. Thomas St. in downtown Hammond.
“Children in grades kindergarten through high school may audition,” said Director
of Columbia Theatre and Fanfare Roy Blackwood. “Approximately 50-60 local students
will be cast to appear in the show with a Missoula tour actor/director. Missoula will
cast the young actors on Monday and get started right away teaching them lines, staging,
songs and movement. By Friday, the children will be ready to perform, complete with
professionally designed costumes and scenery.”
Students wishing to audition must arrive by 4 p.m. and stay for the entire two-hour
session. The first rehearsal begins approximately 15-30 minutes after the audition
and lasts until 8:30 p.m.
“Peter and Wendy” will be performed at the Columbia Theatre in two performances
on Friday, Oct. 28, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 29, at 2 p.m. All cast members must
be available for all scheduled performances and rehearsals.
Tickets for the public performances are $15 for adults and $10 for children.
They are available online at columbiatheatre.org or at the box office, 985-549-4371.
Next up is OcTubaFest, a free concert series featuring tuba and euphonium and
presented by the Department of Fine and Performing Arts Oct. 25-26. Lecturer of tuba
and euphonium Brian Gallion said the series of four concerts features Southeastern
tuba and euphonium faculty and students. All concerts will be held in Pottle Music
Building Recital Hall. The Oct. 25 concert includes a student solo recital at 7:30
p.m. that features euphonium students. The recital is free and open to the public.
OcTubaFest continues on Oct. 26 with two concerts at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The
6 p.m. performance features students in small and large ensemble performances. The
7:30 p.m. concert is a solo recital by Gallion, who will present “Movie Music for
the Tuba.”
Kelly Link, a 2016 Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of several volumes of short
stories, will visit Southeastern Oct. 26 as part of the university’s Common Read program.
Sponsored by the Department of English and the Southeastern Writing Center, Common
Read provides students and community members the opportunity to read selected works
and then meet their contemporary author.
Events that day include student presentations on the author’s work at 9:30 a.m.,
an 11 a.m. question and answer session with the author, and a 6:30 p.m. public reading
by Link followed by a book signing and reception. All events are free and open to
the public and will be held in the Student Union Theatre.
Two Then and Now Lectures scheduled Oct. 26 and Oct. 31 help to round out Fanfare’s
final week. Both lectures are free and scheduled in Pottle Music Building Auditorium.
On Wednesday, Oct. 26, at 1 p.m., in Pottle Auditorium, the host of KSLU’s “Rock
School,” Professor of Communication, and Impaired Faculties guitarist/vocalist, Joe
Burns will present the free Then and Now Lecture “Make the Presidency Rock Again:
The Success and Epic Fails of Campaign Theme Songs.” For as long as there have been
presidential elections, there has been someone singing a song about the candidate
they like . . . or hate. Tippecanoe and Tyler Too!;I'm Just Wild about Harry!;High Hopes!; Born in the U.S.A!; and the Trump card, We Are the Champions. Vote to join Communication professor Joe Burns for a tour through the highest office
hit parade and the controversy that often surrounds it.
On Monday, Oct. 31, at 1 p.m., William Robison will present the final Then and
Now Lecture “Barking Pumpkin and Zomby Woof: The Life, Music, and Surprising Politics
of Frank Zappa.” The Head of the Department of History and Political Science, Professor
of History, and Impaired Faculties guitarist/vocalist, Robison presents a free discussion
of Frank Zappa – band leader, composer, musician, political spokesman, and purveyor
of memorable Halloween concerts – followed by the annual throwing of candy. Costumes
are welcomed and encouraged.
Fanfare tickets are on sale at the Columbia/Fanfare box office, 220 E. Thomas
Street, 985-543-4371. Some tickets may be purchased online at columbiatheatre.org.
The box office is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. and one hour prior
to Columbia performances. For a complete schedule, contact the Columbia/Fanfare
office at 985-543-4366 or visit columbiatheatre.org.
