Sadie Jones
A&E Editor
The end is in sight for the seniors of Cameron University’s School of Liberal Arts. However, events scheduled for the theatre, art and music departments leave no time for “senioritis.”
These seniors will present the CU community with plays, art exhibits and recitals throughout the spring semester.
Markus Lee Deyesso, a senior Theatre Art major with an emphasis in Technical Theatre, said seniors of the department are in for a hectic semester.
“‘Macbeth,’ will be our first performance of the semester and is set to take place in February,” Deyesso said. “The following day, after we finish with ‘Macbeth,’ I will be attending an acting competition called the ‘Irene Ryan Competition.’”
The endowed scholarship competition, named after Irene Ryan from the “Beverly Hillbillies,” rewards talented performers of the arts.
In addition to the Irene Ryan Competition, the CU Theatre Department will also participate in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival on Feb. 25 – March 1 at Centenary College in Shreveport, La.
“This festival is where colleges from all over our region get together and have a huge festival where students participate in workshops and seminars,” Deyesso said. “Theatre departments within our region perform their show for the entire conference.”
The United States Institute for Theatre Technology is another conference theatre students will partake in during the month of March.
The final production for the Theatre Department is the musical, “Where’s Charley,” scheduled to premiere April 24-27.
“We haven’t started rehearsals for this production yet, but I’m really excited,” Deyesso said. “It’s quirky and comical — it’s really a funny story.”
The School of Liberal Arts not only offers a rigorous schedule for those who focus on theatre, but also students who choose to study art.
The CU Bachelor of Arts Degree Program Mission Statement is “to prepare students for entry into a number of art related professions or endeavors.”
According to Associate Professor of Art Monika Linehan, faculty within the Art Department plan to do just that.
“Throughout the senior art students’ spring semester, they will remain busy completing their capstone course ‘Senior Art Exhibition’ taught by Chair of the Art Department Professor Edna McMillan,” Linehan said. “Throughout the course, students take all of their final exams consisting of terminology and art history, complete their senior portfolio and participate in the Senior Art Exhibition set to take place April 5 at the Museum of the Great Plains.”
Opening night of the Senior Art Exhibition is free to the public. The art will be on display for one month, and artists will be available to discuss their works with visitors.
“We always have a really good show,” said Linehan, “but this year there will be very diverse group of students — it will be exciting.”
Many senior art students will also display their work in the multi-disciplinary art event “Momentum” on March 7-8 in Oklahoma City.
The Department of Music also hosts several events for the CU community to enjoy. Music Professor Dr. Gregory Hoepfner said Senior Recitals will take place for vocal, instrumental and piano performance majors throughout the spring semester. Spencer Jones’s Senior Recital is scheduled for the month of February. He is to perform at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 21 in the McCutcheon Recital Hall.
“To determine who has senior recitals, we have a hearing,” Hoepfner said. “Students play for faculty members, and if they sound prepared, we allow them to have a recital. Most will be during the month of April.”
In addition to recitals, seniors will also participate in band, choir, symphony concerts, music festivals and operas throughout Spring 2014.