The Holland College of Arts and Media at Southeast Missouri State University announces the Sixth River Campus Summer Arts Festival scheduled for Saturday, June 15, 2019.
The summer celebration of the arts will continue the tradition of offering a free day of programming with live performances, hands-on activities and art exhibitions. Last years festival brought more than 4,000 people to the Southeast campus.
The summer productions of the River Campus Summer Arts Festival are also set. Disneys Newsies, the Broadway musical, will open on June 13 at 7:30 p.m. in the Wendy Kurka Rust Flexible Theatre. Other evening performances will be June 14, 15, 19, 20, 21 and 22. This show will run two matinees on June 16 and June 23 at 2 p.m. The childrens show will be Disneys The Aristocats KIDS. This show will run and require tickets on Friday, June 14, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, June 16, at 2 p.m. During the Saturday festival on June 15, the show will run for free at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. This performance will occur on the Donald C. Bedell Performance Hall stage.
We are so pleased to offer two Disney productions this summer for our sixth season, said Rhonda Weller-Stilson, dean of the Holland College of Arts and Media. Both shows are based on Disney films and will delight families of all ages. The Aristocats KIDS includes the fun songs Thomas OMalley Cat and Evrbody Wants to Be a Cat. Because they are such fun musicals, we anticipate large crowds for both of these productions. Tickets go on sale Dec. 1 so that people can purchase them for holiday presents.
Disneys Newsies music is written by Alan Menken. Lyrics are by Jack Feldman and the book by Harvey Feierstein.
Newsies is based on a movie from 1992 and inspired by a true story. The score won a Tony Award.
This show is about a newsboy named Jack Kelly. Jack convinces fellow newsies from across New York City to strike against the rich publishers about unfair conditions against teenage newsboys. The story takes place at the turn of the century. The production is appropriate for family audiences.
Disneys The Aristocats KIDS music and lyrics are by Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman, Al Rinker and Floyd Huddleston.
Disneys The Aristocats KIDS is based on a Disney animated film about high society cats receiving an estate and then having a greedy butler who tries to get the money from them. An alley cat steps in to save the day.
During the spring semester, auditions will be held for high school students, college students and community members to perform in Disneys Newsies. Students aged 15 and up will be able to audition for acting, singing and dancing roles. High school and college students will have the opportunity to sign up for two hours of college credit.
Children ages 9 to 14 can sign up now for Disneys The Aristocats KIDS. This workshop will begin in May after area schools close. Students will participate in all-day acting workshops and rehearsals until the opening on June 13. The cost of this workshop is $375. The workshop allows students the opportunity to experience both the backstage and onstage elements of putting on a show. The actors will experience costume fittings, music rehearsals, dance rehearsals, acting lessons, working with properties, working with microphones and more. This show will have a full stage management team and will follow standard University production processes.
Ticket prices are $20 for Disneys Newsies and $13 for Disneys The Aristocats KIDS.
For more information, call the Holland College of Arts and Media at (573) 651-2210.