The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

    Fanfare celebrates 29th season

    doll's house

    The Henrik Ibsen play “A Doll’s House,” was performed as part of the October 2013 FANFARE season.
    Nora Helmer, played by Olivia Matte (left), poses as a nineteenth century housewife.
    She is helped and hindered by her friends Dr. Ranks, played by Kyle French (center),
    and Kristine Linde, played by Jaimee Rome (right). The Lion’s Roar / File Photo  

    A bloody musical kicked off FANFARE 2014 last week, and over the next month, a Gaelic-singer, a famous music score, an annual Halloween-themed concert, new art exhibits and a lecture series that makes history fascinating will be featured. 

    The annual month-long celebration of the arts known as FANFARE, held each October, promises to entertain students, faculty and community members with a variety of artistic and cultural events. 

    “FANFARE’s mission has always been to bring an intense offering of art and cultural events to the community during the month of October,” said Dr. Roy Blackwood, director of the Columbia Theatre and coordinator of FANFARE. “I am thrilled to once again have Southeastern’s Student Government Association as the exclusive sponsor of FANFARE. Events are scheduled on the campus, at Columbia Theatre and in Amite, making offerings as accessible as possible.”

    Blackwood, Harriet Vogt and Karen White started FANFARE in 1985 when the university was in desperate need of a way to draw in students and alumni for Homecoming since the university football program had been canceled the year before.  FANFARE has been held each fall to bring the arts to Hammond, even after the football program was reinstated. 

    “There are 30 events this year with two more to be added,” said Blackwood. “That is about the average number.” 

    This year, the bloody “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” kicked off FANFARE at the Columbia Theatre. The fall Southeastern Opera/Music Theatre Workshop production usually starts FANFARE, which will include popular events from past seasons and some new additions. 

    The assassination that began World War I, the origin of Christmas carols and a Doctor Who-themed history lesson are just a few “Then and Now Lecture Series” topics in the 2014 FANFARE line-up. The lecture series, which is put on by the Department of History and Political Science each year, will include lectures from Dr. Bill Robison and Dr. Joe Burns as usual. 

    The common read for English students will also be included in FANFARE. Terrance Hayes, author of “Wind in a Box,” will be in attendance to discuss his work. The common read will take place in the Student Union Theater on Oct. 23 at 6:30 p.m. 

    spooktacular

    The Southeastern Chamber Orchestra (right) performs their annual
    Spooktacular event (right) dressed in costumes around Halloween.  
    The Lion’s Roar /  File Photo
     

    The Department of Fine and Performing Arts puts on concerts and performances each year. These are a popular aspect of FANFARE.

    This year as part of the Main Stage Series at the Columbia Theatre, Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis will grace the Columbia stage Thursday, Oct. 9 at 7:30 p.m. Fowlis is known for singing “Touch the Sky” from the Disney/Pixar animated film “Brave.” She also has three highly acclaimed studio albums. 

    Impaired Faculties, a cover band made of Southeastern faculty members, will perform at the Columbia Theatre on Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m. 

    The Southeastern Wind Symphony will be featured performing Michael Shapiro’s original score for the 1931 James Whale “Frankenstein” film. The music will come to life at the Columbia Theatre on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 7:30 p.m. 

    The following weekend, Masters of Soul will bring the sounds and stylings of Motown and soul music back to the stage. The Masters of Soul can be seen at the Columbia Theatre on Sunday, Oct. 19 at 7:30 p.m.  

    A fan favorite, Spooktacular, will feature the Southeastern Chamber Orchestra performing Halloween tunes while decked out in elaborate costumes. This year Spooktacular IV will take place at the Columbia Theatre on Oct. 31 at 7:30 p.m. 

    FANFARE 2014 will wrap up on Nov. 1 with the return of Missoula Children’s Theatre after a few years worth of hiatus from the program. Performances will take place at Amite High Theatre at both 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. 

    Many FANFARE events are free to Southeastern students. Everyone is encouraged to pick up a season brochure that includes the FANFARE schedule or go to columbiatheatre.org for additional information. 

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