The Liberty Symphony Orchestra begins its 41st season Saturday, October 22nd with a Pops Concert featuring “The Best of John Williams”. The concert begins at 7:30pm at the Liberty Performing Arts Theatre, 1600 S. Withers Road, Liberty MO 64068. Tickets are $18/adults, $14/seniors, $5 students and are available at www.libertysymphony.org or by phone: 888-71-TICKETS.
Selections by famed film composer John Williams will include Star Wars, Indiana Jones and Harry Potter. A special appearance by a Star Wars character is scheduled at the beginning of the concert. In addition to a special guest from a galaxy far, far away, several local elected officials are scheduled to volunteer as ushers and ticket takers. Representatives include State Representative Myron Neth, and Liberty City Council members Jeff Moore, Jeff Watt and Greg Duncan.
For more information on the Liberty Symphony Orchestra and the 2011-12 season, please visit www.libertysymphony.org.
Park University to Present Theater Production of “Almost, Maine”
Parkville, Mo.—Oct. 7, 2011 — The Park University Players will present a production of “Almost, Maine,” by John Cariani, on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 21-22, and Friday-Sunday, Oct. 28-30, in the Jenkin and Barbara David Theater inside Alumni Hall on the University’s Parkville Campus. The curtain rises at 7:30 p.m. for all dates except for Sunday, Oct. 30, which begins at 2 p.m.
“Almost, Maine” was developed at the Cape Cod Theatre Project in 2002 and was a popular production in New York during the 2006 season. The play is set in Almost, an unincorporated township in Aroostook County, Maine, but the nine tales of love won, lost, abandoned and remembered could happen anywhere in the world. Still, there is a magic that the aurora borealis (Northern Lights) imbues to the unexpected and often hilarious romances of the characters.
The play, which includes nine scenes, is directed by Andrea Southard, Ph.D., instructor of theater. Janie Peak, instructor of theater, serves as the costume designer and vocal coach. Southard said love — and the play’s take on love — is similar to the Northern Lights.
“It may come or leave suddenly and quite unexpectedly,” she said. “It may be beautiful or unsettling, and it happens to everyone and all ages. It is never exactly what one thinks it should be, but it is what one needs.”
The cast of “Almost, Maine,” is a mixture of Park University students and community members. Park students in the cast include:
• Patrick Bennett Kastor, junior liberal studies/theater major from Kansas City, Mo. — “Easton,” “Randy”
• Stuart Brewer, sophomore communication arts/broadcasting major from Parkville, Mo. — “Pete,” “Steve”
• Jeremy Everts, junior communication arts/broadcasting major from Kansas City, Mo. (attended Shawnee Mission [Kan.] West High School) — “Man”
• Erica Hinrichs, senior management major from Blue Springs, Mo. — “Waitress”
• Angelica Hodgdon, sophomore secondary education/English major from Independence, Mo. (attended William Chrisman High School) — “Gayle”
• Sam Peak, junior athletic training major from Parkville, Mo. (attended Park Hill South High School, Riverside, Mo.) — “Chad”
• Rees Purdom, freshman English literature major from Independence, Mo. (attended William Chrisman High School) — “Jimmy,” “Dave”
• Mindy Reynolds, junior communication arts/public relations major from Independence, Mo. (attended Center Place Restoration School) — “Rhonda”
• Sharon Stark, senior communication arts/public relations major from Platte City, Mo. (attended Platte City High School) — “Sandrine”
• Schyler Tate, freshman elementary education major from Gladstone, Mo. (attended Oak Park High School, Kansas City, Mo.) — “Glory”
• Amanda Tyler, freshman communication arts/journalism major from Independence, Mo. (attended William Chrisman High School) — “Marvalyn”
Community members in the cast include Steve Parker, Dave Bunce, Karla M. Fennick, Cherie Simmons and Jourdain Everts.
Admission to the production is $10 for the general public and $8 for Park University faculty/staff. Non-Park University students and senior citizens are $5, and Park University students are free with their Park ID. Tickets can be reserved by calling (816) 584-6450 or (816) 584-6452, or purchased at the box office beginning one hour before performance time.
