Radford University - Beehive Yearbook (Radford, VA)

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Celebration Kool and the Gang let D.C. crowd cherish this moment for tonight It was April 30. 1986 and •‘tonight'' was the night for many anxious Radford students who were ready to jam pack the Demon Center for the year's hottest concert — Kool and the Gang. For weeks prior to the concert date there was much talk and excitement aoout a band as publicized as this one coming to campus. Tickets were going like hotcakes at $10 with an RU ID and $13.50 for the general public. Finally, on that Wednesday evening, as 8 p.m. neared, students could be seen all over campus heading to the Dedmon Center. Excitement mounted as the front doors finally opened and people filled the bleachers and crowded the center dance floor. Carl Rosen opened the concert with his own version of popular Billy Joel hits. He displayed his fine talents on the piano and organ as more and more people filled the gymnasium. After the former Radford student's extraordinary performance, the crowd waited impatiently for the rhythm and blues pop band. During this wait reporters, writers and photographers went out of their way to try to get back stage for an interview. a picture or even a glimpse of the world famous group, but there was no loop hole, not for anyone. By such tightness of security, it was plain to see that this was going to be a “big time concert... and what a concert it was. When Kool and the Gang finally hit the stage, the crowd must have known that '•tonight really was the night With their lead off song. Tonight. Kool and the Gang rocked the Dedmon Center and started off an evening that would not soon be forgotten. Colored lights of purple, yellow, blue and red flashed over clapping hands that were up in the air. People danced, jumped and pushed their way near the stage for a closer look. Song after hit song, the crowd loved them. The climax of the concert came when the lead singer. Kool. threw a heart-shaped pillow out to the crowd. After a young girl snatched it from the grips of several eager hands, the atmosphere grew peaceful as the lights were dimmed and prism lights gave the effect of little colorful fluttering butterflies all through the entire crowd. As the flowing music began. Kool “It had not only been 4the night’ of nights, but a grand 4celebration — the party of the year.” knelt near the girl with the heart-shaped pillow and sang the popular hit song Cherish to her. The crowd hushed as the sights and sound filled the senses. The final song of the evening, Celebration, from their latest album Emergency went on for a while as the crowd kept yelling for more. It had not only been the night of nights but a grand celebration — the party of the year. by Missy Cyrus Saxophone xcios provide t cl If or on: tempo ' ■ Y : and the Gang s pet tor'nance 12 Campus Life

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The Seven Year Itch MASH’s William Christopher performs in guest theatre; exemplified professionalism to student actors What do RU and MASH have in common? Normally not much, but last spring William Christopher, MASH's amiable Father Mulcahy, was the starring guest artist in the theatre department's production of “The Seven Year Itch.” Christopher, or Bill as he quickly came to be called by his student co-stars, spent two weeks on campus last April rehearsing and performing his role as Richard Sherman. He was very eager to get to work with us, said Merran Elsea, a sophomore who played opposite Christopher. What I remember most was his professionalism. He rarely broke character or stopped rehearsals for anything. His mind was constantly on his character and how he related to mine. “He was very eager to get to work with us.” — Merran Elsea The women gather for some social talk which pokes tun at men. Richard Sherman is caught in a pensiire moment thinking about his llte. William Christopher porlorms the rolo of Richard Sherman which he had iust performed in Manassas. Acting alongside a student company was new to Christopher, but his role was not. He had just finished performing the same play in Manassas before coming to RU. He said Richard Sherman was one of his favorite roles. Taking place in the 1950s in a New York city apartment, the play deals with the antics of a happily married man who realizes that love and life are passing him by. When his wife and son go on vacation, he fantasizes about all the available women he knows until he meets his upstairs neighbor, played by Elsea. Christopher also kept busy during his Radford visity by speaking to theatre classes and filming a MASH promo for Roanoke's WDBJ-7 with Radford's ROTC. by James Jolly Campus Life

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 4 ti t . sf 1 • p Kool and the Gang perform rock, pop and rhythm and blues throughout their show. One of the outstanding features of tho show was their colorful light show. The tans pross closo to tho stage for a better view of the popular band Kool and the Gang. Over 3,000 tickots wore sold for the show. Lead singer James Taylor croons the song Cherish to the crowd during a two-hour concert. Campus Life 13