Texas Tech University - La Ventana Yearbook (Lubbock, TX)

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More than a three-penny opera Take a penchant for opera, com- bined with an abundance of musical talent. Add a new Music Recital Hall, complete with a concert organ. Spice the mixture with a sense of the theat- rical, a bit of makeup, props and costumes, and you have Tech Music Theatre. Under the direction of John Gillas, Music Theatre and Music Theatre Chorus students performed Giuseppe Verdi ' s Rigoletto Oct. 1 and 2, 1976. Kyung Wook Shin of the music faculty starred as the hunchbacked jester who caused his daughter ' s death through his hatred of the Duke of Mantua. Jana King played the part of (iilda.lhe daughter of Rigoletto. Hdward Quillin played the Duke of Mantua. The part of Sparafucile, the professional assas- sin who, hired by Rigoletto to kill the Duke, killed Gilda instead, was played by Terry Cook. h is all very powerful drama, critic Paul F. Cutter said, and very effective music too. In short, ' Rigo- letto is opera at its finest. Music Theatre ' s spring production was a trilogy of comic opera. The per- formance began with Mozart ' s The Impresario. An impresario, Mr. Cash (James Toland) was faced with the dilemma of convincing two prima don- nas, Madame Heartmelt (Jana King) and Madamoiselle Warblewell (Diana Riddle and Young Ja Yough) to star opposite each other in his latest opera. Gianni Schicchi, an opera in one act by Giacomo Puccini, was the story of a fight over the will of a wealthy Florentine, Buoso Donati. Schicchi (Ron Carter) figured out a way for his daughter Lauretta (Jan Sisson) and her love, Rinuccio Donati (Donny Burke and John Priddy) to benefit most from the fortune left by Donati. The performance ended with the production of a horse opera. Sweet Betsy from Pike. based on the folk- song. Sarah Watkins narrated the opera, which starred Jana King as Betsy and Mike Medley as Ike. From left: In The Impresario. Mr. Cash (James Toland) uses a little flattery to persuade Madame Heartmelt (Jana King) to star in his opera. A concert organ given to Tech by Mrs. Tommye A. Moss of Odessa dominates the new Music Recital Hall. M I Olllltt ii fif I p ill 1 f »! ■ li Mi ' i jii iiiiiiiiiiJiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiJiiuiiiiiiiiiJiiiiJiiiiJiiiiiiiuiiujiiiiiiiilii

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[77 In the News A new lab experience University Lab Theatre is designed to give students experience in directing a play, as well as acting on-stage and working on the production crews. Several plays are produced each year in the old University Theatre — the Lab Theatre. The facilities are old and space is limited, but University Lab Theatre productions continue to delight audiences, perhaps because of the remarkable enthusiasm and ability evident in Tech drama students. Three plays were produced in the Lab Theatre this year. The first, Pat- rick Hamilton ' s Gas Light, was a Vic- torian thriller about the Manning- hams of Angel Street. Manningham (Matt Posey) tried to torture his wife, Bella (Freda Ramsey), into insanity. Since Bella ' s mother died of insanity, Bella was more than half convinced that she was losing her mind. While Manningham was out of the house, inspector Rough (Lynn Ma- this) visited Mrs. Manningham and convinced her that her husband was suspected of a murder committed in their house 15 years ago. Rough ex- plained to Mrs. Manningham that her husband was trying to kill her. The cast played a dangerous game, trying to uncover the facts necessary to convict Manningham. Kerry Lea Hauger and Kitty Moore played the Manninghams ' maids. William Gibson ' s Tw) for the See- saw was the story of an affair between a lawyer from Omaha, Neb. and a Jewish dancer from New York City. Ciiiiel Mosca (Cynthia Melby) and Jerry Ryan (Russ Odom) were both running from life. Mosca refused to acknowledge the fact that she needed help with her career and her ulcers. Ryan was tired of working for his father-in-law, who ran Ryan ' s life. The interaction between ilic two enlightened them to a belter under- standing of love and life. Mosca de- cided lo fulfill her ambition and return to New York City to dance, and Ryan went back to his wife in Omaha. Kennedy ' s Children, a controversial play by Robert Patrick, attempted to explain the soured dreams of the six- ties. Patrick used the a.ssissination of John F. Kennedy and the suicide of Marilyn Monroe as models for the political and social upheavals that took place across America. Juxtaposition of monologues rein- forced the frustration and isolation of each character. The monologues were based on lost dreams. Characters in- cluded an office worker, a Vietnam veteran, a would-be glamour girl, a homosexual off-Broadway actor and an embittered hippie activist. Different actors portrayed the parts in each performance. The rotating cast gave the audience a chance to see the same role dramatized by dif- ferent people. Actors in Kennedy ' s Children in- cluded Bill Carter, Debbie Lemen, Julie Jones, Brian Nobles, Kitty Moore and Robin Stanton. Also cast in the play were Matt Po.sey, Debbie Bigness, Laura Clay. Rod Haren, Rhonda Toth and Heather Hollings- worth. Other actors were Toby Pro- basco, Carol Brannan and Cynthia Melby. From the top: Striking an insincere pose lor a worried husband. Manningham (Matt Posey) shows his exasperation at his wife (Cynthia Melby) in (ios Light Reflecting on the past is painful for the office worker (Debbie Lcmcn) in Kennedy ' s Children. IHlnaidi-

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I In the News Roots was just a beginning Student Organization for Black Unity (SOBU) sponsored Black Week Feb. 7-13. The purpose of Black Week was to enrich black students about their culture, history and contribu- tions black people have made to American society. Other reasons for Black Week included exposing non- blacks to the black experience in hopes of creating more cross-cultural ex- posure and involving the surround- ing communities of Tech in the black experience. Black Week was to have been high- lighted with a speech by Dr. Ralph Abcrnathy, president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Abernathy, who was scheduled to speak on progress in the NAACP, canceled his appearance the day be- fore he was to arrive in Lubbock be- cause of prior committments to the Democratic Committee in Georgia. Wright Combination, a musical group composed of members of Friends of Distinction, sang in con- cert Feb. 8. The concert was disrupted because of bomb threats on the Uni- versity Center. Opening ceremonies were in the University Center (UC) Ballroom Feb. 7. Lubbock Mayor Roy Bass issued a proclamation designating Black Week in the city. Speakers at the ceremony included Dr. Cecil Mac- key, president of Tech; Charles Gul- ley, president of SOBU; and Terry Wimmer, president of the Student Association. The invocation was given by Dr. Floyd Perry Jr., associ- ate vice president of academic af- fairs. Music was provided by the Black Voices, a Tech choral group. Activities for the week included a dramatic presentation by students of Estacado High School, readings of black poetry and a film, Lady Sings the Blues. Political Day featured speeches by local black political leaders, includ- ing Rev. Adolphus Cleveland of Lub- bock. First Baptist Church sponsored a Black Worship service Feb. 13. Later that day, SOBU sponsored a gospel program in the UC Theatre. Co-sponsoring Black Week with SOBU were the Student Association, UC Programs Council, UC Films Committee, Ideas and issues and the UC Entertainment Committee. February was designated National Black History Month. From ihc lop: SOBU sponsored a gospel pro- gram Kcb 13 in the UC Theatre Here, a solo- ist puts some Peeling into the music Charles Gulley. gives his presidential address during opening ceremonies for Black Week. Xllnatdr