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

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4 4 4 4 work allow theater students to excel costumes, directing and pro- ducing the play require a special type of dedication that those in the drama department must be willing to offer. The quality and ex- perience that makes up Tech ' s drama department has earned it a ranking in the top five of the more than 120 Texas colleges that offer theater training, said Weaver. Because the department offers a masters of fine arts program and a doctorate program, many graduate students with experienced backgrounds help under- graduates develop their specialized areas. Weaver said that factor makes the drama program measure up to the very best. The King and I by Rodgers and Hammerstein, performed on the main stage, probably was the big- gest performance. In December the annual performance of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens was staged. The spring semester was filled with the suspense of Macbeth and a contem- porary comedy by Larry Shue called The Foreigner. The lab theater, mainly student-directed and pro- duced, performed Quilters, One Flew Over The Cuckoo ' s Nest, MacBett, a parody of Shakespeare ' s play, and Top Girls. Several Tech drama students plan to further their acting careers after college in Dallas, California, New York and Atlanta. While these students are learning, their relationship with each other becomes very close, said Weaver. Acting is a close-knit type of job. The students rely on each other because they work so closely with one another. Beth Larson, a senior drama student who starred in Quilters, said, The student actor must open up in theater and be vulnerable, and because of this a tight-knit group forms. A feeling of love for the theater is very important for the students. Acting is so essential in their lives that many do not feel they could enjoy doing anything else. — Paige Hindman

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ta so sen ' fl nvtHi n 8 cl !- ' Beth on Pn ' de anrf dedication in their A University Theater ex- perience can be entertain- ing, explosive, full of suspense and a comic relief for its audience. Students involved in the theater have limitless talents they share with each other, said Richard Weaver, chairman of the drama department. The students ' hard work that is put into the productions is apparent when the lights go up, the vivid colors become visible and the mood of the stage is set. A drama student ' s ' education differs from other Tech students due to the ex- tra hours and work put into a semester of play produc- tion, said Weaver. Painting scenery, fitting IHlflH - . 4 F«= - T L? .s . p J 1 w r f» Anna Leonowens (Lea Barron) tries to prevent the king (John Warriner) from whipping a concubine in the theater department ' s rendition of The King and I.

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and e H student or n ,, Ability- Gaiiiirr 21 rides cr his The music department ' s rendition of Kilborn and Flute proved to be one of the more successful perfor- mances of the year. Department serves as center of The Texas Tech depart- ment of music, a unit of the College of Arts and Sciences, has more than 400 students. The training by profes- sional musicians and educators provides each student a chance to express his or her musical ability, said Gail Littleton, publicity director for the music department. The department is a center of musical art and culture for Lubbock and the surrounding area. It pro- vides many courses and ac- tivities for musical amateurs and non-music majors. The faculty specializes in band and orchestral in- struments as well as piano, voice, guitar and harp- sichoral harp. The perfor- mance facilities include the 1,000-seat Allen Theater and the 600-seat Hemmle Recital Hall, the primary facility. The music department offers a master ' s program and a doctoral program. Tech music graduates have distinguished themselves by winning advanced study ' fellowships and making many professional performances. Undergraduate music ma- jors take part in solo and ensemble performances which number more than 300 annually. The University Sym- phonic Band and the University Choir attended i 30 — Music De artment Anxe-lu Tilley 1.