University of Arkansas Fayetteville - Razorback Yearbook (Fayetteville, AR)

Page 19 text:

country rockers One of the most popular tours of the year rolled into Fayetteville Oct. 24, blowing the roof off Barnhill Arena. Country superstars Clint Black (below) and Wynonna (left) brought their “Black Wy show as part of University Programs ' Celebrity Showcase concert series. Black burst onto the country charts just a few years ago with his first single “Killin ' Time, ' ' and quickly became one of music ' s hottest artists. Wynonna ' s multi-platinum second solo album, released in 1993, proved that there was, indeed, life after The Judds. ♦ Wichser photos great debate Former Major League Baseball umpire Dave Pallone participated in a debate over gay rights in America with Morton Downey, Jr. The two squared off in early September as part of University Programs ' lecture series. ♦ Diaz photo musical wonder The musical version of the Christmas classic “It ' s a Wonderful Life came to town in December. The show starred Bill O ' Brien (left) as George Bailey and Rima Sara Szalay (center) as his wife Mary. ♦ Wichser photo Fall Entertainment Lectures ♦ 17

Page 18 text:

Whether in Barnhill, the ballroom or the WAC, superstars, lecturers, comedians and young upstarts keep the campus entertained and educated. From heated debates in the Union ballroom to rip-roarin’ country concerts in Barnhill Arena, stars and notables from around the globe kept students entertained and informed throughout the fall semester. Kicking off the season’s lecture series, University Programs brought Morton Downey, Jr. and Dave Pallone to campus in September for “Gay Rights in America: The Great Debate.” Downey, best known for his radio and television talk shows, and Pallone, a gay man who was a professional umpire for 18 years, agreed that homosexuals should have the same rights as everyone else, but argued over the view of homosexual¬ ity as a “lifestyle.” “I don’t agree with the gay lifestyle,” Downey said. “But (homosexu- why me als) should be able to live with it in the realm of their own bed- blazing laughter As part of the Celebrity Showcase Committee’s Bust-A-Gut Comedy Series, Tommy Blaze performs in the Union. The comedy series was a popular event with many students who enjoyed the hilarious break from schoolwork that the series provided. ♦ Diaz photo rooms. “This is my life,” Pallone responded. “This is the way God put me on this Earth. This is not a lifestyle. This is not a choice I made.” In October, the year’s concert series began with a bang as country superstars Clint Black and Wynonna rolled into town on their “Black Wy Tour.” Wynonna opened the show in Barnhill Arena, playing such hits as “Tell Me Why,” “Only Love” and “No One Else On Earth.” She also performed several songs from her days as half of the dynamic country duo, The Following by matt helmer Wynonna’s departure from the stage, the man she said was “like the brother I never wanted” ap¬ peared dressed entirely in black. Opening his act with a swinging rendition of “Too Much Rock in This Country,” Clint Black kept the audience screaming while he sang and played the guitar. Black plowed through a string of continued on page 18 16 ♦ Student Life

Page 20 text:

his hits, before he and Wynonna swept the audience off its feet with their much-antici¬ pated duet, “A Bad Goodbye.” Before closing his show, Black asked if there were any students in the audience. They responded with a long, loud Hog call. Continuing the campaign of social aware¬ ness on campus, University Programs also M hosted a lecture in tell me continued from page 16 October by Sharon Lund, a woman with AIDS. Lund learned of her infection nine years ago, when she was prompted to be tested after seeing her ex-husband on a video of a CBS-TV special that she was using in her work within the AIDS community. “Within three minutes of putting the video in, Bill was on it saying he was dying of AIDS and I screamed, I threw something, I felt really faint and thought I was going to die then and there,” Lund said. Lund said she hoped that seeing a woman who looked healthy and had been infected for nine years would help students realize that it can happen to them. “Wake up!” she yelled during the lecture. “What does it take to make you realize that you are not invincible?” In December, University Programs brought the musical “It’s a Wonderful Life” to the Walton Arts Center. Based on the classic holiday movie that starred James Stewart and Donna Reed, the touring musical was gener¬ ally well-received by its audiences. “The show pushes the same emotional buttons as the movie,” Michael Schwartz, who played Clarence, said. “The music really sets the stage.” Rima Sara Szalay, who starred as Mary, said that a major difference between the movie and their production was that the music “raises the emotion of the show.” “People say that this is a ‘two-tissue’ show,” Szalay said. “Of course, there are still those who are die-hard movie fans.” 18 ♦ Student Life