A Comedic Opportunity Makes for Entertaining Night
Linna Jones
Editor-in-Chief
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| Photo by Linna Jones |
| Good Friends- Khris Sheffield (left) and Zack Tucker right) reenact the first meeting of Orvil and Albert in the scene depicting 1910. Orvil and Albert became good friends even though they were different from each other. |
"A Century of Opportunity for Comedy” entertained the crowd and taught the audience a little of the University of Arkansas-Monticello’s history in the Fine Arts Center April 23.
The cast performed scenes from UAM’s past beginning and ending with UAM’s Centennial Celebration. The play featured light-hearted scenes from each decade of UAM's past starting with 1910s and ending with 1990s.
David Ray, provost and vice chancellor of Academic Affairs, introduced the play. He told the audience about UAM’s yearlong celebration of 100 years. He described making to the 100-year mark as quite a feat and said they titled it “Celebrating a Century of Opportunity.” UAM asked all of the units to contribute in celebrating UAM turning 100-years old and the School of Arts and Humanities came up with the idea of producing a play.
“So as we get started, ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming the chancellor of the University of Arkansas at Monticello, Chancellor Jack Lassiter,” Ray said.
The audience applauded as Kay Walter, assistant professor of English, took the stage as Chancellor Lassiter at the Centennial Celebration ceremony held in 2009. Walter walked up to the podium wearing a white wig, a mustache and a black three-piece suit. Behind sat actors representing the audience of the event.
Walter addressed the audience welcoming alumni and guest and talked about the changes made to school over the year, the people who contributed to UAM and told a little of the school’s history. Part of the speech read:
“Some of us went to school at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, but others took classes back when we were known as Arkansas A&M and some even before then at the Fourth District Agricultural School,” Walter said. “ Whatever the name we called it, we all called it home and we are so glad to welcome you home today. ”
Interviews conducted by reporters from The Voice acted as introductions to the stories of UAM. Danielle (Kelly Reed), Susan (Melissa Jo Rodgers), Douglas (Khris Sheffield) and Linna (Rebekah Heflin) interviewed students about past relatives, people from UAM’s past and faculty.
Music representing each decade opened each scene followed by a reporter interviewing their source.
Danielle interviewed Leisha Johnson (Brittany Booker) about Orvil (Sheffield) and his friend Albert (Zack Tucker) who met at UAM in 1910. Johnson described the two men as opposites in every way, but as good friends.
The characters from the past sat frozen as the Danielle talked to Johnson. At one point, the scene changed from the interview to 1910 meeting of Orvil and Albert. At the end of the scene, the lights faded and the play transitioned into the 1920s with sound of Jazz.
Scene three told the story of President Horsfall being lifted in a bucket to the surprise of two female students in Horsfall Hall in 1920. Edith (Heflin) and Ruth (Holly Beard) dressed up to see their boyfriends. They thought they were lifting one of their boyfriends in a bucket to their room, but at the appearance of Horsfall they drop the bucket.
Chris Brown, as President Horsfall, appears on stage with the bucket on his foot after his fall.
The 1930s offered a look at the personality of President Bankston as described by his niece, old Louine (Rubye Graham-Emerson). Douglas asked questions of Old Louine about her uncle, President Bankston. Old Louine tells the audience about the antics of her uncle.
Richard (Jamie Ward), Louine (Laura Ramos), James (Tyler Tessaro) and Vivian (Jessica Pennington) stood around the radio in a common room. They listened to a popular radio program when they heard an announcement about aliens arriving on Earth.
The announcement turned out to be a prank pulled by President Bankston (Gregory Hadden). Bankston walked on stage in the Boll Weevil suit surprising the four students and then he danced. Louine scolded her uncle about the prank after he pulled the head off.
The 1940s brought the audience to the last pre-game meeting after the game of the Wandering Weevils. Chris Albritton, as Mr. Fisher interviewed by Linna, told the tale of Wandering Weevils.
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| Photo by Linna Jones |
| A Radio Prank- President Bankston, played by Gregory Hadden, dances in the Weevil suit after pranking his niece and three other students. Bankston played a prank over the radio to scare his niece, Louine (Laura Ramos) and other students in believing aliens landed on Earth. |
Fisher said the Weevils played to entertain. He said one game Coach Ferguson left to get something to eat. He left a cheerleader from the other team in charge to coach.
“That cheerleader took her job seriously,” he said.
The story flashes back to a field house as the team waits for their bus. The story reveals both Coach Ferguson (Jonathon Hoskins) and their star player had enlisted to serve during World War II. Ten days after their game, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.
The story fades with the playing of the UAM Fight Song.
After intermission, they performed the decade of 1950. Students in Bankston Hall. Melvin (Hoskins), Willy (Sheffield), Gloria (Penny Thornton) and Elvis Presley’s Cousin (Hadden) perform in the scene portraying the 1950s. Melvin, Willy and Gloria decorate a refrigerator delivered by Elvis Presley hoping he would come to Arkansas A&M.
Linna interviewed Old Melvin (Bobby Evans) to learn of this story. The scene opened with “Louie, Louie.”
The 1960s opened with “Land of a Thousand Dances.” Susan (Rodgers) interviewed Dr. Matthews (Tammara Mitchell). Matthews told about how she first came to UAM. She said she remembered every one of her students and that the 1960s were a turbulent time.
She mentioned Sam Lincoln (Bobby Evans) and how he would bring her a candy bar every test day. She keeps this tradition to this day. She talked about Alvin Taylor (Hoskins), Tommy Baker (Brown), Margaret (Beard) and Sylvia Tucker (Yvonne Hinshaw).
As Matthews spoke actors acted out a classroom scene with Taylor, Baker, Margaret and Tucker being instructed by Betty Matthews, played by Heflin. At the end, Dr. Matthews and Betty Matthews stood by one another and together made same motion with their feet and moving their hair from their face.
The 1970s featured Susan interviewing Jasmine (Hinshaw). Jasmine told the story about Trudy (Jasmine Bolen), Pam (Thornton) and Sherry’s (Beard) encounter with Violet (Reed), the ghost of Horsfall in 1977. When they realized they encountered a ghost, they screamed.
Trudy Bolen said being portrayed (on stage) was a little weird, but thought Jasmine wrote well.
Scene Nine featured a story about the Education Club around 1985-1986. The scene featured Douglas (Sheffield), Dennis (Tucker), Theo (Evans), Denise (Heflin), Rudy (Hinshaw) and Cliff (Tessaro).
Scene Ten brought the audience to a school dance and the story of Claire (Ramos) and Jackson (Sheffield) who met at a talent show at UAM in the 1990s. Old Claire (Sarah Bloom) tells the story to Susan about how they met.
The play ends with the “Epilogue” by Dr. Lassiter and Dr. Matthews wondering about the next hundred years.
The cast consisted of 24 cast members including 19 students, a staff member, a faculty members and both of the directors. Many of the actors played more than one part in the performance. Walter and Mitchell, Early College English instructor, directed the play.
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| Photo by Linna Jones |
| Student Interviews- Susan, played by Melissa Rodgers, interviews Dr. Betty Matthews, played by Tammara Mitchell, about the 1960s. Matthews narrated how she remember her students as a classroom scene played out beside them. |
The actors included:
- Kay Walter performed as Dr. Lassiter.
- Kelly Kristine Reed performed as Danielle and Violet.
- Khris Sheffield performed as as Douglas, Orvil Willy and Jackson.
- Rebekah Heflin performed as as Linna, Edith, Denise and Betty Matthews.
- Melissa Jo Rodgers performed as Susan
- Chris Brown performed as Tommy Baker, band member, Ray and President Horsfall.
- Laura Ramos performed as Louine and Claire.
- Jonathan Hoskins performed as the Radio announcer and Alvin Taylor, Coach Ferguson and Melvin.
- Marcos Protheroe performed as Davey.
- Bobby Evans performed as Older Melvin, Sam Lincoln
- Brittany Booker performed as Leisha Johnson
- Yvonne Hinshaw performed as Jasmine, Sylvia Tucker and Rudy.
- Holly Beard performed as Ruth, Margaret, Sara and Sherry.
- Jamie Ward performed as Richard, Harry and band member.
- Gregory Hadden performed as President Bankston and Elvis Presley’s Cousin.
- Jessica Pennington performed as Vivian.
- Zack Tucker performed as Albert and Dennis.
- Chris Albritton performed as Mr. Fisher
- Penny Thornton performed as Gloria and Pam.
- Jasmine Bolen performed as Trudy.
- Tammara Mitchell performed as Dr. Matthews.
- Sarah Bloom performed as Older Claire.
- Rubye Graham-Emerson performed as Older Louine.
- Tyler Tessaro performed as James, Cliff and band member.
Khris Sheffield described preparing for his role as “Douglas” as wanting to try and provide the information for the story. He wanted to make sure “Douglas” actually cared about the story.
Holly Beard performed many roles in this production from Ruth, Margaret, Sara and Sherry. She received an unplanned drenching as her character “Sara” from the 1990s. She described performing play honestly as a headache, but a good experience.
Gregory Hadden performed as both President Bankston in the 1930s and Elvis Presley’s Cousin in the 1950s dressed in the Boll Weevil Suit. He felt like a fool dancing in front of everyone, but it was worth it.
Jasmine Bolen, Nikki Norton and Travis Nicholson wrote the play. Nicholson wrote the scenes of the reporters.
Chancellor Lassiter complimented the writers saying “great job, enjoyed it.”
Lassiter said he thought it was a wonderful production and anything produced by students is always wonderful.
The School of Arts and Humanities presented the play in celebration of UAM’s centennial year and showed a light-hearted look at each of UAM’s ten decades. The played finished UAM’s celebration of its 100th year.
Additional Links
Students Write History of UAM for Centennial Play
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