MCC's Arts &Letters Series sets dates for upcoming season

By By Penny Randall / staff writer
Aug. 17, 2003
Meridian Community College is preparing to host everything from "The Adventures of Lewis and Clark" to jazz vocalist and composer Kathy Kosins during its 2003-2004 Arts &Letters Series season.
The Arts &Letters Series has partnered with other organizations across the state through the Mississippi Arts Presenters to bring bigger and better productions to communities and Mississippi as a whole.
Here is a look at the 2003-2004 Arts &Letters Series.
Sept. 4: The Guys, 7:30 p.m., McCain Theater, Ivy Hall.
How can a writer contribute to bring life back to normal in the aftermath of Sept. 11?
This performance is suitable for all ages and is funded, in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Southern Arts Federation and the Mississippi Arts Commission.
Tickets: $8 adults, $5 children
Oct. 14: Jill McCorkle, Author Talk, 6 p.m., McCain Theater, Ivy Hall.
Visit with one of the authors whose writing inspired the script for the new musical "Good Ol' Girls."
Literary history was made when Algonquin Books published McCorkle's first two novels simultaneously. Her novels include "July 7th," "The Cheer Leader," "Tending to Virginia," "Ferris Beach" and "Carolina Moon."
Of her eight fiction books, five have been chosen by The New York Times Book Review as Notable Books of the Year. A selection of books by the author will be on sale and the author will be available for signing.
McCorkle's appearance is for mature audiences and is funded, in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Southern Arts Federation and the Mississippi Arts Commission.
Tickets: $5 adults, $3 children.
Oct. 14: "Good Ol' Girls," 7:30 p.m., McCain Theater, Ivy Hall.
Workingwomen get their due in this new musical based on the writings of McCorkle and fellow Southern novelist Lee Smith. Music for the play is by Nashville's Matraca Berg and Marshall Chapman. The play is produced by The North Carolina Theatre.
Funny at times and poignant at others, the play has been acclaimed as a strikingly real celebration of Southern womanhood reminiscent of "Steel Magnolias."
This performance is for mature audiences and is funded, in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Southern Arts Federation and the Mississippi Arts Commission.
Tickets: All $8.
Nov. 3: The Adventures of Lewis and Clark, 7:30 p.m., McCain Theater, Ivy Hall.
Georgia Mountain Theatre Productions celebrates the bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with this electrifying new family musical.
The theatrical journey begins at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, where the idea of the expedition germinated, to Philadelphia, where Lewis trained and prepared with the best creative minds.
Witness the opening of Lewis' famous letter of invitation to William Clark and their journey together with the Corps of Discovery up the great rivers of America, through the newly acquired Louisiana Territory, over the Bitterroot Mountains, and on to the Pacific.
This production is suitable for audiences of all ages.
Tickets: $8 adults, $5 children.
Nov. 21: Kathy Kosins with the MCC Jazz Band, 7:30 p.m., McCain Theater, Ivy Hall.
When Carey Smith and his MCC Jazz Band take to the McCain Theater stage, jazz vocalist and composer Kathy Kosins will take her place as guest performer.
Where most tread the well-worn path of interpreting jazz standards, Detroit native Kosins is writing her own material. Her music is fresh, creative, and boldfaced, accented by her expressive, literate and attractive singing.
Kosins has deep Motown roots and has worked over the years with such Detroit area notables as Marcus Belgrave, Gregory Hutchinson, Rick Margitza and Barrett Strong, who composed "Heard It Through The Grapevine."
This is suitable for audiences of all ages.
Dec. 4: Christmas Tales with artist and author Laurie Parker, 7:30 p.m., McCain Theater, Ivy Hall
Laurie Parker has enjoyed writing rhyming narratives and other poetry since childhood. Another of her longtime pastimes is cutting and pasting colored paper to create collages such as the ones used to illustrate her latest book, "It Really Said Christmas."
Parker is also the author of six other books including, "Everywhere in Mississippi," "All Over Alabama," and "The Turtle Saver."
Parker will talk about her writing and share excerpts from her stories. A collection of books, including her most recent, will be on sale and the author will be available for signings.
This is suitable for audiences of all ages.
Jan. 29: "The Wonder Bread Years," 7:30 p.m., McCain Theater, Ivy Hall.