Mississippi Christian University

Announcing Choctaw Marching Band 2022 Ensemble The Choctaw Marching Band is directed by Duncan Goff, and consists of many different sounds including the flute, clarinet, saxophone, mellophone, trumpet, trombone, baritone, sousaphone, percussion, and the Color Guard. The Marching Band will be performing at various football games and other events through the fall season.

Department of Communication students and faculty at Mississippi College performed "It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play by Joe Landry" during the weekend before Thanksgiving.

As the new academic year begins, Worship Collective has already begun working together and performing. MC's Worship Collective is a worship music ensemble affiliated with the worship leadership program, but students in the Collective represent many majors. The Collective focuses not only on performing worship music, but also on writing original songs. To date, MC Worship Collective has released four albums of original music.

The Worship Collective values sharing the gospel through authentic worship. They perform on campus and at local church events. The students balance music and faith to praise God in a way that is uniquely MC.

Featuring the music of legendary American composers, the Mississippi College Symphonic Winds orchestra is set for a free concert on the Clinton campus. The March 2 event in Swor Auditorium begins at 7:30 p.m. and the public is invited. "It's going to be a great concert," says MC band director Craig Young.

Coming to a Mississippi College stage February 13-16, the musical by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick tells the story based on a play by Miklos Laszlo. Set in Europe, the play was first penned in the 1930s. The modern day version of the hit movie "You've Got Mail" starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan is based on the Broadway show of more than a half-century ago. The Mississippi College Music Department will produce this musical comedy with more than 30 students featured in the cast on the Clinton campus. Music professor Mandy Spivak-Perna serves as the show's director. Rehearsals started in December, and tickets are now on sale.

In 2019, Mississippi College audiences will get the opportunity to see MC's Choctaw Chorus present Vivaldi's "Gloria" in a March 31 concert. Sponsored by the MC Department of Music, the program at historic Provine Chapel is free and open to the public. The event on the Clinton campus begins at 3 p.m. that Sunday.

Broadway's hit musical "Hamilton" tells the fascinating story of America's Founding Fathers. Inspired by Ron Chernow's book on Alexander Hamilton, the show hits the road with its touring company in late January to entertain audiences in Pittsburgh, Orlando, and Columbus, Ohio. Coming soon to a Mississippi College stage, MC students will perform a selection from the Tony-winning show. It will be part of the diverse lineup for the university's "Broadway Retold" production. Dates are February 21-24 for the Music Department's program at the Jean Pittman Williams Recital Hall. Tickets for "Hamilton" at New York City's Richard Rodgers Theatre are pretty pricey and hard to find. But Mississippians will encounter no such problems on the Clinton campus. Donations of any amount will be accepted at the door to get audiences into the production at the Aven Fine Arts Building. Lin-Manuel Miranda supplied the book, music and lyrics to "Hamilton." "Hamilton" is among several notable Broadway musical selections that Mississippi College students will perform in late February. Arts patrons on the Clinton campus will get a glimpse of scenes from "Hello Dolly" that became a Broadway success story starting in 1964. Featuring Barbra Streisand as the bold and enchanting widow Dolly Levi, the show reached audiences nationwide as a popular movie in 1969. The character Dolly portrayed a socialite turned matchmaker in the 1890s. "Broadway Retold" rehearsals are going full blast in late January and into February. Mary Spivak-Perna, who's found success in concert as well as on the operatic stage, serves as the show's director. "This show is unique in that we are presenting ensembles from iconic musicals that have never been seen here at MC," Spivak-Perna said. "The cast is currently working diligently to prepare these songs. It is going to be a treat, and you may just get to hear some stories from the cast as well." Scenes from shows like "Gypsy" that made its New York City stage debut in 1959 are featured in "Broadway Retold." So are selections from Broadway shows like "1776" and "Wicked." Playwright Peter Stone penned the story of "1776" based on events surrounding the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It dramatizes efforts by John Adams to convince his colleagues to vote for American independence. Audiences at Mississippi College should remember "Wicked" as the blockbuster Broadway musical based on the Wizard of Oz. Stephen Schwartz supplied the music and lyrics. The show made its American premiere in San Francisco in 2003. Audiences that loved the Tony-award winning musical "Rent," including a cast with Stevie Wonder in 1996, will be treated to scenes in "Broadway Retold." Among the student cast members: Sallie Kaye Streeter and Ashlynn Grissom, both of Madison, Jalysa Jones of Jackson, Molly Sorto of Pontotoc and Queta Cavalier of New Orleans, Louisiana. Show times for "Broadway Retold" will be 7 p.m. February 21-23 and 3 p.m. on Sunday February 24.

Mississippi College students will soon showcase their acting gifts on stage at the university's Fall Scenes.

A star-studded cast including Julia Roberts, Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, and Daryl Hannah comprised the splendid cast of the movie version of "Steel Magnolias" in 1989. Thirty years later, the Mississippi College Tribal Players will showcase their talents in the stage version on the Clinton campus. Productions run from February 14-17 at Swor Auditorium. Louisiana native Robert Harling penned the Southern tragic comedy in 1987 just months after his younger sister, Susan, died of complications from diabetes. Written in tribute to his sister, his mother and the women supporting them, Harling's work captures the essence of Southern culture. Audiences packing New York City's Lucille Lortel Theatre for three years raved about performances that mixed tears with laughter. The popular film garnered Roberts, 22, an Academy Award nomination to transform the Georgia native into a star. This winter, Mississippi College students are busy rehearsing as they bring "Steel Magnolias" to campus. Communication professor Phyllis Seawright serves as the play's director. "Being part of Steel Magnolias is an absolute dream," says MC senior Lexey Monceaux, who plays the role of Annelle Dupuy-DeSoto. "She's a little silly, a little funny and displays a whole lot of passion." Harling's play, said the Clanton, Alabama resident, "really embodies the culture of Southern women in a way that touches the heart like no other." The public relations major relishes the play's lineup of memorable characters. MC junior Sarah Gremillion is honored to portray Clairee Belcher, the former first lady of Chinquapin. "Clairee is a dashing former first lady whose biting wit charms and honors those around her. Clairee's love for sweets, football and bits of gossip humanize her." A social studies education major, Sarah did little to tweak her Southern accent. Kenner, Louisiana, near New Orleans, remains her home. Another Louisiana native, Emmie Fusion of Baton Rouge is delighted to be cast as Truvy Jones. Playing Truvy, says the public relations major and MC junior "taught me to be bold in kindness, laugh through the tears, and always look at the bright side of things." Magnolia State audiences will discover a half-dozen main characters played by Mississippi College women shine throughout "Steel Magnolias." Two Texans join the cast. A senior mass media major from Dallas, Kat Tate plays M'Lynn Eatenton. Kat is a theater minor taking part in her final show at Swor Auditorium. An English writing major from Coppell, Texas, MC junior Madeline Osigian assumes the role of Shelby Eatenton-Latcherie. Shelby is a diabetic who's constantly helping people. "She's a sassy, but sweet daughter, who works hard for her family." A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (who now lives in Ridgeland), MC senior Carley Claudio is perfect as the loud, proud and sharp-tongued Ouiser Boudreaux. What sums up her role in a few words? "Ouiser is a tough Southern belle ready to cut you to ribbons with her eyes alone." She's a dog-lover, too. A biological sciences major constantly hitting the books, Carley Claudio says starring in "Steel Magnolias" may be the most fun she's experienced in three years at Mississippi College. Tickets are now on sale for the Communication Department production. Tickets cost $7 for students, MC employees and senior adults. The price is $10 for general admission. The cost is $4 per ticket for groups of 20 or more. Show times are 7 p.m. February 14-16. The final show is set for 2:30 p.m. on Sunday February 17. For additional information, contact Phyllis Seawright at 601-925-3453 or seawrigh@mc.edu

Call it a series of dates that go off the rails. People with an irresistible urge to steal, grandma's favorite bridge partner and a talented mime get star billing in this zany comedy. "Check, Please!" is the title of the entertaining Fall show coming to Mississippi College on November 8-9. Fans of the one-act comedy by Jonathan Rand will want to see it for the blitz of laughs.

Fans of fairy tales like "Hansel & Gretel" shouldn't miss Mississippi College's opera production this Fall.

Audiences across the globe love fairy tales like Cinderella, the Little Mermaid & Sleeping Beauty. Mississippi College students will be the stars in an upcoming opera production that spotlights a portion of the famous fairy tale "Hansel and Gretel."

Gabi Jones never tires of summer music camp at Mississippi College.

Arleigh Seymour will represent the Christian university she cherishes as the new Miss Mississippi College Scholarship Pageant winner.

The Mississippi College Symphonic Winds launches a two-day concert tour at Clinton High on November 16 before hitting the road to performances in Southaven and Hernando. All four performances will be free and open to the public. First up is Thursday's performance at Clinton High at 8:30 a.m., just a few miles from the university campus. The MC student musicians quickly pack their instruments and drive for three hours to a 2:15 p.m. concert that Thursday afternoon at Southaven High near Memphis. Music professor Craig Young conducts the talented group of more than 50 musicians. The MC Symphonic Winds wrap up the series on Friday November 17. They will perform at Northpointe Christian School in Southaven and at Hernando High at 1:15 p.m. Their concert series include selections such as "Fantasies on a Theme by Haydn," by Norman Dello Joio and "Irish Tune from Country Derry," by Percy Aldridge Grainger. Other selections are "Snakes," by Thomas Duffy and "Kirkpatrick Fanfare," by Andrew Boysen. Mississippi College students, faculty, staff and the metro Jackson community are invited to hear the Symphonic Winds in a free concert at Swor Auditorium on the Clinton campus. It is set for November 20 at 7:30 p.m. that Monday evening. With more than 50 members, the Symphonic Winds includes several musicians from Clinton. They are: trumpet player Jack Bailey and his sister, Grace Bailey, a clarinet player. Both are Clinton High graduates. Other Clintonians are Chandler Noel and Robert Mason. The North Mississippi concerts will be a homecoming of sorts for musician Jordan Burns. She's a resident of Southaven. For more information, contact the Music Department's Dottie Serio at 601-925-3440 or Serio@mc.edu