FSCC music, theater students perform

FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- Fort Scott Community College will continue its busy spring season by hosting a week-long series of arts program performances that begin Sunday and continue through May 3.

The FSCC programs that will give performances throughout the week include the FSCC choir and orchestra programs, the FSCC jazz band, and the FSCC theatre department. All performances are scheduled to take place in the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center on the college's main campus, 2108 S. Horton St. The grand opening event and dedication ceremony for the center is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday.

The choir and orchestra will kick off the week with their spring concert at 4 p.m. The orchestra will perform Beethoven's Symphony No. 7. The choir will perform American folk and novelty selections and will also host the Iola High School Singers select ensemble. Both ensembles will combine with the orchestra to perform the Bach Magnificat in D.

The orchestra and choir are under the direction of Gregory Turner, and Ronda Bailey will accompany the choir. Greta Adams will direct the Iola High School Singers. The event is free and open to the public.

The FSCC jazz band will perform their spring concert at 7:30 p.m., Thursday. The performance will feature music from a concert the band performed on the main stage of a cruise ship during spring break last month. The band traveled to New Orleans March 15 and boarded the Carnival Fantasy cruise ship on March 16 for a 5-day cruise to Cozumel and Progresso in Mexico.

The Performing Arts Consultants educational foundation provided the opportunity for the jazz band to participate in the "Rock the Boat" performance tour and visit another culture. The 23-member band and director Betty Jo Laflen performed a 45-minute concert on the ship's main stage. The band was accompanied by eight adult family members and FSCC staff members. The April 30 concert is also free and open to the public.

The FSCC theatre department will finish the week with their performance of the musical, "Once Upon a Mattress" May 1-3. Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. May 1-2, and a special matinee performance is scheduled for 2 p.m. May 3. The play will be the first theater production to take place inside the new fine arts center.

The play is an adaptation of Hans Christian Anderson's fairy tale, "The Princess and the Pea," and tells the story of a kingdom ruled by a deceitful queen whose husband, the king, is unable to speak, and whose son, Prince Dauntless, is entirely under her control.

The show's 17-member cast consists of FSCC students and community members. The play is directed by FSCC theatre instructor Jannell Robinson.

Tickets for "Once Upon a Mattress" can be purchased by contacting FSCC at (620) 223-2700, or at the Country Cupboard, 12 N. Main St. Ticket prices are $9 for general admission, $7.50 for students and senior citizens, and $5 for FSCC students.

Contact FSCC for more information on any of the scheduled performances.