Newspapers / Elizabeth City State University … / Oct. 1, 1986, edition 1 / Page 6
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The Compass - page 6 October, 1986 ENTERTAINMENT Pulitzer prize winner presented ''Look Homeward Angel” opens drama season Vincent Ruffin as Will PenUand and Rosa Sampson as Eliza Gant in the University Players’ presentation of “Look Homeward Angel.” By Lynne Chapman Staff Writer The University Players, Elizabeth City State Universi ty’s drama troupe, will pre sent the Pulitzer Prize win ning play “Look Homeward, Angel” as the opening pro duction of the academic year. Based on the famous novel by North Carolina writer Thomas Wolfe, the comedy- drama will be presented in the Little Theatre on Novem ber 5,6,7,8,and 9, Wednesday through Sunday evenings at 8:00. Generally considered to be an authentic American clas sic, “Look Homeward, An gel” centers around seven- teen-year-old Eugene Gant and his family as they strug gle through love, joy, and pain in Asheville in the year 1916. Eugene is the prototype of a young man desperately searching for his identity and longing for independence. Drama critic Richard Watts praised “Look Homeward, Angel” as being “one of the finest plays in American dra matic literature.” Shawn Smith, director of the production, has assem bled a varied cast of ECSU students, staff members, and faculty to fill the play’s twenty roles. Stephen Mi chael Allen, a freshman from Yonkers, New York, will make his acting debut in the role of Eugene. Eliza Gant, Eugene’s strong-willed mother, will be played by Rosa B. Sawyer. A veteran actress who makes her home in Edenton, Ms. Sawyer is secretary to ECSU’s Depart ment of Music. Fitzgerald Warren, a senior from Goldsboro, will appear as W.O. Gant, Eugene’s stone-cutter father. Warren has appeared with the Play ers in the title role of the mu sical “Purlie” and as John Proctor in “The Crucible.” Appearing in the role of Laura James, Eugene’s girlf riend, will be Traci LaTrelle, a freshman from Landover, Maryland. Gary Shearod, a junior from Goldsboro, and Sean Sharpe, a junior from Beaufort, S.C., will play Eu gene’s brothers, Ben and Luke Gant. In the role of Helen Gant, Eugene’s sister, will be Sheila Reid, a senior from Elizabeth City; and James H. Gibbs, a junior from Engelhard will portray Helen’s dapper hus band, Hugh Barton. In the role of Dr. Maguire will be Charles Jennings, a junior from Goldsboro. Another ex perienced actress, Dreena Birdsall, a junior from Greensboro, will play the col orful Madame Elizabeth. Other prominent roles will be preformed by Myrtle R. Rivers as Mrs. Clatt; Louis V. Nadeau, retired Professor and former Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Af- fairs-Special Programs, as Mr. Ferrel; Renita M. Giles as Mrs. Pert; Vincent Ruffin as Will Pentland; David Mi chael Holman as Jake Clatt; Nancy Porter as Mrs. Snow den; Harriet R. Martin as Miss Brown; Lynne Chapman as Florry Mangle; Donte Cro well as Mr. Tarkington; and Terrell Reid as Soaks Baker. Stage manager for “Look Homeward, Angel” is Vin cent Ruffin and James Gibbs is technical director. Paulette Peterson is production cos tumer and Alexis Stanley is art director. Admission to the produc tion is $2.00 for the general public. For additional infor mation, call the University Players’ office, 335-3436. The University Players is part of the Department of Language, Literature, & Communication.” Homecoming Concert: ECSU’s homecoming con cert will feature The Force' M.D.’s and Shirley Jones at 8:15 in Vaughn Center. The Force M.D.’s are the 1984’s answer to Fran kie Lymon & The Teen agers. The young New York based group skil lfully blend street corner harmonies with polished production to create a dis tinctive new sound that is full of romance and rhythm Doo Wop-Hip Hop. The Staten Island quin tet broke into the New York nightclub circuit as a rap group. They played at the Roxy, Harlem World, and at Afrika Bambaa- taa’s annual Zulu Nation anniversary party in the Bronx. Known primary as a rap group, they were also adept at harmonizing. Many New Yorker’s knew the Force M.D.’s from rid ing the Staten Island ferry where the group would of ten break into impromtu performances on the boat. Their debut cut, “Let Me Love You,” was released in March of this year and became an overnight suc cess in N.Y. and Philadel phia. Their stage act com bines a strong visual choreography with aca- pella singing. With their trademark letter sweaters and marcel waves, they have reincarnated the glory days of talent show cases at Harlem’s famous Apollo Theatre. Their second single, a ballad called “Tears,” al ready dominates New York and Los Angeles air waves as it moves up the charts. Their first album, “Love Letters,” is sched uled for release soon. Shirley Jones, one of the ECSU’s special homecom ing entertainers, recently debuted with a solo album called Always In The Mood on Manhattan Re cords. Shirley is not new to mu sic fans. With her sisters The Force M.D.’s ★★★★★★★★★★★★ Shirley Jones Brenda and Valorie, she was the lead singer of the Jones Girls-for many years Diana Ross’s back ground group as well as a very successful recording act of their own. A measure of their im pact on Diana’s show was that thay were given their own 10-minute spotlight numberin her perfor mances. They were so im pressive that Diana told them they were too good to be background singers for her, and suggested they fashion their own careers. Their R&B- based pop sound was an instant sen sation. The Jones Girls’ very first national single, “You’re Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else,” sold over a million copies and earned them a gold re cord. They also had hits with “I Just Love The Man,” “Children of the Night,” “Nights Over Egypt,” and “Dance Turned Into Romance.” Shirley’s decision to go solo was influenced by her sisters, who wanted to take a break from show business. She quickly began ses sion work with Teddy Pen dergrass, Angela Bofill and George Duke. Last fall, Philadelphia Interna tional signed her to a con tract and recording for Al ways In The Mood began in February. Born and raised in a reli gious Detroit home, music was an integral part of Shirley’s life. Her mother, Mary Lee, was a gospel singer and her father a minister. She remembers singing in church when she was only three years old. Shirley’s voice isn’t the only knockout about her. A finalist in the Miss Holly wood beauly pageant, she’s also an actress, hav ing appeared on the soap operas “The Young and the Restless” and “Capi tol” and in a Sony com mercial with Stevie Won der. Record, Artist, Label 1. Word-Up, Cameo, At lanta Artist 2. Pop Goes My Mind, LaVert, Atlantic 3. Stay Awhile Child, Loose Ends, MCA 4. Typical Male, Tina Turner, Capitol 5. When I Think of You, Janet Jackson, A&M 6. I’m Chilling, Kurtis Blow, Mercury 7. Lady Soul, Tempta tions, Gordy 8. Heaven in Your Arms, P.J. Latest Arrival, Man- hattans 9. What Does It Take? Kenny G, Arista 10. Old Friend, Phyllis Hyman, Philadelphia Intl. WRVS-FM “HOT 15” FOR OCTOBER 11. Can’t Wait, Five Star, RCA 12. Human, Human League, A&M 13. Earth Angel, New Edition, MCA 14. Two of Hearts, Sta cey Q, Atlantic 15. Virginia Gone Go Go, Code Red, CFM Songs to Watch Going to the Bank - Com modores Last Night I Needed Somebody-Shirley Jones Prove Me Right - Shan non Someone Like You - Syl vester Tight to fit - Chaka Kahn Courtesty of WRVS Lyceum series ECSU kicked off its 1986-87 Lyceum series on October 14 with the Mitchell-Ruff Duo in the Williams Hall Gymna sium. The Mitchell-Ruff Duo, the oldest continous group in jazz without any personnel changes, was formed in 1955 when pianist Dwike Mitchell and bassist and French horn player Willie Ruff, left Lionel Hampton’s band to strike out on their own. The duo’s ori gins go back even further to 1947 when they were service men stationed at Lockbourne Air Force Base near Colum bus, Ohio. The Jubulation Dance Company February 12, 8:15 p.m. “One More Time”- A Broadway Musical March 26, 8:15 p.m. The Honors Convocation -' April 16, 8:15 p.m. 14Jr, ' -A » T'" / V r Band requires self-discipline By Richard McIntyre Staff Writer The fall in college means more than just football. Not only is the Viking football team striving for excellence, the Viking band is too. Willy McElroy, ECSU’s band direc tor, is optimistic about the band’s future prospects. “The band is larger this year than in three years,” said McElroy, who is in his fourth year as director. “One of our goals is to retain our players for next year.” The Viking band now has 130 spots, including flags and auxiliary members. McEl- roy’s goal is to have 136 in strumentalists. Unlike some high school marching bands, which prac tice three out of five school days, the college marching band practices daily. The ECSU band members have classroom instruction first, then shortly before nightfall go to the practice field behind the University Center for playing, marching and danc ing drills under the lights. “I have a lot of respect for the band members,” said McElroy. “It takes a sense of responsibility for these kids to make it through two ses sions. They are a well-disci plined group.” While McElroy picks the music, the choreography is done by band members such as Reginald English with the director’s approval. The band’s present reper toire includes Janet Jack son’s “Control,” the New Edi tion’s “I’m With You All the Way,” and Cameo’s “Word Up.” According to William Bridges and Timothy “Chaz” Armstrong, the band plays a little of everything. Plans are now underway to participate in many activities next year including possible halftimes shows for the Wash^ ington Redskins or the Pitts burgh Steelers. Viking band fans can still see the band take the field a few more times before the CIAA football season closes.
Elizabeth City State University Student Newspaper
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Oct. 1, 1986, edition 1
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