Star Theater offers Friday shows throughout summer

MSU’s Star Theater will present programs that are open to the public each Friday afternoon, now through July 29.

Educational programs on a wide range of topics, along with a tour of the local night sky, will be held at 1 p.m., and laser shows will be held at 2:15 p.m. each Friday. The cost of each show is $2 per person, with children under four admitted for free.

The schedule of shows is as follows:

• June 24*: “One World, One Sky,” “They Might Be Giants” and “Laser Pop”
• July 1: “Awesome Light II,” “Awesome Light III” and “Laser Magic”
• July 8: “Black Hole Journey” and “Laser Beatles”
• July 15*: “Earth, Moon and Sun” and “iPop”
• July 22: “Dawn of the Space Age” and “Laseropolis”
• July 29: “Sun Struck” and “Hypnotica”

*Note: Shows marked with an asterisk are intended for young audiences.

A full description of these programs can be found at www.moreheadstate.edu/stk12shows.

“We have never offered summer programs before, but this summer we had the resources to give this a try,” said Star Theater Director Eric Thomas. “It’s a great way to beat the heat.”

The 116-seat theater uses six digital projectors to display images on a 40-foot dome screen, offering patrons a 360-degree view with 3D texturing, giving patrons an immersive virtual experience.

Shows are offered to the public, the MSU community, K-12 students and civic organizations. Since opening in June 2009, the Star Theater has hosted approximately 89,000 visitors and is expected to reach the 100,000-visitor mark sometime this year.

For more information about the MSU Star Theater, visit www.moreheadstate.edu/startheater.

Opportunities to grow as a musician are numerous at MSU

Music faculty members at MSU have extensive experience in almost every medium of the performing arts with many of the world’s leading professionals and have attended the world's leading universities and conservatories. Whether you choose to specialize in playing rhythms and melodies or teaching those essential musical elements to others, opportunities to grow in your specialty can be found through any of MSU’s music programs.

Gloria Yehilevsky, a senior music performance major from San Diego, California, said music faculty at MSU are known best for tailoring work to meet the individual needs and interests of students.

“I feel fortunate to be able to work with incredible teachers and mentors who hold me accountable and continually push me to be the best musician I can be,” Yehilevsky said.

Faculty members also work to connect students with private study, performance, outreach and research opportunities. Yehilevsky recently completed an Undergraduate Research Fellowship where she examined ways in which improvisational music and classical repertoire complement one another. Typically viewed as opposites in the music world, Yehilvesky found both methods offer significant insight into new compositional and performance techniques in today’s modern music.

“It’s a subject I care deeply about. I intend to continue my work in the following year and hope to publish and present at several prestigious conferences,” Yehilevsky said. “This type of experience has also made me more confident. I plan on continuing my education in graduate school and I feel MSU has prepared me to begin this competitive process.”

Morehead State offers undergraduate degrees in general music, music education and music performance. Graduates of our programs pursue a wide range of careers including:

• Music education (private and public school teachers, college and university professors and private studio instructors)
• Performance (soloists in small and large ensembles)
• Music industry specialists (retail, publishing, technology and management)
• Director of music (band, choir, orchestral, church, military)

To learn more visit, www.moreheadstate.edu/study/music.

MSU offers equestrian camps for all skill levels

Once again this summer, Morehead State will offer several half-day and full-day horseback-riding camps for riders ages 3-18 of all skill levels. Camps will teach horse care, as well as hunt and western-style riding skills. All camps will be held at the Derrickson Agricultural Complex.

New this summer is the toddler mini-camp designed for children ages 3-6. It will be held June 20-24 and is ideal for those not ready to ride by themselves and those who have not spent much time around horses. While the camp is a drop-off camp, parents are to visit on Friday, May 24, for a fun horse show. The cost of the camp is $100.

Half-day camps for Level I and Level II beginners will be held June 20-24 and July 18-22. A rider is considered a Level I when he or she has little to no experience riding horses, and Level I camps will focus on grooming skills, leading skills, walking under saddle and starting to sit the trot. Level II riders are those who have already completed Level I camp and exhibit knowledge of grooming, leading, and should feel comfortable in the saddle at a walk or trot. Level II camps will focus on improving rider skills, including trot, guiding at the trot, upward and downward transitions, introduction to post and two point positions and basic figures at the walk. The cost of the half-day camps is $200.

Full-day camps will be for Level II/intermediate riders June 27 to July 1, and for advanced/intermediate riders July 11-15. Full-day campers will learn to feed horses and clean stalls, learn advanced riding and jumping skills, receive demonstrations of veterinary and farrier services, and will participate in a end-of-week show. In addition, campers will take a field trip to Masterson Station in Lexington, a public equestrian park where riders will have the chance to test their skills in a new setting. The cost of the full-day camps is $300.

To register for a camp or to reserve your spot, contact MSU Equestrian Coach Erin LeCompt at 606-776-5129 or email e.siegel@moreheadstate.edu. 

Theatre programs integrate hands-on opportunities into student learning experiences

For MSU theatre students, learning isn’t just confined to performing on stage. The theatre programs provide formal training in all aspects of performance and production, allowing students to gain hands-on experience as early as their freshman year.

As senior theatre major, Katie Dennis from Morehead reflected on her last three years at MSU. She said sharing her work while showing others the continued significance theatre has in modern times is what brings her the greatest sense of pride.

“Theatre artists have the ability to energize our imagination, inspire empathy in the coldest of hearts and give hope where there is little to be found,” Dennis said. “I believe that theatre and the arts resonate with all people.”

Dennis said one of the program’s biggest strengths is found in the hands-on opportunities integrated into each student’s learning experience. As a costume shop work-study and wardrobe crew/supervisor, she spends a lot of time designing and building costumes for on-campus productions. These types of experiences helped her find work at three professional theatre companies during summer breaks, adding an additional 50 show credits to her resume.

She also has worked hard to complete an Undergraduate Research Fellowship. As part of her research, Dennis documented a vast collection of photographic slides of theatrical and historical significance.

“I have broadened my understanding of the processes of research and documentation, as well as improved my knowledge of theatre and costume history in general,” she said. “Most importantly, I learned how my work is connected to other disciplines and how what I do can be used to help students in and outside of theatre.”

Dennis said it is important for students to continually challenge themselves and explore opportunities outside of their comfort zone.

“I would recommend anyone to pursue an Undergraduate Research Fellowship opportunity. It is an incredible asset that will improve your resume and create a point of interest to discuss with potential employers and graduate school officials,” she said. “My communication skills have improved so much. Be it in an academic setting or professional setting, having that type of experience gives you a more polished vernacular than a student who has not been challenged in those ways.

MSU offers a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and also a minor – which complements a wide range of degrees in the humanities. MSU is also the only public university in Kentucky to provide a theatre program with teaching certification. 

To learn more, visit www.moreheadstate.edu/study/theatre.