NYC Showcase Extravaganza Benefitting Southeast Theatre and Dance Students

Funds raised during the Extravaganza help send Southeast students to New York City to take part in master classes to help launch their theatre and dance careers.

Mingle with the cast of "On the Town" and get a sneak peak of this upcoming musical while helping send Southeast Missouri State University senior theatre and dance students to New York City. The Department of Theatre and Dance's Extravaganza will be Thursday, Jan. 28, at the Isle Casino Cape Girardeau.

The Extravaganza begins with a 5:30 p.m. social, followed by dinner at 6 p.m. and musical performances at 7 p.m., all in the events center. Throughout the evening guests will have the opportunity to interact with the seniors. The evening will conclude with a live auction.

Funds raised will benefit the Senior Showcase, to be held in the spring. The Showcase is a way to professionally promote seniors who have completed a degree in theatre and dance.

"The Department of Theatre & Dance produces an annual senior showcase in Cape Girardeau in the Wendy Kurka Rust Flexible Theatre. We also take a group of students to New York City to take part in a series of master classes," said Dr. Kenn Stilson, chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance at Southeast Missouri State University.

"The local showcase is a wonderful evening of theatre and dance where graduating seniors display their talents for family, friends and our general audience. The New York master classes are a series of classes that our seniors take part in -- some in dance, some in theatre to help launch their careers into their fields of study," he said. "The Extravaganza is a delightful evening of entertainment, food and drinks, as well as a chance to meet the graduating class, and it serves as our primary fund raiser to help these performance seniors with travel for their trip to New York City in May."

Sponsors of the Extravaganza are Commerce Bank, Southeast Health, Rhodes 101, Saxony Village and Isle Casino. Tickets are $50 per person and tables of eight for $400 are available. Seating is limited. Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP by Jan. 15.

For more information, contact Janice Bittle, department of theatre and dance, Southeast Missouri State University at jbittle@semo.edu (573) 651-2149.