Getting ready to break new ground

A funny thing happened on the way to 2003. The Missouri Supreme Court threw out businessman Jim Drury's lawsuit over funding for the River Campus. The arts and entertainment in Cape Girardeau and the region may be readying for release from the oppression of low expectations.

Southeast Missouri State University has signaled that the $36 million plan to turn the former Catholic seminary into a School for the Visual and Performing Arts to include a badly needed performing arts center can now proceed with construction later this year.

Another exciting prospect in 2003 is the move by the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri to a building on Main Street. The larger building will enable the arts council to add another gallery to accommodate a new artists' cooperative. It also will more centrally locate the arts council so that people shopping or going to a restaurant on Main Street can stop by either beforehand or afterward.

The arts council also plans to sponsor for the first time a juried art show for seniors in June.

2003 is starting off like a year to look forward to. At the end of February, the University Theatre will mount "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," which many consider the most perfect musical comedy ever created.

Nothing has been signed yet as far as concerts at the Show Me Center in 2003. 2002 offered only two country concerts and one rock show. The country concerts, including a caravan headlined by Kenny Chesney and a Christmas show featuring Neal McCoy, did best. Smash Mouth, an alternative pop group, drew only 1,200 fans in April, but those who came partied.

The City of Roses Festival brought up-and-coming country act Sixwire and long-forgotten rocker Dave Mason to the party on the river at the end of September. Mason, his rich voice still intact after all these years, was a pleasant surprise. Balmy weather helped make it a memorable City of Roses Festival.

The SEMO District Fair took a welcome new step by adding rock 'n' roll to the lineup in the form of .38 Special, a Southern rock band. Old Town Cape also got into the music-promoting business, sponsoring a series of twilight concerts that brought lawn chairs back to Courthouse Park during the summer.

Early in the year, the Miami City Ballet's exciting show at the Rose Theatre paired George Balanchine's "Rubies" with famed director Edward Villella's own choreography. Later in the year, Southeast choreographers Josephine and Paul Zmolek took a more avant-garde approach in creating "Zaum: Beyond Significance," a ballet that challenged our ideas about dance.

Southeast's children's theater production of "The Frog Princess" last spring charmed and showed off some of the marvels new costumer, Rhonda Weller-Stilson, is capable of.

The River City Players had another good year, often selling out shows. When it comes to pleasing crowds, and it does in community theater, they know how.

Starcatchers community theater in Jackson completed its first year and showed they are capable of providing the Jackson area with entertaining shows. More involvement by the community would help.

sblackwell@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182