Dinner theater options to begin in October at River Campus

Theatergoers at Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus will be offered dining options starting in October, members of the River Campus board of managers learned during their meeting Friday.

Art Cuisine at St. Vincent Commons will offer a preperformance meal, a short walk from the theater. St. Vincent Commons is the dining area at the River Campus Center, which opened a few weeks ago.

Bob Cerchio, assistant director of the Earl and Margie Holland School of Visual and Performing Arts, said flyers will be mailed out to anyone who has bought tickets to the three major performance series -- touring, theater and dance and the symphony.

The dinner option will be available for "Hairspray" on Oct. 10 and 11; "Anything Goes" on Nov. 1; Schubert's Mass in G Major on Dec. 2; "The King and I" on Feb. 28; and "Memphis" on March 30. A dinner reservation form will be mailed as well, on which people may choose their events and entrees and mail it back.

Cost is $21 a person, including taxes and gratuities. Water and coffee or tea are included. Beer and wine will be available for an additional charge. Cerchio said there will be table service. Seating for the dinner theater is limited to 50.

"As it goes, we'll see what the demand is and the impact on students," Cerchio said. "People who are interested in this, they shouldn't hesitate. They should order as soon as possible ... We're optimistic it will be very popular."

On a separate note, Cerchio said, ticket sales are ahead more than 200 from this time last year. "So we're doing something right," he added.

In other discussion:

* The board learned the Summer Arts Festival will be June 20, 2015, after a successful inaugural year in 2014. "Seussical the Musical" will be staged from June 18 to June 28, said Rhonda Weller-Stilson, director and associate dean of the Holland School.

* A musical theater experience class for students in grades two through seven is scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 18 to Nov. 15 at the River Campus Center. Children will study acting, singing and music from "Hairspray." All levels of experience are encouraged. In each class, students will take part in theater games and exercises, with a final performance for friends and family at 11 a.m. Nov. 15. Registration is available online.

* The River Campus also has formalized a partnership with Discovery Playhouse. Activities include:

Oct. 25: Hands-on art activity organized by Carol Horst and Art Education

Nov. 15: "Fall for Dance" presentation and children's dance activity

Dec. 6: Percussion presentation, organized by Shane Mizicko

Jan. 24: Hands-on art activity organized by Carol Horst and Art education majors

Feb. 14: "The King and I" presentation and theater games

March 28: "Spring Sing" in honor of Music in Our Schools

April 11: Crisp Museum art outreach project

River Campus tours will be offered during Family Weekend on Sept. 19 to Sept. 21.

rcampbell@semissourian.com

388-3639

Pertinent address: 518 S. Fountain