Marty Morrison, Author at EagleEye

“Always…Patsy Cline” Returns to Klein Theatre

July 8, 2014 by Marty Morrison

Two Fredericksburg area students will give encore performances when the University of Mary Washington Department of Theatre & Dance brings back the production of “Always. . . Patsy Cline” beginning Wednesday, July 9 at Klein Theatre.

“Always…Patsy Cline” is based on the true story of Louise Seger, a fan of Patsy Cline, who gets the chance to meet Cline when she comes to her hometown for a show. Louise and Patsy become fast friends, bonding after the show over the troubles of life. Their friendship grew through a series of letters and phone calls that continued until Cline’s untimely death. The musical features many of Patsy Cline’s hits, including “Crazy,” “Walkin’ After Midnight,” and “I Fall to Pieces.” Senior theatre major Taryn Snyder, who grew up in Fredericksburg before moving to Rochester, N.Y., plays the role of Patsy, while the role of Louise Seger is played by fellow senior theatre major Emily Burke, who graduated from James Monroe High School. Performances will be July 9-12, July 16-19, and July 23-26 at 7:30 p.m., and July 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, and 27 at 2 p.m. UMW’s original production ran in Klein Theatre for three sold-out weeks in February. “Never in the history of our program have we experienced such a demand for tickets,” said Director Gregg Stull, chair of the Department of Theatre & Dance and the Department of Music. “We are thrilled to be able to offer this thrilling production to the greater Fredericksburg community this summer.” Virginia Patterson Hensley, known as Patsy Cline, was a country singer from Winchester, Va., who crossed over in the 1960’s from country and western into the pop-music charts. She died at the age of 30 in a plane crash in 1963. Ten years later, Cline became the first female solo artist to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Her plaque in the Hall of Fame reads: “Her heritage of timeless recordings is testimony to her artistic capacity.”

“Always…Patsy Cline” is directed by Stull, with musical direction by Christopher Wingert. Scenic design is by associate professor Julie Hodge and costume design is by associate professor Kevin McCluskey. Lighting and sound designs are by guest artists Catherine Girardi and Anthony Angelini. Tickets are $40 for standard admission, $35 for students, senior citizens, UMW alumni, and the military and $25 for groups of 10 or more. For more information or to purchase tickets, call the Klein Theatre Box Office at (540) 654-1111 or visit umw.tix.com.

Tickets Available July 9 for Dancing with Fredericksburg Stars

July 2, 2014 by Marty Morrison

Tickets will go on sale Wednesday, July 9, for the second annual Dancing with the Fredericksburg Stars fundraiser at the University of Mary Washington. Taking place Saturday, October 11, the competition is modeled after the popular ABC television series Dancing with the Stars, now in its 17th season. In the Fredericksburg version, 10 regional “stars” are paired with professional dancers from Strictly Ballroom Dance Studio in Fredericksburg to compete for the top award, the Mirror Ball Trophy. The audience will vote for the People’s Choice Award. A portion of the proceeds from the performance will be used to endow the UMW Performing Arts in the Community Scholarship for regional students who excel in music, theatre or dance. Last year’s inaugural event grossed approximately $65,000.

Performers will include Theresa Crawley, a local dentist and member of the UMW Board of Visitors; Lisa Crittenden, executive director of the Hope House; Janel Donohue, president of Rappahannock United Way; John Fick president and CEO of J.F. Fick Inc.; Regis Keddie II, senior vice president of investments at Davenport and Co.; Rose Hurley, wife of University President Richard V. Hurley; John Moss Jr., attorney with Rinehart, Butler, Hodge, Moss & Bryant, PLC; Florence Ridderhof, a community volunteer and patron of the arts; John Wack, president of Eastern Sports Management and owner of the Fredericksburg Field House; and Joe Wilson, owner of Perma Treat Pest Control and a member of the UMW Board of Visitors. Hall of Famer and former Washington Redskin Darrell Green will host the event, and a panel of judges will offer commentary following each dance. This year’s judges include: Gaye Adegbalola, Fredericksburg resident and international jazz musician; Corey Von Ginkel, member of the National Dance Council of America; and Susan Spears, president of the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce and a contestant in last year’s event. Tickets are available at http://fredericksburgstars.umw.edu for $85, plus a $5 processing fee, of which $75 is tax deductible. Seats are selected and reserved at the time of purchase. For more information, contact (540) 654-1065. Check out twitter and #DWTFS for the latest information.

UMW Announces Community ‘Stars’ for UMW Arts Fundraiser, Oct. 11

May 16, 2014 by Marty Morrison

Dancing with the Fredericksburg Stars, 2014 Cast [see the SlideDeck]

A new slate of Fredericksburg-area community leaders has been named to perform in the second annual Dancing with the Fredericksburg Stars on Saturday, October 11, to raise money for a performing arts scholarship at the University of Mary Washington. Dancing with the Fredericksburg Stars will begin at 7 p.m. in George Washington Hall’s Dodd Auditorium, followed by a reception under the stars.

“A community lacking in art is a community lacking in soul,” said Moss, a Fredericksburg native. “Fredericksburg has plenty of soul, and I am eager to put my dance moves to the test in this friendly competition.”

Dancing with the Fredericksburg Stars is modeled after the popular ABC television series Dancing with the Stars, now in its 17th season. In the Fredericksburg version, the 10 regional “stars” are paired with professional dancers from Strictly Ballroom Dance Studio in Fredericksburg to compete for the top award, the Mirror Ball Trophy. The audience will vote for the People’s Choice Award.

Hall of Famer and former Washington Redskin Darrell Green will host the event, and a panel of judges will offer commentary following each dance. This year’s judges include: Gaye Adegbalola,Fredericksburg resident and international jazz musician; Corey Von Ginkel, member of the National Dance Council of America; and Susan Spears, president of the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce and a contestant in last year’s event.

A portion of the proceeds from the performance will be used to endow the UMW Performing Arts in the Community Scholarship for regional students who excel in music, theatre or dance. Last year’s inaugural event grossed approximately $65,000.

Tickets go on sale July 7 at http://fredericksburgstars.umw.edu for $85, plus a $5 processing fee, of which $75 is tax deductible. Seats are selected and reserved at the time of purchase. For more information, contact (540) 654-1065.

UMW Launches $50 Million Fundraising Campaign

April 30, 2014 by Marty Morrison

The University of Mary Washington has publicly launched its $50 million Mary Washington First fundraising campaign. The announcement was made at a news conference on Friday, April 25, in the Jepson Alumni Executive Center.

The Mary Washington First campaign aims to secure private funds for various initiatives, including for student scholarships.

The goal of the comprehensive campaign is to raise funds to advance President Richard V. Hurley’s vision: for University of Mary Washington to become one of the nation’s premier public liberal arts and sciences universities. “The pace of change in higher education accelerates daily, and the fiscal challenges faced by colleges and universities are daunting,” Hurley said. “In order to remain at the forefront of our competitors, affordable for our students and families, and able to attract the best and brightest minds, it is imperative for UMW to have the resources necessary for success.” Among the fundraising initiatives, the university strives to secure private funds for endowment of scholarships, restoration of the campus amphitheater, support for the university’s three colleges, enhancement of the Fund for Mary Washington, and development of key program initiatives. These initiatives are: the arts, athletics, leadership, study abroad, the Chappell Great Lives lecture series, libraries and instructional technology.

A rendering by Train & Partners Architects shows what the amphitheater might look like after renovation.

The amphitheater, located in a grove of trees near Sunken Road on the Fredericksburg campus, has been home to many significant UMW traditions since it was constructed in 1913. The planned $3 million restoration would return the site to its 1952-1953 appearance by repairing and reconstructing damaged and missing pieces. It would provide seating for approximately 600 people on weather-resilient benches and chairs while incorporating accommodations for ADA accessibility. Over the past three years, in the non-public phase of the campaign, the university has raised a total of $29.2 million. Represented in that amount are seven gifts and pledges of $1 million or more. Out of a total of about 13,000 donors, more than 120 have made campaign commitments of $25,000 or more. Significant gifts include:

More than $7.5 million in estate gifts for student scholarships, including one full-tuition Washington scholarship and one Alvey Scholarship, which covers tuition costs for an out-of-state student
More than $3 million in estate gifts to support students studying abroad
Nearly $1.4 million in gifts to support restoration of the amphitheater
A $1 million estate gift to create special professorships in the three colleges
More than $600,000 in pledges and gifts to support the unrestricted Fund for Mary Washington
More than $500,000 to support the Great Lives Lecture Series.

The campaign will secure funds for the development of key program initiatives, including for study abroad opportunities.

Anne Marie Thompson Steen ’83 and Daniel K. Steen ’84 of Arlington, Va., serve as national campaign chairs. Both said they are eager to move the campaign forward. “We are fortunate to be able to partner with other Mary Washington alumni, parents, and friends,” said Dan Steen, a former rector of the UMW Board of Visitors. The Steens join members of a Campaign Cabinet, membership of which represents a cross-section of UMW constituents from varying career paths, affiliations and locations across the country. “Together,” Steen added, “we all are committed to the $50-million campaign goal.” For more information about the campaign or to donate, visit http://marywashingtonfirst.umw.edu. The University of Mary Washington is a premier, selective public liberal arts and sciences university in Virginia, highly respected for its commitment to academic excellence, strong undergraduate liberal arts and sciences program, and dedication to life-long learning. The university, with a total enrollment of more than 5,000, features colleges of business, education and arts and sciences, and three campuses, including a residential campus in Fredericksburg, Va., a second one in nearby Stafford and a third in Dahlgren, Va., which serves as a center of development of educational and research partnerships between the Navy, higher education institutions and the region’s employers. In recent years, the university has seen its academic reputation garner national recognition in numerous selective guidebooks, including Forbes, the Fiske Guide to Colleges and the Princeton Review’s 2012 edition of 150 “Best Value Colleges” and the 2014 edition of “The Best 378 Colleges.”

# # #

Share Inspiring Senior Stories

April 17, 2014 by Marty Morrison

Do you know of interesting or noteworthy students who are graduating this May? Has a student overcome a significant challenge or succeeded despite overwhelming odds? Has a student attained a remarkable achievement?

The Office of Media and Public Relations would like to hear about those students. We will share graduating senior story ideas with local and regional news media and will consider them for future story possibilities on the UMW website.

If you know of a student who has a unique story, please send a description of the student’s achievement and/or background to Marty Morrison at mmorris3@umw.edu or Brynn Boyer at bboyer@umw.edu. Please include the student’s contact information, including cell phone number if available.

Please send your ideas by the end of business on Tuesday, April 22, so that suggestions can be passed on to the news media in a timely manner.

UMW Philharmonic Performs Sold-Out Show with Itzhak Perlman

April 1, 2014 by Marty Morrison

Legendary violinist Itzhak Perlman performed with the University of Mary Washington Philharmonic Orchestra at a sold-out concert on Saturday, March 29. Nearly 1,300 people packed Dodd Auditorium for the concert, which was part of the Philharmonic’s annual William M. Anderson Celebrity Series.

Itzhak Perlman performed with the UMW Philharmonic on Saturday, March 29.

The UMW Philharmonic, conducted by Kevin Bartram, is comprised of both UMW students and community musicians. Since 2004, the orchestra has performed with famous artists such as Marvin Hamlisch, Judy Collins, Kenny Rogers, flutist Sir James Galway and the Canadian Brass.

“The audience was astonished at the sound he got from [his 1714 Stradivarius],” said Kevin Bartram, maestro of the UMW Philharmonic. “Even professional violinists are stunned by his capacity to achieve such a sound. The experience of performing such a demanding work with a living legend will live with us the rest of our lives.”

Perlman, a violin virtuoso, enjoys superstar status rarely afforded a classical musician. He is treasured by audiences throughout the world who respond to his artistry and his irrepressible joy for making music.

Perlman performed the Beethoven Violin Concerto with the Philharmonic. Perlman has performed the work hundreds of times, but admits, “I could play that forever and never get tired of it. It’s an amazing piece,” he said.

Perlman has been honored with four Emmy Awards, most recently for the PBS documentary, “Fiddling for the Future,” a film about Perlman’s work as a teacher and conductor for the Perlman Music Program. During the 78th Annual Academy Awards in 2006, he performed a live medley from the five film scores nominated in the category of Best Original Score for a worldwide audience. Perlman also collaborated with film composer John Williams in Steven Spielberg’s Academy Award-winning film “Schindler’s List” in which he performed the violin solos.

Itzhak Perlman. Photo by Lisa Marie Mazzucco.

In 2008, Itzhak Perlman was honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for excellence in the recording arts. His recordings regularly appear on the best-seller charts and have earned him 15 Grammy Awards. In 1986, President Ronald Reagan honored Perlman with a Medal of Liberty and in 2000 President Bill Clinton awarded Perlman the National Medal of Arts.

The UMW Philharmonic achieved national acclaim in 2009 with the American Prize, an award given to the top nine collegiate orchestras in the nation. In 2012, the group was featured on a national PBS fundraising show, “A Fiddler’s Holiday.”

For information about upcoming concerts or to become a Friend of the Philharmonic, contact 540-654-1324 or email philharmonic@umw.edu.

Legal Eagles

March 31, 2014 by Marty Morrison

Competing with the UMW Mock Trial Team equips Colin Spangler '14 for a career in law.

Williams College Parent Says Thanks for Warm Reception

March 30, 2014 by Marty Morrison

To faculty, staff, and students:

You know how proud I am of this institution and all members of the UMW family. That’s why it makes my heart swell to read a letter like this one I received yesterday from Michael M. Rooke-Ley, Emeritus Professor of Law, Eugene, Oregon. I just had to share it!

Richard V. Hurley
President

Dear President Hurley,

You and I have never met, but I write to you on this occasion as the parent of a Williams College basketball player to thank you and the university community for the gracious and spirited days we spent on and around the Mary Washington campus, March 14-16. Fellow parents, players and coaches could not stop talking about the warm reception we received from everyone during our visit. Equally impressive was the loyal and enthusiastic UMW crowd at Saturday’s game, where your fans cheered until the final basket, long after a victory was out of reach, demonstrating the kind of support we rarely see any longer in college sports.

I should also tell you of a personal experience on the preceding Friday. As one who often counsels college-bound students and who frequently encourages them to consider studying in other parts of the country, I was curious about UMW and decided to drop into your admissions office. I was fortunate to be greeted by Cris Hairston, who spent twenty minutes answering my questions as an exceptionally impressive and articulate emissary for the institution. In the course of our conversation, I learned of James Farmer’s connection to UMW, an unexpected thrill for me because I had worked for Mr. Farmer with CORE in the mid-1960s integrating lunch counters and registering voters in Mississippi and Louisiana.

As I strolled your campus, I spoke with a number of students whose enthusiasm for their college was palpable. They seemed to truly appreciate the value of a liberal arts education and, surprisingly in this day and age, rejected the notion that such an education is somehow not job-relevant. Wise beyond their years, I say!

In sum, I think that I can speak for our entire Williams contingent when I commend you, your faculty, staff and students for creating an environment that reflects the very best human values.

With gratitude and warm wishes,

Michael Rooke-Ley

« Previous Page