Oak Ridge Today

Halloween spectacular ‘Kindred Spirits’ is Oct. 27 at Roane State’s Roane County campus

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Pictured is a scene from the 2017 version of "Kindred Spirits," which drew crowds of about 350 to each of its two performances. This year’s “Kindred Spirits” production, with performances at 1 and 3 p.m., will be held on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, in the O’Brien Theatre on Roane State’s main campus in Harriman. (Photo by Roane State)

Pictured is a scene from the 2017 version of “Kindred Spirits,” which drew crowds of about 350 to each of its two performances. This year’s “Kindred Spirits” production, with performances at 1 and 3 p.m., will be held on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, in the O’Brien Theatre on Roane State’s main campus in Harriman. (Photo by Roane State)

 

By Bob Fowler
Roane State staff writer

It’s an extravaganza for the Halloween season that features a cast of 130 singers, dancers, musicians, and actors, and it’s growing in popularity.

It’s the annual “Kindred Spirits” production, with performances at 1 and 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 27, in the O’Brien Theatre on Roane State Community College’s main campus at 276 Patton Lane in Harriman. Admission is $5.

“It’s one of the highlights of our year,” said Professor Brenda Luggie, Roane State’s choral director. “The music students absolutely love it.”

The hour-long, family-friendly show features Roane State music students, actors from Midway High School’s Drama Club, and about 100 dancers of all ages from Arts in Motion, with studios in Rockwood and Kingston. [Read more…]

Roane State Winter Concert is Saturday at O’Brien Theatre

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Roane State Winter Concert Dec 9 2017

It’s a longstanding tradition at Roane State and a great way to celebrate the holiday season.

The annual Winter Concert featuring all of the college’s music department ensembles will be held at 7 p.m. on Saturday, December 9, in the O’Brien Theatre on the Harriman campus, and everyone is invited, said a press release from Roane State Community College.

“All donations collected at the door will help support the Roane State music programs, including our 2018 summer choir tour to Italy,” music department professor Brenda Luggie said.

“This is one of our main on-campus concerts for the season,” she said.

Featured will be the Celebration Singers, Concert Choir, Jazz Band, Stage Band, and Bluegrass Band. [Read more…]

Enjoy the ‘Kindred Spirits’ Halloween show at Roane State’s main campus on Saturday

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Members of the cast of last year’s version of “Kindred Spirits” perform before a large audience. This year’s performances are at 1 and 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017, in the O’Brien Theatre on Roane State’s main campus in Harriman. (Photo by Roane State)

Members of the cast of last year’s version of “Kindred Spirits” perform before a large audience. This year’s performances are at 1 and 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017, in the O’Brien Theatre on Roane State’s main campus in Harriman. (Photo by Roane State)

 

By Bob Fowler, Roane State staff writer

It’s a seasonal extravaganza that promises something for everyone.

It’s the 2017 edition of “Kindred Spirits,” with performances at 1 and 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 28, in the O’Brien Theatre on Roane State’s main campus in Harriman.

There’s drama, dancing, costume parades for all ages, and Halloween trick-or-treating, all rolled up in one fast-paced hour of entertainment, Roane State music professor Brenda Luggie said.

“Kindred Spirits” is a collaboration between the college’s music department, Cumberland County High School’s Jet Theatrix Drama Club, and the Arts in Motion Dance Studios, with locations in Midtown and Rockwood. [Read more…]

Roane State experience helped musician Devan Jones find his path

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Devan Jones (Submitted photo)

Devan Jones (Submitted photo)

 

By Bob Fowler, Roane State staff writer

Ask Roane State alumnus Devan Jones about working full-time in the music business, and he’ll pull no punches. “It’s a hustle and hard work 24/7,” he says. “It’s a tough business.”

“Sometimes it feels like it’s moving in slow motion, but things are getting better all the time,” says Jones, who credits educators in Roane State’s music department for helping inspire his career.

Jones grew up in Kingston, attended Roane State and the University of Tennessee, and performed at several Knoxville venues. He now lives in Austin, Texas, where he says there are “many different opportunities to play music that inspires me.”

While in Knoxville, he put together a band, “Devan Jones and the Uptown Stomp.” That moniker reflects his love of blues, as well as jazz and swing music of the 1940s and 50s. [Read more…]

Roane State Playmakers to perform production of Lionel Bart’s ‘Oliver!’ April 21-23

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During a rehearsal, Sophie King of Arts in Motion teaches the children who play orphans the choreography for "Food Glorious Food." (Photo by Roane State)

During a rehearsal, Sophie King of Arts in Motion teaches the children who play orphans the choreography for “Food Glorious Food.” (Photo by Roane State)

 

By Bob Fowler, Roane State staff writer

The musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ famous novel, “Oliver Twist,” comes to Roane State’s O’Brien Theater for only three performances in a rare collaboration of the college’s Music and Theatre Arts departments.

The curtain goes up on Lionel Bart’s “Oliver!” at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, April 21 and 22, and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 23.

It’s the story of a 9-year-old orphan and his misadventures, from being half-starved in a workhouse and famously asking for more gruel, to learning how to be a pickpocket on the gritty streets of 19th century London.

Memorable songs abound, from “Where Is Love?” to “Food Glorious Food” and “It’s a Fine Life.”

“It’s one of my favorite shows and a classic musical from the 1960s that’s been updated to add new songs,” said director Clarissa Feldt. “It’s a really fantastic big production.” [Read more…]

Roane State Winter Concert is Dec. 5 in Harriman

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Get in the festive sprit by joining the Roane State Community College Music Department for its annual Winter Concert on Saturday, December 5, at the Princess Theatre in downtown Harriman.

The event begins at 8 p.m., and donations will be accepted at the door. The concert will feature Roane State’s Celebration Singers, Concert Choir, Jazz Band, Pep Band, Bluegrass Band, Stage Band, faculty, and guest musicians.

For more information, contact Brenda Luggie at (865) 354-3000, ext. 4236, or luggieb@roanestate.edu.

Roane State Concert Choir earns honor in international competition

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Roane State Concert Choir

The Roane State Concert Choir won a silver award at the Canta en Primavera festival in Malaga, Spain. From left are music director Geol Greenlee, students Amanda Cole, Kela Oberloh, Amber Delk, Mason Van Horn, Paul Davis, Jeremiah Jacks, Eddie Rivera, Amanda Holly, Trisha Davidson, Judy Rivera, and Ashley Sherrill, and choral director Brenda Luggie. (Submitted photo)

 

Roane State Community College’s Concert Choir won a silver award at an international choral festival held in Malaga, Spain.

The choir traveled to Malaga, a seaport on the Andalusian coast of southern Spain, last month during spring break. Under the direction of Brenda Luggie and accompanied by Geol Greenlee, the 11-member choir performed in the Canta en Primavera (Sing in Spring) festival.

“The group was the only ensemble from the U.S., and in their first international competition, scored silver (level 9), less than two points from the winner’s score,” Luggie said. “Their success is not just a feather in their caps, but a memory they will cherish for the rest of their lives.” [Read more…]

Roane State will host April 6 alumni concert

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Roane State Community College’s Music Department will host an alumni concert on Saturday, April 6, from 7-9 p.m. in the O’Brien Theatre on the Roane County campus in Harriman.

Admission is free.

The concert will feature alumni from Concert Choir, Celebration Singers, Jazz Band, and Bluegrass Band. As this year’s virtual choir project, the Music Department will debut an original composition, “Diversity, Similarity,” by Roane State professor Geol Greenlee with lyrics by student Chris Arnold. [Read more…]

Roane State Holiday Concert scheduled for Dec. 7, 9

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The Roane State Community College’s annual holiday concert is scheduled for the second weekend in December.

The holiday concert includes two performances, one at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7, and the other at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9, in the O’Brien Theatre on the college’s Roane County campus in Harriman.

[Read more…]