Published: November 13, 2008 02:15 pm      

SHOWTIME to debut at ECU

ADA — A new music ensemble at East Central University will present its campus debut concert Saturday with selections from several theatre and movie musicals.

SHOWTIME, ECU’s premier musical theater performing ensemble, will present the concert at 7:30 p.m. in the Dorothy Summers Theatre. Admission is free.

The program will include solo and group performances from “South Pacific,” “42nd Street,” “Aladdin,” “The Next Five Years” and “Lion King.” Patrick Sweet, instructor of communication and director of ECU’s musical theater, will accompany the performers.

ECU offers a communications studies degree with a new musical theater concentration.

SHOWTIME’s 14 members were selected through auditions and interviews, Sweet said. They include Brandon Blakenship, Lynette Christy, Caitlin Gray and Randi Hall, all of Ada; Kendra Camplain, Ringling; Ryan Corley, Shawnee; Lauren Durbin of Atoka; Chris Geisler, Newalla; Brooke Haygood, Norman; Natalie May, Prague; Jomain McKenzie, Clarendon, Jamaica; Sherri Scott, Sapulpa; Amanda Tarver, Chandler, Ariz.; and Lesly Walker, Okemah.

The ensemble will perform throughout the year at university and off-campus events.

Sweet, who has directed or performed in more than two dozen musicals, came to ECU in September after completing a master of music degree in vocal performance and music theater at New York University. He also has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Florida State University.

He was an adjunct voice instructor at NYU and has been associate director of choral activities at Edmond High School and director of high school choral activities in Alexandria, Va. He also has taught in Florida.