Although countless creepy creatures have chilled and captivated audiences over the years, it is impossible to deny the overwhelming popularity of the zombie. Since George A. Romero’s horror classic Night of The Living Dead first terrified viewers back in 1968, the world has been infected with zombie fever. I do not think it’s a stretch to say that most of us have discussed with friends, or at least daydreamed about our plans in the event of a zombie apocalypse. That is, which locations can be easily fortified, where to find rations, which weapons are the most effective, and so on.
For those of you yet to make your plans, or looking for inspiration, the Fouke High School Drama Department has the perfect production to kick-start a brainstorming session. Don Zolidis’ 10 Ways to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse is a hilarious and helpful field guide for navigating an Undead Armageddon. Consisting of ten short skit-like segments that demonstrate handy hints for staying alive, this silly and spooky show is sure to tickle your funny bone.
Director Josh “Coach” Jones chose this show in the spirit of the Halloween season, allowing the kids to let loose with something “quick and fun” before they start on their heavier and more intense shows. Unlike many productions in which the dialogue is set in stone and actors don’t get any say in their costumes, Jones has given his actors a higher degree of creative control. In this production, the actors were in charge of designing their own costumes, and improvisation has been encouraged (which I am told includes many references to classic zombie flicks). Although most of the actors are in high school, FHS has a tradition of casting elementary and middle school students in the spirit of inclusivity. This cast of eighteen consists of seasoned FHS Drama Department veterans, as well as fresh meat.
Performances of 10 Ways to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse will be:
Special athletes went to A&M University’s Veterans Park and Athletic Complex in College Station the first weekend of October. Our local Bowie’s Best athletes participated in the annual Special Olympic of Texas Softball Tournament held at College Station October 3-5. Bowie’s Best had two teams competing with twenty-four athletes.
SOTX softball has three divisions, depending on skill level. Coach-pitch is the lowest level with the teams’ coach pitching the ball to the athletes. Each athlete gets five tries to hit the ball and the team is allowed six hits (unless they get three outs first) before switching with the opposing team. The Traditional division is played using the same rules as regular softball. In the highest division, Unified, teams are half special athletes and half non-special athletes. Unified allows the special athletes to go to second base after hitting the ball, giving them a chance to run to home plate before getting out.
Bowie’s Best Athletes standing outside the church before opening ceremonies Friday evening
Bowie’s Best Team One plays Traditional softball and Team Two plays Coach pitch. Team One qualified for the Cubs group, one of the higher groups for the traditional division.
Just like regular Olympics, SOTX had an opening ceremony with the parade of the athletes held at Central Church in College Station.
Taking a quick group picture before the line-up of the athletes.
The athletes played two games on Friday and two games on Saturday. Team One won two games and lost two games earning a silver medal. Team Two won one game and lost three games earning a bronze medal. Both teams played exceptionally hard this weekend. The coaches and parents are proud of them all.
I had the privilege to attend this annual event as my son is one of the athletes. SOTX is a wonderful organization providing children and adults with disabilities the opportunity to participate in a variety of sports.
Team One Athletes winning silver medals. Athletes from left to right: Deaundre, Justin, Colton, Aaron, Patrick, Jeffrey, Steven T., Jordan, Cory, Omarion, and Casey.
Team Two Athletes winning the bronze medal. Athletes front row from left to right: Polly, Rebekah, Kristen, Steven P., Diane, Teri, Kayla, Kyle, Chris, J.T. Back row: Adyen, Tiffanie, and Brittany.
When it comes to entertainment, many people here assume you have to travel to a big city to find quality live shows or exposure to art or culture. Texarkana may be relatively small, but it is not short on entertainment, art, or culture. We have multiple venues for live music, museums, and various incredibly talented theatre troupes. Among these troupes is Pleasant Grove High School (PGHS) Curtain Call Productions. Under the direction of Deborah Sutton, the award-winning theatre department at PGHS never fails to impress. This year’s major production will be Aladdin Jr, a musical adaptation of the Academy-Award winning 1992 Disney film.
Originally adapted for the stage in 2011, Aladdin opened on Broadway in 2014. With music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman, Tim Rice, and Chad Beguelin (book by Beguelin) the stage show does an excellent job of translating the spirit and feel of the film. It is a tale about a “street rat” named Aladdin, a poor young man who dreams of fortune and fame. After rescuing a genie from a lamp, he is given three wishes. Aladdin uses these wishes to pretend to be a prince in order to win the heart of the beautiful Princess Jasmine of Agrabah, while facing the evil Jafar, who plots to marry her and steal the throne. It is a story about friendship, love, and the discovery that one’s wealth does not define their worth. Like any adaptation, changes have been made to the story, but Mrs. Sutton assures that, “The heart, integrity and grace of the film is definitely captured in the stage version.” New musical numbers and characters only add to the fun in this wild, larger-than-life magic carpet ride. PGHS’ production certainly sounds like it will live up to the hype.
PG students in rehearsal. (PGHS Curtain Call Productions Facebook page)
When asked about the selection process, Mrs. Sutton explained that, “A good high school director never directs the show that he or she wants to direct— They direct the show that fits their kids!” In order to choose a show that best fits her company, she first assesses their talents and searches for a production that will best display them. “This year,” she continued, “We have the trio: Genie, Aladdin and Jasmine. All three must be strong, seasoned performers. We are blessed with a great company that can support our lead trio.” The sheer size of the company alone is impressive, with a total of three hundred cast members, ranging from sixth to twelfth grade.
With a show as big as this, preparations can be intense. The cast went through “musical boot camp”, where they were introduced to the show, as well as the design concept and the movement requirements. The cast was also given instruction on vocal work, as well as an extended workout regimen to be performed daily. In addition, the students had to prepare their background history and family tree, as they studied customs and traditions of the Arab nations. In addition to rehearsals during school hours, the company also rehearses three nights a week, where they go over scene work and choreography.
Cast members pose for a picture while rehearsing the tap number for “Friend Like Me”. (PGHS Curtain Call Productions Facebook page)
Mrs. Sutton’s favorite part of the rehearsal process, are what she calls “Light Bulb” moments, which can come after a particularly difficult scene or bit of choreography. “Any moment that ‘light bulb’ pops on and a student ‘gets it’ – That’s our favorite moment!” she explained. When asked about the cast members’ favorite number in the show, she said that they particularly enjoy “Friend Like Me”, which she describes as “Eight minutes of amazing fun”.
The best part of all? Admission is completely free! The organization prides themselves on being “Family-Friendly and Always Free”. However, with a production of this size, you must have a ticket to ensure entry. Free tickets will be available in the PGHS Main Office starting October 25th. For more information, or questions, please call 903-832-8005.
In the meantime, be sure to follow PGHS Curtain Call Productions’ on Facebook for more information and some cool content, like behind-the-scenes pictures and videos of the cast— Like this video of Aladdin Jr cast members flash-mobbing a PG Faculty meeting.You can also find them on Instagram.
Homecoming week always ends with a football game, right? It’s basically a rule in Texas. Texas A&M University-Texarkana does things a little differently, closing out the spirit week with fútbol (soccer) games.
TAMUT’s soccer teams are in the thick of their season. With only a few conference games left, every match is extremely important. Both men’s and women’s teams have had their ups and downs throughout the beginning of the school year. It has become a tradition on TAMUT’s campus to host homecoming soccer games to engage students and boost school spirit around the beginning of October.
Homecoming week is usually filled with fun student activities and dress up spirit days while the soccer teams train to battle it out on their home field in front of their biggest crowd of the season. This year’s homecoming was exciting and one to remember on and off the field.
The outcome of every game has become crucial for the TAMUT soccer teams as the Red River Athletic Conference tournament approaches. Teams must rank in the top six of their conferences to make it into postseason play. It’s every team’s dream to win the conference tournament, take home a ring, and continue on to nationals. Both teams stepped onto the field ready to fight for a homecoming win against Louisiana State University-Shreveport and the fans were given two very intense matches.
Photo by Suzanna Summerlin
The women’s game was back and forth. TAMUT’s Alex Martinez sent in a cross in front of the goal and one of the LSUS defenders accidentally scored an own goal, giving TAMUT the lead. The rest of the game was intense as fouls became more frequent. Martinez accumulated two yellow cards, which forced her off the field so TAMUT played one member down for the remaining 30 minutes of the game. LSUS took advantage and scored a goal in the last few minutes of the game, sending the match into “golden goal”: first team to score wins. LSUS had a hand ball right on the 18-yard box, giving TAMUT a free kick right in front of their goal. TAMUT stormed the field after Emily Juarez scored off the free kick– bringing the final score to 2-1.
Photo by Amanda Johnson Vaughan
It is tradition to introduce homecoming court between the men’s and women’s games and announce the homecoming king and queen winners. School organizations such as Campus Rec and the Path Program submit nominees, who are voted on by the student body to narrow down to the final five of homecoming court. Ellie Kemins and Zak McCarthy, king and queen last year, escorted TAMUT’s president Dr. Emily Cutrer to the middle of the field to crown the 2019 winners. After a drumroll from the crowd, Philip Derouen and Sharnell James were named homecoming king and queen.
The men’s game began quickly after the homecoming announcement. The game started off intense. LSUS scored in the first ten minutes but TAMUT’s Yassin Ghasemi tied it before halftime by scoring off a penalty kick. LSUS fought back with another goal at the beginning of the second half, but Ghasemi tied it up again to keep it interesting at 2-2. The game got rowdy as players and fans almost broke out into a fight after LSUS scored a third goal. Play continued after the referees calmed everything down and LSUS went on to win 4-2.
Photo by Amanda Johnson Vaughan
It was an eventful week on TAMUT’s campus as another homecoming is put in the books. Both teams played their hearts out for their student body and left it all on the field. The women’s team earned their first conference win, making their record 1-3, while handing LSUS their first conference loss. The men’s team has started to catch momentum and has a bright future ahead of them if they continue to play with such passion. Good luck to both teams as they finish out their seasons and to the student body as they buckle down for midterms.
Exciting developments are happening in the Texarkana area. On October 15th a new coffee shop, Brewster’s on the Blvd (BB), located on Texas Boulevard, will host its grand opening. There will be giveaways, live music, and Kicker 102.5 will be broadcasting live.
BB has been in the works for several months. City Church of Texarkana in recent years purchased the Texas plaza. From the beginning, their goal has been to create a space for the community to gather. A coffee shop was the obvious answer for them. They will offer artisan coffee carefully picked by the owners. They will also offer a venue for artists to play music as well as offer a private room available to rent for meetings or parties.
City Church also searched far and wide for the perfect person to lead the ship on this exciting new adventure. Chuck Taramona recently managed a coffee shop in Mount Pleasant and has had many years of experience under her belt. She is excited and ready for the new opportunities it will bring to our community.
Make sure to attend the grand opening Tuesday, October 15th. The event will begin at 5 p.m. and end at 8 p.m. For more info, follow their Facebook page.
The National Society of Leadership & Success (NSLS) has officially paved its way into a new semester to do what they have never done before at Texas A&M University-Texarkana.
The first event that new members went to was Orientation. This semester, Orientation dates were October 3rd & 7th. During Orientation, students learned the steps of the leadership development program and the schedule of events for the semester. On October 3rd, new members eager to discover their inner leader came to their first event of the semester. At the beginning of the night they were shy, but the time they left, they were ready to discover their wildest dreams.
The next event on campus was Leadership Training Day, on October 10th or 17th, where student members attended an interactive video training session to identify their goals and overcome obstacles. This introspective seminar helped members identify their true passions and strengths while creating action steps to achieve their goals.
Darrylynn Dean is the new Society Events Chair for NSLS. Ms. Dean plans to help people reach their full potential by hosting events for all chapter members. On November 12th, Dean plans to host a formal event where members can interact and grow into their leadership qualities. She will invite a guest speaker to talk about “The Mindset of Growth”. “I feel like it was one of my callings to influence people. I want to help people discover themselves. I am really passionate about it”, Dean said.
In a world as negative as ours can be, it is wonderful to know that places like The Silvermoon Children’s Theatre (SCT) still exist. Located in downtown Texarkana on Broad Street, SCT is truly a staple of our community. SCT has given children a safe and positive environment in which to learn and grow, offering what they aptly call “Life training in disguise”. It is a place to be silly and creative, as well as a place to discover abilities, encourage imagination, learn life skills, make lasting
The cast meets with the directors for the first time. (Credit: SCT Facebook page)
friendships, and sharpen talents. It is also a place to find and foster a lifelong passion in an art that is often overlooked in the age of movies, video games, television, and streaming services. Do not let the words “Children’s Theatre” fool you. You would be hard-pressed to find a more talented, passionate, dedicated and professional group of people.
The final show of SCT’s 2019 season is a musical adaptation of one of the most beloved (and perhaps most quoted) holiday movies of all time, A Christmas Story: The Musical. With music and lyrics by Pasek & Paul ( Dear Evan Hansen, The Greatest Showman and James and The Giant Peach) and book by Joseph Robinette (Charlotte’s Web, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Anne of Green Gables), this show should be a blast. Although their version of the musical opened on Broadway in 2012, the show is still touring nationally. Just like the film, the story takes place in Indiana in the
Iconic scenes from A Christmas Story. (Credit: MGM / Warner Bros.)
1940s. It follows young Ralphie Parker, who tells everyone who will listen (generally in one breath) that he wants a Red Ryder Carbine Action Range Model Air Rifle “with a compass in the stock and a thing that tells time” for Christmas, despite protests from every adult he encounters. The film accurately and hilariously captures the madcap whirlwind that is the holiday season, growing up in a crazy family, and how tough it is to be a kid.
The kick-line rehearsing for “A Major Award”. (Credit: SCT Facebook page)
Rehearsals for this production began shortly after the casting announcement at the end of August. The show boasts an impressive cast of thirty-five actors. The principal cast of nine and the Adult/Kid Ensembles of twenty-six range in age from 7-50 years old. When discussing the show how the stage version compares to the film, Susannah Linnett, one of SCT’s directors, explained that the story doesn’t differ much from the movie, but the scenes where Ralphie’s imagination run away with him get a big musical treatment. She also explained that you get more insight into Ralphie’s parents (Mom and the Old Man), which you don’t really get in the film. “There’s even a greater sense of closure with the musical,” she said, “[You get] A feel good moment instead of ‘He got his gun, yay!'”. Mrs. Linnett’s two favorite musical numbers from the show are “Up on Santa’s Lap”, which will feature an actual slide on stage, and “You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out”, a tap dancing number named after the main catchphrase from the film, which is performed by Ralphie’s teacher. The Silvermoon Children’s Theatre will bring this treasured story to life in late November.
Performances of A Christmas Story: The Musical will be:
Thursday, November 21 – 7 p.m.
Friday, November 22 – 7 p.m.
Saturday, November 23 – 10:30 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Sunday, November 24 – 2 p.m.
Tickets will go on sale soon. For more information on this production, or the Silvermoon Children’s Theatre in general, you may email them or find SCT on Facebook and Instagram, or visit their website.
Looking for a tasty night on the town? How about three in one?
On October 17, 2019 the Greater Texarkana Young Professionals will be hosting their annual Taste of Downtown at three different locations beginning at 6 p.m. and ending at 9 p.m. The point of this event is to encourage the growth of the downtown area as well as support local businesses.
From 6-7 p.m. people will begin at Verona Restaurant to enjoy hors d’oeuvres and enjoy a glass of one of the wine specials. The next tasting will be held at Hopkins Icehouse from 7-8 p.m. Hopkins will serve classic American appetizers and your choice of their beer or cocktail specials. Last, but certainly not least, 8-9 p.m. Pecan Point will be giving chef-inspired small plates along with a pint of a craft beer special or Pecan’s signature sangria special.
All of the food is covered by one ticket price, but participants will be responsible for purchasing their own beverages. Organizers encourage bringing cash so the process will be quick and smooth. The cost for the ticket will be $38 as the early bird special, or $40 the day of. Chamber of Commerce members also receive a discounted price.
The Greater Texarkana Young Professionals is a committee of Texarkana’s Chamber of Commerce. Their goal is to band together young professionals in the local community to network and to encourage fellowship with each other. For info on upcoming events, click here.
In recent months Texarkana, Arkansas city officials have voted on putting an entertainment district in a 14-block area of downtown. The timing of a state law allowing open container and the recent push for renewing downtown could not be more perfect.
The entertainment district will allow for adult beverages to be consumed outside of a business as well as allow for roads to be closed for events.
The Arkansas state legislature approved bill 492. A bill that encourages hospitality and tourism. It will cause growth and support to already established local businesses. This boost will make an impact on not only the downtown area, but our city as a whole.
Before this will come into effect, four workshops and a hearing were necessary to cover details and concerns. One concern that was addressed was one of how trash would be handled. Public works agreed to handle the trash and cleanliness of ther area. Another concern was what the beverage containers would be and red solo cups were agreed upon.
In less than thirty days the entertainment district will be allowed. Open containers will be allowed 11 a.m. – 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Sunday.
The National Society of Leadership & Success (NSLS)
The National Society of Leadership & Success is coming back to campus bigger and stronger than ever before on campus. It is still the largest organization on campus and the chapter still plans to outgrow themselves each semester.
In addition to honorable distinction, the NSLS provides a step-by-step program for members to build their leadership skills through participation at their campus or online. Upon completion of the program, members receive their leadership certificate and take their place among the top student leaders at their campus and across the country. Members are able to list their affiliation on all statements of personal accomplishment, including their resume.
Membership is for life and provides access to benefits including scholarships and awards, exclusive on-campus events, employer recruitment through an online job bank, and discounts on computers, textbooks, grad school prep courses, insurance and much more. Once you have paid your registration fee, you are considered a member (also known as pre-inducted member) with access to certain benefits. In order to become an inducted member, you must complete the following steps:
Orientation: the first meeting that occurs each semester and will give you access to all the information you need about the program in order to successfully complete the steps for induction as a member.
Leadership Training Day: an interactive video training session with a workbook designed to help you identify and overcome any obstacles that may interfere with obtaining your goals. This introspective seminar helps you to recognize your strengths and weaknesses, and lastly to shift your focus toward your real passions.
Three speaker broadcast events: you will watch some of the world’s most successful motivational speakers discussing topics related to leadership, identifying goals, facing challenges, personal growth, and successfully transitioning from college to career.
Three Success Networking Team meetings: bring together groups of students that work together and provide peer coaching on achieving goals. You can discuss goals, desires and expectations, set timelines and hold each other accountable for achieving what you want. The Success Networking Team provides members with a support network of like-minded goal-oriented students on campus.
Once you complete these steps, you will be invited to an induction ceremony where you will receive your membership kit.
The NSLS Chapter at Texas A&M University-Texarkana currently has 324 members in total. However, the chapter expects a significant jump in that number over the next month. The chapter sent out 618 invitations this past Friday, September 6th and so far, the chapter has already 11 joins in just 3 days! Members who received an invitation have until October 3rd, 2019 to accept the invitations. Just next month, Emily Page, Bethany Melton, and Philip Derouen to attend a conference in Houston Texas to bring back more ideas from chapters nationwide right back to Texas A&M University-Texarkana! Emily Page and Bethany Melton were two of the first inducted members on campus since the chapter started in 2018 and they both moved up to serve on the Executive Board. It will Emily’s first semester to serve on the Executive Board and she could not be more excited! “I’m so happy I said yes and I don’t regret the decision at all! I’m beyond happy and thankful to work alongside both of y’all” Emily stated. as she is getting prepared for the conference in Houston.
The NSLS is the nation’s largest leadership honor society. Students are selected by their college for membership based on either academic standing or leadership potential. Candidacy is a nationally recognized achievement of honorable distinction.
hilarious and helpful field guide for navigating an Undead Armageddon. Consisting of ten short skit-like segments that demonstrate handy hints for staying alive, this silly and spooky show is sure to tickle your funny bone.
