Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University seniors Lindsey Lederer and Kayla Esmond will perform their musical theatre senior recitals Monday, March 3, at 7:30 p.m. in Mabee Fine Art Center’s McBeth Recital Hall.

Lindsey Lederer is a senior musical theatre major from Lewisville, Texas. “I am so excited about about my recital. I have the best partners, and we have put in so many hours of work,” Lederer said. She will be assisted on stage by Kaylee Nebe, a senior musical theatre major from Mesquite, Texas, as well as Walter Dodd, a sophomore theatre arts major from Little Rock, Ark. Lederer is a member of Theta Alpha Phi national honor fraternity for theatre arts, Ouachita Women’s Chorus and Tri Chi women’s social club.

Kayla Esmond is a senior musical theatre major from Burleson, Texas. “It has been amazing to get to buckle down and focus on the art that I love so much,” Esmond said. “I am focusing on putting on a good show for people who attend.” Esmond is also a member of Theta Alpha Phi and Ouachita Women’s Chorus and has been named to Ouachita’s Dean’s and President’s Lists.

Lederer’s performance will include “Little Known Facts” by Clark Gesner from You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, “Everything I Know” by Lin Manuel from In the Heights, a scene from Chocolate by Fredrick Stroppel, “Poor Unfortunate Souls” by Alan Menken from The Little Mermaid and “Secondary Characters” by Jeff Bowen. John Briggs, adjunct instructor of voice and staff accompanist, will accompany Lederer on piano.

“I cannot wait to perform ‘Poor Unfortunate Souls’ as Ursula,” Lederer noted. “I rarely get to play villainous characters, so I have had a lot of fun working on this role.”

Esmond will perform “Mein Herr” from Cabaret by John Kander, a scene from The Miser by Moliere, a monologue from Titus Andronicus by William Shakespeare, “Notice Me Horton” from Seussical by Stephen Flaherty, “Anyone Can Whistle” from Anyone Can Whistle by Stephen Sondheim, a scene from Gruesome Playground Injuries by Rajiv Joseph, “The Man That Got Away” from End of the Rainbow by Peter Quilter, and “You’re the Top” from Anything Goes by Cole Porter. Briggs will also accompany Esmond.

“I am most excited about my scene from Gruesome Playground Injuries,” Esmond said. “I like that it’s such an understated piece.”

“My time at Ouachita has prepared me for the tough world of professional acting by giving me all the tools needed to conduct myself with confidence,” Esmond explained.

“Ouachita’s music and theatre department has helped shape my idea of what I want to do after I graduate,” Lederer added. “I have had a well-rounded experience and have seen an increase in my appreciation for the arts and musical theatre.”

The recital is free and open to the public. For more information, contact OBU’s School of Fine Arts at (870) 245-5129.

By Jessica Stewart