Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University’s Division of Music will host Nicole Mattson and MaryLacey Thomson in their senior voice recital on March 4. The recital, which is free and open to the public, will be held in Mabee Fine Arts Center’s McBeth Recital Hall at 7:30 p.m.

“This recital is very significant to us because this is our chance to show our teachers and peers how far we have come over our fours years at Ouachita,” Mattson noted. The recital is presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Bachelor of Arts degree in musical theatre.

Mattson is a native of Rowlett, Texas, and has been involved on Ouachita’s campus as a Tiger Tunes hostess, a member of Ouachita Sounds and a member of the Miss OBU Pageant Court of Honor. She also has served as historian for Ouachita’s chapter of Theta Alpha Phi national honor fraternity for theatre arts. She is a student of Robin Williams, lecturer in music, and Mary Handiboe, associate professor of theatre arts.

Thomson is a native of Plano, Texas, and also has been involved as a Tiger Tunes hostess and member of Ouachita Sounds. Additionally, she has been crowned Miss Ouachita Baptist University and Miss Greater Hot Springs, served as song leader for EEE women’s social club and earned Ouachita’s Outstanding Theatre Freshman Award. She is a student of David Stanley, instructor of music, and Mary Handiboe.

Mattson and Thomson will collaborate for the recital’s opening number, Cole Porter’s “Friendship” from Anything Goes, as well as Act I, Scene I from Rabbit Hole by David Lindsay-Abaire. They will also close the recital together with the short play “A Young Lady of Property” by Horton Foote and Cy Coleman’s “My Friend” from the musical The Life.

Mattson’s solo performances will include musical selections “I’m a Star” by Scott Alan, Irving Berlin’s “I Got Lost in His Arms” from Annie Get Your Gun, “Surabaya Santa” from Songs for a New World by Jason Robert Brown and Joey Contreras’ “Love Me, Love Me Not” from the musical of the same name. She also will deliver the comedic monologue “Mrs. Claus Dumps Santa” by Wade Bradford.

Thomson’s solo performances will include musical selections John Kander’s “Willing to Ride” from Steel Pier, Jerry Bock’s “When Did I Fall in Love” from Fiorello!, Bruce Greer’s “My Future” from It’s a Wonderful Life and Benj Pasek and Justin Paul’s “Before It’s Over” from Dogfight. She also will present the monologue “Unknown Thoughts” by Liza Carroll.

Susan Monroe and Phyllis Walker will serve as accompanists on piano for the recital.

For more information, contact OBU’s School of Fine Arts at (870) 245-5129.