Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University’s Division of Music will host Angela Morgan, Garrett Sayers and Hailey Weiner in student recitals Friday, Oct. 17. The sophomore recitals will be held in Mabee Fine Arts Center’s McBeth Recital Hall and are free and open to the public.

Weiner, a musical theatre major from Maumelle, Ark., will present her recital at 11 a.m. She has earned second place as well as semi-finalist honors in the lower music theatre division of the National Association of Teachers of Singing Arkansas auditions. Weiner also has played the role of Minnie Fay in Ouachita’s production of Hello, Dolly! and was a dancer in the OBU production of Guys and Dolls. Her voice instructor is Suzetta Glenn, lecturer in music, and acting coach is Drew Hampton, assistant professor of theatre arts.

Weiner’s recital will include the following selections: Andrew Lippa’s “The Life of the Party” from Wild Party, a scene from Tight Spot by Ted Tiller, Leonard Bernstein’s “A Little Bit in Love” from Wonderful Town and Brian Lowdermilk’s “Freedom” from The Unauthorized Autobiography of Samantha Brown. She will be accompanied on the piano by Susan Monroe, lecturer in music, and assisted by Stacy Hawking, a junior musical theatre major from Sherwood, Ark., and Jessica Smith, a senior musical theatre major from Van Buren, Ark.

Morgan, a musical theatre major from Bryant, Ark., and Sayers, a musical theatre major from Greenwood, Ark., will present their recitals at 2 p.m.

Morgan has been a member of Women’s Chorus and has earned semi-finalist honors in the lower music theatre division of the National Association of Teachers of Singing southern region and state auditions. She also has played the role of Mother in Ouachita’s production of The Giver.

Morgan’s recital will include the following selections: Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones’ “Much More” from The Fantasticks, a scene from The Matchmakers by Don Zolidis, Frank Wildhorn and Dan Black’s “You Love Who You Love” from Bonnie and Clyde and Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison’s “Show Off” from The Drowsy Chaperone. She will be accompanied by Susan Monroe, lecturer in music, and assisted by Kayla Walker, a sophomore musical theatre major from North Little Rock, Ark.

Sayers has been a member of Ouachita Singers and Ouachita Sounds and has played the roles of Frog in Ouachita’s production of A Year with Frog and Toad and Emcee/Dancer in the OBU production of Guys and Dolls. His voice instructor is Dr. Glenda Secrest, professor of music, and acting coach is Drew Hampton, assistant professor of theatre arts.

Sayers’ recital will include the following selections: Nacio Herb Brown’s “Singin’ in the Rain” from Singin’ in the Rain, John Cariani’s “Her Heart” from Almost Maine, Harvey Schmidt’s “They Were You” from The Fantasticks, George Gershwin’s “Embraceable You” from Girl Crazy and Jeanine Tesori’s “What Do I Need with Love?” from Thoroughly Modern Milie. He will be accompanied on the piano by Phyllis Walker, staff accompanist.

“Show Off” as well as “Singin’ in the Rain” were choreographed by Stacy Hawking, a junior musical theatre major from Sherwood, Ark.

Josh Wayne, a choral music education major from Nixa, Mo., also will perform his senior recital at 11 a.m. For more information, contact Ouachita’s School of Fine Arts at (870) 245-5129.