Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University’s Division of Music will host Angela Morgan and Kyle Osmon in their senior musical theatre recital Thursday, March 17, at 7:30 p.m. The recital, “Worth the Wait,” will be held in Mabee Fine Arts Center’s McBeth Recital Hall. A reception in Hammons Gallery will immediately follow the recital.

“Getting to perform in front of your peers is something very nerve-wracking but also very rewarding,” Morgan explained. “Getting to support and be supported by those who are in the same field as you is so nice. It really emphasizes the community aspect of the art world.”

Morgan, a senior musical theatre major from Bryant, Ark., was a 2011 state semifinalist in the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) auditions and a 2013 regional NATS semifinalist.

“My experience as a student here at OBU has been a little different than the normal OBU senior,” Morgan noted. “I came to OBU my freshman year, left for two years and then came back. Every single moment since my return to OBU has been about taking in as much information as I possibly can before I graduate and really enjoying the people that I have been so blessed to meet here. At the end of it all, OBU has given me so much. I have learned so many lessons here. I have struggled and I have succeeded. Throughout everything it has been so worth it.”

Osmon, a senior musical theatre major from Rogers, Ark., has been involved in Concert Choir, Ouachita Singers and Alpha Psi Omega national theatre honor society. He was a 2013 regional NATS finalist and a 2014 Ouachita Tiger Tunes host.

“I am so excited to share a culmination of four years with all my friends and family,” Osmon said. “I love Angela so much, and I’m so excited to share this night with her. Thanks to all my mentors, friends and my parents, my first and favorite teachers.”

Morgan and Osmon will begin the recital with Irving Berlin’s “Anything You Can Do” from Annie Get Your Gun. Osmon will then open his solo portion of the recital with Drew Gasparini’s “Disaster.”

Morgan will then perform Stephen Sondheim’s “It Takes Two” from Into the Woods, choreographed by Stacy Hawking, a senior musical theatre major from Sherwood, Ark. Michael Pere, a junior musical theatre major from Roland, Ark., will assist her. Osmon will follow with Act 1, Scene 1 from Stephen Karam’s Sons of the Prophet. Kathleen Suit, a senior theatre arts major from Hot Springs, Ark., will assist him.

Morgan will present Don Zolidis’ Mammoth; she will be assisted by Pere. She will then open her solo portion of the recital with Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx’s “A Fine, Fine Line” from Avenue Q. Osmon will return to present Scene 3 from Lyle Kessler’s Orphans and Nick Blaemire’s “Boys” from Glory Days. Hunter Brown, a senior musical theatre major from Lavaca, Ark., will assist him on both pieces.

Morgan will return to perform Act 2, Scene 6 from Wendy Wasserstein’s The Heidi Chronicles. Walter Dodd, a senior theatre arts major from Little Rock, Ark., will assist her. Osmon will wrap up his portion of the recital with Frank Loesser’s “Sit Down, You’re Rocking the Boat” from Guys and Dolls, choreographed by Hawking. Morgan will conclude the recital with Jason Robert Brown’s “Surabaya-Santa” from Songs for a New World.

“The senior recital is something that all music majors look forward to,” Morgan said. “I am so excited to be at a point where I can share what all I have learned while here at Ouachita!”

The recital is free and open to the public. Susan Monroe and Phyllis Walker will serve as accompanists for the performances. For more information, contact Ouachita’s School of Fine Arts at (870) 245-5129.

 

By Anna Hurst