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Leach Theatre
103 Castleman Hall
400 W. 10th St.
Rolla, MO 65409-1550
Office (573)341-6964
Tickets (573)341-4219
leach@mst.edu
Campus Performing Arts Series-
Garrison Keillor | The charming, witty, and always-entertaining writer, humorist, and celebrity speaker Garrison Keillor is probably best known for his widely popular radio show A Prairie Home Companion . The show attracts more than two million listeners on more than 450 NPR stations weekly. Keillor is also the host of the daily radio and online program, The Writers Almanac, and a best-selling author of many books, including Lake Wobegon Days ; Love Me ; and Homegrown Democrat . |
Family Film Series-
| Cars Saturday September 20th 11:00 AM Admission $2.00  | While traveling to California for the dispute of the final race of the Piston Cup against the King and Chick Hicks, the famous Lightning McQueen accidentally damages the road of the small town Radiator Springs and is sentenced to repair it. Lightning McQueen has to work hard and finds friendship and love in the simple locals, changing his values during his stay in the small town and becoming a true winner. Activities following the film will include: Coloring a large felt Cars Poster ($1.00 Materials Fee) Other fun free activities will also be available. Lunch will be available for a small fee Back to Top |
October 2008
School Outreach Series / Family Series-
Wednesday October 8th 2008 at 9:30 AM, 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM  | Mammoth Follies explores the wonders of evolution in an old-fashioned revue of original songs, witty jokes, and earth-smashing dances performed by giant dinosaur puppets. This program will dramatize historic and scientific facts (as well as some myths) about the great age of the dinosaur. Enormous puppets populate the stage, including your host Willie Mammoth, Smiley the Saber-Toothed Tiger, Bessie the 27-foot long Apatosaurus, Tony and Trixie Triceratops, Terry the Pterodactyl, and the 11-foot tall T. Rex in a musical trip through pre-history. |
Family Series-
| The Shangri-La Chinese Acrobats SRO Artists Thursday October 9th 2008 7:00 PM $15.00 Adults / $10.00 Children Sponsored in Part by: One Stop Costume & Party Shoppe
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 | For over 20 years, the amazing performances of the The Shangri-La Chinese Acrobats® (formerly the Chinese Magic Revue) have been the perfect high-energy attraction for 100's of universities, performing arts centers and corporate events. It's no wonder. Under the direction of acrobatic legends, the Hai Family, the company flawlessly interprets the precision and grace of an art form honed by years of training and discipline; Chinese acrobatics. Their multi-faceted and multi-cultural production features dazzling acrobatic displays, formidable feats of daring and balance, explosive Kung Fu, brilliant costumes, and even a touch of Chinese comedy. Made possible in part by a grant from the Missouri Arts Council. Back to Top |
Leach Special Events-
| Cherryholmes Sunday, October 12th - 2:00 p.m. Adult $30 Youth $25
 | Until April of 1999, the dynamic family band known as Cherryholmes did not exist, and half of its youthful members hadn't even picked up an instrument. In five short years, this high-energy Nashville-based band was named 2005 IBMA's Entertainers of the Year. Cherryholmes has many qualities that make them unique, but the basis of their success lies in plain, old-fashioned hard work combined with shining star talent that only appears to glow more brightly with each performance. They embody the American Bluegrass dream. All six band members pull their creative ideas to form their own new brand of bluegrass music. Every member takes a turn singing lead and showcasing their abilities. Their live shows include twin fiddles, Irish step dancing, classic country yodeling, and old-time claw hammer in addition to their dynamic bluegrass. The band leader, Jere, sums the band up this way , "People say that bluegrass music has to change or evolve or it will die. Well, if you change something from one thing to another it isn't alive anyway. I don't really think it needs to be changed. It just needs new life breathed into it. I feel like maybe I'm offerring that with my family." Visit Cherryholmes Online! Sponsored in part by: Public Radio KMST 88.5 FM Back to the Top |
Campus Performing Arts Series-
Tuesday October 21st 7:30pm Adult $30 Youth $25
| It's back! This time, even newer and even more improved. The Comedy of Errors has been a massive hit for Aquila Theatre since its first incarnation in New York in 2000. Since then, this high-powered, vibrant production has delighted audiences at the La Jolla Playhouse, the LA Shakespeare Festival, European Shakespeare festivals, and coast-to-coast in the United States. The shrewd and inventive plot relates the story of two pairs of identical twins in the same house-hold separated by a devastating shipwrek. But as this delightful comedy unfolds, all is not what it seems. Shakespeare's remarkable staging propels a glorious, farcical romp set in the sumptuous surroundings of the ancient city of Ephesus. Brilliant comedy abounds in this witty take of mistaken identity, assumed personas, hilarious machinations and whimsical family ties. Shakespeare expertly weaves these boisterously entertaining strands together allowing his audience to stay one step ahead of his characters and laugh heartily at the outrageous results. Visit Aquila Theatre Online! Back to the Top |
| Jacques Thibaud Trio Wednesday, October 15th - 7:30 p.m. Adult $28 Youth $18 Presented in collaboration with  | Prize-winners in the prestigious 1999 Bonn Chamber Music Competition, the Jacques Thibaud String Trio was founded at the Berlin School of Art in 1994. Since then, the ensemble has performed throughout Europe, Japan and over 40 States of the U.S., receiving tremendous acclaim from audiences and critics alike. Calling their playing "spontaneous and commanding," the New York Times said, "this could be the first string trio in some time to have a major career." With their charm, youthful exuberance and astounding virtuosity, the Trio has delighted audiences of all ages in large and small venues. In the U.S., they have appeared at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall, Alice Tully Hall and Walter Reade Theatre, New York City's Frick Collection (twice), Washington DC's National Gallery, hundreds of other venues including Stanford University, the Caramoor and Bravo! Vail Valley Festival, the Cleveland Museum of Art, and cities including Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, San Diego, Milwaukee, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Memphis, Indianapolis, Phoenix, Tucson, Salt Lake City and Honolulu.
Sponsored in part by: Back to the Top |
| United States Army Field Band and Soldiers' Chorus Friday October 24th 2008 - 7:30 PM Admission is Free. Tickets will be available starting Monday September 29th.  |
Reduced Shakespeare Company: The Complete History of America (Abridged)
| 600 Years of History in 6000 seconds! From Washington to Watergate, yea verily from the Bering Straits to Baghdad, from New World to New World Order, the three cultural guerillas of the Reduced Shakespeare Company will take you on a ninety minute rollercoaster ride through the glorious quagmire that is American History. The RSC tackles such controversial questions as: Who really discovered America? Why did Abe Lincoln free the slaves? How many Democrats does it take to screw in a lightbulb? History is normally written by the winners... now it's the RSC's turn. Visit the Reduced Shakespeare Company Online! Sponsored in part by: Bob & Susan Hooper Missouri University of Science and Technology Student Union Board Back to the Top |
Family Film Series-
Admission $2.00  | Remy is a young rat in the French countryside who arrives in Paris only to find out that his cooking idol is dead. When he makes an unusual alliance with a restaurant's new garbage boy the culinary and personal adventures begin despite Remy's family's skepticism and the rat-hating world of humans. Fun free activities will be available following the film Back to the Top |
School Outreach-
Jason and the Argonauts
Monday November 24th 2008 at 9:30 AM (Sold Out!) and 1:00 PM
Tuesday November 25th 2008 9:30 AM
Grades 5-6
 | Jason’s uncle isn’t exactly lovable…he’s murdered his brother (the king) and stolen the kingdom and now nobody dares stand up to him. Things are about to get a major shake up though because Jason is BACK! After being banished as a baby, our wannabe hero returns to claim his rightful throne and make some big changes. However, in ancient times nothing’s that straightforward. Jason and his crew must sail on The Argo to the other side of the world to find the Golden Fleece and bring it back in order to unite the people again. As if that wasn’t difficult enough, the odd monster, sleeping dragon and clashing rock endeavour to ruin his trip and spice things up on this most fantastic of journeys!
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December-
Admission $2.00  | Bitter and hateful, the Grinch is irritated at the thought of the nearby village having a happy time celebrating Christmas. So disguised as Santa Claus, with his dog made to look like a reindeer, he raids the village to steal all the Christmas things. The village is sure to have a sad Christmas this year. Fun free activities will be available following the film Sponsored in Part by: One Stop Costume & Party Shoppe Back to Top |
A Rita Coolidge Christmas  | Rita Coolidge lights up the holidays at Leach Theatre with her enchanting Christmas arrangements, her popular hits, and a choir of local children. Rita thrills audiences with her classic hits, including Higher & Higher, We're All Alone, and music from her recent best selling Jazz CD and So Is Love and her fun, and occasionally outrageous, reading of The Night Before Christmas. Visit Rita's web site! Sponsored in Part by: Forum Dental Andrew Garrett, Inc. Back to the Top |
| Formosa String Quartet Wednesday, January 28th 7:30 p.m. Adult $30 Youth $25   | Winners of the First Prize and the Amadeus Prize at the Tenth London International String Quartet Competition in 2006, the Formosa Quartet was formed in 2003 when the four founding members came together for a concert tour of Taiwan, the land of their shared heritage. Reviewing their critically acclaimed debut CD released by EMI, the Strad states, “their imaginative account of Mozart … is spellbinding,�? while Gramophone describes their playing as “remarkably fine both in meticulous response to the letter and in a desire to look beyond the notes.�? In addition to their performances of traditional repertoire, the Formosa Quartet has also embraced the works of contemporary composers, with an upcoming world premiere of Shih-hui Chen’s Mei Hua for String Quartet at the Caramoor Festival, as well as performances of pieces by Bright Sheng and Richard Wilson.The members of the Formosa Quartet – Jasmine Lin, Ayano Ninomiya, Che-Yen Chen, and Jacob Braun – have already established themselves as leading solo, chamber, and orchestral musicians. With degrees from Juilliard, the New England Conservatory, the Cleveland Institute, Curtis, Harvard, and Yale, they have performed in major venues around the United States, Asia, Europe, and South America. They have been top prizewinners in the Primrose, Paganini, and Naumburg competitions. As chamber musicians, they have appeared regularly at the Marlboro, Caramoor, and Ravinia festivals, and at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. They have held title positions in the San Diego and Cincinnati Symphonies and have been on the chamber music faculty at Interlochen, University of California San Diego, Taos School of Music, and Northwestern University. Visit The Formosa String Quartet Web Site!
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Jazz Reach- Stolen Moments: The First One Hundred Years of Jazz
Wednesday January 14th 2009 at 9:30 AM (Sold Out!) and 1:00 PM
Grades 6-12
 | Targeting students grades 6-12, Stolen Moments is a thoroughly engaging, 70 minute multi-media program that introduces audiences to jazz music's rich history and to the names, faces and music of some of its many masters. On a broader level, Stolen Moments also highlights the interplay between the jazz movement and the evolution of American culture throughout the Twentieth Century, emphasizing the ways in which jazz has acted as a unifying force, bridging cultural, ethnic and economic differences; stimulated cultural fusions and new stylistic idioms; exemplified democratic ideals; and influenced other genres of music, both in the U.S. and abroad. |
Butterfly: The Story of a Life Cycle
Tuesday February 10th 9:30 AM (Sold Out!) and 1:00 PM (Sold Out!)
and
Wednesday February 11th 2009 9:30 AM (Sold Out!) and 1:00 PM
Grades K-2
 | Take a microscopic look at the insect world on the big stage! From her tiny egg we will follow the Monarch Butterfly as she grows through her caterpillar state and makes the amazing metamorphosis in the chrysalis and her incredible 1,500 mile journey to Mexico. With her insect companions she will learn about her symbiotic relationship with Milkweed. She depends on it for food, home, and her unique form of defense against predators. |
Wednesday February 25th 7:30pm Adult $30 Youth $25 
| Heading into a second decade of activity, the success of the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet is cause for celebration. ASFB is a uniquely structured and multi-faceted organization, founded in 1990 by longtime Aspenite Bebe Schweppe. It not only is a nationally recognized dance company, a leader in the dance world in terms of repertoire, acquiring and commissioning work from top choreographers; but it is also one of the largest dance presenters in the country, welcoming the best in dance in both Aspen and Santa Fe. Education is a priority for the organization with schools in each of the cities. Cultural community activity is also included under the ASFB umbrella, with the popular award-winning Mexican folklore youth program, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet Folklórico, offered in both locations. Visit the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet Online! Back to the Top |
| The Spencers Theatre of Illusion Friday February 20th 2009 7:00 PM $15.00 Adults / $10.00 Children Sponsored in part by: Phelps County Bank  |  | |
| For more than a decade, Kevin and Cindy Spencer have entertained audiences throughout the United States and around the world with one of the most successful touring illusion shows in the nation. They have earned the reputation as one of the most highly regarded acts in magical entertainment and one of the most sought-after illusion teams in the business. Their show, Theatre of Illusion, is much more than a magic show. It’s a powerful theatrical experience that you will never forget. What the Spencers create is “theatre�? in the truest sense of the word.You will cross over a threshold of disbelief only moments after the Spencers take the stage. Theirs is a place where artistry and theatre converge; where intellect and amazement collide; and where impossibility and inspiration are inseparable. Theatre of Illusion is a magical concert for your eyes! By combining original theatrical elements with cutting-edge illusions, audience interaction, dramatic lighting, special effects, music, movement and stage magic, the Spencers have propelled the age-old art of magic into the 21st century.
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Glenn Miller Orchestra
| The legendary Glenn Miller was one of the most successful of all the dance bandleaders back in the Swing era of the 1930s and '40s. A matchless string of hit records, the constant impact of radio broadcasts, and the drawing power at theatres, hotels, and dance pavilions built and sustained the momentum of popularity. B ecause of popular demand, the Miller Estate authorized the formation of the present Glenn Miller Orchestra in 1956 under the direction of drummer Ray McKinley, who had become the unofficial leader of the Army Air Force Band after Glenn's disappearance. Since then, other leaders have followed Ray including clarinetists Buddy DeFranco and Peanuts Hucko, trumpeter & jazz educator Dick Lowenthal, drummer Clem DeRosa, trombonists Buddy Morrow, Jimmy Henderson and Larry O'Brien, and tenor saxophonist Dick Gerhart. The 19-member band continues to play many of the original Miller arrangements that keep exciting fans who have not heard them played for a while. Additionally, they are also playing more modern selections in the big-band style, carefully selecting only those newer tunes that lend themselves naturally to the Miller style and sound, carefully selected pieces that will stay around for a while. The entire repertoire which now exceeds 1,700 compositions keeps the band popular with both young and old. Most of the band's shows are sell-outs. It has proven staying power, and its popularity has never seemed to wane. Indeed, the Glenn Miller Orchestra today is still the most sought after big-band in the world just as it was in Glenn's day. Visit the Glenn Miller Orchestra Web Site! Sponsored in part by: Mr. & Mrs. Vince Carpenter Back to the Top |
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Ain’t Misbehavin’ with Ruben Studdard Sponsored in part by the Phelps County Regional Medical Center Medical Group
| 30th Anniversary Tour of the 1978 Tony™Award-winning Best Musical AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ starring 2003 American Idol Winner Ruben Studdard and Frenchie Davis, 2003 American Idol contestant and star of RENT on Broadway. The outrageously prodigious comic and musical soul of 1930’s Harlem is showcased in this rollicking, swinging, finger-snapping revue that is still considered one of Broadway’s most well-crafted shows of all time – sometimes sassy, sometimes sultry, with moments of heartwarming beauty. Ain’t Misbehavin’ is simply unforgettable! Back to the Top |
| Dr. Dolittle Sign Stage on Tour Friday April 17th 2009 7:00 PM $12.00 Adults / $8.00 Children |  | |
 Information about Deafness and Sign Language for Parents and Children
| In the story of Dr. Dolittle, we are introduced to the good Dr. who gives up treating people after Polynesia, his parrot, teaches him animal languages. He already knew sign language. Who would have thought he could learn animal languages too. His fame in the animal kingdom quickly spreads throughout the world. Using ALL his language skills, he sets off to cure a monkey epidemic in Africa, finding all sorts of adventures on the way.Sign Stage on Tour is a specialist in Sign Language Theatre where deaf and hearing actors perform together on stage. Whenever a character speaks, the character speaking uses Sign Language but you’ll always hear the voice too. The voice comes from a different actor speaking through a microphone, sometimes on-stage and sometimes off-stage. Visually, the stage is filled with the movement of hands and bodies yet every word is spoken to make sure all audience members, both deaf and hearing, don’t miss a thing. It’s a magical blend of language created when performing a play simultaneously in spoken English and in the spatial beauty of American Sign Language.
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| A Glenn Miller Brunch and Concert Thursday April 16th Brunch 11:00 AM at Christ Episcopal Church Concert 1:00 PM at Leach Theatre Brunch and Concert: $40.00 Concert Only: $25.00 Group Rates (20 or more) Brunch and Concert: $35.00 Concert Only: $20.00  | The legendary Glenn Miller was one of the most successful of all the dance bandleaders back in the Swing era of the 1930s and '40s. A matchless string of hit records, the constant impact of radio broadcasts, and the drawing power at theatres, hotels, and dance pavilions built and sustained the momentum of popularity. B ecause of popular demand, the Miller Estate authorized the formation of the present Glenn Miller Orchestra in 1956 under the direction of drummer Ray McKinley, who had become the unofficial leader of the Army Air Force Band after Glenn's disappearance. Since then, other leaders have followed Ray including clarinetists Buddy DeFranco and Peanuts Hucko, trumpeter & jazz educator Dick Lowenthal, drummer Clem DeRosa, trombonists Buddy Morrow, Jimmy Henderson and Larry O'Brien, and tenor saxophonist Dick Gerhart. The 19-member band continues to play many of the original Miller arrangements that keep exciting fans who have not heard them played for a while. Additionally, they are also playing more modern selections in the big-band style, carefully selecting only those newer tunes that lend themselves naturally to the Miller style and sound, carefully selected pieces that will stay around for a while. The entire repertoire which now exceeds 1,700 compositions keeps the band popular with both young and old. Most of the band's shows are sell-outs. It has proven staying power, and its popularity has never seemed to wane. Indeed, the Glenn Miller Orchestra today is still the most sought after big-band in the world just as it was in Glenn's day. Visit the Glenn Miller Orchestra Web Site! Back to the Top |
| Bye-Bye Birdie Tuesday April 21st 7:00pm $28 for Adults  | Lots of laughs and great songs have made this favorite hit Broadway show one of the most memorable musicals of all time. When rock star and teenage heartthrob Conrad Birdie gets drafted, the nation’s teenagers go haywire and Conrad’s songwriter, Albert, faces unemployment. So Albert and his girlfriend organize a nationwide contest in which one lucky girl wins a farewell kiss from Conrad on “The Ed Sullivan Show.�? Kim McAfee turns out to be the lucky teenager and Conrad’s whole entourage moves into her quiet Midwestern home – much to the chagrin of her ever-irritable father and her jealous boyfriend. The result is chaos and a series of romantic complications.
The momentous hit tunes include “Put On A Happy Face�?, “A Lot of Livin’ To Do�?, “One Last Kiss�?, “One Boy�?, the riotous lament of parents with teenagers “What’s The Matter With Kids Today?�?, and the uproarious salute to the greater glory of Ed Sullivan entitled “Hymn For A Sunday Evening!�?. It was a winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical. Click on the image above to purchase tickets for this event online! You will be directed to our ticketing partner site at UMKC. |
| David Cook SOLD OUT! Monday April 27th 7:30 PM Adults- $38 (Limit 4 per customer) Youth (under 18)- $22 (Limit 4 per customer) Missouri S&T Students- $22 (one per ID, limit 2 ID's) The first 100 tickets will be available to Missouri S&T Students in person at the box office window only on March 31st. Limit One per Valid ID, Limit 2 ID's per Student Tickets go on sale to the general public April 1st at 9:00 AM at the box office window only. No Phone orders will be taken on April 1st. April 2nd, the general public may purchase any remaining tickets at the box office or by phone. 
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Just one week after being named the winner of the seventh season of "American Idol," 25-year-old David Cook rewrote chart history, with a record-breaking 14 debuts on Billboard's Hot Digital Songs survey. He also had 11 songs jump onto the Hot 100, the highest number of new entries ever, and the second-highest amount of simultaneous hits since the Beatles in 1964. All that, and his single, "The Time of My Life," instantly became the highest debuting title of 2008, entering the Hot 100 at No. 3. When this most recent season of "American Idol" began, Cook wasn't on anyone's radar to win the whole thing - including his own. "I like that I 'snuck up' on people," he says. "During those early shows, when there were 24 people, I knew I didn't have to be one of the best, but I didn't want to be one of the worst. So it was fun for me because there wasn't a lot of pressure and I could find my own footing." Cook won fans with his unique renditions of songs like Lionel Richie's "Hello," Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" and the Beatles' "Eleanor Rigby." He explains, "When I began, I told vocal coach Debra Byrd I wanted the season to be like a set list, so people would feel like they were at one of my concerts." Cook's musical journey began early. He grew up watching his father play guitar. But David's first instrument of choice was the violin. "I tried that first because there was a girl in the school orchestra I thought was pretty." When he was in seventh grade, his dad bought him a Fender Stratocaster. "I was bad at it because I never took a lesson. Gradually I got better." He was exposed to many different genres of music. "My parents had eclectic record collections. My mom liked Kenny Rogers and my dad was more into Boston, Kansas and Dire Straits. The first cassette tape I ever bought was by Kris Kross. I was into Boyz II Men for a while. When I was 13, someone played me the song 'Closer' by Nine Inch Nails and once I got past the audacity of the lyrics, I really enjoyed the song. So I backtracked through rock, which got me to where I am now." David formed a band in high school with a friend and appeared in three musicals: "West Side Story," "Singin' in the Rain" and "The Music Man." He also loved sports and played baseball throughout high school. Ultimately his love for music brought his attention back to his band. David enrolled at Central Missouri State, changed the name of the band from Redeye to Axiom to Axium and had some local success. As he was completing his studies, David had to choose between working as a graphic designer in Kansas City or moving to Tulsa to play rhythm guitar and sing backing vocals for a band called the Midwest Kings. "Of course, I moved to Tulsa," he says. That's where he lives today, although home is officially Blue Springs, Missouri. The Cook family relocated there after David was born in Houston on Dec. 20, 1982. |
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