Campus Lights presents 71st annual campus production
Ashley Henson
Issue date: 1/18/08 Section: College Life
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Murray State's own version of Conrad Birdie and the rest of the cast will take on a musical form while performing "Bye Bye Birdie" as part of the annual Campus Lights production.
The Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia professional music fraternity founded Campus Lights in 1938 as a fundraiser to pay for the group's charter. After the show proved a success, Phi Mu Alpha decided to make the production an annual event to raise money for music scholarships for prospective Murray State music majors.
During World War II, the sisters of Sigma Alpha Iota ran the production while the brothers served in the war. After their return, the partnership stayed intact and Campus Lights has been a collaborative effort of the two groups ever since.
Adam Denison, senior from Hopkinsville, Ky., has been involved with Campus Lights for the past four years. This year he is stepping off the stage into a director's chair.
"It says a lot that this is the 71st year for the production and it is still going," Denison said. "Campus Lights is directed, produced, stage managed, performed, etc., all by the students, and it is extraordinary that it all happens at Murray State."
Another unique attribute of the production is diversity. It's not just for music majors, and this year's cast proves the theory.
"We have such a large and diverse cast," Denison said. "There are over 40 people in the cast this year and they represent over 25 different majors. It's for people all over campus."
Paul Corder, senior from Hardinsburg, Ky., was cast for the lead role, Albert Peterson, and said he feels Campus Lights is a place where he can step out of his shell.
Peterson plays president of Almaelou Music Corp. and acts as Birdie Conrad's manager.
"I hadn't really done a whole lot of acting in high school," Corder said. "And Campus Lights, being a student-run production, took some of the pressure off because it felt like just doing something with friends. And that's why I keep coming back. By the end of the production you really become a family, of sorts, because you have spent so much time together over the course of a month. It's really a great experience."
The female lead, Melissa Crespo, junior from Mascoutah, Ill., is new to Campus Lights but landed the role of Rosie Alvarez.
Rosie helps plan an appearance for Conrad on "The Ed Sullivan Show" right before he leaves for the Army and also acts as Albert's love interest.
"This has honestly been one of the best experiences of my college career," Crespo said. "I have met so many amazing people I would not have met had I not been involved with Campus Lights."
Showings of "Bye Bye Birdie" start at 7:30 p.m. and run Thursday through Jan. 26 with a 2:30 p.m. showing on Jan. 27.
Tickets are $10. There are also special discount days - admission is only $5 for faculty and staff on Thursday, student organizations on Friday and local schools on Sunday.
Alumni are encouraged to attend Saturday but admission will be regular price.
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