Southeastern NEWS
Southeastern Louisiana University
Public Information Office
publicinfo@selu.edu
SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
985-549-2341/fax 985-549-2061
Date: 10/18/01
Contact: Angey Saucier 39
Editors: Photo accompanies release Please note local interest
SLU DANCEWORKS PRESENTS "WISH" NOV. 1 & 2
HAMMOND Southeastern Louisiana University's resident dance company,
Danceworks, will close out the 2001 Fanfare season with "Wish" November 1 and 2 at Vonnie
Borden Theatre.
The multimedia dance event, choreographed and directed by Southeastern dance
professor Martie Fellom, will include two dances and a short film, all encompassing different
aspects of wishes.
"Wish" begins with "Fuss Budgets," a comedy in which three women address their pet
peeves. Little annoyances in driving, shopping and restroom etiquette are discussed in melody
and dance to the"William Tell Overture," popularly known as the "Lone Ranger" theme.
"From the time the curtain rises and the audience sees the costumes, they will see the
humor," said Fellom. "Through children's games like 'patty cake,' we see the childish aspect of
the little, insignificant aspects of life that irritate many people."
Jennifer "J.B." Buck, Harvey; Leslie M. Comeaux, Violet; and Jessica Marie Lee,
Kentwood, will make their "wishes" against the little things people do to music provided by
pianist Stephen Suber, Southeastern professor and composer-in-residence. Student Kelsy
Chambers of Baton Rouge serves as vocal coach and Ellen Vercellotti, who received her
Bachelor of General Studies degree from Southeastern in 1991, is the costume designer.
Following "Fuss Budgets" is a short film also entitled "Wish." Written by and starring Alan
Marsh, author of the novel "Kings of the Night" and the children's book "Where Are The
Dinosaurs?," the feature tells a tender hearted tale of a little girl's birthday wish. Erica Tricou, a
second grader at the Southeastern Lab School, and her mother Becky Wilson, will also star in the
ten-minute feature.
"There are no words, just movement to the music," said Fellom.
Music for Marsh's feature is by Conor McGibboney of Hammond and director of
photography is Southeastern photographer Claude Levet. Sound recording engineer is Brandon
Cubis of Nameless and video editor is Devin Broome.
Concluding the program is "One Deep Breath," which Fellom described as "a peaceful
and calm dance about the quiet moment in which one stops and breathes in deeply, discovering
the little things that have always been there."
"For people who are constantly busy, moving from one thing to the next, this piece helps
to discover something new and enchanting," said Fellom. She said the act interweaves a personal
experience in which she noticed the birds singing for the first time on a significant day of her
life.
"One Deep Breath" will be performed by students Heather Breland, Abita Springs;
Kristin Brooks Johnson, Oakdale; Karen Elizabeth LeBlanc, Kenner; Alison Maraman, Tracy D.
Nobles, Karolyn Laura Pinsel, Tamara Pearson, Hammond; Katherine Oliveri, Chalmette; and
Ashley Roberts, Slidell.
Costume design is by theatre professor Robin Steptoe, costume designer for Southeastern
Theatre. Crew members for "Wish" are Kalonda Bartley, Tracie Cavalier, Andrew Richmond,
and Tanisha Sheridan of Hammond, and Debbie Rodriguez of Harvey. All are students currently
enrolled in Dana Brewer-Plazinic's Dance 281 "Dance Production."
"Wish" is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. both nights. Tickets are $5 general admission, $3
senior citizens, faculty and staff, and non-SLU students. Southeastern students are admitted free
with their university I.D. Tickets will be available at the Fanfare box office from 10:30 a.m. to
3:30 p.m., weekdays. Tickets will also be sold at the box office in D Vickers Hall lobby
beginning at 7 p.m. on performance nights.
For more information on "Wish," call 985-549-2133.