Central Methodist University

The show will go on at Central Methodist University's Little Theatre this year, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. The first play of the season, A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, will be performed from October 8 to 11. The musical comedy, with book and lyrics by Robert L. Freedman and music by Steven Lutvak, tells the tale of Monty Navarro, the black sheep of the D'Ysquith family, who finds out he is ninth in line to inherit a dukedom and decides to eliminate the other eight heirs standing in his way. Under the leadership of Dr. Mark Kelty, professor of theatre, this year's plays will be rehearsed, produced, and performed in new ways with the safety of all involved at the forefront. One of the biggest changes is that the performances will be livestreamed online, rather than staged in front of a live audience at the Little Theatre. More details on where to find the stream will be released closer to the show's opening night.

Central Methodist University's new Praise Ensembles, a staple of the weekly Chapel activities in Linn Memorial United Methodist Church, are beginning to take their places as leaders in faith for the campus community. There will be four ensembles this year, selected by David Witter, director of music ministry education and assistant professor of music.

As the Fall 2020 semester approaches, Central Methodist University's newest team of residential hall directors and residential assistants (RAs) are here to welcome students back to campus. Residential life staff is responsible for providing support and lending guidance to students in each residential hall on the Fayette campus. Residential hall directors for 2020 include Darren Jones in Burford Hall, Nikole Walker in Holt Hall, Devin Walker in Howard-Payne Hall, Rose Bennett in McMurry Hall, and Seth McLemore in Woodward Hall.

Central Methodist University provost Dr. Rita Gulstad announced this week the students included on the Spring 2020 Dean's List. More than 780 students met the requirements for placement, including a grade point average of 3.50 or higher for the semester.

A school year's worth of outstanding performances and hard work by Central Methodist University students was recognized on Saturday as the Fine Arts Division held its annual award reception. Students, faculty, and other guests "attended" the event in the form of a Zoom conference. Dr. Dori Waggoner, chair of the Fine Arts Division, began the event by welcoming all to the meeting and congratulating the students on all they accomplished this year. Professor Skip Vandelicht then took over to announce the award winners for the division, complete with virtual certificates and applause sound effects.

The Central Methodist University Concert Band will soon set out for a tour across the state, during which the musicians will perform at a number of schools, churches, and performing arts centers. The 2020 tour marks the 94th year of the annual tour. Missouri Music Educators Association Hall of Fame inductee Roy "Skip" Vandelicht will once again conduct the band, which features 50 musicians ready to put their talent on display. The band will perform more than a dozen times from Thursday, March 19 through Tuesday, March 24.

Central Methodist University celebrated the graduation of more than 300 students at the Winter Commencement ceremony on December 7. Students from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) and the College of Graduate and Extended Studies were honored.

Central Methodist University Esports athletes made up 15 of 156 honorees in the Fall 2019 Eastern College Athletic Conference All-Academic team. To be eligible, each honoree must carry a grade point average of 3.2 or higher.

Linn Memorial United Methodist Church and Central Methodist University will host a performance by the University Band at 4 p.m. on Sunday, February 23. The free concert on the Fayette campus is open to the public. Professor Skip Vandelicht will conduct the band, with Steve Litwiller serving as guest conductor for the concert. Litwiller will conduct two selections on the program, "Windgate Festival" by Claude T. Smith and "Choreography" by Robert Sheldon. Also on the program for the afternoon will be "Coat of Arms" by George Kenny, "Sure on This Shining Night" by Samuel Barber (arranged by Richard Saucedo), "Songs of Old Kentucky" by Brant Karrick, and "Memor Vita!" by Brant Karrick.

Rehearsals will soon begin for a number of Central Methodist University student actors, as the March production by The Little Theatre is right around the corner. Love/Sick, a series of nine short plays by John Cariani, will debut March 5. Directed by Myriah Araiza, the show will be staged four times from March 5-8. The opening show on Thursday will begin at 4:30 p.m., the Friday and Saturday shows at 7:30, and the Sunday performance at 1:30.

To make the Central Methodist University Dean's List, students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.50 or above for the semester, among other criteria.

It's almost time to take the show on the road, as the Central Methodist University Chorale is preparing for its annual tour. From November 21-26, CMU's traveling talented Chorale will visit more than half a dozen high schools and as many churches. Dr. Claude Westfall, Chorale director, and Keaton Denney, choir manager, will lead a group of 31 students on the tour.

The November play scheduled to grace the stage at The Little Theatre is the perfect show to get the Central Methodist University community in the holiday spirit. Director Mark Kelty and the theatre department will put on 'Twas the Night Before Christmas at 7:30 p.m. on November 16 and 1:30 p.m. November 17. The show is open to all ages and tickets will be available at the door.

Music lovers on and around the Central Methodist University campus will soon have a chance to take in the great talent of the Chorale and Conservatory Singers at a Sunday concert open to the public. The performance will take place at 4 p.m., Sunday, October 27, in Linn Memorial United Methodist Church in Fayette. Dr. Laura Wiebe, Assistant Professor of Music, and Dr. Claude Westfall, Director of Choral Activities and Associate Professor of Music, are the conductors for the two groups performing. On piano with the Conservatory Singers will be Mrs. Janet O'Neill, while Dr. Melissa Simons will accompany Chorale on piano.

Participants in this year's Central Methodist University Worship Band were announced by Dr. Ryan McLouth, music ministry program director. A total of 37 students will be involved for the Fall 2019 season.

The role of the residential life staff, which includes a hall director and assistants for each residence hall, is to provide support for students living on campus. They play an incredibly vital role in the overall on-campus experience, and have been undergoing training to ensure they are adequately prepared.

Over 490 Central Methodist University students graduated in May through CMU's main campus in Fayette, extended locations, and online programs.

To make the Central Methodist University Dean's List, students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.50 or above for the semester, among other criteria.

Thirty-five Central Methodist University students were recently inducted into the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) - the nation's largest leadership society, according to Cassandra Frink, CMU's NSLS advisor.

Central Methodist University's magazine of the arts, Inscape, recently unveiled a variety of creative works by CMU students, faculty, and staff. The magazine's 44th edition was revealed during a release party on Wednesday, April 24.

As it does at the end of every academic year, the Central Methodist University Division of Fine and Performing Arts recently celebrated student honorees. Together, the music and theatre departments honored 71 students for outstanding performances and accomplishments during the 2018-19 year.

Each spring, Central Methodist University's Division of Business, Accounting, and Economics recognizes students for extraordinary academic achievements. Awards were recently presented to 24 students during a Business Division Honors Banquet held at CMU's main campus in Fayette.

Seventeen Central Methodist University students were recognized during the Division of Science, Mathematics, and Computer Science Honor Awards held on CMU's Fayette campus. Excellence was noted in the fields of biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, and physics. Division awards also were presented.

Approximately 300 Central Methodist University students graduated in December of 2018 through CMU's main campus in Fayette, extended locations, and online programs.

The choir was carefully selected as one of six in Missouri invited to sing for the 40th anniversary celebration of the Robert Ray Gospel Mass at the National American Choral Directors (ACDA) Convention. This will take place Saturday, March 2 at the Kaufman Center in Kansas City.

Perspective students visit the Fayette campus of Central Methodist University

Perspective students visit the Fayette campus of Central Methodist University

To make the Central Methodist University Dean's List, students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.50 or above for the semester, among other criteria.

Perspective students visit the Fayette campus of Central Methodist University

Perspective students visit the Fayette campus of Central Methodist Univeristy