Ferrum College - The Ferrum Newsstand

    The Blue Ridge Dinner Theatre at Ferrum College offers more than great meals and wonderful live theater for the whole family. BRDT also presents free “Saturday Sems,” during which theater patrons can engage in lively conversation with local and regional personalities, musicians, playwrights, publishers, and experts – all designed to enhance patrons’ enjoyment of dinner and the performance.

    Saturday Sems are offered throughout the season in Franklin Hall on the campus of Ferrum College at 6:00 pm each Saturday before dinner at 6:45 and the show at 8:00. The Saturday Sem series is underwritten by the Martinsville-DuPont Credit Union.

    The seminar series kicks off Saturday June 9, when patrons will enjoy the stories of Catholic school veteran Elizabeth Rutherford before that evening’s performance of Nunsense, by Dan Goggin. Ms. Rutherford was educated in Brooklyn, New York, by the Sisters of St. Joseph, and almost became a nun herself. Her insights will undoubtedly add to the fun of Nunsense.

    Other presenters include Professors Sasha Saari, Doug Foard, Dan Woods, and Mike Trochim, current or former Ferrum College faculty members; Bill Fuller, Jerry Robertson, and Kinney Rorrer, all active on the local traditional music scene; and drama publisher Pat Whitton, with a special guest appearance by Rex Stephenson.

    Preceding performances of Fools, by Neil Simon, on June 16 and 23, patrons will have the opportunity to talk with Sasha Saari, Professor of Russian, and historian Dr. Doug Foard about the cultural setting of Simon’s hilarious comedy.

    Dr. Dan Woods, historian of religion in the American South, and co-author Mike Trochim will conduct the discussions prior to performances of The World Is My Parish, on June 30 and July 7. The play tells the story of John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Church.

    BRDT is one of the first theaters to present Smoke on the Mountain Homecoming, the continuing saga of the musical Sanders family. Audience members will have the opportunity to share the stories and music of our region with Bill Fuller and Jerry Robertson of Franklin County’s music series Footlights of the Blue Ridge and Kinney Rorrer, co-host of WVTF’s Back to the Blue Ridge radio program. Saturday performances of Connie Ray’s spirited musical are July 14, 21, and 28.

    The Saturday performance Rex Stephenson’s new adaptation of Mark Twain’s Tom Sawyer will be given on August 4. Pat Whitton, publisher of plays for young people, will join Rex Stephenson to give patrons insight into the creative process.
Saturday Sems are free and open to the public.

    Ferrum College is a four-year, private, co-educational, liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Ferrum offers a choice of nationally recognized bachelor’s degree programs at a cost well below the national average for private colleges. For more information on Ferrum, visit www.ferrum.edu.

Blue Ridge Dinner Theatre Presents Free "Saturday Sems"
For immediate release: June 11, 2007	Contact: Natalie Faunce, (540) 365-4301 nfaunce@ferrum.edu
The Blue Ridge Dinner Theatre at Ferrum College offers more than great meals and wonderful live theater for the whole family. BRDT also presents free “Saturday Sems,” during which theater patrons can engage in lively conversation with local and regional personalities, musicians, playwrights, publishers, and experts – all designed to enhance patrons’ enjoyment of dinner and the performance. Saturday Sems are offered throughout the season in Franklin Hall on the campus of Ferrum College at 6:00 pm each Saturday before dinner at 6:45 and the show at 8:00. The Saturday Sem series is underwritten by the Martinsville-DuPont Credit Union. The seminar series kicks off Saturday June 9, when patrons will enjoy the stories of Catholic school veteran Elizabeth Rutherford before that evening’s performance of Nunsense, by Dan Goggin. Ms. Rutherford was educated in Brooklyn, New York, by the Sisters of St. Joseph, and almost became a nun herself. Her insights will undoubtedly add to the fun of Nunsense. Other presenters include Professors Sasha Saari, Doug Foard, Dan Woods, and Mike Trochim, current or former Ferrum College faculty members; Bill Fuller, Jerry Robertson, and Kinney Rorrer, all active on the local traditional music scene; and drama publisher Pat Whitton, with a special guest appearance by Rex Stephenson. Preceding performances of Fools, by Neil Simon, on June 16 and 23, patrons will have the opportunity to talk with Sasha Saari, Professor of Russian, and historian Dr. Doug Foard about the cultural setting of Simon’s hilarious comedy. Dr. Dan Woods, historian of religion in the American South, and co-author Mike Trochim will conduct the discussions prior to performances of The World Is My Parish, on June 30 and July 7. The play tells the story of John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Church. BRDT is one of the first theaters to present Smoke on the Mountain Homecoming, the continuing saga of the musical Sanders family. Audience members will have the opportunity to share the stories and music of our region with Bill Fuller and Jerry Robertson of Franklin County’s music series Footlights of the Blue Ridge and Kinney Rorrer, co-host of WVTF’s Back to the Blue Ridge radio program. Saturday performances of Connie Ray’s spirited musical are July 14, 21, and 28. The Saturday performance Rex Stephenson’s new adaptation of Mark Twain’s Tom Sawyer will be given on August 4. Pat Whitton, publisher of plays for young people, will join Rex Stephenson to give patrons insight into the creative process. Saturday Sems are free and open to the public. Ferrum College is a four-year, private, co-educational, liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Ferrum offers a choice of nationally recognized bachelor’s degree programs at a cost well below the national average for private colleges. For more information on Ferrum, visit www.ferrum.edu.
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