Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, May 7, 1993 TAG: 9305060105
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By M.J. DOUGHERTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
So will it be this year for Virginia Tech's entertainment ensemble the New Virginians.
Members of the group say the Tech administration is disbanding it. The Tech administration says it is restructuring and refocusing the group.
In either case, tonight's commencement show (8 p.m. at Burruss Auditorium) will be the last for the New Virginians under its current structure.
"Nothing will be different in terms of what will be going on," said John Howell, the group's director. "We owe it to our audience to put on the best show we can give them. And they'll get it."
The musical-variety show is essentially the same program the New Virginians presented last month for the annual Home Show.
Two numbers have been added to the second half of the performance: a medley from "Guys & Dolls" and "There's Me," the senior farewell song. Also, the 13 graduating members of the group will be recognized during the show.
"We're pretty much going at this like we're coming back," said sophomore Christina Richards, a performer. "We've put in the new numbers. We're quite happy with the way they've worked out. Now we just have to hope for the best."
The show begins with "Rockin' the Place Tonight" and then immediately shifts to "It Don't Mean a Thing, If It Ain't Got that Swing," from the Duke Ellington song. Next is the Boyz to Men arrangement of "In the Still of the Night," followed by "Sister Sadie," a be-bop number by the band. "A Whole New World" comes next.
The first half of the show concludes with a pair of medleys - big-band songs and a Disney medley.
"Batband," the theme song from the old Batman television series arranged by group member Todd Wetzel, begins the second half of the show. Next is the "Guys & Dolls" medley. That is followed by "Storm," an original duet written by New Virginian Rich Copeland and performed by Copeland and Charisse Hill. "A Cappella" is then performed by a quintet.
The senior farewell song is next. The show concludes with "Lady America," a tribute to America in medley form.
"A lot of our performers go on to theme parks where you might see a country show, a big-band show, a Broadway show," said Howell. "I like to think of our show as a theme park where we do the walking and take the audience with us."
It is that versatility the performers exhibit that has made the New Virginians premiere performers.
"It's been a great experience," said Herb Jax, who at 32 is the oldest member of the group and as the senior soloist is also one of the most talented. "They can't get this experience anywhere else. No other group has the opportunity for people to get this kind of experience."
And because the 80 members of the group believe that their unique experience is being taken away from them, there has been more to preparing for this show than just remembering lines, props and cues.
"If I thought about it at all, I'd be crying," said senior Cathy Burnley, who is the featured soloist in "A Whole New World" and plays Snow White in the Disney medley.
"I feel like I'll never be seeing these people again. One or two of them I'll run into around campus. But we all come from different majors."
Still, the group has tried to draw strength from the uncertainty.
"The one thing I want is for someone from the administration to see the show," said senior Angela Robertson, who has worked on the group's public relations staff. "And I want them to realize after the show that they've made a mistake."
Tickets for tonight's show are $8 for the public and $5 for senior citizens, students and Tech faculty and staff. They will be available at the box office. For more ticket information, call the New Virginians at 231-6456.
by CNB