"It definitely made the 'average concert' more personal," said Boyce, an international studies and German major from Oxford who had the chance to meet Hamlisch through her enrollment in the university's new Cultural Passport program.

A cultural passport, which is available to students for $5 per semester and free to faculty, offers deeply discounted tickets to many Ford Center events. It also provides access to the Ford Center Cultural Cafe, which allows students to meet performers during intermission and following many shows, including the upcoming "Camelot," "Cabaret," "The

RFK Project" by L.A. Theatre Works, "Porgy and Bess," Soweto Gospel Choir and Tao, The Martial Art of Drumming. About 400 students and 30 faculty members have signed up so far.

"The purpose of the Cultural Passport program is not just to increase attendance at cultural events but also to promote connections between artistic expression and academic endeavors by providing a forum for discussion and inquiry," said Norm Easterbrook, director of the Ford Center and developer of the passport program. "Our hope is that students and faculty from a broad variety of academic disciplines will participate in the program."

UM students and faculty visit with actors from the Montana Repertory Theatre's recent production of 'To Kill a Mockingbird' backstage at the Ford Center as part of the Cultural Passport program. UM photo by Kate Meacham.

Passport holders also can gain access to additional information about cultural events through journal articles, Web site links, study guides, and book, music and movie recommendations through the online learning system Blackboard. They can participate in online discussions about events and, as extra incentive, students receive free exam supplies at the end of the fall and spring semesters.

"I like the idea of using the cultural passport to connect students with faculty and staff members from diverse disciplines," said Greg Johnson, associate professor and curator of the university's Blues Archive. "I have let my class know about the program and have encouraged them to sign up. I also plan to tie in the Blues Archive with certain related events. When (jazz vocalist) Cassandra Wilson performs on campus next year, I plan to showcase some blues items at the Ford Center to enhance the musical program. And, to be honest, I like the idea of discounted tickets."

While the program's greatest perk might be discounted tickets, "it's not a discount program," Easterbrook said. "Successful registration is based upon participation."

Besides theatre arts and music majors, Easterbrook said he would like to see students from all disciplines across campus participate. History and political science students, for example, could research Robert Kennedy before and after "The RFK Project," which chronicles Kennedy's transformation from indifference toward to champion of the civil rights movement.

"There are all kinds of ways the classroom experience can be woven into 'The RFK Project,'" Easterbrook said.

"I've been really excited to be part of the cultural passport program," said freshman Kathy Trabue, an international studies and Spanish major from Columbia, Mo. "I love going to shows, concerts and other cultural events. The best part of the program for me would be the discounted prices as well as the chance to meet with the performers. It was great to be able to see Marvin Hamlisch in person as well as (vocalist) Stephen Lehew. I also really enjoyed meeting with teachers who were at the event. I even got to personally meet the new chancellor and his wife that evening."

Easterbrook said he hopes to expand the program to include events campuswide.
"We're starting at the Ford Center because we have a way to monitor activity and attendance, (but) a cultural experience can be a lecture, it can be attending an art gallery. Anything that broadens the classroom experience is good to go."

For more information about the Cultural Passport program, call 662-915-2787. For a complete listing of Ford Center events and associated UM courses, visit http://www.olemiss.edu/fordcenter/.