OXFORD, Miss. – University of Mississippi freshman Jackie Boyce walked
right up to award-winning composer Marvin Hamlisch after his recent
performance at the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts and
asked him to autograph her ticket; he was happy to oblige.
“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.”
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/