Arts & Culture

MTSU is welcoming the 2013 regional finals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee on Wednesday, March 20, putting as many as 60 of Middle Tennessee's young L-O-G-O-P-H-I-L-E-S on a P-O-D-I-U-M.

The winner of this regional bee, which begins at 9:30 a.m. March 20 in MTSU's Student Union Ballroom C, will travel to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in May. 

MTSU students will stage what is regarded widely as one of the most compelling theatre productions ever in an effort to spark awareness of violence against women.

Students Active for Feminism and Equality will present “The Vagina Monologues” at 7 p.m. Friday, March 1, in MTSU’s Tom H. Jackson Building.

Playwright Eve Ensler’s series of monologues read by women on-stage is based on a series of interviews she conducted with women all over the world. It puts the spotlight on different aspects of the female experience, including sexual violence.

An educator hailed by Time Magazine as one of the “10 Best College Presidents” in the country will headline an upcoming Black History Month event at MTSU.

University of Maryland-Baltimore County President Dr. Freeman A. Hrabowski III will be a featured speaker at the Retention Summit, a discussion of how to stem college dropouts among African-Americans.

Hrabowski’s presentation is slated to begin at 9 a.m. Monday, Feb. 25, in the second floor ballroom of the Student Union Building. The summit is free and open to the public.

MTSU students will take audiences to the Irish village of Leenane, Connemara, in County Galway when Tucker Theatre lifts the curtain on “The Beauty Queen of Leenane” on Wednesday, Feb. 27.

Directed by Professor Kyle Kennedy, “The Beauty Queen of Leenane” features a cast of four, including Nashville actress Kelly Lapczynski, an MTSU alumna, as guest artist. 

“The Beauty Queen” performances at MTSU are scheduled Feb. 27-March 2 at 7:30 each evening. One matinee performance is planned at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 3.

Audiences are invited to discover the magic of the two-time Emmy Award winning and two-time Tony® Award nominated production: Cathy Rigby is PETER PAN! Families and fans have their chance to ‘fly’ into the Tennessee Performing Arts Center’s Andrew Jackson Hall for this magical production March 1-3.

Tickets are on sale now at www.tpac.org, by calling (615) 782-4040, or visiting the TPAC Box Office, 505 Deaderick Street, in downtown Nashville.