Wonderboy is played by recent Scott County High School graduate Connor Hall. For the complete cast, see the last paragraph.

By Caitlin Knox ’14

Georgetown, KY – It’s a bird…it’s a plane…it’s Wonderboy!

But, you’ve got to be fast to catch the Georgetown College premiere of Professor George McGee’s wonderfully entertaining Sci-Fi musical comedy – as there’s just a one weekend run. But there are FIVE performances (see below for times) for what the Lexington Herald-Leader labeled a Best Bet in their Friday Weekender!

“Wonderboy,” McGee’s original play set in 1959, is “Superman” meets “Grease.” 

Walter, played by Scott County graduate Connor Hall, is the teenage version of Clark Kent. Thanks to a science experiment gone wrong, Walter discovers that he has x-ray vision, and he is learning how to fly. He develops his alter-ego Wonderboy, who is all about ‘doing good.’

McGee wrote the script in the Seventies for the Palm Beach Children’s Theatre in Florida. It was intended for “any kid old enough to understand a comic book,” he explained, and its main purpose was for laughs. He found the dusty script this year while attempting to clean out his basement, and decided to try it out on Georgetown.

So like all great superheroes, “Wonderboy” is being brought back from his dormant slumber of 30-plus years. He will be facing the many trials of high school and bizarre creatures like the “Hot-dog Monster” (Chris Bartlett), “Cheese-Whiz Monster” (Ashley Conover) and the “Pepsi-Cola Monster” (Meredith Cave). He will fall in love with Darlene (played by Amanda Williamson), and she will be torn between the soft-spoken Walter and the mysterious Wonderboy.

Director McGee has been constantly changing his original script, shaping the story around his actors. The show could even be classified as a musical as it includes original songs by McGee himself, and a live band called “The Prairie Dogs.”

There are five performances with curtain times of 7:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 30; and 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 1 and Sunday, Dec. 2, in the College’s Ruth Pearce Wilson Lab Theatre, corner of Mulberry and College streets.

Tickets are $5 for adults $5 and $3 for students $3. Reserve your seats through the College bookstore, 502-863-8134.

The cast, from left-to-right, in the photograph above: Shay McCleavy, junior from Brandeburg; Liz Duccilli (hidden behind Wonderboy), sophomore from Cincinnati; Connor Hall, Scott County High School graduate; Alex Caudill, freshman from Henderson; Fiona McElrath, freshman from Altadena, CA; Elizabeth Foote, junior from Independence; Natalie Alexakos (on stool), freshman from Georgetown; Amanda Williamson, senior from Simpsonville; Chris Bartlett, sophomore from Louisville; Cheryl Brumley, senior from Louisville; Alyssa Hendricks, freshman from Crestwood; Sam Adams, sophomore from Shelbyville; and seated, Meredith Cave, senior from Nicholasville; and Allie White, sophomore from Lawrenceburg.

Georgetown, KY – Far be it for Georgetown College Choir director John Campbell to throw his audience a red herring – especially at Christmas time. But, his choirs are changing up their usual holiday fare a bit with the “Mystery and Messiah” concert that needs some explanation.

The “mystery” will be cleared up – as well as a treat to hear – at 3 p.m., Sunday (Dec. 2) in the College’s John L. Hill Chapel. The concert is free and open to the public.

Dr. Campbell said the mystery comes as three settings of “O magnum mysterium.” When translated, the title means “Oh great mystery,” and it speaks about the wonder that is the birth of Jesus. 

The first setting is by Renaissance composer Tomás Luis de Victoria, the other two by contemporary composers Morten Lauridsen and Ivo Antognini. Campbell had the chance to meet the latter two in person at the World Choir Games 2012 in Cincinnati this past summer.

The choir director said that the concert will “have some element that appeals to every member of the audience.” The music mixes old and new, with Handel’s famous “Hallelujah” chorus and the 20th century “Fanfares” by American David Pinkham.

There will be a guest appearance by the Chapel Brass, directed by Dr. H.M. Lewis. There will also be an appearance by Campbell’s Liberal Arts Voice Class, who will be accompanying the choir on handbells to “Carol Medley.” This is one of Dr. Campbell’s own arrangements of Christmas carols.

Dear Georgetown Family,

The Presidential Search Committee has officially begun the process of identifying the next president of Georgetown College. The Committee consists of Pastor Richard Gaines, Trustee; Frank Penn (’68), Trustee; Brian Evans, VP and Athletic Director; Melanie Ladd (’94), Georgetown Alumni Board; Molly Shoulta (’13), Past President of Student Government; Yolanda Carter, Dean of Education; Harold Tallant, Chair of the Faculty; Pastor Greg Barr (’86), Trustee; Guthrie True (’81), Trustee; Randall Fox (‘60) Trustee; Holly Bartlett, Parent; and Bill (BI) Houston, Vice Chair Board of Trustees and Chair Presidential Search Committee.

The committee has begun its work and established a regular meeting schedule. Initial steps include hosting listening sessions with faculty, students and staff to solicit input on characteristics they are looking for in the next President of the college. We have also heard from over 150 alums. As you would imagine, expectations are high and they should be. Input gathered from these groups is being synthesized into a working document that will be used to identify and attract prospective candidates. We will share this with you as soon as practical.

We have decided to engage a professional search firm to assist in the identification and recruiting of eligible candidates. After considering several strong firms, we have decided to interview three; all with solid track records of successfully helping colleges and universities select leadership for senior positions including presidents. We expect to select a firm by early December 2012.

While we will do everything possible to keep the Georgetown Community informed and updated on the process, we know a level of confidentiality is required to protect candidates. The likely candidates are currently working for other institutions and disclosure of their interest could jeopardize their positions. We understand the desire for openness and transparency in the process and will respect that within the limitation of the candidates being interviewed.

We covet your prayers for the committee, the prospective candidates and the College as a whole.

On behalf of the Presidential Search Committee,

William J. (BI) Houston, Chair Presidential Search Committee.

Georgetown, KY - First-round NAIA Championship playoff action begins at 3:30 p.m. this Saturday, November 17, at Toyota Stadium/iHigh Field. Our undefeated No. 1 Tigers go against No. 18 Bethel – sure to be an excellent matchup since the visitors have a six-game winning streak going since GC beat them, 63-21, during the regular season.

For those who can’t be there to cheer in person, view the game on Fox College Sports Atlantic (533 on Insight in the Lexington area; 252 in Georgetown and surrounding Time-Warner cable systems). Those on other cable systems and satellite subscribers to Direct TV should check your local listings.

Alumni can purchase first-round playoff tickets at regular season prices until Thursday, November 15, at midnight! After that, Friday and Saturday, only full-priced NAIA playoff tickets will be available.

Through Thursday midnight, Bleacher seats are $10, bleacher-back seats are $12 and chair-back seats are $15! Children under 6 are $5. After Thursday night and at the gate, tickets will be $20, $24, and $30 respectively.

So purchase your tickets NOW for Saturday’s playoff game!  To purchase online, click on this tickets link.

If you prefer to order by phone, call Austin Sparks at 502.863.8222 or email him at austin_sparks@georgetowncollege.edu.

Also, be sure to purchase your Alumni and Friends tent event tickets for $5 per person, which includes a Chili bar, hot dogs and cookies. (Adults and children, same price) The tent event starts at 2:30 p.m. To purchase your ticket for the Alumni and Friends tent, click again on the above link.

We will also have face painting for the children and you and the kids can have your picture taken with the Tiger!

President’s Club members will also have a chance to win tickets to the 2^nd round of the NAIA playoffs. And there will be door prizes for everyone to register to win!

Remember, kickoff is at a special time this week at 3:30 p.m. due to Fox College Sports (ATLANTIC) coverage.

GC is 7-0 against the Wildcats all-time. The win this season marked coaches Bill Cronin’s, Craig Mullins’, Bruce Owens’, Steve Hill’s and Marty Park’s 150th with the Orange & Black.

“Bethel is a very good team,” Cronin said. “They started the season as No. 11 in the nation, went 2-2 early on trying to find a rhythm under first-year head coach Chris Elliot. They left here 2-3 and finished the season on six-straight wins.

“I expect it to be a great game and a tough first-round matchup.”

The four Georgetown College Music Performance majors who will play in Sunday’s final piano recital portion of the Debussy Festival are from left to right: Chelsea Brown, a junior from Albany; Genee Johns, a junior from Rush, KY; Katy Simpson, a freshman from Georgetown; and Meredith Rigby, a senior from Richmond. Seated is the College’s Mami Hayashida, their piano instructor and festival organizer.

Georgetown, KY – For Georgetown College Music professor Mami Hayashida, this weekend’s Debussy Festival 2012 is so much more than celebrating the 150th anniversary of Claude Debussy’s birth.

Jean-Louis Haguenauer, Professor of Piano at Indiana’s Jacobs School of Music

First, featured artist Jean-Louis Haguenauer, her applied piano professor when she was getting her Master’s at Indiana University, will be playing a solo recital Saturday (Nov. 17) at 8 p.m. Second, Hayashida (coordinator of the festival) and Haguenauer – a native of France “known for his insightful interpretation of French piano music” – will play piano duets (pieces written for two pianists on one piano) during the final recital Sunday (Nov. 18) at 1:30 p.m. Both events are in John L. Hill Chapel; see ticket information below.

If that isn’t heady enough, Hayashida’s four Music Performance majors (with piano emphasis) will be in the Sunday spotlight, too – as well as six of her middle- and high-school piano students from across the state.

Hayashida is also excited that Haguenauer, Professor of Piano at IU’s Jacobs School of Music, will participate in the masterclasses during the Debussy Festival.

Hayashida said, “I am grateful that he has agreed to come to Georgetown to perform, teach, and talk to students here especially considering how busy he is as a performer and teacher.”

Tickets for the Debussy Festival recitals, part of the “Noteworthy Concert Series,” are:

Saturday  at 8 p.m. — Jean-Louis Haguenauer Solo Piano Recital, $20 general admission at the door; $15 students and seniors, $10 GC staff/faculty and students.

Sunday at 1:30 p.m.  – Final Recital featuring Debussy Festival 2012 participants and artist teachers, $10 general admission, $5 students and seniors, free to GC staff/faculty and students.