In the spirit of Valentine's Day, the NAACP sought to bring single students together through the entertaining "Cupid Connect" dating game on Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom. In "Cupid Connect," a student would sit on one side of a curtain, unable to see the three mystery contestants on the other side.

The National Players, the oldest classical tour company in America, comes to the Columbia Theatre for one night only to perform John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men" on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 7:30 p.m. "The National Players travel to 38 different states and perform for a variety of audiences and have for about 64 years," said Clay Hooper, the associate artistic director of the National Players.

Jefferson Performing Arts Society to perform only one show in Hammond

This Friday evening, the Broadway musical hit "Hairspray" comes to Hammond after dazzling audiences in Metairie at the Jefferson Performing Arts Center. The performance will take place at the Columbia Theatre in Hammond on Feb. 10 at 7:30 p.m.This tour of "Hairspray" is produced and performed by the Jefferson Performing Arts Society (JPAS) and casts not only local talent, but performers from across the nation.

Pottle Auditorium resonated with the music of guest artist Staff Sgt. Jonathon Troy. His performance not only entertained, but also provided students with an in-depth musical education experience.   The purpose of the Masterclass is to expose students to various experienced professionals in the musical field and allow them to grow as musicians.

In honor of Black History Month, the Sims Memorial Library is hosting exhibits and films documenting the lives and contributions of African-Americans during the Civil War Era so that they may be remembered by its patrons. The library's Diversity Committee sponsors the exhibits and films.

Kayla Decoteau balances time for art, school and student teaching

This semester Kayla Decoteau has started down the path of becoming an art teacher, learning how to balance her schedule of classes and observations. The 22-year-old senior art education major from Prairieville, La. sheds some light on what it is like to take on that responsibility.

The Columbia Theatre echoed with applause in response to the classic Jazz music performed by Champian Fulton and her Quartet of musicians. The Champian Fulton Quartet performed at the Columbia Theatre last Friday night at 7:30 p.m. as part of their tour.

Tomorrow evening, the campus chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) will kick off Black History Month with a celebration of African culture in the Student Union Theater.   "The primary topic of the event is putting a new spin on old African culture," said Joshua Allen, a junior communications major and the NAACP's public relations officer.

The Southeastern department of visual and performing arts held an Opening Reception for the Faculty Art Exhibition in the Contemporary Art Gallery on Thursday, Jan. 26 from 5 to 7 p.m. The reception was open to the public, and many students and community supporters came to view the works and speak with the faculty members who created them.

The first fine arts show of the semester will feature works not from the students, but from the professors of the art department. The opening reception for the Faculty Exhibition will be held on Thursday, Jan. 26 in the Contemporary Art Gallery (CAG) starting at 5 p.

Theatre fans returning for the new semester are invited to join Southeastern Theatre in closing out their 2011-2012 season with the final two productions of the year. Mid season will begin with a production of the 1983 play "‘night, Mother" by Marsha Norman that will run from Feb.

The theater department began work on its first spring production, a two woman show titled "‘night, Mother," by holding auditions in the Vonnie Borden Theatre in D Vickers Hall. The auditions were held on Thursday, Jan. 19 from 4 to 6 p.m. "‘Night, Mother" was written by Marsha Norman in 1983.

The historic Columbia Theatre is poised to continue it's 2011-2012 season later this month; hosting singers and plays. The first show of the season will be a performance by the Champian Fulton Quartet, lead by acclaimed jazz pianist and vocalist Champian Fulton on Jan.

The Jefferson Performing Arts Society (JPAS) performed their 17th and final production of Joseph Stein, Sheldon Harnick and Jerry Bock's musical "Fiddler on the Roof" on the stage of the Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts last Friday. The show sold over 700 tickets and was a smashing success with the audience, receiving a sustained standing ovation at curtain call.

Audiences found themselves with a high percentage of laughter inside the Vonnie Borden Theatre as the theatre program presented its rendition of James Sherman's romantic comedy "Mr. 80%." The play was directed by Megan Cleveland, a spring 2011 alumna, who has performed in several main stage shows for Southeastern.

The Senior Art Show is a tradition in Southeastern's art department that showcases the talent and hard work of graduating art students. Each semester, the graduating seniors spend their time stressing, working and preparing for this exhibit. The opening for the Senior Art Show was held on Tuesday, Nov.

Improvisation takes a lot of talent and a quick wit to have a successful show, and that is what the theatre honorary Alpha Psi Omega (APO) gave their audience on Wednesday, Nov. 9 when they put on "The Bachelor(ettes)" in Room 138 of D Vickers. The show was an improvisational dating game consisting of random questions  students came up with.

On Thursday, Nov. 10, the Visual Art Society (VAS) put on their much-anticipated Art Night. Every semester, the various concentrations of the art department band together to create a schedule of fun filled activities for students and community members to join in.

Poet and English instructor Alison Pelegrin published her fourth book of poetry, "Hurricane Party," a collection of poems inspired by her experiences with hurricanes and living on the West Bank. "When I think of hurricanes I think of geography, and I think that connects these poems more than the fact that there's a hurricane in them," said Pelegrin.

The Southeastern Guitar Ensemble will take the spotlight tomorrow night, Nov. 16, for its semiannual concert. Scheduled to take place at 7:30 p.m. in the Pottle Music Building Auditorium, this 17 member group will incorporate pieces from the Renaissance and modern periods, introducing different guitar techniques and welcoming two guest performers to the stage.