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MSU's Campus Lights: Tradition/ Show Shine Bright

MSU's Campus Lights: Tradition/ Show Shine Bright
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By West Ky Star Staff
Jan. 26, 2015 | MURRAY KY
By West Ky Star Staff Jan. 26, 2015 | 11:40 AM | MURRAY KY


The latest installment of one of Murray State’s most treasured traditions took place over the weekend, the 78th Annual Campus Lights.The “Lights” are the longest running student produced and performed musical in the south, dating back to 1938.

 They got their start when the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia fraternity was looking for a way to pay for their charter, and did so by sponsoring annual Vaudevillian performances to raise funds,  During World War II, the sisters of the university’s chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota stepped in as many fraternity members were sent off to war, and after the war, the two organizations combined their efforts and put on a show over one weekend in January, with the proceeds going to fund scholarships.

Nowadays, the performances are musical theather stage shows such as Titanic, Beauty and the Beast, the Musical, and Anything Goes. Students in both the fraternity and sorority, produce, direct, and perform the show in Murray State's historic Lovett Auditorium.

This year’s show was 9 to 5 a musical inspired by the 80’s movie featuring Dolly Parton, Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda.  The music and lyrics for the show, were penned by Parton herself, and by way of video she also served as narrator.The performances showcased the high level of talent in both singing and acting that the university is known for, which made for a highly enjoyable and very entertaining show.  Particularly the three leads Makenzie Kauffman, Gabrielle, Wibbenmeyer, and Melanie Davis, who portrayed the roles played in the movie by Tomlin, Parton, and Fonda respectively.

While these were the only performances of the show, per the Campus Lights tradition,  plans are already underway, for the 79th Campus Lights next January, and whatever that show ends up being its one that you should mark your calendars for when announced, and not miss.
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