Dawn BonkerWhat a tent! Yes, that wonderful white structure in front of Memorial Hall means there are worker bees all over campus getting ready for the 29th Annual American Celebration, which kicks off with a Friday, Nov. 5 opening night.
And some of the hardest working folks are the student hoofers rehearsing for the glamorous musical show that is the hallmark of this dazzling social and philanthropic event, with proceeds going to the Student Scholarship Fund. This year’s show pays tribute to the great music and dance traditions of American nightclubs. (And check out the video. You’ll spot a certain couple of guest stars among the students!) [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dx5aJPaPPEo]
“We’re turning the tent into our own Club Chapman,” said Dale Merrill, producer and artistic director for the show and associate dean of the College of Performing arts and associate professor of dance.
The show swings through nearly 50 years of clubbing, from the glamorous hot spots of 1940s Chicago and New York to the discos of the 1970s. There’s also a tribute to the tradition of comedy clubs in honor of comedian Jerry Lewis, who will be awarded Chapman’s Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award.
American Celebration concludes with a glittering Saturday night gala that draws Orange County’s top social and business leaders in support of the event, which could raise upwards of $2 million for the scholarship fund.
If you weren’t lucky enough to get a ticket for the sold-out affair, you can watch a free live webcast of Saturday’s show starting at 7 p.m. www.chapman.edu. So don’t’ miss it!
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