BLINN STUDENTS PRAISED FOR WORK ON A CONCERT

  

Several Blinn College Theatre Arts students have been applauded for their work to help bring Billy McGuigan’s Pop Rock Orchestra show to life earlier this month at the Dr. W.W. O’Donnell Performing Arts Center.

The show was one of the 2022-2023 Performing Arts Series productions.

Blinn Technical Theatre Arts Professor Kevin Patrick said that when it is necessary for the show, they do bring in professionals to lead in the audio and extensive overhead rigging, but they are always assigned a student crew to teach and mentor.

Patrick further explained that they have worked with Rave On Productions on two previous events, so he felt like he knew their production team, and carefully selected certain students for their technical positions.

Bianca O’Neal, a sophomore from Pearland, drew high praise for her work on the stage lighting.

Patrick said although O’Neal had almost no experience in stage lighting, she has an excellent eye for design, and a strong willingness to learn and try.

In a Facebook post after the concert, Pop Rock Orchestra Production Manager Kate Whitecotton praised the Blinn students, and particularly O’ Neal, for their work on the show. She called the group “refreshing to work with,” and that she left “feeling inspired by their work ethic.”

Other students helped prepare the theatre lighting and staging, helped host a reception, served as ushers, and run the box office.

The others included Chris Westerlund and Lily Marrs from Brenham, Garrison Rutledge and Alyssa Hale from Bellville, Steve Torres from Hempstead, Luke Parker, Y’Lila Willis, Josiah Fernandez, and Cedric Bernard from Houston, Jayden Peavy from Galveston, and Jaylon Kelly from St. Martinville, Louisiana.

The next Performing Arts Series Production is Mike Super: Magic and Illusion on Thursday, February 2. Tickets are available on-line at www.blinn.edu/boxoffice.