Articles in "Arts and Letters"

The acclaimed songwriter-producer, Mac McAnally, recently put an orchestral spin on some of his most familiar songs with album Southbound.

His latest compilation features the FestivalSouth Orchestra consisting of faculty, students and alumni from The University of Southern Mississippi and a rhythm section that includes MacAnally’s colleagues in Jimmy Buffet’s Coral Reefer Band. Proceeds from the CD benefit the USM Symphony Orchestra and Extra Table. 

In a special series of events titled, “A Celebration of Southern Photography,” The University of Southern Mississippi will host a lecture by renowned Southern studies expert Dr. William R. Ferris, as well as two exhibitions on campus and a special issue of The Southern Quarterly.

Winning the war on terror and advancing democratic ideals around the world cannot happen on the cheap or with quick fixes, but rather with a sustained commitment to those goals and implementation of sustainable strategies with global partners.

That was the assessment given by retired Army Gen. David Petraeus, former commander of the Surge in Iraq and U.S. Central Command and former director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), of how America needs to approach foreign policy goals going forward in his 2017 Lt. Col. John H. Dale Distinguished Lecture in International Security and Global Policy, given Sept. 26 at the historic Saenger Theater in downtown Hattiesburg.

Music from Raiders of the Lost Ark, Superman, Star Wars, and more get a super special treatment when internet-sensation James Nova of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, who arranges John Williams’ scores for trombone and records all the parts, takes the stage of Bennett Auditorium with The University of Southern Mississippi Trombone Choir Monday, Oct. 9 at 8 p.m.

Dr. Andrew Wiest, a University of Southern Mississippi professor and one of the country’s leading experts on military history, is serving on the Department of the Army Historical Advisory Subcommittee (DAHASC).

As The University of Southern Mississippi’s cast of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s mega-hit musical The Phantom of the Opera rehearses for their upcoming opening, they will be guided by a Broadway vet who spent nearly four years playing Christine on Broadway. Jennifer Hope Wills will be in Hattiesburg for several days this week working with the cast and primarily with students portraying the Phantom and Christine.

Each day in high schools and middle schools throughout Mississippi, students are asked to research, investigate and learn about numerous historical and civic topics. From geography, government, economics, to state, national and world history, students face a mountain of social studies content to master in grades six through 12. Luckily, many of these classes are led by teachers trained in a program nationally recognized for its excellence in preparing social studies educators.

Philosophical Fridays returns this fall at The University of Southern Mississippi's Hattiesburg campus, beginning Sept. 15. Dr. Paul Waldau will present “’Are We Still of Any Use?’ The Emerged Field of Religion and Animals.” Waldau is the director and lead faculty member for the anthrozoology program at Canisius College. The lecture will be held in the International Center, room 101.

For the fourth year, The University of Southern Mississippi will present National Theatre Live, Britain’s National Theatre’s groundbreaking project to broadcast world-class theatre to all parts of the globe. Southern Miss Theatre is one of a few designated locations in the country specifically chosen and equipped to be a venue for Britain’s distinguished National Theatre’s productions.

The University of Southern Mississippi’s Gulf Coast Library will present a watercolor exhibit by the late Finnish artist Osmo Visuri. The exhibit will be on display, Sept. 6 – Nov. 30, on the third floor of the Gulf Coast Library on the University’s Gulf Park campus in Long Beach. An opening reception will also be held on Thursday, Sept. 21, from 4:30 – 6 p.m.

The University of Southern Mississippi’s Pride of Mississippi Marching Band and the Dixie Darlings will kick off the 2017-18 football season with Pride Preview and a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly-renovated Pride Field. The ribbon-cutting will be held Friday, Aug. 25, at 7 p.m. at the new practice field located on the Hattiesburg campus, followed by Pride Preview, a free concert open to the public.