Campus News

Final preparations are underway for Performing Arts students and faculty to make their journey to Edinburgh, Scotland to perform in this year’s international Festival Fringe. Two remaining events are planned to help support the students’ trip and will feature sneak peaks of “Taps, Tunes and Tales from the American Songbook.”

Wednesday, June 29 (2016) from 5-7 p.m.
University Club, 945 N Main St, Rockford, IL 61103

Professor Deborah Mogford and Friends of the Performing Arts member Bob Kantner ’79 will be University Club Guest Bartenders for the evening with proceeds going to support trip expenses. Students will also be there to perform various pieces that are planned for the festival. Guest Bartending events are open to the public.

Friday, July 29, 2016, 7:30 pm
Maddox Theatre – Clark Arts Center, Rockford University

Students’ will debut the entire show, “Taps, Tunes, and Tales of the American Songbook” that will be performed while in Scotland.
There is no charge to attend. Freewill offerings are welcome.

Contact the RU Box office for more information: boxoffice@rockford.edu or 815-226-4100.

More about the students’ trip to Scotland:

20 students and three faculty members are preparing for a unique opportunity this summer to perform on an international stage. The RU group will be attending the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, held August 5 – 29, in the Scottish capital city. Rockford University is one of only four small colleges in the United States invited to attend. Only eight total from the U.S. were invited.

Led by Performing Arts Department Chair and Professor of Performing Arts Deborah Mogford, Associate Professor of Music Timm Adams, and Assistant Professor of Dance Amy Wright, the students will perform a new piece created specifically for the festival, “Taps, Tunes and Tales of the American Songbook.” RU will be at the festival for two weeks and performances will take place throughout the city.

More about this exciting opportunity can be found in the Sunday, March 6, 2016, story in the Rockford Register Star – Rockford University to take the stage at world’s largest performing arts festival in Scotland.

Students attending the Edinburgh Festival Fringe are:

Taylor Barnes – Venutra, Calif.
Elisha Beston – Singapore
Mary Bridgeland – Freeport, Ill.
Addison Clearwood – Madison, Wis.
Sarah Cleeland – St. Louis, Mo.
Courtney Foschi – Frankfort, Ill.
Janelle Good – East Highland, Calif.
Samantha Hodson – Flower Mound, Texas
Maya Hopkins – Rockford, Ill.
Kyle McCaffrey – Niles, Ill.
Brandon Michaud – Saint Peters, Mo.
Ilea Pearce – Rockford, Ill.
Joi Pierre – Houston, Texas
Zachary Pletcher – Highland Village, Texas
Kyle Rainey – The Colony, Texas
Alex Smith – Rockford, Ill.
Owen Thomas – Portsmouth, N.H.
Emily Todt – Jackson, Mo.
Sarah Vallacchi – Shreveport, La.
Ana Weickert – Rockford, Ill.

Learn more about these student achievements and others on RU’s Merit page.

This story was first published in March 2016 and has been updated.