Jan. 18, 2005 issue
PBA championship event, hometown comic headline Convocation Center events

By Cheryl Moore

 

Bowlers, comics and singers will be bringing their famous faces to the Convocation Center this winter semester. Throw in some robots and you have a diverse menu of entertainment to help get through the winter blahs.

“I'm looking forward to a full and entertaining semester,” said Marcy Szabo,
assistant director of marketing and special events for the Convocation
Center.

Winter entertainment at the Convocation Center includes the following events:

• Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., sponsors Alpha Apollo at Pease Auditorium Jan. 21. The amateur-style competition gives amateur comedians, singers and bands the chance to impress a live audience, just like the original Apollo Theater in New York City. The competition starts at 7 p.m. and ticket information is available from the Convocation Center ticket booth.

• EMU alumnus John Heffron returns to his old stomping grounds to demonstrate the comedic prowess that won him NBC's "Last Comic Standing" competition. He will perform Feb. 13, 7 p.m., at Pease Auditorium. Tickets are on sale now and range from $18-22.

• CHRISTIAN CONCEPT: Four- time Grammy winner Steven Curtis Chapman comes to the Convocation Center Feb. 17.

  Steven Curtis Chapman, a four-time Grammy award-winner, will bring his style of contemporary Christian music to the Convocation Center Feb. 17. Chapman has sold more than nine million albums, including his latest single and CD, "All Things New," and has been a steadfast supporter of adoption. Tickets are on sale now and range from $18.50-$31.50.

• Music Now Fest 2005 celebrates its 14th biennial new music festival at EMU. The event features guest composer Michael Schelle, composer-in-residence at Butler University. Three days of concerts, recitals, lectures and open rehearsals involve EMU faculty as well as students. The festival takes place Feb. 24-25, with various sessions. For ticket and schedule information, call 487-2255.

• FIRST ((For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology))Robotics Competition will take place March 12-19 at the Convocation Center. High school students will compete in this regional leg of the National High School Robotics Competition. Ticket and schedule information will be released at a later date.

• KNOCKOUT PUNCH: The Professional Bowling Association (PBA) brings its championship event to the Convocation Center for the second consecutive year.

  The International Student Association sponsors "Colors in Harmony" March 19. This event will feature EMU students and the community dancing, singing and providing performances representative of cultures all over the world. Ticket information will be released at a later date.

• The Professional Bowling Association (PBA) brings its year-end championship tournament to EMU's Convocation Center April 2 for an encore performance. More than 3,000 attended last March, when the event was showcased at the Convocation Center for the first time. Sixteen of the world's best bowlers will compete in the televised championship event. Prices and sale dates will be announced at a later date.

For more information on any of these events, call the EMU ticket office at 487-2282.