Third Parties campaign in Memphis

The Libertarian vice-presidential nominee, Gov. Bill Weld, makes a campaign stop in Memphis

University of Memphis election outlook

Green Party candidate Dr. Jill Stein visits Memphis

Southaven’s no-kill animal shelter

Memphis couple overdoses on heroin, passes out on street

University of Memphis journalism students participate in
Electionland

Frank LoMonte: Executive Director of the Student Press Law Center
Washington, D.C.speaks to Univ. of Memphis students

VO/SOT/VO Script

On Monday evening, University of Memphis faculty and students gathered in the UC theater to hear Frank LoMonte, who was visiting the school to address the importance of free speech.

“It’s very important to college students. I mean, if you can’t speak freely why are you going to college?”

LoMonte, who is the Executive Director of the Student Press Law Center in
Washington, D.C., spoke about several issues facing the journalism field, and particularly journalism students.

The crowd of more than 100 mostly journalism majors heard LoMonte talk about several topics in addition to free speech.

LoMonte stressed the importance of educating students at a young age about news and media. By doing so, LoMonte said, we create a more powerful society and more powerful future journalists.

University of Memphis opens Centennial Place

VO Script

Students at the University of Memphis have a new residence hall on campus this semester.

On January 19 the university held a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of Centennial Place, a new, state-of-the-art dormitory.

Centennial Place is built to accommodate 780 students as well as more than 125 staff and faculty.

Located at the corner of Patterson and Norwood streets, the building also contains multiple classrooms, private study areas, and conference rooms.

Bill Clinton visits Whitehaven High School in Memphis

VO Script

Lead*** Whitehaven High School hosted the Clinton campaign on Thursday.

Hundreds formed a line outside of the school’s gymnasium, all waiting to hear from former President Bill Clinton as he spoke on his wife Hilary’s push to be the Democratic nominee in the 2016 presidential election.

Whitehaven High’s band livened up the crowd and U.S. Representative Steve Cohen introduced Mr. Clinton.

The former president said that if Hilary is elected president she would address issues such as violent crime, making college affordable for low-income families, and raising minimum wage.

The primary in Tennessee takes place on March 1, with early voting ongoing until Feb. 23.

“The Book of Mormon” moves into Memphis’ Orpheum Theatre

VO/SOT Script

The Orpheum is bringing back a crowd favorite this season; Tony Award winning musical “The Book of Mormon” returns to Memphis.

On Monday the tour’s trucks arrived downtown and began unloading and setting up for their Memphis run, which takes place March 15-20. The crew of about 65 workers began around 9 a.m. and worked well past midnight building sets, hanging lights and making other preparations for the show.

“It’s some long hours, it’s some hard work, but it’s always done with, with pleasure; it’s always a great accomplishment when you get it done in that amount of time. It’s a lot of work but you always see a great end product and the people in the city always love it, it’s a great response. We don’t do it for the money we do it because we love it.”

DeSoto Family Theatre preps for the opening of “Seussical Jr.”

VO/SOT/VO script

On April 22, one local community theater is bringing some of Dr. Seuss’s classical characters to life, and they’re doing it all with talent under the age of 16.

“Here at the Landers Center Theater in Southaven, the cast and crew of the musical ‘Seussical Jr.’ are gearing up for their opening weekend.”

DeSoto Family Theatre in Southaven puts on four to six shows a year, but this particular production shines the spotlight on the area’s younger talent. With a cast ranging from ages as young as five to 16 years old, “Seussical Jr.” utilizes and capitalizes on the energy and excitement brought to the stage by the fresh-faced thespians.

The production includes many memorable Dr. Seuss storylines. And characters include The Cat in the Hat, The Grinch, and Horton the Elephant, played by Ethan Benson of Olive Branch.

“This show, it’s a really cool way to get Dr. Seuss in like a children’s show and put it onto a stage that it’s good for kids, adults, and really anybody who enjoys Dr. Seuss.”

With plenty of recognizable scenes from Dr. Seuss stories, set to a brightly painted set and lively musical numbers, Seussical Jr. has all the qualifications for what promises to be a fun family-outing; and as for the youth of the show’s cast? Benson says that audiences have nothing to worry about.

“Well, being a bunch of kids, I think they, even though they’re young, they still bring professional state to the show and it’s really cool to see how these little kids can put on such an awesome show.”

Audiences can check out DFT’s Seussical Jr. from April 22, to May 1, and tickets can be found at ticketmaster.com or the Landers Center box office.