**For Immediate Release**
OPSU’s “Neon Voices” - Great People, Great Talent, Great Time
-released by OPSU Campus Communications 10-31-05
by Scott Puryear

Goodwell, OK – The Music Department at Oklahoma Panhandle State University presented “Neon Voices . . . A Broadway Review” this past weekend, and anyone who saw the show walked away with a good idea of how much musical talent there is at OPSU.

The show moved rapidly, with 33 well-known and well-performed show tunes. Some were happy, like “Summer Nights” (from Grease) and others were somber and heartfelt (the songs from Les Miserables). Some were bawdy, like “Hey Big Spender” (from Sweet Charity) and “Magic To Do” (from Pippin), and the finale of “One Short Day”(from Wicked) was a great one.

Audrey Brooks’ lead vocal in the opening number (“And All That Jazz”) was dynamite and the show stayed entertaining all the way. Mallory Turlington’s rendition of “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina” was superior, and the talented Ian McCulloch did his usual excellent work on several pieces (including difficult ones from Les Miserables). Carly Kygar also did a couple of fine song renditions in her first OPSU stage performance.

Krista Margrave drew loud applause for her lead vocals on “Good Morning Baltimore” and Tyler Puryear was hilarious in a pair of comic renditions. Tracey Gregg Boothby performed songs ranging from the comic to the forlorn and was great every time she stepped on stage. Boothby is the Chair of the OPSU Music Department and one of the most talented performers ever to work in the Panhandle region.

Tito Aznar’s fine set design complimented his work as Director/Choreographer and Rene Brain’s accompaniment was superior. The costumes and color patterns they reflected through the lighting (managed by Sara Odell) was a difficult task, given the variety of the material, and they pulled it off just fine.

The overall award for Best Performer of the Evening? Try a tie between the entire cast, consisting of Tito Aznar, Cicely Behne, Audrey Brooks, Rebecca Crawford, Scott Garrison, Tracey Gregg Boothby, Tylar Rose Gregg, Drew Johnston, Carly Kygar, Patricia Marealle, Ian McCulloch, Jennifer McCulloch, Elizabeth McCulloch, Tanner Manning, Krista Margrave, Tyler Puryear, Lindsay Sims, Mallory Turlington, Jazmin Valenzuela, Lori Acevedo, Melody Gum, Joel Thompson, and Sarah Whitfield.

Though the 33 songs covered a vast amount of material . . . there is, for sure, one more request . . . WHEN CAN WE SEE NEON VOICES II?

The cast members of OPSU’s recent “Neon Voices” performances may have had just as good a time as the audience did. – photo by Dasha Guymon
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