Shellie Turner
In Motion Staff Writer
The News-Journal Center’s Davidson Theatre will host the annual Multicultural Show on Thursday, March 29, with the usual extravaganza of student and faculty talent.
Fifteen years ago, now retired Daytona State College professor Susanne Stuart wrote plays that starred students from the Spanish language classes. This has since evolved over the past eight years into an event featuring singing, dancing, acting and comedy. The show is an opportunity to glimpse into cultures that students, faculty and staff may, or may not, be familiar with.
“This is a great opportunity for students to showcase what they’ve learned in class,” says Diane Mathers, a senior staff assistant for the School of World Languages and Speech at Daytona State College. “And it’s an opportunity to showcase their own cultures as well.”
The college’s ESOL program plays a large role during the event, along with the foreign language classes. Ten students from the American Sign Language Club will be performing skits. Acts will include a Hawaiian dance troupe offering traditional dance numbers and a Flamenco dance troupe from Orlando. It’s an outlet for artists as well, says Mathers. While organizers haven’t had any artists sign up to participate as of yet, they are excited about the possibility of incorporating artwork alongside the performances.
Attendance at the event in recent years has been outstanding, they say. When the Davidson Theater and Hosseini Center on the Daytona campus hosted the event, shows were sold out. Last year’s event accidentally became a two-day event instead of one, but there was still a good audience.
“There was a publishing snafu where it was listed as a two-day event instead of one,” said this year’s chairperson, Holly Hollins, who also chairs the School of World Languages and Speech. “We didn’t sell out the theater, but we had a large turn out.”
Typically, there are 15 to 20 acts that perform. Currently, there are nine confirmed acts and organizers are still looking for more participants.
“Students aren’t the only ones who can participate,” explained Yvonne Ward, a faculty member with the School of Adult Education. “Members of the public are also welcome.”
Ward was the chairperson of the event in 2017 and recruited a couple of performers. Professor Hollins is psyched and excited about this year’s event, saying, “We have some amazing talent. It takes a lot of hands to pull it off.”
Among students who have participated in the event, some have gone as far as building their own props and sets for their performances.
Admission is free and the event is open to the public, with doors opening at 7 p.m.
Anyone interested in joining the fun, can contact Diane Mathers at 386-506-3811, Holly Hollins at 506-3716 or Elizabeth Herbster at 386-246-4800.