BYU groups to light up the stage

PROVO — Vocal Point, the BYU a cappella group that won a national competition at the Kennedy Center earlier this year, will be among the featured performers at Brigham Young University's Homecoming Spectacular.

Vocal Point will join the International Folk Dance Ensemble, Young Ambassadors, Synthesis, Dancers Company and Women's Chorus in an energetic display of music and dance that will illuminate the Marriott Center stage. The popular male vocalists will perform the music that netted them national attention with diverse selections ranging from "Superman" to "He Is Born."

Sheri Dew, author, public speaker and CEO of Deseret Book, will serve as emcee.

The evening show will be a celebration of light as it highlights the homecoming theme, "Lighter of Lamps." The theme will be explained in a splashy way with the title song from Andrew Lloyd Weber's "Starlight Express" and in an inspiring style in the finale featuring an original song by Ross Boothe called "We Will Shine."

"To be a lighter of lamps you must first gather light and then share it," explains Michael Handley, producer. "Our performers have gleaned light at BYU and shared it to gather friends for the university, for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and for Utah as they travel the globe. This show is a tribute to many of the lamplighters who have been a part of the university outreach."

His model for the show is 2006 Homecoming founder, Alice Louise Reynolds, who — among many distinctions — was the first woman to become a full professor at BYU and who was the guiding force behind a large and comprehensive university library.

Her life will be highlighted in a biographical sketch produced by Rob Sibley from BYU Broadcasting.

"She is our lighter of lamps," Handley says. "Her biggest contribution was her influence on students. She had a deep connection with them, inspiring such loyalty that they established Alice Louise Reynolds clubs throughout the country."

"From studying Alice Louise Reynolds' life, we conclude we are all lighters of lamps," says Janielle Christensen, artistic director. "We come to the university, live our lives, develop a light within us, and it becomes our responsibility to carry the light to others. We hope our audience will see this show as a tribute to the many lamplighters who influence our lives."

The evening also celebrates the 50th anniversary of the International Folk Dancers with an appearance of its founding director, Mary Bee Jensen.

To demonstrate their outreach, 180 student dancers will be outfitted in costumes from throughout the world and will descend from the stage carrying lamps to light up the audience.

Synthesis, BYU's premier jazz band, will perform a set and participate in the overture and finale, and the Women's Chorus, also featured in the finale, will present several numbers.

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If you go . . .

What: BYU Homecoming Spectacular "Lighter of Lamps"

Where: Marriott Center, BYU campus, Provo

When: 7:30 p.m., Oct. 19 and 20

Cost: $12/$6 students

Phone: 422-4322

Web: www.byutickets.com