Wallace State’s “Stars Fell on Alabama” recognized with Alabama Bicentennial Legacy Commendation
Wallace State Singers Connor Gulley, Kennedy Jones, Eli Parker and Cole Lawrence root for their favorite baseball teams in a version of Hank Williams Jr.’s “Are You Ready for Some Football” during the opening night performance of “Stars Fell on Alabama: Music Inspired by a Southern State” on May 2, 2019.
HANCEVILLE, ALA. – Wallace State Fine and Performing Arts’ program honoring the bicentennial of the State of Alabama was recognized by the Alabama Bicentennial Commission as one of the community’s outstanding programs celebrating the state’s 200th birthday.
“Stars Fell on Alabama: Music Inspired by a Southern State” was a production featuring the Wallace State Singers, Choir, Jazz Band, Concert Band and Theatre programs. It debuted in April 2019 at the college before going on a European tour of Germany and France, including Cullman’s sister city of Frankweiler, Germany. The Cullman County Bicentennial Committee was a supporter of the project, providing $1,600 from state grants offered specifically to bicentennial projects.
On Tuesday, the state committee listed “Stars Fell on Alabama” as a recipient of an Alabama Bicentennial Legacy Commendation.
“Communities invested time and resources in an amazing range of projects,” noted Alabama Bicentennial Commission chairman Sen. Arthur Orr. “Our successful bicentennial celebration owes a real debt to their efforts, especially for projects that will be important to the state, its communities and its citizens for a long time to come.”
The Town of Colony’s mural project also received a Legacy Commendation. Both were among the projects supported by the local committee. The commendations recognize outstanding bicentennial programs of exceptional and lasting impact.
“We are so pleased the Alabama Bicentennial Commission recognized the show,” said Tiffany Richter, director of the Wallace State Singers and Choir. “Our students thoroughly enjoyed performing the songs and writing and performing original monologues based on their experiences of living in Alabama. They especially enjoyed learning about the musical legacy that the state of Alabama has across all genres.
“We are especially thankful to the local and state bicentennial committees for their support,” Richter added. “Their support helped make it possible for several of our students to join us on the European tour, which was a once-in-a-lifetime event for most of them.”
Currently, the Wallace State Fine and Performing Arts programs are using virtual resources to recruit new members. The Wallace State Dance program and the Wallace State Singers are both auditioning students via video submissions.
Students interested in auditioning for the Singers will be able to join a Zoom session on May 2, where Theatre director and choreographer Lauren Salerno will teach students steps for the dance portion of the audition. A separate vocal component will have the students performing a piece they’ve rehearsed and should be sent before May 2. Email videos submissions for the vocal component to Richter at tiffany.richter@wallacestate.edu.
The Wallace State Dance program is also accepting video auditions now, with in-person auditions currently planned for Friday, June 12.
For more information about the auditions, contact Heather Gillikin at heather.gillikin@wallacestate.edu or visit the Wallace State Fine and Performing Arts Facebook page.
