2017 McNeese Banners Series now in full swing

The 25th year of McNeese State University’s Banners events features a wide variety of entertainment, ranging from acrobats, world-class musicians and even advice from a zombie expert.

“Zombies, Run!” is set for 7 p.m. today in the Tritico Theatre in the Shearman Fine Arts Annex. Matt Mogk, founder and head of the Zombie Research Society, will give a free lecture on how to survive a zombie apocalypse. Mogk’s lecture will also discuss the history of zombies in film and pop culture.

Banners Director Patricia Prudhomme said Mogk is a featured guest on the TV show “Talking Dead,” which follows the highly-popular series “The Walking Dead.”

“We are always searching for a topic and speaker who would appeal to those 30 and under,” she said. “This was almost a no-brainer with the popularity of the topic. We work to keep a balance of all age groups and demographics.”

The Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass Band will perform at 7 p.m. Friday at Tritico Theatre. Prudhomme said the multimedia presentation will feature vintage footage from the Civil War through the Civil Rights Movement. The band will perform a variety of genres, including traditional gospel, rock, jazz and funk.

The Shadow Theatre Fireflies will perform at 7 p.m.

March 21 in the Lake Charles Civic Center’s Rosa Hart Theater. Prudhomme said the Ukraine-based group has appeared on several popular talent shows. The group’s dancers use shadows to tell stories in a unique and visually thrilling way.

The Doo Wop Project will perform at 7 p.m. March 24 inside Tritico Theatre. Prudhomme said the fivepiece group features current and former singers from the Broadway productions “Jersey Boys” and “Motown: The Musical.”

The one-man play, Churchill, is set for 7 p.m. March 30 at Central School Theatre. The play, starring and written by Andrew Edlin, features a portrayal of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill 10 years after the end of World War II.

Acrobats of Cirque-tacular will perform at 7 p.m. April 7 at Burton Coliseum. The New York-based acrobat group has performed throughout the world and mesmerizes audiences with lavish costumes and high-flying moves.

The lecture, Extreme Killing: Understanding Serial and Mass Murder is set for 7 p.m. April 25 at Tritico Theatre. Northeastern University Professor Emeritus Jack Levin will talk about the minds behind mass murderers and serial killers, along with recent mass shootings.

The Afro-Caribbean music group Tiempo Libre will perform at 7 p.m. April 27 at Rosa Hart Theatre. The Cuban group has been nominated for three Grammys and performs a lively show that has entertained audiences for over a decade.

Banners also features a selection of movies at Cinemark Lake Charles, 548 W. Prien Lake Road. They include the 1971 film, “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory,” at 3 p.m. March 25; “The Wrecking Crew” at 6 p.m. April 4; and “Free State of Jones” at 3 p.m. April 22.

A documentary, “Mystic Iran: The Unseen World,” will be shown at 6 p.m. April 13 inside McNeese’s Holbrook Student Union. The film, directed by Aryana Farshad, shows her spiritual journey through Iran to document ancient religious practices.

Prudhomme said the diverse performers and lecturers scheduled for this year’s Banners season were made possible by a volunteer committee of community members.

Tickets for certain events are $20 for adults, $5 for children under 18 and free for Sowela and McNeese students with a current student ID.

For more about memberships or ticket prices, visit www.banners.org or call 475-5123.

l

ONLINE: www.banners.org.