COLUMBIA STATE'S COMMERCIAL ENTERTAINMENT DEPARTMENT TO PRESENT "CATS" AS FINALE IN 2009-2010 PERFORMANCE SERIES LINE-UP

The Columbia State Community College Commercial Entertainment Program's spring extravaganza is always one of the most anticipated performances. This year, the students will present the popular musical "Cats" on Saturday, April 24 at 7 p.m. in the Cherry Theater. The performance will be enhanced by a professional live orchestra. "Cats," the longest running show on Broadway second to "Phantom of the Opera," is the final performance in Columbia State's 2009-2010 First Farmers and Merchants Bank Performance Series line-up.

"Columbia State is privileged to present "Cats" - one of the world's best known and best loved musicals as the Commercial Entertainment Program selection this year," said Monteia Moore, director of community and evening services at Columbia State. "The show's plot is based on T.S. Eliot's Old Possums Book of Practical Cats and the award winning music composed by Andrew Lloyd Weber. We would love for the community to join us for this classic musical."

The play takes place at night under a full moon in a junkyard where the Jellicle cats, a special breed of cat with the ability to be reborn and having three names-one from their human owner, one that fits only that cat's personality and one name so divine that only the cat knows it and still contemplates over it-are competing at the annual Jellicle Ball to be chosen by their leader, Old Deuteronomy, to be reborn.

"The students worked really hard. This will be a professional quality show," said Cathy Hudnall, Commercial Entertainment Program Director and Assistant Professor of Commercial Entertainment at Columbia State.

Columbia State's Commercial Entertainment Program is one of only two programs in the country to specifically train talented students for careers as singers, dancers, and actors. Past performances include "Grease," "Nunsense," and "Thoroughly Modern Millie."

Tickets for the performance may be purchased by calling or visiting Columbia State's ticket office during ticket office hours. Columbia State's ticket office is open Monday through Thursday between the hours of 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. in room 103 of the Waymon L. Hickman building, and between 4:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. in room 109 of the Warf building. Tickets may also be purchased on Fridays between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. in Warf, room 109.

The ticket office will be open one hour prior to the performance in Hickman 103. The Cherry Theater is located in the Waymon L. Hickman building on Columbia State's Columbia Campus. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover are accepted.

To purchase tickets by telephone, call (931) 540-2879 during office hours.

Columbia State is a two-year college, serving a nine-county area in southern Middle Tennessee with locations in Columbia, Franklin, Lawrenceburg, Lewisburg and Clifton. As Tennessee's first community college, Columbia State is committed to increasing access and enhancing diversity at all five campuses. Columbia State is a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents, the sixth largest higher education system in the nation. For more information, please visit www.columbiastate.edu.