It could be a very exciting weekend for Texans at the Miss America Pageant.

Miss Texas, Kendall Morris, is competing there for the Miss American title, and earlier this week she won a preliminary award in the swimsuit competition. That, plus the fact that Texas is one of the “pageant states” where competition is keen just to get to be on the Miss America  (www.missamerica.org) stage, makes her a favorite to make the finals for the Miss America crown.

Before being crowned Miss Texas last summer, Morris was a featured twirler at Texas Christian University and she had represented Frisco at the state competition. It was her talent as a pianist, though, that made her the second TCU student in a row to win the title. A broadcasting major, she is a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority.

After a few years of being a pretty lame reality TV show, the Miss America Pageant again will be broadcast on a major TV network. You can watch it at 8 p.m. Saturday on ABC. Now if only we could get them to move it from Vegas back to Atlantic City, where it belongs.

She may have represented Frisco, but the new Miss Texas is really a baton-twirling Horned Frog from Ennis.

Kendall Morris was crowned Miss Texas 2011 Friday before a sold-out audience at Texas Hall on the University of Texas at Arlington. The 20-year-old junior is a featured-twirler at Texas Christian University, but used her musical talents as a pianist to become the second TCU student in a row to win the title.

Morris, wearing a white evening gown, was crowned by Miss Texas 2010, Ashley Melnick, also a TCU student. The new Miss Texas is a broadcasting major and a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority.

Also honored at the pageant was Reilly Johannsen, who was named Miss Texas Outstanding Teen. She represented Colleyville and performed a lyrical dance for her talent.

First runner-up to Miss Texas was Adrianna Nelson, Miss Harris County. Others named in the top five were DaNae Couch, Miss Lake O’ the Pines, second runner-up; Jordan Johannsen, Miss Colleyville, third runner-up; Candice Bennatt, Miss Dallas, fourth runner-up.

This week is the week of the taco.

Eating a taco will help fight hunger, too. That’s the idea behind Fort Worth Taco Week, Sunday through Thursday, a United Way-sponsored fundraiser planned and implemented by students in Texas Christian University’s performance marketing class.

Ordering tacos at participating Fort Worth restaurants on designated days will result in 25 cents per taco being donated to help with local hunger relief.

Participating restaurants include:

Sunday: Los Vaqueros in the Stockyards

Monday: Red Cactus and Yucatan Taco Stand

Tuesday: Chimy’s Cerveceria on Seventh Street

Wednesday: Old Rip’s Tex-Mex Restaurant and Pulido’s Mexican Restaurant

Thursday: Salsa Limon on Berry Street

For more information, check http://www.fortworthtacoweek.org, on Facebook (search Fort-Worth-Taco-Week) and Twitter (@FWTacoWeek).

Results for sorority recruitment at area universities continue to be reported. Recruitment, also known as ”rush,” was completed recently at Texas Tech University.

According to the Mid-Cities Alumnae Panhellenic, the most recent rush at Texas Tech results include the following from north Texas:

TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY

Alpha Chi Omega–Drew Alwin, Emily Ecklund, Nicole Hart, Haley Lamb, Sydney Wood.

Alpha Delta Pi–Kali Spates.

Alpha Phi–Bethanie Davidson, Taylor Dickson, Morgan Moses.

Chi Omega–Alex Bell, Chelsea Daignault, Caroline Duncan, Mackenzie Lofland, Natalie Rock.  

Delta Delta Delta–Brooklyn Barber, Mallory Scott.

Delta Gamma–Jordan Kleymann.

Kappa Alpha Theta–Aujehl Messier, Ellen Miritello,Victoria Shaw.

Kappa Delta–Roxie Bustamante, Mary Robb, Wendy Wood.

Kappa Kappa Gamma–Hailey Mallozi.

Pi Beta Phi–Chelsea Bessinger, Abby Bream, Lauren Coker, Mary Ellen Scott.

Zeta Tau Alpha–Sam Gosnell, Sarah Hillig, Bailey Rupe, Natalie Schafer, Hayley Williky, Angelica Zureikat.

______________________________________________

OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY

Alpha Chi Omega–Morgan Zobrist.

Alpha Delta Pi –Danielle Gagnon, Megan Kelly, Jordan Miller, Celine Mojica, Meredith Moore, Shelby Timothy, Erin Williams.

Gamma Phi Beta–Kimmi Hildreth, Sarah Kelly, Sarah Rogers, Nicole Yorba.

Delta Delta Delta–Kelsey Ussery.

Kappa Alpha Theta–Sarah Yeakley.

Kappa Delta–Haley Harris, Kara Miller.

Kappa Kappa Gamma–Adrian Thoma, Skyler Stone.

Phi Mu–Natalie Moore.

Pi Beta Phi–Michaela Bond, Kaitlyn Downey, Hayden Harris.

Zeta Tau Alpha–Ali Kubala, Katherine Lowe, Shelby Williams, Ashlee Tisdale.

____________________________________________

TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY

Alpha Delta Pi–Heather Brannick, Alex Champagne, Caitlin Goheen,Michelle Warnock.

Alpha Chi Omega–Betsy Bethea, Paige McMullan.

Delta Delta Delta–Julia Fitzgerald.

Delta Gamma–Mackenzie Clarkson.

Gamma Phi Beta–Rebeccah Gould, Emma Schultz, Michelle Thompson.

Kappa Alpha Theta–Natalie Blair, Jessica Nimergood.

Pi Beta Phi–Emily Baughman, Alex Gonzolez, Julia Green, Alyssa Paneri.

Sigma Kappa–Kaitlin Costello.

Zeta Tau Alpha–Krystyn Albert, Katie Hamilton, Rachel Hopper, Kathryn Juren, Amy Moan, Julia Peebles.

______________________________

ALABAMA

Alpha Delta Pi–Katie Welpott.

Alpha Gamma Delta–Jessica Crilley.

Alpha Omicron Pi–Caroline Mayberry.

Alpha Phi–Lauren Sigler.

Delta Delta Delta–Samantha Presley.

Gamma Phi Beta–Lauren Casey.

Kappa Kappa Gamma–Annette Farrell.

___________

AUBURN

Delta Zeta–Mackenzie Youngman.

 _____________________________

University of Oklahoma

Alpha Gamma Delta–Samantha Ross.
Alpha Chi Omega–Andee Bosbyshell, Kyla Dickman, Mega Siebert.
Alpha Omicron Pi–Katie Baughman, Krystina Simon.
Alpha Phi–Sarah Aldinger, Jessica Bruder.
Chi Omega–Callie Hewett, Ellery Long.
Delta Delta Delta–Bailey GeorgeEmma Hallab, Jennifer Miller
Delta Gamma–Rebecca Benfield, Courtney Graviett, Shelby Stiner.
Gamma Phi Beta–Cassidy Cope, Kristina Hopkins,  Hallee Scoggins, Brooke Strother.
Kappa Alpha Theta–Catherine Champlin, Caroline Scott.
Kappa Kappa Gamma–Paige Brandt, Mekenzie House, Danon Payne, Brooke Stuart.
Pi Beta Phi–Ashleigh Fergus, Jordan Jones, Brooklyn Miller, Claire Rexing, Sasha Stribling.

 

Mr. and Mrs. Bryan L. Spain of Arlington are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Laura M. Spain, to Bryan A. Howard, son of Mr. Andy H. Howard and Mrs. Catherine A. Walger. 

The bride-elect earned a bachelor of business administration and a master of business administration from Texas Christian University and is a partner in Hygeia Paragon Holdings, Inc. The groom-to-be received a bachelor of environmental design from Texas A & M University and is a project manager for C.B. Richard Ellis. 

The couple plans to marry Jan. 30 at Meadowbrook United Methodist Church in Fort Worth and will honeymoon on a Caribbean cruise.

Some of the poinsettias were silver. Most of the women wore black. The party was to raise some green.

But purple was the color of the night at the Presbyterian Night Shelter Christmas Gala Friday at Ridglea Country Club in Fort Worth. You know, purple like Horned Frogs from Texas Christian University.

At this party where the weather outside was wonderfully wintery, raising funds for the Presbyterian Night Shelter was the goal. And helping reach that goal was a purple autographed helmet with TCU Coach Gary Patterson’s sig plus football players that helped get TCU that number four ranking in the latest college football polls.

Food stations scattered around the country club offered prime rib and a delish risotto bar, and a band played for dancing. Still the helmet was the topic of discussion for many of the party-goers dressed in cocktail attire.

A bidding war broke out for the helmet, and at last sighting it was drawing more than $3,100. Don’t know who walked off with it, but maybe they’ll get to take it Jan. 4 to the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl in Arizona.

Presbyterian Night Shelter Christmas Gala

6:30 p.m. Friday

Ridglea County Club, 3700 Bernie Anderson Ave., Fort Worth

Individual tickets cost $150 and include dinner, dancing and a silent auction

Nail-biting time definitely is underway.

Sorority rush is already moving along at Oklahoma State University, always the first one in this area to finish rush. Now known as “recruitment,” rush will include the final round of parties Friday with bid day Saturday.

Mostly freshman girls attend rounds of parties in what is billed as a “mutual selection process,” which it is. And the game is played with sororities inviting back some girls, the girls indicating which ones they favor, and back and forth and back and forth. Then on the last day, bid day, girls are invited to pledge, which is what will happen Saturday in Stillwater.

The other big state schools will follow–boom, boom, boom. Next bid days on the list:

• University of Oklahoma–Aug. 18
• Louisiana State University–Aug. 22
• Texas Christian University–Aug. 22
• University of Arkansas–Aug. 22
• University of Texas–Aug. 25
• Texas Tech University–Aug. 27
• Texas A&M University–Aug. 28
• University of Tulsa–Aug. 30
• Texas State University–Sept. 9

From the time Baby Princess is dropped off at the dorm to the preceding dates can become somewhat stressful (understatement) for the mothers involved. By the end of the weak, the mother might have pulled her carefully highlighted hair out by the roots or have become just a little bit agitated or both.

What this means is a spike in area liquor sales. Nothing like this kind of ulcer-inducing exercise to inspire a mom to lunge for her corkscrew…sometimes even before 5 o’clock.

If you search the internet for information on stage, screen, television and recording artist Betty Buckley, you will find a wide range of descriptions such as actress, singer, performer, composer, producer, star, legend, diva, as well as one review that refers to her as “The Voice of Broadway.”  Since her Broadway debut over 40 years ago, Buckley has amassed a resume of performing credits so extensive and diverse, no one category fully describes her.  Additionally, she also has collected a treasure chest full of awards, including the 1983 Featured Actress in a Musical Tony Award, Broadway’s highest honor, for her performance as Grizabella, the Glamour Cat, in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s CATS. It is easy to understand how this former 1966 Miss Fort Worth and Texas Christian University head cheerleader’s voice was described by the Hollywood Reporter as “one of the wonders of the world.”

I recently had the opportunity to chat with Buckley about her upcoming show BETTY BUCKLEY: BROADWAY BY REQUEST featuring Seth Rudetsky, which has its hometown debut this weekend, July 25^th, 26^th and 27^th, at The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, and I must say, I can only describe her as simply delightful!

LG: Has your show, Broadway By Request, evolved from when you performed it at the Lyric Stage in Irving last summer?

BB: At the Irving Arts Center, we did everything that everybody requested.   The first night it [the show] was like three hours long.   And the second night was about two and a half hours long.  Now it is a 90-minute show.  So that is a major change.  We had so much fun.  It was like a real home-town crowd at the Lyric Stage where I believe I answered every question, sang every song and told every story.  Now I have honed it down just a bit.  We performed this show at Feinstein’s at the Regency Hotel [in New York City] in February, along with a couple of weeks ago at the Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor NY and a week of performances at the Hartford Stage in Hartford Conn.  So we have refined it quite a bit of it. 

LG: At the Irving show, you actually sat people on the stage.  Are you planning on doing that at this performance?

BB: We added seats to the stage because there was such a demand…it was a riot!  We will certainly do whatever we can do to accommodate everyone.

LG: Considering this is a request-type show where the audience chooses what you will be performing, what has been the oddest song you have been asked to perform?

BB: Last year at the Lyric Stage, I had requests for Led Zeppelin music, which is pretty funny.  Although, I am a huge Led Zeppelin fan so that wasn’t so remote from possible…except that the show is called Broadway by Request! 

LG: Is there a favorite song that has not been requested that you wish someone would ask for?

BB: Not Really.  I always put my request, Mama Look Sharp from 1776.  This is my favorite song from the musical, which, actually, I did not sing.  That is my request!

LG: This particular performance features the talented Seth Rudetsky at the piano.  What is it like working together?  

 BB: He is a dream!  He is the best, and he is my friend.  Years ago when we first moved to New York, he played at my voice lessons.  Since then, of course, he has gone on to become radio talk show host, author, comedian, producer and true celebrity in his own right.  He actually knows more about Broadway and about my career than I can remember.  During the show, people will ask me questions that cause me to think and he will say, “Don’t you remember…” It really is pretty funny.  It is such a pleasure having him on stage with me. 

LG: I’m sure you are always asked to perform what could be easily considered your signature song, Memory from Cats.  How often do you hear it referred to incorrectly as Memories?

BB: Often, I am always correcting people with it.  It is Memory, singular. 

LG: Will you be taking this show on the road to other cities?

BB: It is being performed here [Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth] in July and then again August 29^th, 30^th and 31^st, with the musical director John McDaniel.  He was the musical director for The Rosie O’Donnell Show and is coming down for these concerts.  We are calling that evening “On Broadway.”  I will be performing songs I have sung on Broadway and some new material we’re working on for my new Feinstein show (Feinstein’s at Loews Regency in New York) next February.

LG: You have played a wide range of diverse characters in the past, is there one character that stands out as a favorite?

BB: I loved Dixie Scott in Tender Mercies and I loved the character I played in the HBO series Oz.  On Broadway, I loved playing Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard on Broadway and of course, Grizabella in Cats on Broadway.

LG: I understand that you have an HBO mini-series The Pacific for Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks coming up.  How will that affect your new workshops?

BB: This is a mini-series for HBO that we shot last year in Melbourne, Australia and it will air in 2010. 

LG:   What would you consider the pinnacle of your life thus far?

BB: There have been so many extraordinary nights.  I guess my Carnegie Hall Concert for Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS in 1996 was one of the most extraordinary nights of my life.  It was almost a two and half hour concert with a big symphony orchestra…just an extraordinary event.  Then my opening night on Broadway for Sunset Boulevard was quite an extraordinary experience too.  I was welcomed homed to New York by the community.  It was just an amazing, amazing night.  Actually, my entire run in Sunset Boulevard was amazing.  Then the opening night of Cats.  Really, all of the Broadway opening nights were amazing…there is nothing like a Broadway opening night! 

And most recently, the birth of my brand new baby filly.  Her name is Little Bit O’ Honey Boon.  She is two months old now. 

LG: You must be quite the equestrian.

BB: I ride cutting horses.  I don’t know if you would say I am “quite the equestrian” but I sure do love it! 

LG: Where do you go to relax?  How do you get away?

BB: Well, with my horses.  I love listening to music.  I love reading a good thriller.  I like real scary books. 

LG: What piece of advice would you pass on to those who would dream to perform on Broadway? 

BB: Practice! Practice! Practice!  Keep the faith and believe in yourself.  That is why I am teaching these workshops; to help them remember that.  It really is about committing to your dreams, staying the course that is necessary to fulfill your potential and continue to believe in that potential…no matter what.  It you have a dream; it is there…you can fulfill that dream.  It might take a little more time than you figure and it might take a lot more practice and hard work than you thought about, but you can definitely fulfill those dreams. 

 

These upcoming concerts are a kick off for a new after-school series Buckley is working on for the Fort Worth Independent School District, sponsored by The Imagination Celebration.  At The Workshop for Young Singers and Storytellers, Buckley will help participants that are chosen from deserving students in the public school system refine their talent.  She plans to hold more than 20 of these workshops during the year.

Tickets for the hometown debut of Betty Buckley: Broadway by Request featuring Seth Rudetsky this weekend in Fort Worth can be ordered online at  www.lyricstage.org or by calling 972-252-2787.

The Imagination Celebration program, which began as an outreach project of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, is a non-profit organization founded in 1977 by executive director Ginger Head.  Its mission of  ”to provide programs which create learning in, through and about the arts and enhance the education of students from kindergarten through university, their teachers and their families” is possible through public support. Donations can be made by marking them  as “Buckley workshop for young singers and storytellers” and sending them to Imagination Celebration, 1300 Gendy Street,  Suite 210, Fort Worth, TX  76107 or call the main office at 817-870-1141.  For more information on Buckley or the Imagination Celebration program, go to www.bettybuckley.com or www.icfw.org.