From eclipse to Taylor Swift: Southeast Missouri's year in entertainment and culture

It has been a full year of entertainment and culture stories in Southeast Missouri. From a total solar eclipse and Taylor Swift to new programs launching, 2024 has been a full year of excitement.

Here are some of the culture/entertainment stories we followed:

Cedric the Entertainer brings benefit show to Cape Girardeau

Cedric Kyles, known as Cedric The Entertainer, performed a March 23 benefit show at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau to raise scholarship funds for his alma mater, Southeast Missouri State University.

"I do have many small things to say about the area, things that are my experiences, and hopefully some of these things will ring true to the audience and I'll get to hit some familiar buttons that'll make people go, 'Oh, yeah, he knows what he's talking about.' You know, so that's what I think people enjoy," he said in an interview leading to the performance.

Kyles graduated from SEMO in 1987, and while he has been in Hollywood working on his different projects, he still keeps tabs on the university. He said he often talks to the administrators, and they are the main ways he stays connected to SEMO.

"That whole area means a lot to me, just kind of growing up, you hear about it in the news. All the different little cities throughout that connection. So to be able to come back, to be able to offer something, give back to the area, it's a big motivation."

SEMO symphony conductor Sara Edgerton announces retirement

Sara Edgerton, professor of cello and string bass and artistic director and conductor of the Southeast Missouri Symphony Orchestra at SEMO, is retiring after 33 years.

When Edgerton joined SEMO in 1991, she was hired to help develop the orchestra as the university was lacking a full-time professor dedicated to string instruments. She was faced with the challenge of rebuilding the orchestra, which initially consisted of only five string players.

“I always say that I go back to that first rehearsal; I walked into the room, and five students were sitting there, five string players. So you know, it was a challenge, but I was excited because there was so much potential,” Edgerton said in April. “There’s so much interest and support. People felt like we needed the symphony orchestra.”

Under Edgerton’s leadership, the SEMO orchestra put on several memorable concerts, including one on the Great Wall of China in 2009.

“Just outside the hallway of my office, there’s this wonderful photo of the orchestra on the Great Wall of China. When I came here, if someone had said, ‘Sara, in 15 years your orchestra could be playing in China’, I would say, ‘You’ve got to be joking’. But, yeah, we did that,” she said.

Taylor Swift’s latest album resonating with local ‘Swifties’

Taylor Swift's album, "The Tortured Poets Department", released April 19, took the world by storm, breaking the global streaming record with more than 1.76 billion streams in its first week. While Swift's global appeal is undeniable, Missouri has emerged as a significant hub for her fanbase. According to USBettingReport, Missouri ranks as the second-biggest Swiftie state in the United States, a fact that thrilled local fans.

Of course, part of the Show Me State's kinship with the singer comes from her relationship with Travis Kelce, tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Grace Johnson and Gracie Willis, friends from Cape Girardeau, are among the enthusiastic Swifties celebrating Missouri's high ranking. Johnson described the achievement as "iconic", while Willis emphasized their long-standing dedication to Swift, asserting they are "100% Swifties" rather than bandwagon fans. Both women have attended multiple concerts on Swift's “Eras Tour”, including performances in Kansas City and Nashville, Tennessee.

Eclipse enthusiasts gather in Cape Girardeau for celestial celebration

“Have an eclipse and they will come,” Ray Kinsella of "Field of Dreams” fame might have said.

For the second time in seven years, Cape Girardeau was a hot spot for people to watch the total solar eclipse April 8. Community members and tourists traveled to watch-parties in Cape Girardeau at Cape County Park, downtown, Houck Field, and the SportsPlex among other locations to watch the “twice-in-a-lifetime” event in perfect weather.

Visitors from all over the United States attended, as well as people from all over the world. Residents from Scotland, Lebanon, Australia, England and the Netherlands were reported to be in the SportsPlex and Cape County Park watch-parties.

John Smith of Bumbry, Western Australia, decided to come to Cape Girardeau with his friend, Christine Burke of Ventura, California, who was attending with a group from the Anthroposophical Society, meaning wisdom of the human being society. Smith said he had seen an eclipse before but that it was a long time ago.

“I believe there’s a lot of power in the eclipse, so we will make wishes and hope they are going to come true,” Smith said.

Some eclipse viewers such as Mary Brooks, Thad White and Rodger Berry picked out their spots at Cape County Park years ago. Brooks said she picked a spot more than four years ago as it is halfway between Gulfport, Mississippi, where she is from, and her daughter, who lives in Minneapolis.

“I picked it because Cape Girardeau had a better chance of clear skies. And it’s a pretty straight shot north from Mississippi, and I also wanted to travel back in time and see early spring again,” Brooks said.

Totality became emotional for some viewers such as Nashville, Tennessee, visitors Ali and Jenna. Jenna said they both teared up during totality because of the natural beauty of the eclipse.

“It feels so surreal. It was so beautiful, crazy, beautiful. Jenna loves staring at the sun. This was the first time she’s been able to stare at it without hurting her eyes,” Ali said about her friend.

Cape Girardeau was not the only place to gather to see the eclipse, the Rock 'N' Roll Drive-In added to the fun by holding an Adam Wainwright concert before totality.

Cape Comic Con growth

Cape Comic Con moved locations this past year from Drury Plaza Conference Center to the Show Me Center.

"After years of hard work and consideration, Cape Con 2024 will be moving to the Show Me Center! We couldn’t have made this move without our loyal sponsors, vendors, volunteers, and con-goers! We are very excited to take this next step and we can’t wait to share it with you," its Facebook post said.

The annual event has been held at the Osage Centre and Drury Plaza Conference Center in the past.

This year’s Cape Comic Con was from Nov. 1 through 3. Thousands attended the weekend event and immersed themselves in a fandom fun time.