The Season

See interview with Robert Cerchio, Assistant Director of The School of Visual and Performing Arts, Southeast Missouri State University

The site of the coming River Campus is a flurry of activity.

The sounds of construction are everywhere, as workers get the campus ready for use when students in Southeast Missouri State University's School of Visual and Performing Arts come to campus for classes and other events in August. Classes have barely ended, and already some departments are moving into the new classrooms in the old seminary building on campus.

St. Petersburg Ballet presents Swan Lake

Shaolin Warriors

For Robert Cerchio, assistant director of the school, much of his hardest work is complete -- booking the touring acts for the inaugural season of the River Campus' 950-seat Bedell Performance Hall. Season ticket sales officially begin Monday, but a presale to River Campus donors has already filled more than 200 of those seats.

Shaolin Warriors

Cerchio looks to the season with optimism, but he admits he's not sure what to expect, or to what degree local arts patrons will lay down their money in support of Cape Girardeau's newest performing arts venue.

A tour group walked past the view of the Emerson Bridge in the new building under construction at the Southeast Missouri State University River Campus last December. The tour was given to lawyers, accountants, investment bankers and others involved in financial planning. (Diane L. Wilson)

"We don't have a real track record here," Cerchio says of Cape Girardeau. "There have been touring productions brought in. They haven't gone over extremely well. Those were modern dance -- modern dance is probably the hardest thing to sell.

"I don't know if I'm hanging out with the wrong kind of people or the right kind of people, but everybody I've talked to is very excited about this facility, is very excited about the St. Louis Symphony and 'Ring of Fire.' ... There is an audience out there for every one of the events we're bringing in. Whether there's enough of an audience, we're going to find out."

Consultants worked with the university years ago to determine the size of the theater, Cerchio said. The size of the Bedell reflects that research -- the university can fill 950 seats, but might have difficulty filling more.

Cerchio said he won't make any predictions, but the university would love to see a sell-out on every touring show in this first season. By the time season ticket sales end June 20, Cerchio said he hopes to have 300 or more season tickets sold.

For information on ordering tickets, call 651-2265.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182