The Scoop | Summer 2024

The Department of Theatre Arts and Dance presented “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” in April in Marquette Theater to a packed house.

The heartfelt, Tony-Award-winning musical comedy follows an eclectic group of sixth-grade students vying for a spelling bee championship. Rachel Sheinkin wrote the book of the musical, with music and lyrics by William Finn. “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” debuted on Broadway in 2005.

The School of Communication and Design screened a documentary lost since Hurricane Katrina showcasing the life and artistry of the late Allison “Tootie” Montana, who led the Yellow Pocahontas Black Masking Indians as its big chief for 50 years.

Students in Will Horton’s Documentary Filmmaking course hosted the free event, which was open to the public, in December in Nunemaker Auditorium. A panel discussion with the filmmakers and those who knew Montana followed.

The School of Music and Theatre Professions presented a double bill of French, one-act works for the stage in January in Roussel Hall.

The Loyola Opera Theatre performed Debussy's “L’enfant prodigue” and Ravel’s “L’enfant et les sortilèges” – both about children and the lessons they must learn – in its annual, fully-staged opera production, said Carol Rausch, director of the school’s Opera Workshop.

The School of Music and Theatre Professions hosted an evening with The Dixie Cups in March in Nunemaker Auditorium to celebrate the 60th anniversary of their hit, “Chapel of Love.”

The evening began with a performance by Loyola's student vocal trio, Final Take, followed by a Q&A session with original Dixie Cup Barbara Ann Hawkins, hosted by journalist Arthel Neville. The Dixie Cups then took the stage for a free, 45-minute concert in front of a packed house.  

Who: Givonna Joseph

Degree: Bachelor of Music Therapy, ‘80

What: Co-founder and Artistic Director of OperaCréole

Givonna Joseph founded OperaCréole in 2011 with her daughter, Aria Mason. She serves as the organization's artistic director. OperaCréole works to bring “restorative justice to the world of Opera in the first city of Opera – New Orleans,” specifically by uplifting long-lost or rarely performed works by composers of African descent.

Joseph’s research on 19th Century New Orleans free classical and operatic

Who: Henry R. Muñoz, III

Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Communication, ‘81; Honorary Degree, ‘14

What: Winner, 75th Emmy Awards – Executive Producer, “WEIRD: The Al Yankovic Story”

Henry R. Muñoz, III, an activist, businessman and philanthropist, won his first Emmy this past spring as executive producer of “WEIRD: The Al Yankovic Story,” which won in the Outstanding Television Movie category. The movie stars Daniel Radcliffe as Weird Al Yankovic, one of the highest-selling comedy recording artists of all time.

Julia Ernst, a May cum laude College of Music and Media graduate, is headed to graduate school at Yale University this fall on a full scholarship to study opera.

Ernst is one of only 100 musicians accepted into Yale's postgraduate program. In addition to the scholarship, the school awarded her a stipend for living expenses.

At Loyola, Ernst studied under internationally renowned soprano and Professor of Practice in Music Irini Kyriakidou-Hymel. She made her professional debut in March 2023 with the New Orleans Opera, singing the role of Kate Pinkerton in Madame Butterfly. 

Who: Lori Atkinson

Job Title: Office Manager, School of Music and Theatre Professions

Years at Loyola: 1

Lori Atkinson joined the College of Music and Media in 2023 after working in the hospitality industry for several years. She spent time working front of house and managerial positions for small business owners, with stints in nonprofit and manufacturing administration work.