University Communications and Marketing
United Campus Ministry, Babcock Theater team up for St. Patrick's weekend fun
February 23, 2009
Contacts:
The Rev. Kim Woeste, United Campus Ministry, 657-2165
Dan Carter, University Relations, 657-2269
Limerick contest, Irish music on tap for fundraiser
MSU BILLINGS NEWS SERVICES — United Campus Ministry at Montana State University Billings and the historic Babcock Theater are teaming up for an evening of music and limericks at the Babcock Theater as a fitting celebration concluding St. Patrick’s Day festivities in Downtown Billings.
“Shamrock Rock at the Babcock” is set for Saturday, March 14 at 8 p.m. at the historic Babcock Theater. General admission tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the door or at the MSU Billings Jackets and Company store downtown, 112 N. Broadway.
Proceeds from the event will benefit United Campus Ministry at MSU Billings and the Babcock Theater Restoration project.
The theater will open at 7:30 p.m. for a variety of music performed by the Celtic band Banish Misfortune and by the Midlife Chryslers, with opportunities for the audience to enjoy dancing and a limerick contest. This will also be an opportunity for relaxing and enjoying some Irish entertainment in the 1920s-era theater before it begins the process of being restored.
The St. Patrick’s Day activities will also include the grand annual parade at 11 a.m. and a street fair in the heart of Downtown Billings. After a time of rest and refueling, the evening fun begins at the Babcock at 8:00pm.
ABOUT THE LIMERICK CONTEST:
Persons are invited to share their favorite limerick, and participants will be invited
to read their limericks onstage. Prizes will be awarded in the following categories:
- MSUB vs. RMC
- Montana
- Political
- Open
Because this is a family event, participants are urged to keep the limericks clean … and may the best limerick win the pot o’ gold.
ABOUT THE MIDLIFE CHRYSLERS:
The Midlife Chryslers are famous for their covers of classic rock music of the 1960s,
70s and 80s. The band’s participation in this event continues their long history of
donating their music to community charitable causes. The group provides plenty of
energy and the tunes to get you up and dancing. The Midlife Chryslers musicians include:
Hal Forseth on bass and vocals; Doug Ezell on keyboards, mandolin, bass, fiddle, autoharp
and harmonica; Scott Millikan on lead guitar; Russ Harvey on guitar and vocals; Mark
Moak on drums; and Holly Malloy Hansen on vocals. In addition the group has a recently
added a horn section which includes Doug and Kevin McBride on trumpets, Aaron Morgenstern
on saxophone, and Aaron Schendel on trombone.
ABOUT BANISH MISFORTUNE:
Banish Misfortune takes their name from the title of a classic Celtic fiddle tune
of the same name. Their hope is that all misfortunes — theirs and yours — will be
banished upon hearing their music. They perform modern interpretations of traditional
and contemporary Celtic and American acoustic music as well as original tunes played
on traditional acoustic instruments. Their vocal harmonies are stunning and powerful.
The musicians in Banish Misfortune are: Doug Ezell on mandolin, fiddle, bass, banjo,
and bones; Russ Harvey on guitar, bouzouki, and bass; Tamara Harvey on vocals; Austin
Willis on violin; Aaron Morgenstern on guitar, vocals and recorders; and Janet Morgenstern
on vocals.
ABOUT UNITED CAMPUS MINISTRY:
For over 40 years, United Campus Ministry has served the MSU Billings campus community.
Supported by seven denominations, individual donations and special events like “Shamrock
Rock at the Babcock,” United Campus Ministry helps persons ask questions and explore
the resources of the Christian faith. The ministry provides both personal pastoral
support and opportunities to serve others by offering informal counseling, study groups,
service projects and a spiritual presence on the campus of MSU Billings.