Warhawk Weekly 11-18: Theatre AUM honors 50 years; Rhythms Festival strikes a beat
Theatre AUM honors 50 years of stage excellence
Theatre AUM’s first production, The Contrast by playwright Royall Tyler, debuted in 1975 in Goodwyn Hall 109, launching five decades of theatrical excellence at Auburn University at Montgomery.
Half a century after that first performance lit the stage in Goodwyn Hall, Theatre AUM celebrated its golden year last week with a “50th Anniversary Showcase” filled with scenes, music, memories and returning cast members. The Contrast was among several past productions revisited with an encore performance.
AUM alumna Susan Woody (’77), a member of the original cast of The Contrast, returned to serve as the showcase’s emcee. She joined theatre alumni, retirees — including former AUM photographer Frank Williams, who documented the award-winning program for more than 30 years — as well as current and former faculty, staff and students in commemorating the program’s golden year.
“Theatre AUM’s first play, The Contrast, was held in Goodwyn Hall because the Taylor Center had not been built yet,” said Val Winkelman, Distinguished Research Professor of Theatre in AUM’s Department of Communication and Theatre. “It shows how far the theatre program has come.”
From Nov. 13–16, a 30-member ensemble of past and present Theatre AUM performers, along with university faculty and staff, reunited to bring back a series of scenes, songs and monologues spanning the program’s 50-year history. Supporters and fans joined them in celebrating the milestone in the university’s theatre, now located in the Taylor Center.
“It was such a joy to connect with our alumni again and celebrate Theatre AUM’s collaborative achievements over the past 50 years,” said Winkelman, who recalled working on her first Theatre AUM production in 1991. “It was not only rewarding but reflective to mark this anniversary with our alumni, retirees, current students, faculty and staff who returned to campus for their own sentimental reasons.”
AUM Rhythms Festival strikes a strong beat
AUM’s Rhythms Festival brought campus to life on Saturday with a vibrant blend of music, dance, food and cultural showcases representing communities from around the world.
Students, faculty, staff and visitors explored hands-on activity stations featuring handmade jewelry, Bengali heritage displays, Costa Rican coffee brewing, Chinese calligraphy, crochet and crafts, decoupage art, henna designs, Francophone culture and regional showcases from India and Türkiye.
The festival’s stage featured high-energy performances, including live band music from the faculty-staff band the Jammin’ Warhawks, hip-hop, Chinese traditional dance, Bharatanatyam, Kathak and Kuchipudi classical dances, West African drumming, Indian classical instrumental music and contemporary instrumental pieces.
Food vendors and cultural partners rounded out the celebration with global flavors, offering dishes inspired by Latin American, South Asian, Mediterranean and East Asian cuisines, alongside local favorites.
Now in its third year, the Rhythms Festival continues to celebrate AUM’s diverse community through art, culture, creativity and connection.
Fine arts concert opens holiday season
AUM’s Department of Fine Arts will host its annual holiday concert on Thursday, Nov. 20.
This year’s program, themed “The Spirit of the Season,” will feature the AUM Choir and AUMcappella. The concert will begin at 6:30 p.m. in Goodwyn Hall 109.
Attendees are encouraged to bring plenty of holiday spirit as the campus welcomes the season ahead of the Thanksgiving break. Light refreshments will be served.
Celebrating first-gen scholars and excellence
First-generation students set a powerful precedent, demonstrating how higher education can transform lives across generations.
AUM’s Zeta Tau Chapter of Alpha Alpha Alpha (Tri-Alpha), the national honor society for first-generation college students, recently welcomed 39 new members during its fall induction ceremony. The chapter recognizes both undergraduate and graduate students who are the first in their families to attend college.
During the ceremony, Honors and Distinguished Research Professor Dr. Darren Harris-Fain was inducted as a first-generation faculty member. Associate Provost for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs Dr. Sameer Pande was inducted as an honorary member in recognition of his support for first-generation student success.
Chartered on AUM’s campus in Fall 2022, the Zeta Tau Chapter is the second Tri-Alpha chapter established in Alabama.
Fall 2025 inductees are:
- Charlie Bailey
- Shadora Brooks
- Jennifer Bullock
- Christina Buntyn
- Kalia Cook
- Alexis Cooks
- Angela Cooper
- Joshua Gosa
- Brandie Greathouse
- Ansheeon Henderson
- Jacqueline Jackson
- Neporshaie Jones
- Joseph Kapinos
- Shannon King-Jackson
- LaTonya Langford-Lovett
- Keturah Mace
- Ga’Lina Magumise
- Veronica Mcclaney-Wright
- Briana Newberry
- Tina Nguyen
- Demetrice Oliver
- Cheyanne Popwell
- Candace Powers
- Michkayla Prince
- Aaron Rudnick
- Charlesciyeon Smith
- Tracey Stallings
- Carmen Stough
- Lesley Strickland
- Sherese Sutton
- Shreni Veeramaneni
- Alexandria Whatley
- Jordan White
- Jamia Whiting
- Jasmine Williams
- Amythist Wilson
- Calan Young
- Dr. Darren Harris-Fain (Faculty/Staff Inductee)
- Dr. Sameer Pande (Honorary Inductee)
Warhawks basketball starts strong, volleyball honors McCain
AUM men’s basketball opened its season last Friday with a dominant 95–68 victory over Spring Hill College in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference/Gulf South Conference (SIAC/GSC) Crossover Challenge, the program’s largest margin of victory over a Division II opponent since 2019. The win also marked the debut of interim head coach Joe Brooks. The Warhawks fell to the Tuskegee University Golden Tigers on Saturday and will play their first road game of the season tonight at Shorter University.
AUM Volleyball wrapped up the 2025 season on Senior Day, highlighted by senior outside hitter Kendall McCain surpassing 1,000 career kills. McCain tallied 16 kills and 17 digs in the Warhawks’ match against the University of Alabama in Huntsville Chargers, earning her 10th double-double of the year.
Recognize outstanding library faculty, staff
The AUM Library is accepting nominations for the 2025 Betty J. Tims Friends of the AUM Library Faculty and Staff Service Awards.
The awards recognize library faculty and staff for their outstanding dedication to activities and functions, which lead to improvements in library services. Library faculty and staff also are honored for their dedication to providing or improving access to library holdings and efforts to offer quality recommendations that result in more efficient and/or more cost-effective library operations.
One outstanding library faculty member and staff member will be selected for this year’s honor.
Submit your nomination online by 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 1.
Keep up with campus events
There’s an easy way to keep up with all of the fun events offered on our campus. Enroll in AUM365 and get the 4-1-1 from Curtiss The Warhawk himself. Text curti$$ to 334-398-6025 to receive reminders about upcoming happening.
