I have been receiving some news items that aren't "directly" linked to Scott City. When the website began, my intention was (and has been) to feature people who currently live in Scott City, events in and about Scott City, and people who are alumni of Scott Community High School but live and work elsewhere. So...I have decided to add this page "Six Degrees" to include those news items that are tied to Scott City. They may be about family ties, or people who worked here temporarily, who knows? If you have ideas, please just let me know!
(BTW---If you don't know what is meant by the term "Six Degrees", look it up here.)
FHSU Student Wins KMEA Composition Award
HAYS, Kan. -- Fort Hays State University student Christopher Johnson, Leoti senior, was the collegiate division winner of the annual Kansas Music Educators Association Composition Competition.
The award recognizes an original composition submitted by both high school and college music students who attend school in the state of Kansas. Students submit an original piece of music written for one of three categories: solo, ensemble and electronic music.
In addition to this award, Johnson has also served as the drum major, trombone section leader and student director at FHSU. Johnson's primary instruments are trombone and tuba.
"I wrote the piece, called 'Battle Canyon,' when I was student teaching in Scott City in the spring of 2009," Johnson said. "The director heard that I liked to write music and asked me to write something for his band so the students could get the experience of seeing the compositional process. I appreciate their support and the band's support of the project."
(Mr. Johnson did his student teaching during the spring of 2009 at Scott Community High School under the guidance of Shawn Henderson. If you were lucky enough to have attended the spring band concert, then you heard this piece.) (2.3.10)
Arriane Alexander
This information comes from Miss Arriane Alexander, granddaughter of Inez Blackett and daughter of Sharilyn Beach. She is also the cousin of Ted and Pam Crist. Be sure to visit her website after reading this press release.
Manhattan Mercury Article---Arriane Alexander
Emerging Star from Kansas Brings Back the Glamour of the Hollywood Sirens
In just over two years, Arriane Alexander, originally from Wichita and a graduate of Kansas State University, has put herself on the map as in-demand nightclub performer and actress, in part due to her glamorous, larger-than-life and hilarious personality that audiences love. Believe it or not, Arriane’s flamboyant style is ironically rooted on one side with six generations of inspirational Dunkard Brethren ministers, the other with powerful Cherokee Indian women, all settling in the Scott City area engaging in farming and ranching operations.
Arriane breaks the mold of a typical Hollywood actress as she stands, in her own words, “6’ 2” with heels and hair”, and enjoys a curvaceous figure that is a throwback to the Hollywood screen sirens of decades ago. Dana Meller, who played Eponine in Broadway’s Les Miserables, says of Arriane, “She is like Mae West from the Valley.”
Arriane made her way to Los Angeles where she launched her career with “Big, Blonde & Beautiful”, a music and comedy nightclub act in which she performs songs and stories about living as a 6ft tall single bombshell looking for Mr. Right. “Arriane Alexander has a lot going for her: stunning good looks, a voluptuous figure, a winning stage personality, plus a strong, pleasant voice that exudes enormous energy and pizzazz”, writes Elliott Zwiebach of Cabaret Scenes Magazine. Since her debut in 2007, she has enjoyed sold out shows in various venues in LA, including the legendary Cinegrill at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, the M Bar and Catch One. She is a frequent in-demand guest star in other cabaret shows in LA, Palm Springs and around the country.
Recently, Arriane appeared as a co-star on the FOX -TV reality hit, “More To Love,” as one of twenty Bachelorettes vying for the love of one Bachelor. The show was from the Executive Producer of “The Bachelor” and the premise was the same, except this Bachelor was a 6-foot-3, 330-pound man choosing among women who wore sizes ranging from 14 to 22.
With curvy women being cast for more roles on TV and film, like the gorgeous Christina Hendricks on Mad Men, Arriane is excited about her opportunities on stage and TV. She says, “I look at the old school stars, like Mae West, Brigitte Bardot, and Marilyn Monroe, and these women had curves! I love being a strong, athletic and curvy woman.”
Arriane credits her fast rise in the entertainment scene to her inspiration that comes from inside. “It is a gift to bring smiles, laughter and inspiration into people’s lives. I am grateful I get to share the joy of songs and comedy with my audiences”, says Alexander from her home in Santa Monica. She says she feels like an old-school entertainer in that she brings her “humor, sexiness, stage presence and glamour to the show”.
Arriane Alexander is an entertainer to watch, as there is no one like her on television or stage today. She is currently in production on numerous commercials and for a show in Las Vegas in summer 2010. For more information, visit: