Saturday, a memorial for Keith Kennedy of the U of M

My godfather has advised me of this, and Live From Memphis has the information:

Memorial To Celebrate the Late Keith Kennedy

The Department of Theatre & Dance will host a memorial event celebrating the life of the late Keith Kennedy, on January 31 at 3 p.m. on the Mainstage in the Theatre and Communication Building, 3745 Central Avenue. A backstage reception will follow the memorial. The event is free and open to the public.

Kennedy, who was the first director of theatre at (then) Memphis State University, died December 17, 2008 of congestive heart failure. Although Kennedy will be remembered for the many plays he directed during his time at the University, he is most often associated with the production of "Hair," staged at Memphis State in March 1970. The University’s was the first non-professional production of the controversial anti-war musical and brought a record audience to the campus theatre. Under Kennedy’s leadership U of M theatre attained national recognition, and became known throughout the region as a major cultural asset for Memphis and Shelby County. He was a renowned teacher who inspired a generation of students and set high artistic standards, which still prevail at the University today.

After 20 years at the University, Kennedy wanted to “find one more big adventure,” and took early retirement in 1986 to pursue that dream and continue directing plays on local stages. In 1992 Kennedy was one of three University employees to receive the Martin Luther King Jr. Human Rights Achievement Award. In 1996, he received the Eugart Yerian Award for lifetime theater service. The memorial celebration will feature Kennedy’s family and friends, colleagues and students. Music will be provided by George Caldwell, Deborah Manning Thomas, who recently played the lead role in Hattiloo Theatre’s production of “Mahalia,” and Brenetta Farmer Miles who sang “The Age of Aquarius” in the Memphis production of “Hair.” Speakers include Michael Osborn and John Bakke, professors emeritus and former chairs of the Department of Communication, Ken Zimmerman, former artistic director of Playhouse on the Square and star of Kennedy’s first Memphis production, “Stop the World I Want To Get Off,” in 1965, and Russell Sugarmon, local civil rights pioneer.