"Evening with Bob Hope" To Benefit Beck PRIDE Center
July 01, 2014
JONESBORO — Arkansas State University’s College of Nursing and Health Professions
department, in conjunction with Fowler Foods, is presenting a special show, “An Evening
with Bob Hope,” to benefit the Beck PRIDE Center for America’s Wounded Veterans, Tuesday,
Sept. 16, at 7 p.m. The event takes place at Riceland Hall in the Fowler Center. Tickets
are $20 each.
Bill Johnson, a Bob Hope impersonator, will entertain the audience as ‘Bob,’ bringing
to life the comedy of the real legend. Johnson dresses in a tuxedo, classic Bob Hope
golf attire or in military apparel similar to the clothes worn by Hope during all
of the years he entertained the troops overseas and at home.
“The Beck PRIDE Center has served over 500 veterans and their families since its inception
in 2007,” said Dr. Susan Hanrahan, dean of the College of Nursing and Health Professions.
“The center relies on donations for its operations. This is our first major fundraiser.
We are very excited to have “Bob” and other featured performers in Jonesboro for a
spectacular night of laughs, talent and song. I hope the community will be able to
join us for a very memorable evening.”
The Beck PRIDE Center is focused on Personal Rehabilitation, Individual Development
and Education. The center’s mission is to provide combat wounded veterans with first
class educational programs and services at Arkansas State University. These include,
but are not limited to resources to access to the higher education experience, resources
for counseling, personal rehabilitation, advocacy, and financial assistance; supporting
these individuals to achieve their post military service goals.
Hope’s commitment to boosting the morale of the country’s military spanned almost
60 years. In 1941, it all started when Hope and other performers did a radio show
for servicemen and women in March Field, Calif. From then on, he hosted radio shows
that aired from military bases through the U.S. and theaters in Europe and the South
Pacific. He soon began visiting war areas and he and his wife, Dolores, started the
Christmas appearances on foreign soil to greet the soldiers.
Johnson captures the comedy of Bob Hope and brings a song and a smile to all of those
men and women in uniform.
Also performing is “Two on Tap,” a creative collaboration of two musical theater performers—Melissa
Giattino and Ron DeStefano. The pair of song-and-dance showstoppers represents the
era of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers or Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney in their act.
It is a creative collaboration of these two performers with vocal harmony and dance
numbers.
There is also a special performance by the A-State Jazz Band.
Tickets can be purchased at the A-State Box Office in the lower red entrance of the
Convocation Center or online at astate.edu/tickets. Call the Box Office at 870-972-2781
or toll-free: 888-278-3267. For more information about the event itself, contact Arkansas
State University College of Nursing and Health Professions at 870-972-3112 or email
Dr. Hanrahan at hanrahan@astate.edu.
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