TRIBUNE COLUMN
Concert Series’ Mouser makes scheduling season look easy

The schedule for the 2008-09 University of Missouri Concert Series has been announced, and, once again, it has something for everyone, beginning with Willie Nelson on July 22 and finishing with "The Little Mermaid" on May 9, 2009.

Kimberly Mouser, who enjoys the job of putting all this together, says the 36-event lineup might be expanded. "We’re still negotiating for some top-quality entertainment."

Just to get your juices flowing: The Itzhak Perlman violin concert postponed in March because of the artist’s shoulder problem will be Oct. 6. It was sold out in March and still is.

Among the others: "Sweeney Todd," Neil Sedaka, Ailey II, "Putnam County Spelling Bee," "The Mikado," the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra (promising to play the old classics this time), "Ain’t Misbehavin’," the Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra, "Stomp" ( for two nights), Golden Dragon Acrobats, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, the Charlie Daniels Band, David Sedaris, "Greater Tuna" and the Russian National Ballet’s "Sleeping Beauty."

There will be two performances by the MU Choral Union, a visit with Beatles history and Pink Floyd, four chamber music sessions including an evening with 15-year-old piano sensation Peng Peng, the Canadian Brass and, as always, "The Nutcracker" and the Nebraska Theatre Caravan’s "A Christmas Carol."

Missing are two of the most exciting groups from the 2007-08 season: Mexico’s National Symphony Orchestra and the Teatre Lirico d’Europa from Bulgaria. They both truly excited those in attendance, but a third-full house of excited folks does not pay the rent. How disappointing!

The 101st version of the Concert Series is the handiwork of a team that begins with Mike Dunn, director of both KBIA radio and the series, along with a budget of $1.25 million.

The presenter - that’s trade talk for the person who actually deals with the agents and artists, gets the schedule set and the contracts signed - is Assistant Director Kimberly Mouser.

A familiar name, you say? Her grandfather, Lee, is the brother of Perry Mouser, the father of James Mouser - "Uncle James" on KOMU-TV’s "Pepper and Friends."

Kimberly has spent eight months getting the coming season together. Here’s the way it works:

In September, Kimberly joined other members of a group of theater folks, the Plains Presenters, at the Midwest Arts Conference in Columbus, Ohio. Between 100 and 150 agencies, artists, agents and presenters were on hand to find out what was available and when - hundreds of shows of every kind.

Kimberly then brings the list of available shows back to you, the ticket buyer. If you attended a Concert Series event before Christmas, you received a list of shows with the request to pick the events you considered the best. The top 60 formed a basis for the 2008-09 season.

A few shows are booked immediately, but the main business is done in January, when Kimberly goes to New York, meets with agents and artists, sees a few of the offerings onstage and gets down to the contract business.

She has with her the schedule for Jesse Hall. Jesse is used more than 200 nights a year, and the Concert Series must get in line with everyone else.

"John Murray is the manager at Jesse," Kimberly says, "and he and his crew really take care of us. He makes me look good."

The next three months are spent fine-tuning the mix of ticketholders’ desires, Jesse’s schedule, the ever-changing schedule of performers and getting all contracts signed. Finally, by late April or early May, the schedule is set and the fun part of Kimberly’s life turns toward work.

She teams with Susan Cameron, who is responsible for handling the marketing, advertising and programs for each show. Sixty thousand programs are printed in midsummer, and inserts are added for each event.

Jennifer Wright oversees the box office and all the problems that go with ticketing. The ushers are the responsibility of Tracy Borengasser, and backstage hospitality is in the hands of Lucy Eberhard.

Audrey Soria coordinates the preconcert receptions for donors and sponsors as well as working as traffic manager for KBIA.

In addition to organizing the concert series, Kimberly is responsible for sales and underwriting for KBIA. Her plate - make that plates - is full.

You seldom see Kimberly onstage - unless there’s a problem. You’ve probably noticed a slender, athletic-looking, dark-haired runner-type with a friendly smile and radio in hand - just in case. That’s her.

She looks like a runner because she is. Kimberly grew up in Imperial and graduated from Windsor High School in 1998. She played volleyball, basketball and ran track. Though she tried the piano as youngster, music and theater were not a part of her life. "I was into sports in school," she says.

Kimberly made it twice to the state high school track meet - in the 800-meter run and the 4x800 relay. No medals. Her best time in the 800 was 2:28.9.

She picked up a bachelor’s degree in health promotion from Southeast Missouri State University in 2002, then came to MU to earn a master’s degree in business administration in 2004. Upon graduation, she accepted the position with the concert series.

Kimberly returned to running at MU and has now become a very active competitor, a member of the Columbia Multisport Club. She’s deep into the triathlon and has completed the full Ironman, covering the 2.4-mile swim, the 122-mile bike ride and the 26.2-mile run in 13 hours, 28 minutes, battling 60-degree water and 95-degree heat during the run in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

Kimberly has now completed nine marathons, and, even more important, her running introduced her to Brad Earnest, a former Hickman High School wrestler turned triathlete. They plan to marry in October.

There are no concert dates between Oct. 10 and Nov. 9. Getting married during the lull makes good sense, right? Right!

---

Bill Clark’s columns appear Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Reach him at 474-4510.

---

Advertisement