The Northern Oklahoma College’s Roustabouts are an incredibly talented and hard working group of people. From the technicians that help make the show possible to the performers themselves, there is not a member among them that is not dedicated to their work. On Sat., April 1, the Roustabouts held their benefit show. Going through the 70s, 80s, 90s, 2000s, and more recent songs, they performed a collection of favorites to get the crowd on their feet.

On Saturday night, there were a number of alumni, people in the community, and overall supporters for the Roustabouts in the crowd. The Northern Oklahoma College’s music department presented them with favorites throughout the decades as they rocked the stage.

“The Roustabouts are special because there is nothing like them. There is no other school that does what they do,” said one interviewee in the new Roustabouts promotional video. This rings true as they perform across the state for schools to show younger students the opportunities they could have as a Northern Oklahoma College Roustabout.

The Roustabouts program is offered by the Northern Oklahoma College Music Department and is a contemporary music ensemble. They perform different types of music, from new and older country, rock, pop, and more. This program has taken students across the globe to perform and have had the opportunity to travel to Russia, Romania, Great Britain, Tennessee, Washington, D.C., and have performed on Carnival and Royal Caribbean cruise lines. The Roustabouts have been an irreplaceable asset and a huge aspect of Northern Oklahoma College since 1964.

The Roustabouts are truly focused on these students’ love of the arts. There are no stipulations saying that these students must be music majors, it is just a group of young people coming together to celebrate their love of music. In fact, many of these students are not music majors. The Roustabouts are always looking for new talent and it is important to them to keep the upcoming college students informed about their program. Whether you play an instrument, sing, or would like to work as a technician, there is always room with the Northern Oklahoma College Roustabouts.

During an interview in the new Roustabouts promotional video, performer Tim Muniz said, “its perfection. These kids work tirelessly to make these shows perfection, so when you come to a Roustabouts show, you are getting everything they have.”

With April arriving and May just around the corner, the end of the Roustabouts’ season is approaching quickly. On Fri., April 7, they will be performing this decades set on the Poncan Theatre stage. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $15 for adults or online for $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. If you missed the show last Saturday, you still have one more opportunity to see it at the Poncan Theatre on Friday.

Another event that the Northern Oklahoma Music Department has planned, is the 24-hour Play Festival on Fri., April 21 and Sat., April 22. On Friday, actors, writers, and directors will gather at the Kinzer Performing Arts Center in preparation for the festival. The group will draw inspiration from a hat and use that to create a 10-minute play in 24-hours. Saturday night, each group will perform their creations on the stage. Anyone can sign up to be apart of this event, either in the plays, or as a judge for the final product. Admission is $5 and free for NOC students and employees.

Finally, many of the people of the Northern Oklahoma College Music Department will be partnering with the Ponca Playhouse perform in their new show, The Producers, from May 26 through June 4. They have already gone through auditions and a number of the NOC Music Department has made the cut.

These students are dedicated, hardworking, and talented group of people and they work incredibly hard to put on excellent shows. From the people behind the stage like the professors and the technicians that the show wouldn’t be possible without to the faces of the department that use their talents to entertain, everyone within the program plays a vital role in making these performances possible. Any shows that the Northern Oklahoma College Roustabouts put on is sure to be amazing and is definitely worth checking out. To learn more about the Roustabouts program, visit www.noc.edu.