MWSU Arts Calendar | St. Joseph Allied Arts Calendar

Stacey Park

Q & A with Stacey Park

Tell me about an early arts experience that you remember:
My uncle would take me with him to the theatre when I was just in grade school. It was always such a special treat. We would get dinner and then go watch a performance somewhere locally, like Potter Theatre at MWSU or the Missouri Theatre. I remember watching Little Shop of Horrors and Up with People and being completely mesmerized by it all—the lights, the characters, the audience, the singing, the stage, all of it!

Did you go to MWSU?
Yep! I graduated in 2000 with a B.I.S. degree in Theatre and Psychology. I wanted to learn more about drama therapy, so I continued with graduate school at Kansas State University in the Theatre department. I also have a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Kansas. I sometimes get asked who I cheer for when K-State and KU are rival teams, and it really can be a dilemma…Am I a Jayhawk today? A Wildcat?

Do you really think St. Joseph has an art scene?
I have no doubt—there is a lot going on here! Sometimes, I think it can be hard for people to find out what is going on in the city. So, one of my favorite aspects of Art Beat, is that we bring the arts to our viewers’ homes. Also, we update the Arts Calendar and keep it right on the front page of the website, so viewers can go to it for more information.

What do you hope the show accomplishes for viewers watching the show?
Well, I definitely hope that viewers get a glimpse into some of the arts events going on in the community. I hope that we show a broad spectrum of ways to enjoy the arts, whether a show sparks a viewer’s interest in learning more about an artist, to being motivated to go to the symphony for the first time, volunteering at a local festival, enrolling in a photography class, enjoying a local band, or discovering a new family favorite tradition, I think there is something here for everyone.

What do you do when you aren’t hosting the show?
Mostly, I am working for (i.e. playing with) my two-year-old and four-year-old. It is really fun to watch them experience the arts, and I feel like I am constantly rediscovering my love for the arts through them. This year, Anna, the four-year-old can’t stop singing songs that she learns at pre-school, is drawing recognizable people figures, and is begging me to take her to see Disney on Ice! Henry, the two-year-old, is a budding photographer and rarely goes anywhere without his play camera.