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Actress Kathleen Turner and her mother will accept awards from CASA of Southwest Missouri during a fundraiser for the organization tomorrow night. KSMU’s Missy Shelton spoke with Kathleen Turner and files this report.

Award-winning actress Kathleen Turner is back in Springfield where she attended school in the early 1970’s at what was then Southwest Missouri State University. Her mother Pat still lives here…Both Pat and Kathleen Turner will receive Champion for Children Awards Friday night at a fundraiser for CASA. CASA or Court Appointed Special Advocates trains and oversees volunteers who work with the courts on behalf of abused and neglected children. Pat Turner was an early volunteer with CASA and is a past CASA board member. Kathleen sat down with me to talk about her mother’s work and the fundraiser.

Shelton: I bet you get a lot of requests from organizations here in Springfield and from other places…why did you agree to be a part of this fundraiser?
Turner: I do get a lot of requests, I must confess. There are two reasons. First of all, I have a deal with my mom. She gets me for one major fundraiser a year. (laughter) Secondly, of course, it’s because it involves her so closely that it’s very important to me.
Shelton: Will you be speaking at the event?
Turner: They’ve asked my mother to talk a bit. Then I’m going to speak a while. What I really enjoy is opening the floor to the audience. I like to talk to people and not at them. I hope people will ask me questions. It starts a conversation going.
Shelton: What else will you be doing in Springfield besides the fundraiser tomorrow night?
Turner: Tomorrow I’ll be giving a master class over in the theatre department. I teach at NYU. I teach juniors and seniors. I have a course they have to list by my title, which is “Practical Acting: Shut Up and Do It.” That’s how I feel about acting. Sitting around and talking about acting or the theory of acting…get on your feet and see what you can do. I would love to get everyone on their feet but I don’t them and I don’t know their talents. So basically, it will be a question and answer system. I hope to give very practical advice: How to get an agent. What do you have to know when you go on a camera audition? How do you respond in this situation? I hope that’s the sort of thing I’ll be able to pass on.
Shelton: I’ve been speaking with actress Kathleen Turner. She and her mother Pat will receive awards from CASA tomorrow night during a fundraiser at University Plaza. The event begins at 6:30PM. Tickets are still available. For information, the number is 350-6264.

CASA of Southwest Missouri

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