Welcome to UCA's new events blog!

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Go West Exhibit (Curated by UMFA's Jill Dawsey) @ SL Art Center (SLC: Oct 8 - Jan 9, 2011)

PRESS RELEASE
September 21, 2010

For more information contact:
Jenny Klekas, executive assistant, 801-328-4201, jenniferk@slartcenter.org
www.slartcenter.org


Go West opens at Salt Lake Art Center on October 8
A new exhibition organized by guest curator Jill Dawsey

Salt Lake City, Utah –Salt Lake Art Center presents Go West, an exhibition that brings together twenty contemporary artists who are engaged in unearthing myths of the American West. The exhibition is organized by Jill Dawsey, acting chief curator, Utah Museum of Fine Arts. Go West will run October 8th – January 9th, 2011 at Salt Lake Art Center. Public programs on opening night include square dancing, from 7-9 pm, as well as a live original performance by artist Chris Coy with a bow and arrow, at 8 pm.

Working in a range of media (including painting, works on paper, sculpture, photography, and video), the artists in Go West offer reflections on the West as both destination and destiny. The exhibition considers the varied reasons people came west over the years: some, like the Cherokee Indians, were forcibly moved west, while others, like the Mormons, sought exile here; some came in search of fame and fortune, while others staked their claim to a separatist space, away from mainstream society.

Art Center Executive Director Adam Price shares his excitement for the new exhibition. “We are thrilled to be able to offer new insights into the most important stories that we tell ourselves as Westerners—particularly those narratives that explain how we came to be in this place, which some regard as home and others as a way station on the road to fame, fortune, love, or a fresh start. We are also excited to be collaborating with, and wish to thank, the Utah Museum of Fine Arts as personified by our guest curator, Jill Dawsey.”

Dawsey explains that Go West explores how past opinions of the Old West are still part of our cultural understanding of the American West. “For many Americans, the West was once thought to be a kind of blank slate--a place without a past. Go West suggests the ways in which the past always informs the present, and how this idea of the West as place of latent possibilities continues to figure in our cultural imagination.”

Artists whose work is exhibited in Go West include: Myranda Bair, David Berezin, Jeremy Blake, Margarita Cabrera, Chris Coy, Zoe Crosher, Cara Despain, Angela Ellsworth, Andrea Geyer/Simon J. Ortiz, Colter Jacobsen, Olga Koumoundouros, Jessica Minckley, Shaun O’Dell, Alison Pebworth, Mai-Thu Perret, Brion Nuda Rosch, Martha Rosler, Jared Steffensen, and Mungo Thomson.

Additional programming will include two lectures by Go West artists Zoe Crosher and Shaun O’Dell. Zoe Crosher’s lecture is on Saturday, October 9 at 2pm and Shaun O'Dell’s lecture is on Friday, October 29 at 7pm. Both lectures are free and open to the public. The exhibition and all accompanying programs are free and open to the public.

Jill Dawsey is Acting Chief Curator and Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts. She was previously Assistant Curator of Painting and Sculpture at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art from 2003 to 2006. Dawsey has taught curatorial practice at the California College of the Arts and art history at the University of Utah, San Francisco Art Institute, UC Irvine, and Stanford University, where she completed her doctorate in art history. Her writing has appeared in Afterall, Art Journal, Art Papers, artforum.com, and The Exhibitionist. Dawsey is currently organizing The Smithson Effect, an exhibition exploring Robert Smithson’s influence on contemporary artists since the 1990s, opening at the UMFA in March 2011.

Exhibition inquiries:
Jenny Klekas, Executive Assistant, jenniferk@slartcenter.org, 801.328.4201

Interview requests for Jill Dawsey, guest curator:
Shelbey Peterson, shelbey.peterson@umfa.utah.edu 801.585.1306

About Salt Lake Art Center

Founded in 1931 and located just steps from Temple Square, award-winning Salt Lake Art Center is one of the region’s hidden gems, sporting three gallery spaces, an outdoor sculpture patio, screening room/lecture hall, resource library, and classroom spaces. Throughout its history, Salt Lake Art Center has exhibited works by leading artists ranging from local favorites LeConte Stewart, Alvin Gittins, and Anna Campbell Bliss to internationally known artists such as Diego Rivera, Andy Warhol, Gary Hill and Sophie Matisse. Exhibiting the best contemporary visual art from around the world, the Art Center provides its visitors with an opportunity to explore the human experience in ways that are both exciting to the senses and deeply thought-provoking. The Art Center rounds out its offerings with a lively mix of community presentations, film screenings, educational classes, and events celebrating the vibrant local art scene. 337 Project is a program of Salt Lake Art Center.

Art Center Location, Hours, and Parking

Salt Lake Art Center is located at 20 South West Temple at the corner of 100 South on West Temple between Abravanel Hall and Salt Palace Convention Center. Telephone (801) 328-4201. Hours are Tuesday through Thursday, 11:00 am to 6:00 pm, Friday 11:00 am to 9:00 pm, Saturday 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. Closed Sunday, Mondays and Holidays. Free parking for members available in the Marriott Hotel parking garage across the street. Admission is always free.

Current Exhibition

In the Street Level Gallery, experience the dreams and expectations of girlhood through the eyes of photographer Melissa Ann Pinney in Girl Ascending, through October 30.

Upcoming Exhibition
Honeymoon features the work of two Los Angeles based painters, Kristin Calabrese and Joshua Aster. Both internationally recognized painters, Calabrese and Aster are also recently married. This exhibition exemplifies a harmonious marriage of opposites, as Calabrese's paintings are virtuosic examples of illusionistic, figurative painting while Aster's works are studiously formal explorations of abstraction. November 5, 2010 – January 15, 2011.

Thank You to Our Sponsors for Making it Possible

Salt Lake Art Center is generously supported by Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts & Parks, Utah Arts Council, George S. & Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation, Kanter Family Foundation, American Express, Lawrence T. & Janet T. Dee Foundation, and Sam and Diane Stewart Foundation.

###


Emily Brunt
Director of Communications

Salt Lake Art Center
20 South West Temple
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
801.328.4201 x115 m: 801.232.7362
emilyb@slartcenter.org www.slartcenter.org

"An Evening of Performance" with Theatre Arts & Dance Alumni @ SUU (CC: Oct 16)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 09/29/10
Michael French
Public Information Coordinator
College of Performing and Visual Arts
Southern Utah University
Office: 435-865-8667
Cell: 805-260-8797
michaelfrench@suu.edu

Photo credits:
Fred C. Adams, Credit: Courtesy of Utah Shakespearean Festival
Members of Off The Cuff, Credit: Courtesy of Off The Cuff

FOR CALENDAR EDITORS: AN EVENING OF PERFORMANCE

WHAT: A wealth of talented SUU Theatre Arts and Dance alumni is scheduled to appear in An Evening of Performance, a benefit for the Fred C. Adams Renaissance Man Scholarship. Hilarious comedy will be provided by Off the Cuff, and there will be songs from numerous artists, dance pieces, a Shakespearean scene, film shorts, and a preview reading of highlights from a new work, Block B.

WHO: Southern Utah University, College of Performing and Visual Arts,
Theatre Arts and Dance Series

WHEN: October 16

TIME: 7:30pm

WHERE: The Auditorium, Cedar City, UT

TICKETS: Phone: 435-586-7872 or visit: www.suu.edu/arts

PRICES: General Adult Admission: $20 Student & Youth: $5

SUU’S THEATRE & DANCE ALUMNI PERFORM TO BENEFIT
THE FRED C. ADAMS SCHOLARSHIP FUND,
OCTOBER 16, 2010

Southern Utah University, Cedar City, Utah: Homecoming weekend at Southern Utah University will be especially entertaining this year, when members of the Theatre Arts and Dance alumni perform in a special benefit for the Fred C. Adams Scholarship on Saturday, October 16, 2010. Featuring comedy, song, dance and a preview of a new play, An Evening of Performance will be held in the Auditorium and begins at 7:30pm. Tickets, which include a post-show reception with cast members, are $5 with student ID and $20 for general admission and may be purchased through the SUU Centrum Ticket office or by calling 435-586-7872.

A wealth of talented alumni is scheduled to appear in An Evening of Performance. Hilarious comedy will be provided by Off the Cuff, and there will be songs from numerous artists including Melinda Pfundstein, Lillian Castillio, Katie Fischer, Michael Bahr and Richard Hill, dance pieces, a Shakespearean scene, film shorts, and a preview reading of highlights from a new work, Block B, by featured playwright Matthew Bennett. All entertainment in the performance will be family friendly.

Created in 2000 to pay tribute to the legacy of long-time SUU Theater Professor and Founder of the Utah Shakespearean Festival, Fred C. Adams, the Fred C. Adams Renaissance Man Scholarship is awarded annually to an outstanding male student in the Theatre Department. Proceeds from An Evening of Performance go directly to support this scholarship.

If you are unable to be part of this weekend but want to give back on some level, please make a contribution to the Fred C. Adams Renaissance Man Scholarship. You can donate online at suu.edu/giving (be sure to designate Fred Adams Scholarship in the box for “other”) or you can send a check directly to SUU (again designate Fred Adams Scholarship on description line) to:
SUU Advancement Office
Attn: Donna Law
Old Main 103A
351 W University Blvd.
Cedar City, UT 84720

Come join the SUU Theatre Arts and Dance alumni and celebrate the accomplishments of Fred C. Adams in this joyous entertainment, An Evening of Performance.

ABOUT THE COLLEGE
The Southern Utah University College of Performing and Visual Arts is comprised of nationally accredited departments of Art and Design, Music, Theatre Arts and Dance, as well as a graduate program in Arts Administration. The College offers 16 different degree areas, including liberal arts Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees; professional Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Fine Arts in art and theatre degrees; and a Master of Fine Arts in Arts Administration degree. More than 60 full- and part-time faculty and staff are engaged in teaching and mentoring over 550 majors in the College. Over 1100 students enroll each year in over 195 arts classes on the SUU campus. The College presents 100 performances, lectures, presentations, and exhibitions each year. The College’s affiliate organizations include the Braithwaite Fine Arts Gallery, American Folk Ballet, Utah Shakespearean Festival, the performance group Acclamation, and the SUU Ballroom Dance Company. For more information about the College of Performing and Visual Arts, contact the Office of the Dean at (435) 865-8561, or by e-mail at cpvamktg@suu.edu.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 09/29/10
Michael French
Public Information Coordinator
College of Performing and Visual Arts
Southern Utah University
Office: 435-865-8667
Cell: 805-260-8797
michaelfrench@suu.edu

FOR CALENDAR EDITORS: AN EVENING OF PERFORMANCE

WHAT: A wealth of talented SUU Theatre Arts and Dance alumni is scheduled to appear in An Evening of Performance, a benefit for the Fred C. Adams Renaissance Man Scholarship. Hilarious comedy will be provided by Off the Cuff, and there will be songs from numerous artists, dance pieces, a Shakespearean scene, film shorts, and a preview reading of highlights from a new work, Block B.

WHO: Southern Utah University, College of Performing and Visual Arts,
Theatre Arts and Dance Series

WHEN: October 16

TIME: 7:30pm

WHERE: The Auditorium, Cedar City, UT

TICKETS: Phone: 435-586-7872 or visit: www.suu.edu/arts

PRICES: General Adult Admission: $20 Student & Youth: $5

SUU’S THEATRE & DANCE ALUMNI PERFORM TO BENEFIT
THE FRED C. ADAMS SCHOLARSHIP FUND,
OCTOBER 16, 2010

Southern Utah University, Cedar City, Utah: Homecoming weekend at Southern Utah University will be especially entertaining this year, when members of the Theatre Arts and Dance alumni perform in a special benefit for the Fred C. Adams Scholarship on Saturday, October 16, 2010. Featuring comedy, song, dance and a preview of a new play, An Evening of Performance will be held in the Auditorium and begins at 7:30pm. Tickets, which include a post-show reception with cast members, are $5 with student ID and $20 for general admission and may be purchased through the SUU Centrum Ticket office or by calling 435-586-7872.

A wealth of talented alumni is scheduled to appear in An Evening of Performance. Hilarious comedy will be provided by Off the Cuff, and there will be songs from numerous artists including Melinda Pfundstein, Lillian Castillio, Katie Fischer, Michael Bahr and Richard Hill, dance pieces, a Shakespearean scene, film shorts, and a preview reading of highlights from a new work, Block B, by featured playwright Matthew Bennett. All entertainment in the performance will be family friendly.

Created in 2000 to pay tribute to the legacy of long-time SUU Theater Professor and Founder of the Utah Shakespearean Festival, Fred C. Adams, the Fred C. Adams Renaissance Man Scholarship is awarded annually to an outstanding male student in the Theatre Department. Proceeds from An Evening of Performance go directly to support this scholarship.

If you are unable to be part of this weekend but want to give back on some level, please make a contribution to the Fred C. Adams Renaissance Man Scholarship. You can donate online at suu.edu/giving (be sure to designate Fred Adams Scholarship in the box for “other”) or you can send a check directly to SUU (again designate Fred Adams Scholarship on description line) to:
SUU Advancement Office
Attn: Donna Law
Old Main 103A
351 W University Blvd.
Cedar City, UT 84720

Come join the SUU Theatre Arts and Dance alumni and celebrate the accomplishments of Fred C. Adams in this joyous entertainment, An Evening of Performance.

ABOUT THE COLLEGE
The Southern Utah University College of Performing and Visual Arts is comprised of nationally accredited departments of Art and Design, Music, Theatre Arts and Dance, as well as a graduate program in Arts Administration. The College offers 16 different degree areas, including liberal arts Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees; professional Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Fine Arts in art and theatre degrees; and a Master of Fine Arts in Arts Administration degree. More than 60 full- and part-time faculty and staff are engaged in teaching and mentoring over 550 majors in the College. Over 1100 students enroll each year in over 195 arts classes on the SUU campus. The College presents 100 performances, lectures, presentations, and exhibitions each year. The College’s affiliate organizations include the Braithwaite Fine Arts Gallery, American Folk Ballet, Utah Shakespearean Festival, the performance group Acclamation, and the SUU Ballroom Dance Company. For more information about the College of Performing and Visual Arts, contact the Office of the Dean at (435) 865-8561, or by e-mail at cpvamktg@suu.edu.

Free Admission for Military Personnel @ USF (CC: Spet 30)

The Utah Shakespearean Festival Honors Members of the Armed Forces

Cedar City, UT—On Sept. 30 the Utah Shakespearean Festival will offer an opportunity for men and women of the armed forces to bring their families to a play for free. One hundred free tickets have been set aside for both the matinee and evening performances on Thursday, Sept. 30. To reserve these seats, military personnel should contact the Festival ticket office at 800-752-9849. Current military ID will be required, and there is a limit of six tickets per family.

“We recognize the service provided by the men and women of the armed forces and we want to show our appreciation,” said Kami Terry, Festival marketing director.

The military tickets are available for the performances of “The Adventures of Pericles” at 2 p.m. and “The Diary of Anne Frank” at 7:30 pm.

The fall season will run now through Oct. 23 with three different plays in the Randall L. Jones Theatre. The season features Shakespeare’s “Odyssey”-like drama “The Adventures of Pericles,” the moving family drama “The Diary of Anne Frank,” and the rural comedy “Greater Tuna.” Tickets are on sale now at 1-800-PLAYTIX and bard.org.

Media Contact: Amanda Caraway, 435-586-1969, Caraway@bard.org
Download Photos: http://bard.org/news/photos.html , username: press, password: usf2006

###

Tablado @ Ring Around the Rose (SLC: Oct 9)

Tablado October 9, 2010 Black Box Theatre
Learn all about Flamenco dances and rhythms with the dancers of Tablado! www.tabladodance.com/

Tickets are $5 through ArtTix 801-355-Arts | www.ArtTix.org

Founded in 2001 by Solange Gomes and Jim Moreno, Tablado Dance Company combines the vigor and passion of traditional flamenco with the vitality of the modern style. Drawing from the variety of styles performed by Tablado's dancers and musicians, they mix Flamenco with Brazilian and Modern Dance as well as other forms. Thriving on eclecticism, Tablado's concerts blend aesthetics, meld genres, and connect to your heart.

Ring Around The Rose is a series of performances for children and families that explore the magical world of the arts, including dance, theatre, music, and storytelling.

Ring Around The Rose subscribers save 30% on tickets, get free ticket exchanges, can purchase additional tickets at the subscriber price, and never have to worry about sold out shows- you already have your tickets in hand. Ring Season tickets are only $4 per show, a minimum of 6 performances must be purchased to qualify for season discount.

All shows begin at 11am at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, 138 W Broadway, SLC. Ring Around The Rose is supported in part by: Utah Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, Salt Lake City Arts Council, and the Salt Lake County Zoo Arts and Parks Program. Interested in your company becoming a partial sponsor for Ring Around the Rose? If so please call the RDT office at 801-534-1000.

"Diary of Anne Frank" Educational Opportunity @ USF: Rabbi Shmuley Boteach (CC: Oct 5-6)

Meet Rabbi Shmuley at the Utah Shakespearean Festival

CEDAR CITY, Utah—Rabbi Shmuley Boteach will be at the Utah Shakespearean Festival on Oct. 5 and 6 to conduct talkbacks following performances of “The Diary of Anne Frank.” Get your tickets now at 1-800-PLAYTIX or bard.org in order to experience this once in a lifetime opportunity.

“The festival is committed to education and enrichment as well as entertaining our audiences,” said Michael Don Bahr, Festival education director. “Rabbi Shmuley is one of the most articulate voices in modern America regarding issues that apply to every religion and culture. Hearing him discuss the relevance of this story in our world today will be an experience that you and your family won’t want to miss.”

Rabbi Shmuley will conduct a talkback following the matinee performance on Oct. 5 at approximately 4:30 p.m. and following the evening performance on Oct. 6 at approximately 10 p.m. The talkbacks will center on the play and its significance and resonance with audiences today. A ticket to “The Diary of Anne Frank” is required in order to attend the talkback.

Called “a cultural phenomenon” by Newsweek magazine and “the most famous rabbi in America,” Rabbi Shmuley is one of the world’s leading relationship, values, and spirituality experts. Find more details about “America’s Rabbi” at bard.org and at Shumley.com.

Taken directly from the pages of a young girl’s diary, the dramatic play “The Diary of Anne Frank” will be presented now through October 23 at the Utah Shakespearean Festival. The play tells the story a young girl whose bravery, hope and determination have inspired thousands. Wendy Kesslman’s new adaptation of this famous play is a testament not to the brutality of war and hatred, but to the unshakable spirit of a young girl and to the hopes and loves of a family and a people trying to hold on to their faith.

More educational materials regarding “The Diary of Anne Frank” can be found at bard.org. Included is a video presentation by Hank Ombach, a resident of St. George, Utah who provides a first-hand account of what it felt like to conceal "the enemy" in his home during World War II despite the fact that it could have meant severe punishment and even death for everyone in his family. When Ombach was a child his parents hid a Jewish family in their home in Amsterdam during the Nazi occupation.

“We need to remember the holocaust,” said Bahr. “It is our hope that viewing this production will help parents and teachers initiate important conversations with their children and students. We often forget the humanity of this play, and how it emphasizes the hope of a 13-year old girl who remains positive while living in a situation that most of us can barely comprehend. Who better than Anne Frank to teach American teenagers such valuable lessons?”

The fall season will run from Sept. 16 through Oct. 23 with three different plays in the Randall L. Jones Theatre. The season features Shakespeare’s “Odyssey”-like drama “The Adventures of Pericles,” the moving family drama “The Diary of Anne Frank,” and the rural comedy “Greater Tuna.” Tickets are on sale now at 1-800-PLAYTIX and bard.org.

Media Contact: Amanda Caraway, 435-586-1969, Caraway@bard.org
Download Photos: http://bard.org/news/photos.html, username: press, password: usf2006

###

Mariko Nakasone as Anne Frank in the Utah Shakespearean Festival's 2010 production of The Diary of Anne Frank. (Photo by Karl Hugh. Copyright Utah Shakespearean Festival 2010).

Scary Halloween Tales from Babcock Performing Readers (SLC: Oct 14)

Babcock Peforming Readers


“The Babcock Performing Terrors”
Directed By David Bullock
Premier performers from the Utah Storytelling Guild will present an evening of scary Halloween tales to entertain and spook the audience creating the mood for the seasonal holiday. An assortment of horrorific tales whether they bring a smile or a fearful frown, the Terrors are certainly guaranteed to scare the enjoyment into you. Don’t miss this Halloween treat which will trick you if you don’t attend. Be there in costume if you wish. Just be there.
A. Ray Olpin University Union Little Theatre
200 S Central Campus Drive
Thursday, October 14, 2010, 7:30 p.m.

Free Admission
Free Parking after 6:00 p.m. in the visitor “A” lots either north (enter the cafeteria side and take the elevator) or northeast of the Union Building. Access is now from the north only.
Federal Way is closed.
Free Refreshments

Partially funded by
Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts & Parks
Salt Lake City Arts Council
www.babcockreaders.com



Richard C. Russell
lderlore@xmission.com

Artists & Cultural Organizations Invited to Apply for UCCC's 2011 Partners Program (WVC)

For Immediate Release

Date: September 28, 2010

Contact: Aaron Crim, Public Relations Director, (801) 963-3466 (media use only)
Susan Klinker, Utah Cultural Celebration Center Program Director, 965-5101

Artists and Cultural Organizations Invited to Apply for Utah Cultural Celebration Center’s 2011 Partners Program


West Valley City – The Utah Cultural Celebration Center continues its popular Partners Program, designed to assist local artists and arts organizations by providing them with something they need most – space. Now in its fifth year, the Partners Program has provided that coveted space for rehearsals, classes, meetings and other weekly gatherings for Utah’s music, art, singing and dance communities.

The innovative program allows those organizations accepted into the program to use facility space with no out of pocket costs. Instead of paying usual rental fees, artists and arts organizations admitted into the Partners Program are instead required three things in the goodwill exchange: 1) an agreed upon service from the partner organization equal to what facility costs would have been under a normal rental agreement; 2) mention of the Cultural Center as a partner in all public events, and 3) recognition of the Cultural Center on all promotions and advertising. All kinds of exchanges are possible with preference to exchanges that offer public programs or performances.

Last year’s success has not gone unnoticed by Cultural Center staff. “This is a real win-win situation,” says Michael Christensen, UCCC Folklorist. “With the Partners Program, the Cultural Center fulfills its mission by truly assisting artists in an area they desperately need, and at the same time the Cultural Center gets something we value in return – performers, artists, demonstrators, and other partners that help the Cultural Center present quality community arts programs.”

This year the Utah Cultural Celebration Center hopes to get more organizations to apply for the program. “During these economic times, as programming budgets are increasingly reduced, we rely on our partner organizations more than ever. They provide us with high quality cultural arts performances that come from the heart of our community” explains Program Director Susan Klinker. “The Partners Program truly gets at the core of the Cultural Center’s mission and embraces our spirit of collaboration with the community.” The Cultural Center is also beginning to schedule more performances out in the community and at local schools. This provides great opportunities for local artists and presenting organizations to access new audiences.

To be put on an email list for announcements about upcoming opportunities, please send an email to susan.klinker@wvc-ut.gov

Detailed information about and applications for the Utah Cultural Celebration Center 2011 Partners Program is currently available online at culturalcelebration.org or the Utah Cultural Celebration Center: 1355 West 3100 South. For more information, please call 965-5101.

# # #


Michael Christensen, Folklorist/Cultural Specialist
West Valley City | Utah Cultural Celebration Center
1355 West 3100 South
West Valley City, Utah 84119
(801) 965-5108
michael.christensen@wvc-ut.gov
www.culturalcelebration.org

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Intermountain Society of Artists Show @ UCCC (WVC: now - Oct 27)

The Intermountain Society of Artists Fall Show is on exhibit now through October 27.  Over 100 oils, acrylics, multi-media and watercolors by some of Utah’s finest artists.  M – Thurs 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.  Come by and check it out!

Oliver Lecture by Dt. Michael Minch of UVU (SLC: Oct 12)

Dr. Michael Minch of Utah Valley University, and the Director of UVU’s Peace and Justice Studies, will be speaking at the Grand Theatre on Tuesday, October 12 at 7PM. This free lecture is held in conjunction with the Grand’s production of Oliver (Oliver Twist based on Charles Dickens classic novel), and will center around topics of Christian Socialism and how society should respond to the underprivileged, including homelessness, child labor and child exploitation – all themes in Oliver.

Oliver runs October 6 – 23, 2010 at the Grand Theatre. For more information visit our website at www.the-grand.org . The Grand Theatre is located on the South City Campus of Salt Lake Community College at 1575 South State Street.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Auditions for USF (Provo & SLC: Sept 29)

Utah Shakespearean Festival Seeks Actors for Touring Production

The Utah Shakespearean Festival is auditioning actors to star in the Shakespeare-in-the-Schools touring production of “Macbeth.” Auditions will be on Wednesday, Sept. 29 from 2:30-4:30 p.m. at the Ex-Box Theatre on the campus of Utah Valley University (Gunther Trades Bldg., room 627- Southeast loop of UVU campus) and from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Rose Wager Performing Arts Center in Studio A (138 W. Broadway, Salt Lake City, UT 84101).

The Festival is looking for an ensemble of seven actors who will perform, load in the set, and teach workshops. The production will tour throughout the Intermountain West from January through April of 2011. The tour needs actors who are also great teachers and strong team players that work well in an ensemble.

Auditioning actors should come prepared with a professional headshot, resume, and two contrasting Shakespearean monologues that total 3 minutes. All roles are available. For more information, call the Festival education office at 435-865-8333.

Full compensation will be provided at a salary of $430 per week. All housing and travel expenses will be covered.

Media Contact: Amanda Caraway, media and public relations director, 435-586-1969
For more information visit http://www.bard.org .

###

Friday, September 24, 2010

Jazz @ the Station with Don Keipp & Friends (Ogden: Oct 13)

Keipp at the Station
Who: WSU Department of Performing Arts & The Union Station Foundation
What: Jazz at the Station with Don Keipp and Friends
When: Wednesday, 13 October 2010, 7:00 pm
Where: Ogden’s Union Station Grand Lobby
Tickets: No tickets are required for this Free performance.

Weber State University Department of the Performing Arts and the Union Station Foundation present Jazz at the Station with Don Keipp and Friends, Wednesday, October 13, 7:00 pm in the Grand Lobby of Ogden’s Union Station. Keipp’s friends will include Bobby Gilgert, drums, Clint Stanger, bass, Adam Kozlewski, guitar, Devon Hoyes, sax, Alice Gittins, sax, with Keipp on vibes.
Don Keipp is a Professor of Music at Weber State University, where he has taught percussion and directed the WSU Jazz Ensemble for 25 years. He is also an active performer in the local jazz community. In addition to his academic training, he has studied percussion in Cuba and Africa. He is a free-lance percussionist, and has been timpaniest with international, national and community symphonies. He has performed with such diverse artists as Rita Moreno, Sara Vaughn, John Goodman, Joan Rivers, Rob Clark, Liberace, Joel Grey, Liza Minelli, Patti Page, Chet Baker, Peter Nero and The Fifth Dimension.
Jazz at the Station provides an all-ages venue for jazz fans and students. Well behaved children are welcome to attend as long as they do not disturb the performers or members of the audience.
For more information about this program, contact Caril Jennings, 626-6431 or crjennings@weber.edu

Juction City Big Band Dance @ WSU (Ogden: Oct 8)

Gotta Dance!
Who: Weber State University Department of Performing Arts
What: Junction City Big Band Dance
When: Friday, 8 October 2010, 7:15 lessons; 8:30 dance downbeat
Where: Ballroom, Shepherd Union Building
Cost: $1/lesson • $7/dancing

The sixteen piece Junction City Big Band, directed by Dr. Earl Ericksen, presents their only WSU Friday Dance Date of fall semester Friday, October 8, in the Shepherd Union Building Ballroom. Downbeat is at 8:30 p.m. but for those who need it, professional dance instruction by Margene Anderson will be offered at 7:15 Tickets are $1 for lessons and $7 per person.
An intermission floorshow will provide entertainment while dancers have a chance to catch their breath and enjoy some light refreshments. Expect to hear some Big Band versions of famous songs for lovers at this dance. Bring your special dance partner and see what happens.
The band was organized in 1987 under the direction of Dr. K. Earl Ericksen, then chair of the Weber State Department of Performing Arts. The Swing Era style dance band was formed specifically to give local musicians with big band experience an opportunity to continue playing for personal enjoyment as well as for community functions. Donating their time and musical skills, they have helped to keep the community “jumpin’” with the music of Glen Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Sammy Kay, Freddie Martin, Harry James and other great swing era sounds.
Lessons will begin promptly at 7:15. No one will be admitted to the lessons after that time so please make plans to come early and be included in this fun and fantastic experience. Dance downbeat at 8:30 p.m. Best dress is recommended, which includes shirt and tie for men.
For more information about the band, contact Dr. Ericksen at 876-3009.

Faculty Recital: Organist Rulon Christiansen @ WSU (Ogden: Oct 2)

Rare Organ Recital

Who: WSU Department of Performing Arts & The Union Station Foundation
What: Rulon Christiansen, faculty organ recital
When: Saturday, 2 October 2010, 7:30 pm
Where: Garrison Choral Room (BC136)
Val A. Browning Center for the Performing Arts
Tickets: No tickets are required for this Free performance.

Weber State University Department of the Performing Arts presents Rulon Christiansen in a faculty organ recital, Saturday, October 2, 7:30 pm in the Garrison Choral Room (BC136), Val A. Browning Center for the Performing Arts. He will perform solo organ compositions by Couperin, Bach, Buxtehude, Clerambault, Messiaen and Vierne as well as his own “Lyric Symphony,” a suite in six movements. This is a free performance. Children 8 years and older are welcome.
Rulon Christiansen was born and raised in Utah and first studied piano with his parents, both professional musicians. He studied piano for several years with Frederic Dixon, a pupil of Rafael Joseffy, who studied with Franz Liszt. He also studied the organ with Tabernacle organists, Dr. Alexander Schreiner and Dr. Robert Cundick.
Dr. Christiansen attended Brigham Young University where he earned B.A. and M.M. degrees in organ as a pupil of Professor J. J. Keeler. He later earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree and Performer’s Certificate in Organ as a pupil of Russell Saunders at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. He won first place in the National Federation of Music Clubs Competition, was finalist in the MTNA Competition, and semifinalist in the AGO Improvisation Competition. He has studied in France with Gaston Litaize and Andre Fleury and has performed in concert in various cities throughout the United States under the auspices of Artist Recitals Concert Management in Los Angeles.
A published composer, he has studied composition with Dr. Robert P. Manookin, Dr. Merrill Bradshaw, and Dr. Samuel Adler and studied improvisation with Allen Hobbs. His works appear in the catalogues of Shawnee Press, Alfred, Jackman Press, and on-line at Wardorganist.com. His organ compositions have been performed in recital during national and regional A.G.O. Conventions, on National Public Radio (Pipe Dreams), and on the Mormon Tabernacle Choir broadcast. His newest composition, Lyric Symphony, was recently premiered by Dr. James Welch on the Temple Square Concert Series in the Mormon Tabernacle and at BYU Idaho.
As a recognized expert on Louis Vierne, his articles have been published in the American Organist magazine; and he is well known as a contributor to the book by Dr. Rollin Smith entitled Louis Vierne, Organist of Notre Dame Cathedral.
He has held numerous professional church positions as organist and choir director in churches in New York and Utah and has also performed many recitals as guest organist at the Mormon Tabernacle. He is currently adjunct professor of organ at Weber State University, teaches privately, and serves as organist at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. For additional information about Dr. Christiansen and his publications as well as ordering his organist series, From Pianist to Organist, you can visit his website at: www.pianist2organist.com
For more information about this program, contact Rulon Christiansen, rulontheorganist@yahoo.com

"Oliver!" @ Grand Theatre (SLC: Oct 6 - 23)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 23, 2010

Contact:
Richard Scott
The Grand Theatre
Phone: 801-957-3263
Fax: 801-957-3113
richard.scott@slcc.edu
www.the-grand.org

"Oliver!"
Delightful, Family Musical based on Charles Dickens' Classic Novel
By Lionel Bart

Salt Lake City, UT - Oliver! is kicking off The Grand Theatre's the 2010-2011 season and features Max Robinson, who has graced the stages of Pioneer Theater, Salt Lake Acting Company, and the Utah Shakespearean Festival, as Fagin. This British musical also includes a cast of 30 actors and actresses and stars Cayden Maynes in the title role with Max Huftalin as Artful Dodger.

Oliver!, one of the most beloved musicals and winner of many Tony and Academy awards for the original production and 1968 film, vividly brings to life Dickens’ timeless characters with its ever-popular story of the boy who asked for more. This production was the first musical adaptation of a Dickens' novel and premiered in London's West End in 1960. This production features such well-known songs as Food, Glorious Food, Consider Yourself, Where Is Love? and As Long as He Needs Me.

Anne Stewart Mark, professional director and actress, directs and this production with Shannon Musgrave as choreographer and Kevin Mathie, musical director, leading a full orchestra.

Play dates: October 6-23, 2010
Times: Evening performances 7:30pm Wednesday - Saturday, Saturday matinees 2:00pm
Location: The Grand Theatre, 1575 South State Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84115
Tickets: Prices range from $8.00 to $24.00 with discounts for groups, seniors, and students available.
Reservations: 801-957-3322 or online at www.the-grand.org
Wheelchair accessible

Photos attached: Max Robinson as Fagin; Fagin, Oliver, and Dodger (left to right)
Photos by: Debra Macfarlane
http://www.the-grand.org/performances/2010-2011season/Oliver/index.asp





###

October Events @ UMFA (SLC)

Utah Museum of Fine Arts
October 2010

Don’t miss Warhol, Kusama, Southey and more at the UMFA this fall!


SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS:

The Ideal Landscape
October 7, 2010–February 13, 2011
Chinese landscape paintings do not recreate a natural setting, but instead conjure an ideal scene imagined by the artist. As a result, these intricate depictions of mountains and bodies of water offer expressions of the painter’s heart and mind. This fall, the UMFA will bring together thirteen Chinese landscape paintings dating from the Ming dynasty to the twentieth century in The Ideal Landscape, an exhibition that will be installed in the UMFA’s second-floor LDS Galleria.

Trevor Southey: Reconciliation
October 21, 2010–February 13, 2011
This retrospective of the life and work of artist Trevor Southey gives prominence to four life passages that have defined Southey’s character and art: his youth in Rhodesia and education in England; his life as a married, practicing Mormon and his desire for a utopian lifestyle created around family, farming, and art; Southey’s decision to acknowledge his homosexuality in 1982, which coincided with the first major public awareness of the AIDS epidemic; and the reconciliation of his life decisions as expressed in his revised artistic approach to the human form. This exhibition is generously supported by the B.W. Bastian Foundation, Jim Dabakis and Stephen Justesen, and Tom and Mary McCarthey.

Yayoi Kusama: Decades
October 21, 2010–February 13, 2011
Yayoi Kusama: Decades offers a focused presentation of exemplary works by renowned Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama. A key figure in the New York art world of the late 1950s and 1960s, Kusama’s pioneering work has galvanized subsequent generations of artists. From her early watercolor paintings of the 1950s to her “accumulation” sculptures of the 1960s, to recent, large-scale “infinity nets” paintings, the exhibition highlights works from each decade of the artist’s long career.

Faces: Selections from the Permanent Collection of Modern and Contemporary Art
October 21, 2010–February 13, 2011
This exhibition brings together classic works of Pop Art and more recent Pop-inflected works, with a focus on the human face and figure. Many works in the exhibition take the form of portraits, such as Alex Katz’s series of screen prints depicting young people in the 1970s, or ironic self-portraits, as in Robert Arneson’s Untitled Trophy (Bust Of Bob), 1978. Faces also includes a selection of Andy Warhol’s famous Polaroid portraits, a recent gift from the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, on view at the UMFA for the first time. Ranging from portraits of the rich and famous to unknown figures, Warhol’s Polaroids revel in the idiosyncrasies of his subjects.


SPECIAL FREE EVENTS:

Highlights of the Collection Tour
First Wednesday of the month at 6:30pm and all Saturdays and Sundays at 1:30pm
Let a UMFA docent take you on a thirty-minute tour of the world’s art and cultures. No pre-registration necessary.

Evening for Educators: Bats!
Wednesday, October 6 • 5:30-8:30 pm
This teacher workshop will show you how to use art to explore the ways that different cultures think about bats. Designed for teachers in all disciplines and grade levels, the workshop is free with no pre-registration necessary. For more information call 801.585.7163 or email umfaeducation@umfa.utah.edu. Funded in part by the StateWide Art Partnership.

Guest Lecture: “Natacha Rambova: A Career in Design”
Thursday, October 7 • 1:30-2:30 pm
Natacha Rambova changed careers nearly as often as she changed her name. Her work in ballet performance and design, early Hollywood film costume and art direction, as well as her brief fashion design career in New York were innovative for their day. A Salt Lake City native, this interesting and creative character eventually became an Egyptologist – donating much of her antique Egyptian artifacts collection to the Utah Museum of Fine Arts. This lecture by historian Heather A. Vaughan will focus on Rambova’s career in design and the arts, as well as her connection to Salt Lake City. More information is available at www.fashionhistorian.net.

Anthropology Film Series
Wednesdays, October 13, October 20, October 27 • 6–8 pm
The UMFA is teaming up with the University of Utah Department of Anthropology to present a series of films from around the world that highlight art and anthropology. Visit www.umfa.utah.edu/calendar for more details.

Third Saturdays for Families: Making Masks
Saturday, October 16 • 2-4 pm
On the Third Saturday of every month, UMFA Curators of Education develop exciting opportunities for children and families to learn about art and investigate how it is made. On this particular Third Saturday, we will find spooky inspiration in our African, Oceanic, and Native American galleries, and then create colorful masks to take home. Third Saturday is funded in part by the Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts, and Parks program.

Guest Lecture: "Mountains and Meanings in Chinese Landscape Painting"
Wednesday, October 20 • 1-2 pm
The art of landscape painting in China has always balanced the close observation of nature with the abstraction of its representation. This lecture by University of Utah Professor of Art History Winston Kyan will situate the Chinese paintings from the exhibition, The Ideal Landscape, into the broader context of Chinese art and history by examining the shifting significance of mountains from the fourteenth through the twentieth centuries.

Artist Reception: Trevor Southey
Thursday, October 21 • 4:30-6 pm
Meet artist Trevor Southey, enjoy some light refreshments, and experience the Trevor Southey: Reconciliation exhibition on opening night. This free public event is supported in part by the University of Utah Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Center. For a full list of U of U Pride Week events, please visit www.sa.utah.edu/lgbt/events/Uprideweek.

Panel Discussion: “The Alpine Ideal”
Thursday, October 21 • 6:30-8 pm
In conjunction with the opening of the exhibition Trevor Southey: Reconciliation, the UMFA is pleased to offer a free public panel discussion with Trevor Southey, Gary E. Smith, Dennis Smith, and Neil Hadlock. These distinguished artists will talk about their lives and work, paying particular attention to a period in the 1970s known as the “Alpine Ideal.”


ONGOING EXHIBITIONS

Painting Utah’s Mount Olympus
On view through November 14, 2010
Mount Olympus is not the tallest mountain in the Wasatch Range, but anyone who has seen this awesome natural wonder will agree with the early pioneers who bestowed it with the Greek name for ‘the home of the gods.' For the past 150 years, some of Utah's most talented artists, including Lee Greene Richards, Gilbert Munger, Edwin Deaken, Anton Rasmussen, David Meikle, and others, have attempted to do justice to this silent sentinel. Through their work, the home of the gods is immortalized in Painting Utah’s Mount Olympus.

Community: Eat, Work, Play
On view through January 9, 2011
Big canvases, bold colors, and intriguing ideas are on offer in Community: Eat, Work, Play. With the help of UMFA educators, first- and sixth-graders from Lincoln Elementary School created large-scale murals that visually represent the various aspects of the title: eat, work, and play.

La Boheme @ Utah Opera (SLC: Oct 16 - 24)

 Contact: Jana Cunningham, (801) 869-9027
jcunningham@utahsymphonyopera.org





FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                                    
September 23, 2010
                                                                                                                                                                
      Utah opera Opens 2010-11 Season with Puccini’s La Bohème

Romance and tragedy unfold in Bohemian Paris in this popular opera set in the 1930’s



SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Opera will open the 2010-11 season with Puccini’s La Bohème at Capitol Theatre on October 16, 18, 20 and 22 at 7:30 p.m. and October 24 at 2:00 p.m. The Utah Symphony will accompany Utah Opera in each performance, conducted by Leonardo Vordoni (Utah Opera debut) and directed by Crystal Manich (Utah Opera debut). The opera will be sung in Italian with English supertitles.

            Originally written to be set in the 19th century, Utah Opera has set this production 1939 Paris. The opera follows a group of young bohemians on the verge of adulthood, eager to fall in love forever, refusing to recognize illness or pain. With emotion-filled melodies and some of the greatest arias ever written, La Bohème will transport the audience to the joys and sorrows of young adulthood.

            With two twenty-minute intermissions, approximate final curtain will be 9:50 p.m. for evening performances and 4:20 p.m. for the matinee.

            Karen Brookens will deliver a free Opera Preview Lecture on Wednesday, October 13, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. in the 4th floor meeting room of the Salt Lake City Library. Associate Professor and head of the voice area at Weber State University, Dr. Brookens has appeared in opera and concert performances throughout the United States and Canada

            Utah Opera Artistic Director Christopher McBeth will hold a Questions and Answers session immediately following each performance in the Founders room on the mezzanine level at Capitol Theatre. 

Tickets start at $15 and can be can be purchased by calling (801) 355-ARTS (355-2787), in person at the Abravanel Hall ticket office, the Capitol Theatre box office or by visiting www.usuo.org.  Subscribers and those desiring group or student discounts should call (801) 533-NOTE (533-6683). Ticket prices will increase $5 day of performance.


La Bohéme
Composed by Giacomo Puccini Libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa & Luigi Illica

CAST 
Marcello                                                                       Keith Phares
Rodolpho                                                                     Gerard Powers
Colline                                                                          Derrick Parker
Schaunard                                                                    Brent Reilly Turner
Benoit                                                                          Ryan Allen
Mimí                                                                            Laquita Mitchell
Parpignol                                                                      AJ Glueckert
Musetta                                                                        Celena Shafer
Alcindoro                                                                     Ryan Allen

ARTISTIC STAFF
Conductor                                                                    Leonardo Vordoni
Director                                                                        Crystal Manich
Set Designer                                                                 Michael Yeargan
Costume Designer                                                        Susan Memmott-Allred
Lighting Designer                                                          Nicholas Cavallaro
Wigs and Make-up Designer                                        Jennifer Lloyd
Chorus Master Susanne Sheston

Synopsis

ACT I. Paris, Christmas Eve, c. 1939. In their Latin Quarter garret, the painter Marcello and poet Rodolfo try to keep warm by burning pages from Rodolfo's latest drama. They are joined by their comrades — Colline, a young philosopher, and Schaunard, a musician who has landed a job and brings food, fuel and funds. But while they celebrate their unexpected fortune, the landlord, Benoit, arrives to collect the rent. Plying the older man with wine, they urge him to tell of his flirtations, then throw him out in mock indignation. As the friends depart for a celebration at the nearby Café Momus, Rodolfo promises to join them soon, staying behind to finish writing an article. There is another knock: a neighbor, Mimì, says her candle has gone out on the drafty stairs. Offering her wine when she feels faint, Rodolfo relights her candle and helps her to the door. Mimì realizes she has dropped her key, and as the two search for it, both candles are blown out. In the moonlight the poet takes the girl's shivering hand, telling her his dreams. She then recounts her solitary life, embroidering flowers and waiting for spring. Drawn to each other, Mimì and Rodolfo leave for the café.

ACT II. Amid shouts of street hawkers, Rodolfo buys Mimì a bonnet near the Café Momus before introducing her to his friends. They all sit down and order supper. A toy vendor, Parpignol, passes by, besieged by children. Marcello's former lover, Musetta, enters ostentatiously on the arm of the elderly, wealthy Alcindoro. Trying to regain the painter's attention, she sings a waltz about her popularity. Complaining that her shoe pinches, Musetta sends Alcindoro to fetch a new pair, then falls into Marcello's arms. Joining a group of marching soldiers, the Bohemians leave Alcindoro to face the bill when he returns.

ACT III. At dawn on the snowy outskirts of Paris, a Customs Officer admits farm women to the city. Musetta and revelers are heard inside a tavern. Soon Mimì walks by, searching for the place where the reunited Marcello and Musetta now live. When the painter emerges, she pours out her distress over Rodolfo's incessant jealousy. It is best they part, she says. Rodolfo, who has been asleep in the tavern, is heard, and Mimì hides; Marcello thinks she has left. The poet tells Marcello he wants to separate from his fickle sweetheart. Pressed further, he breaks down, saying Mimì is dying; her ill health can only worsen in the poverty they share. Overcome, Mimì stumbles forward to bid her lover farewell as Marcello runs back into the tavern to investigate Musetta's raucous laughter. While Mimì and Rodolfo recall their happiness, Musetta quarrels with Marcello. The painter and his mistress part in fury, but Mimì and Rodolfo decide to stay together until spring.

ACT IV. Some months later, Rodolfo and Marcello lament their loneliness in the garret. Colline and Schaunard bring a meager meal. The four stage a dance, which turns into a mock fight. The merrymaking is ended when Musetta bursts in, saying Mimì is downstairs, too weak to climb up. As Rodolfo runs to her, Musetta tells how Mimì has begged to be taken to her lover to die. While Mimì is made comfortable, Marcello goes with Musetta to sell her earrings for medicine, and Colline leaves to pawn his cherished overcoat. Alone, Mimì and Rodolfo recall their first days together, but she is seized with coughing. When the others return, Musetta gives Mimì a muff to warm her hands and prays for her life. Mimì dies quietly, and when Schaunard discovers she is dead, Rodolfo runs to her side, calling her name.

Bios

Ryan Allen
Benoit/Alcindoro (Texas)
Previously at Utah Opera, La Bohème
Recently:
La Cenerentola, Belleayre Music Festival;
La Bohème, Portland Opera;
Regina, Des Moines Metro Opera


Laquita Mitchell
Mimí (New York)
Utah Opera Debut
Recently:
Donna Elvira, Opera New Jersey;
Master Class, Kennedy Center for the Arts;
Mozart Solemn Vespers and Vivaldi Gloria, Carnegie Hall
Upcoming:
Bess, Atlanta Opera 

AJ Gleuckert
Parpignol (Oregon)
Current Utah Opera Resident Artist
Recently:
Les contes d'Hoffmann, Santa Fe Opera;
Otello, Oakland East Bay Symphony;
Lucia di Lammermor, San Francisco Lyric Opera;
Wozzeck, Ensemble Parallele;
Apprentice Program, Santa Fe Opera;
Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Sacramento Symphony, Santa Clara Symphony
Upcoming:
La Bohéme, Utah Opera;
Falstaff, Utah Opera

Derrick Parker
Colline
Bass-Baritone (Georgia)
Utah Opera, La Cenerentola, The Gondoliers, Giulio Cesare
Recently:
Porgy and Bess, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
Bernstein’s Mass, Virginia Arts Festival, Utah Symphony
Haydn’s Paukenmesse, Santa Barbara Symphony
Upcoming:
Handel’s Messiah, Memphis Symphony
Bach’s Mass in B minor, Indianoplois Symphonic Choir
Verdi’s Requiem, Yakima Symphony

Keith Phares

Marcello (Pennsylvania)
Previously at Utah Opera, Ariadne auf Naxos

Recently:
Three Decembers, Central City Opera;

Così fan tutte, Portland Opera;

Elmer Gantry, Florentine Opera;

Il Barbière di Siviglia, Washington National Opera

Upcoming:
Carmina Burana, San Francisco Symphony;

Flight, Austin Lyric Opera


Gerard Powers
Rodolfo
Tenor (New York)
Previously at Utah Opera, La Rondine
Recently:
Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Boston Lyric Opera;
La Rondine, San Francisco Opera;
Carmen, Bolshoi Opera
Upcoming:
Madama Butterfly, Opera Omaha


Celena Shafer
Musetta
Soprano, (Missouri)
Most recently at Utah Opera, Don Pasquale 2009
Recently:
Albert Herring, The Santa Fe Opera
Mozart Requiem, Phoenix Symphony
Le Rossignol, Atlanta Symphony in Atlanta and at Carnegie Hall


Leonardo Vordoni
Conductor (Italy)
Utah Opera Debut
Recently:
Barbiere di Siviglia, Opera Colorado;
Le Nozze di Figaro, Lyric Opera of Chicago;
Mose' in Egitto, Chicago Opera Theater
Upcoming:
Turandot, Portland Opera;
Cenerentola, Canadian Opera Company;
Barbiere di Siviglia, Houston Grand Opera

Crystal Manich
Stage Director (Texas)
Utah Opera Debut
Recently:
Madama Butterfly, Buenos Aires Lírica, Argentina
Upcoming:
Rinaldo, Pittsburgh Opera


###


Jana Cunningham
Public Relations Manager
801.869.9027 office
801.244.1892 cell

Sculptor Sister Cor Immaculatum Heffernan, IHM, @ SUU's Art Insights Series (CC: Oct 7)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 09/23/10
Michael French
Public Information Coordinator
College of Performing and Visual Arts
Southern Utah University
Office: 435-865-8667
Cell: 805-260-8797
michaelfrench@suu.edu

Photo credits (images of Sister Cor Immaculatum Heffernan's work):
"Allegro." Photo: Courtesy of Sister Cor Immaculatum, Heffernan, IHM.
"I Will Play Before the Lord." Photo: Courtesy of Sister Cor Immaculatum, Heffernan, IHM.


ART INSIGHTS, SISTER COR IMMACULATUM HEFFERNAN, IHM
WHAT: SUU’s Arts Insights showcases the artistry of acclaimed sculptor Sister Cor Immaculatum Heffernan, IHM, whose work captures the inherent dignity and humanity of each subject. The themes of her work are drawn essentially from these sources and captured in bronze, alabaster, stone, wood, and calligraphy the moment of interaction, the moment when “humanity touches the Divine.”

WHO: Art Insights
Southern Utah University, Department of Art and Design

WHEN: Thursday, October 7, 2010

TIME: 7:00pm

WHERE: Great Hall, Hunter Conference Center, Southern Utah University, Cedar City, UT

TICKETS: Phone: Arts Hotline: (435) 865-8800 or visit: www.suu.edu/arts

PRICES: Free and the General Public is encouraged to attend.

SUU’S ART INSIGHTS TO FEATURE
SCULPTOR SISTER COR IMMACULATUM HEFFERNAN, IHM
OCTOBER 7, 2010

Southern Utah University, Cedar City, Utah: Celebrating the dignity of each subject’s spirit is a trademark of acclaimed sculptor, Sister Cor Immaculatum Heffernan, IHM. Her distinctive creations are showcased in SUU’s Department of Art and Design’s weekly lecture series, Art Insights, on Thursday, October 7, 2010. The lecture begins at 7pm at SUU’s Great Hall in the Hunter Conference Center. Admission is free and the general public is encouraged to attend.

As a sculptor who has exhibited both nationally and internationally, Sister Cor Immaculatum Heffernan, IHM, believes in the inherent dignity of each person. Her work embodies the spirit of the human person: living, suffering, and joy-ing in the “embrace of life.” The themes of her work are drawn essentially from these sources and capturing in bronze, alabaster, stone, wood, and calligraphy the moment of interaction, the moment when “humanity touches the Divine.” Sister Cor, a member of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Scranton, Pennsylvania, has taught art from kindergarten through 12th grade, was supervisor of art for 83 schools in 13 states, and taught for 30 years at Marywood University, acting as Chair of the Art Department for 16 years. Her education includes a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Art and a Master of Science degree in Counseling, both from Marywood University; a Master of Arts degree in Sculpture from the University of Notre Dame, and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Illustration from Syracuse University. Sister Cor is also deeply involved in the National Association of Schools of Art and Design where she trains the “Team Chair” of accreditation teams.

Art Insights is a weekly program hosted during the fall and spring semesters by SUU’s Art and Design faculty. Students and community members meet weekly to experience presentations and discussions by visiting artists and art educators from around the nation who share their work and insights and attend gallery openings. Admission is free, and the general public is invited to attend.

Experience art that touches the spirit, when Sister Cor Immaculatum Heffernan, IHM, shares her insights into the creative process at Art Insights. For more information on the SUU College of Performing and Visual Arts events, please call the Arts Hotline at (435) 865-8800, or visit www.suu.edu/arts.

ABOUT THE COLLEGE
The Southern Utah University College of Performing and Visual Arts is comprised of nationally accredited departments of Art and Design, Music, Theatre Arts and Dance, as well as a graduate program in Arts Administration. The College offers 16 different degree areas, including liberal arts Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees; professional Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Fine Arts in art and theatre degrees; and a Master of Fine Arts in Arts Administration degree. More than 60 full- and part-time faculty and staff are engaged in teaching and mentoring over 550 majors in the College. Over 1100 students enroll each year in over 195 arts classes on the SUU campus. The College presents 100 performances, lectures, presentations, and exhibitions each year. The College’s affiliate organizations include the Braithwaite Fine Arts Gallery, American Folk Ballet, Utah Shakespearean Festival, the performance group Acclamation, and the SUU Ballroom Dance Company. For more information about the College of Performing and Visual Arts, contact the Office of the Dean at (435) 865-8561, or by e-mail at cpvamktg@suu.edu.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Wild Stampede Run to Raise Money for Action for Cheetahs @ Hogle Zoo (SLC: Oct 2)

For more information contact:
Lindsey Sine
435-602-9702 lsine@hoglezoo.org

Wild Stampede Run for Cheetah Conservation

SALT LAKE CITY (Sept. 22) - Are you faster than a speeding cheetah? Probably not, but you can try as Utah's Hogle Zoo and the Utah Chapter of the Association of American Zoo Keepers host the Wild Stampede, a run and walk to raise money for Action for Cheetahs in Kenya (ACK) on Saturday, Oct. 2.

The 5K run and walk begin at 8 a.m. in the Zoo's Entry Plaza at 2600 Sunnyside Avenue, and winds above the Zoo through Michigan Avenue and Wasatch Drive, to 1300 South and returning to the Zoo.

All proceeds from the event will go to ACK, a non profit cheetah conservation project in Kenya. The ACK mission is to promote the conservation of cheetahs through research, awareness and community participation in Kenya. Working closely with local wildlife authorities and landholders, together they develop policies and programs that offer mutual support for both wildlife conservation and human livelihoods.

"The cheetah is one of the most endangered animals in the world. We have been a partner with ACK since it began in 2001 and we are excited to be able to host the Wild Stampede 5K to support cheetah conservation," Hogle Zoo animal care staff member Stephanie Jochum-Natt said.

Early registration for the race is $25. After Sept. 24, registration will be $30. Those who wish to participate in the race can register on Active.com or with the Hogle Zoo Guest Services office.

For more information on Action for Cheetahs, visit actionforcheetahs.com and for more information on the Wild Stampede visit hoglezoo.org
Utah's Hogle Zoo is one of only 223 accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA). Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation, and your link to helping animals in their native habitats. For more information visit www.aza.org.


Forward email

This email was sent to news@utahculturalalliance.org by lsine@hoglezoo.org.
Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy.
Email Marketing by

Hogle Zoo | 2600 Sunnyside Avenue | Salt Lake City | UT | 84108

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

2 SUU Faculty Members in National Spotlight (CC)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 09/21/10
Michael French
Public Information Coordinator
College of Performing and Visual Arts
Southern Utah University
Office: 435-865-8667
Cell: 805-260-8797
michaelfrench@suu.edu

SUU’S MUSIC DEPARTMENT FACULTY
IN THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT

Southern Utah University, Cedar City, Utah: The accomplishments of two members of SUU’s Department of Music have recently received national attention. Dr. Keith Bradshaw, Chair, is pleased to announce that Dr. Lynn Vartan, percussion, and Sara Guttenberg, voice instructor, have both been uniquely lauded for their performances in the field of classical music.

When the nominees for the 11th Annual Latin GRAMMY® Awards were announced this month, contenders in the Best Classical Album category included William Kraft: Encounters performed by the Southwest Chamber Music and Tambuco Percussion Ensemble. Dr. Lynn Vartan is among the featured performers on this nominated recording. The winners will be announced on November 11, 2010, at the awards presentation to be held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, and broadcast on the Univision Network.

A member of Miami’s acclaimed professional chamber choir, Seraphic Fire, Sara Guttenberg is heard on the choir’s new self-released recording of Monteverdi’s Vespers. The recording jumped up onto iTunes’ classical charts and, through word of mouth, rose to the #6 most popular classical album. However that all changed when the recording was featured on National Public Radio’s program “All Things Considered.” Within a few hours of the broadcast, the recording topped the classical charts on iTunes at #1!

These nationally recognized accomplishments of Dr. Lynn Vartan and Sara Guttenberg are a source of pride for the faculty, staff and students of SUU’s College of Performing and Visual Arts.

ABOUT THE COLLEGE
The Southern Utah University College of Performing and Visual Arts is comprised of nationally accredited departments of Art and Design, Music, Theatre Arts and Dance, as well as a graduate program in Arts Administration. The College offers 16 different degree areas, including liberal arts Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees; professional Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Fine Arts in art and theatre degrees; and a Master of Fine Arts in Arts Administration degree. More than 60 full- and part-time faculty and staff are engaged in teaching and mentoring over 550 majors in the College. Over 1100 students enroll each year in over 195 arts classes on the SUU campus. The College presents 100 performances, lectures, presentations, and exhibitions each year. The College’s affiliate organizations include the Braithwaite Fine Arts Gallery, American Folk Ballet, Utah Shakespearean Festival, the performance group Acclamation, and the SUU Ballroom Dance Company. For more information about the College of Performing and Visual Arts, contact the Office of the Dean (435) 865-8561, or by e-mail at cpvamktg@suu.edu.

Costume Sale @ WSU (Ogden Oct 6-7)

Time to Dress Up?
Who: Weber State University Department of Performing Arts
What: Costume Sale
When: October 6, 7, • 10:00 AM - 3:00: PM
Where: Shepherd Union Building Atrium

Weber State University Department of the Performing Arts will be holding a costume sale Wednesday and Thursday, October 6 and 7, from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm, in the main lobby of the Shepherd Union Building. The sale will include clothing, vintage clothing, costumes, fabric, hats, jewelry, and other items that are periodically cleaned out of costume storage due to space. Those wanting a head-start on this year’s Halloween costume will want to shop this sale!
For more information about the sale, contact Jean Louise England, Costume Studio Manager, 801 626 7768 or jeanengland@weber.edu.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Educational Opportunities for "Diary of Anne Frank" @ USF (Sept 16 - Oct 23)

Anne Frank Teaches Valuable Lessons at the Utah Shakespearean Festival

CEDAR CITY, Utah—Taken directly from the pages of a young girl’s diary, the dramatic play “The Diary of Anne Frank” will be presented now through October 23 at the Utah Shakespearean Festival. The Festival has also planned educational events to accompany the production and enrich the experience of audience members. These additional events include a discussion with a local man who had first-hand experience with the issues raised in the play, as well as a talkback with the international figure Rabbi Shmuley Boteach.

“This is an incredibly moving play that reflects a very dark period of time in the world,” said R. Scott Phillips, Festival executive director. “This play should be seen by audience members of all ages.”

“The Diary of Anne Frank” is the story a girl whose bravery, hope and determination have inspired thousands. Wendy Kesslman’s new adaptation of this famous play is a testament not to the brutality of war and hatred, but to the unshakable spirit of a young girl and to the hopes and loves of a family and a people trying to hold on to their faith.

Following the Sept. 23 matinee performance at approximately 4:30 p.m., St. George resident Hank Ombach will conduct a post-performance discussion in the Auditorium Theatre (300 W. Center St, Cedar City). When Ombach was a child his family hid a Jewish family in their home in Amsterdam during WWII. He can provide a first-hand account of what it felt like to conceal "the enemy" in his home despite the fact that it could have meant severe punishment and even death for everyone in his family. One-on-one interviews will be available following the discussion.

“Many don’t realize what a hardship it was to live during these times,” said Ombach. “These Jewish families were so brave. They were hunted for more than four years, and they did everything in their power to protect themselves and their loved ones.”

In addition, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach will be at the Festival to conduct talkbacks following the performances of “The Diary of Anne Frank” on October 5 and 6. Called by Newsweek magazine “a cultural phenomenon” and “the most famous rabbi in America,” Rabbi Shmuley is one of the world’s leading relationship, values, and spirituality experts. The discussions will center around the play and its significance and resonance with audiences today. Find more details about “America’s Rabbi” at bard.org. and at Shumley.com.

The fall season will run from Sept. 16 through Oct. 23 with three different plays in the Randall L. Jones Theatre. The season features Shakespeare’s “Odyssey”-like drama “The Adventures of Pericles,” the moving family drama “The Diary of Anne Frank,” and the rural comedy “Greater Tuna.” Tickets are on sale now at 1-800-PLAYTIX and bard.org.

Media Contact: Amanda Caraway, 435-586-1969, Caraway@bard.org
Download Photos: http://bard.org/news/photos.html , username: press, password: usf2006
###

SUU Faculty Recital: Pianist Kirill Gliadkovsky (CC: OCt 4)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 09/16/10
Benjamin Tyrrel
Marketing and Public Relations Manager
College of Performing and Visual Arts
Southern Utah University
Office: 435-865-8667
Cell: 435-238-0261
cpvamktg@suu.edu

SUU’S FACULTY RECITAL SHOWCASES
PIANIST KIRILL GLIADKOVSKY
OCTOBER 4, 2010

FOR CALENDAR EDITORS: ART INSIGHTS, PAUL HAMBLIN

WHAT: Faculty Piano Recital

WHO: Kirill Gliadkovsky: Faculty Piano Recital
Southern Utah University, Department of Music

WHEN: Monday, October 4, 2010

TIME: 7:30pm

WHERE: Thorley Recital Hall, Southern Utah University, Cedar City, UT

TICKETS: Phone: Arts Hotline: (435) 865-8800 or visit: www.suu.edu/arts

PRICES: Free and the General Public is encouraged to attend.


Southern Utah University, Cedar City, Utah: Enjoy an evening of piano works celebrating the 200th anniversaries of great Romantic Virtuoso Composers. Assistant Professor of Music, Kirill Gliadkovsky, performs a piano recital featuring works from prominent Romantic composers, Frédéric Chopin, Robert Schumann and Franz Liszt. The recital begins at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, October 4, in SUU’s Thorley Recital Hall. Admission is free and the public is encouraged to attend.

Repertoire selections for the evening include Chopin's Military Polonaise and the Fantasie in F Minor which demonstrates "a great emotional peak in the piano repertory," Gliadkovsky remarks. Also included in the program are Schumann's Symphonic Etudes, considered one of the most difficult pieces in the repertory, which explores the new direction of technique and orchestral sound effect in piano music of the 19th century.

Born in Moscow, Russia, Kirill Gliadkovsky attended the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow, and earned both his Masters and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees at the University of Southern California. Since the age of six, Kirill Gliadkovsky has performed in some of the great concert halls of Russia, Italy, the United Kingdom, Poland, Mongolia, Canada, Japan, and the United States. Mr. Gliadkovsky has appeared on numerous live TV and radio programs and has recorded six CDs for Alexei Records and CMK Classic labels.

Enjoy an evening of virtuosic piano works, when Kirill Gliadkovsky performs an unforgettable evening of Romantic piano classics. For more information on the SUU College of Performing and Visual Arts events, please call the Arts Hotline at (435) 865-8800, or visit www.suu.edu/arts.

ABOUT THE COLLEGE
The Southern Utah University College of Performing and Visual Arts is comprised of nationally accredited departments of Art and Design, Music, Theatre Arts and Dance, as well as a graduate program in Arts Administration. The College offers 16 different degree areas, including liberal arts Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees; professional Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Fine Arts in art and theatre degrees; and a Master of Fine Arts in Arts Administration degree. More than 60 full- and part-time faculty and staff are engaged in teaching and mentoring over 550 majors in the College. Over 1100 students enroll each year in over 195 arts classes on the SUU campus. The College presents 100 performances, lectures, presentations, and exhibitions each year. The College’s affiliate organizations include the Braithwaite Fine Arts Gallery, American Folk Ballet, Utah Shakespearean Festival, the performance group Acclamation, and the SUU Ballroom Dance Company. For more information about the College of Performing and Visual Arts, contact the Office of the Dean at (435) 865-8561, or by e-mail at cpvamktg@suu.edu.

"The Reality Fallacy" @ WSU (Ogden: Sept 28 - Oct 2)

AAT Presents “The Reality Fallacy”

Who: Weber State University Department of Performing Arts Associated Actors and Technicians
What: The Reality Fallacy, a musical with book and lyrics by Christopher Shenefelt
When: September 28, 29, 30, October 1, 2 • 7:30 pm
Where: Room 230, Val A. Browning Center for the Performing Arts
Tickets: at the door: $5/general admission, $4/for A.A.T. members

Weber State University Department of the Performing Arts Associated Actors and Technicians presents "The Reality Fallacy," a musical with book and lyrics by Christopher Shenefelt, directed by Stephanie Purcell, at 7:30 pm, September 28, 29, 30, October 1 and 2, in Room 230, Val A. Browning Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are available at the door for $5.

Shenefelt describes his show, "What is reality? By definition it is: The state or quality of being real. Reality, however, is subjective. It is interpretive to each individual. We see the reality that we choose to see. One that makes our lives better, or worse. In Cadence and Kaleb's world, however, there is more than one reality. Their son, Casey, is both living and dead. It's how Cadence and Kaleb interpret their reality that connotes Casey's existence. It's how Casey interprets reality that suggests his fathers sanity. It's how the audience perceives the story that begs the question, 'Is this reality, or a fallacy?'"

For more information about the play contact Chris Shenefelt, Chris Shenefelt
For more information about AAT, contact Sean Bishop, 801 694-7994 or seanedwardbishop@gmail.com

Monday, September 20, 2010

How to Keep Arts Coverage Alive in UT

Dear Friends,

I'm writing to initiate a conversation about coverage of Utah's arts scene in the media, and to let you know of some things you can do to help preserve it. As most of you know, The Deseret News has changed its format, which included eliminating feature stories and reviews of arts events in Utah. Unfortunately, many newspapers around the nation are doing similar things. One result is that arts organizations -- already hard-hit by the economic downturn -- have a harder time getting the word out about their events. This means they have a harder time surviving.

As a freelance arts writer who contributes to The Salt Lake Tribune, I have a personal stake in all this, but I hope this letter does not seem too self-serving. Our state has an impressive arts scene that has been carefully cultivated since the earliest days of settlement here. My great fear is that if we lose our media coverage of the arts, we will eventually lose many of our arts organizations as well.

Decision-makers at The Salt Lake Tribune are committed to keeping the paper's arts coverage -- for the time being. All newspapers are looking closely at cost-effectiveness and reader interest in these changing times, though. Editors who must decide where to trim costs need to know that arts coverage is being read and appreciated. They do this by tracking online "hits" on news stories.

This puts arts coverage at an immediate disadvantage, because many of our arts fans read the print edition of the paper -- and we love you for it! Those who read the online edition can help by clicking on the arts stories, and (better still) leaving comments, whether positive or negative. Even print readers could help out for awhile by going online to comment on arts stories.

Efforts are underway to expand the online features of our arts and entertainment pages at the Tribune. You can find arts stories by going to www.sltrib.com, then clicking on "Entertainment." Then click on "Arts" in the drop-down list that follows. If you want to find stories written by a particular reporter, you can put the name in the Search box on the homepage. (My by-line is Celia R. Baker, just in case). Arts stories appear in the MIX edition of the Sunday paper, and usually hit the web by Friday or Saturday, then remain online for awhile afterward.

It would be great if this letter could circulate among school teachers, string teachers and music faculty of all kinds, and their students. We need to go viral, and get a lot of comments coming for arts stories -- and I don't mean just mine! So, please forward this to anyone who might be interested.

I hope all of you understand why I would send this to you -- or at least forgive me if you don't. If you love the arts in Utah, and like being able to read about what's going on, then you will want to help. Letters to the editor are good, too, of course. If you appreciate arts coverage (or if you have a concern that needs airing), then please let your voice be heard.

Here, for starters, are links to my stories for this week. Once you are there, you will find pieces by other reporters that might interest you, too. These are about the Utah Symphony's new artistic director, Thierry Fischer, and the fabulous young violinist Hilary Hahn. It would be especially good if we could get some comments from string students, but all hits and comments are much appreciated:

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/entertainment/50283813-81/fischer-concert-stravinsky-utah.html.csp?page=1



http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/entertainment/50290691-81/com-hahn-www-hilary.html.csp



Best to everyone,

Celia Baker


Celia R. Baker
801-355-1647
801-712-4180 (mobile)

Nw Arts Learning Grants from SL Arts Council (Online: Oct 8)

TO: Arts and Learning Community

RE: New Grant Opportunity

In honor of National Arts in Education Week, the Salt Lake City Arts Council is pleased to announce that the guidelines and application for a new Arts Learning grant category will be available in October. This new category is one of several offered through the City Arts Grants program, managed by the Salt Lake City Arts Council and funded by Salt Lake City Corporation.

The intent of this new category, funded by Mayor Ralph Becker and the Salt Lake City Council, is to support arts learning activities that reach children and young people of all means, backgrounds and abilities in Salt Lake City, recognizing the value of access and exposure to a wide variety of quality arts learning experiences in all artforms for Salt Lake City’s youth.

Complete details will be included in the grant guidelines and application, to be published on-line at www.slcgov.com/arts by October 8.

Nonprofit arts organizations, community-based nonprofit organizations and individuals (artist-teachers and/or parents) are eligible to apply. For-profit entities and governmental agencies are not eligible to apply. Schools (public, private and charter) are not eligible to apply.

Spy Hop's Best of Spy Hop 2010 Awards Ceremony (SLC: Sept 23)

MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Chris Howard
Phone: 801-532-7500
Email: cjh@spyhop.org

SPY HOP PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS: THE BEST OF SPY HOP 2010 AWARDS CEREMONY
Come see the best in filmmaking, songwriting, sound design, game design and animation by Salt Lake area teens.
                                                                                                
SALT LAKE CITY, UT (September 16, 2010) — Spy Hop Productions will be hosting its annual BEST OF SPY HOP Awards Ceremony honoring the finest film, music, audio and design work from Spy Hop's 2009-10 student body on Thursday, September 23, from 7-9 PM at the University of Utah's Post Theater (245 S. Fort Douglas Boulevard, Bldg. 636). This is a free, all-ages event open to the public. To reserve seating, attendees must RSVP online at www.spyhop.org .
 
Nominations for each awards category were provided by the staff of professional mentors at Spy Hop Productions.  Then, two rounds of voting were conducted in which all staff voted for their favorite pieces in each category. Spy Hop serves an annual population of more than 1,000 students from over 117 different schools throughout the Salt Lake area.  Mentors were asked to submit as much work as they felt deserved recognition in as many of the categories as possible.  The awards categories were intentionally left general as to encourage competition between the disciplines for each award.  From 53 original nominations, the finalists have been narrowed down to just 33 individual pieces. 
 
All of the nominated works will be screened before the audience that night, after which the winner will be  announced and presented with the Spy Hop “Golden Mouse Award.”
 
Finalists for this year's 2009-10 Best Of Spy Hop Awards are:
 
BEST PERSONAL NARRATIVE
Most intelligent, compelling, articulate personal account of self.
•  Dan Pimentel – “A New Song” (Film Apprenticeship)
•  Laela Omar (Cottonwood High) – “Hijab” (REEL Stories)
•  Connor Estes (Ogden) – “Battling the Mind” (Loud & Clear Youth Radio)
 
BEST STORYTELLING
Most able to draw you in using all the elements of storytelling including, but not limited to, sound, lighting, voice, depth of field, animation, effects and music.
•  Daniel Pimentel, May Bartlett, and Kevin LeStarge  – “The Antagonist” (PitchNic)
•  Loren Ruiz, Rachel Fairclough, and Britt Decker – “Brains” (PitchNic)
•  Connor Estes, Lauren Gutierrez (AMES), Austin Charillo – “End of The World Radio Play” (Loud & Clear Youth Radio)
 
BEST DOCUMENTARY
Most thoughtful, compelling and intelligent documentary storytelling.
•  Ethan Pullan (SLCC), Alek Sabin, and Pat Thompson – “Brother of Mine” (PitchNic)
•  Erin Cole (Judge Memorial High) – “Just Say Know” (Reel Stories)
•  Laela Omar (Cottonwood High) – “Hijab” (Reel Stories)
 
BEST CREATIVE/ARTISTIC EXPRESSION
Best use of talent in a creative visual, sound, or print output.
•  Chris Miller (Magna) – Personal Narrative #1
•  Phil Davis in the role of 'Hat Man' from “The Antagonist”
•  'Interviews About Mortality' - Sending Messages (Award-winning podcast from Decker Lake Youth Center)
               
BEST SOUND DESIGN
Best technical and artistic sound design composition.
•  “The Antagonist” (Audio Apprentices)
•  “Brains” (Audio Apprentices)
•  William Palomo (Bingham High School) – “Zergs” (Loud and Clear Youth Radio)
•  Jared Gilmore (Centerville) and JT Allen (Murray High) mixing The Direction "From VII & IV" CD (Spy Hop Records)
 
BEST SONG        
Best lyrics and musical tapestry/overall song composition
•  The Direction – “Digging”
•  Joel Brown – “Lullaby”
•  Idyll Rigamarole – “Kid” by Rachel Myhrin (Musicology)
•  Idyll Rigamarole – “Benchmark” by TJ Hunter (Musicology)
 
BEST PEER MENTOR
Most dedicated, hard working, reliable and responsible peer mentor
•  May Bartlett (PitchNic)
•  Ethan Pullan (PitchNic)
•  Liz Tanner (Loud and Clear Youth Radio)
 
ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Where are they now? Most community impact and personal achievement after Spy Hop.
•  Eli Sasich
•  Garrett McDowell
•  Margaret King
 
BEST DIGITAL DESIGN, ANIMATION OR CLAYMATION
Best artwork and highest skill level exemplified in Design, Animation or Claymation
•  Ben Diez (Layton) - Character Design for Steam Knight (Game Design)
•  “Mighty Hunt of the Kickapoo” (Summer Claymation)
•  Sam Milliner (Olympus High) – Portfolio 2010
•  Alex Huggins (West High) - buttons, fliers and Direction CD booklet design (Spy Hop Records)
 
BEST GAME DESIGN
Best overall game design exhibiting the best design, playability and original idea.
•  Joey Despain (Indian Hills Middle School) - 3D Maze (Game Design)
•  Mackay Hare (Park City) – “Rocco’s Adventure” (Game Design)
•  Design Apprentices – “Steam Knight” (Game Design)


About Spy Hop Productions
Spy Hop Productions is a not-for-profit youth media arts and education center whose purpose is to empower youth to express their voice and with it create positive change in their lives, their community, and the world.  Our mission is to encourage free expression, self-discovery, critical and inventive thinking, and skilled participation via the big screen, the airwaves, and the web.
 
The White House recently recognized Spy Hop Productions as one of the top arts and humanities‐based organizations in the country. Spy Hop has been given the distinguished honor of being a finalist for the 2010 National Arts and Humanities Youth Award given by the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.
 
 
###
--

Chris Howard
Marketing & Events Coordinator
Spy Hop Productions
Tel: 801-532-7500
www.spyhop.org

Empowering youth through multimedia

Utah Symphony Presents Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (SLC: Oct 8-9)


Contact: Jana Cunningham, (801) 869-9027
jcunningham@utahsymphonyopera.org


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                                    
September 17, 2010                                                                                                                                


The Utah Symphony Presents Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini



The concerts feature Maestro Mario Venzago and pianist Conrad Tao



SALT LAKE CITY – Guest conductor Mario Venzago leads 16-year-old Chinese-American pianist Conrad Tao (who replaces Horacio Gutiérrez) and the Utah Symphony in Rachmaninoff’s romantic and hugely popular Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. The program also includes Sibelius’ Lemminkäinen and the Maidens of the Island and Finlandia as well as Schumann’s Symphony No. 4 in D Minor. The performances will be held at Abravanel Hall on Friday, October 8 and Saturday, October 9 at 8:00 p.m.

            Pianist Horacio Gutiérrez was originally scheduled to perform, but was forced to cancel due to significant back and shoulder pain.

            The program opens with Sibelius’ emotionally expressive Lemminkäinen and the Maidens of the Island followed by the composer’s Finlandia. Then, Tao joins the orchestra for Rachmaninoff’s famous Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini featuring wit, charm, romance and rhythmic verve. The evening concludes with Schumann’s 4th Symphony with its unprecedented cohesion and structural unity.

            Mario Venzago was born in 1948 in Zürich, Switzerland. He began playing piano at age five, attended the conservatory and the university in Zurich and continued his studies with Hans Swarowsky in Vienna. After seven extremely successful years as Music Director of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra he resigned in 2009. In 2004 he was appointed Principal Conductor of the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra (the National Orchestra of Sweden). He has previously held posts as Music Director of the Basel Symphony Orchestra (1997-2003), the Basque National Orchestra in Spain (1998-2001), the Graz Opera House in Austria (1990-95), the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie in Frankfurt/Bremen (1989-92), the Heidelberg Opera (1986-1989), the Winterthur City Orchestra (1978-86), the Lucerne Opera House and he served as principal conductor for the broadcast recordings of the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande in Geneva until 1986.

In 2010 he became principal conductor of the Northern Sinfonia in Newcastle and was announced Chief Conductor of the Bern Symphonie Orchestra. A regular visitor to the world’s leading orchestras and opera houses, Mr. Venzago's distinguished conducting career has included engagements with the Berlin Philharmonic, the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, the London Philharmonic, the BBC London, the Scala di Milano, the Boston and Philadelphia Orchestras as well as the Tapiola Sinfonietta which he will join as "Artist in Association" from autumn 2010 on.

Born in Urbana, Illinois, 16-year-old American pianist Conrad Tao began showing an interest in music at a very early age, when he was found playing children’s songs on the piano at about 18 months of age. Conrad started violin lessons at age 3 and formal piano lessons at 3 1/2, gave his first public piano recital at age 4, and performed a recital at the World Piano Pedagogy Conference in Orlando, Florida at age 7. At age 8, he made his concerto debut with the Utah Chamber Music Festival Orchestra performing Mozart’s Piano Concerto in A major, K414. At age 10, Conrad was featured on the national radio program “From the Top” as both pianist and composer, and he was featured again on PBS’s “From the Top - Live from Carnegie Hall” TV series in September 2006 as violinist, pianist and composer. Conrad’s recital performance has been featured on National Public Radio’s “Performance Today”. In 2008 Conrad was named a Davidson Fellow Laureate by the Davidson Institute for Talent Development.

As a pianist, Conrad has performed with many symphony orchestras throughout the United States, including the Philadelphia Orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony, the Fort Worth Symphony and the Russian National Orchestra, among others.

Conrad is currently enrolled in Juilliard’s Pre-College Division and studies piano with Dr. Yoheved Kaplinsky.

 Tickets for the evening’s performances start at $15 and can be purchased by calling (801) 355-ARTS (2787), in person at the Abravanel Hall box office, or by visiting www.usuo.org. Subscribers and those desiring group or student discounts should call (801) 533-NOTE (6683). Ticket prices will increase $5 day of performance.

Press photos available at http://www.utahsymphony.org/media.php. (Username: usuoimages, password: media).


Program                     
Jean Sibelius                          “Lemminkäinen and the Maidens of the Island” No.1 from Legends, op. 22
                                    Finlandia, op. 26, No. 7

Sergei Rachmaninoff             Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, op. 43
INTERMISSION

Robert Schumann                  Symphony No. 4 in D Minor, op.120
I.  Ziemlich langsam - Lebhaft
II.  Romanze:  Siemlich langsam
III.  Scherzo: Lebhaft
IV.  Langsam - Lebhaft


###
   

Jana Cunningham
Public Relations Manager
801.869.9027 office
801.244.1892 cell

Friday, September 17, 2010

Battle of the Improvs @ Grand Theatre (SLC: Sept 18)

For Immediate Release:



What: Battle of the Improvs



Where: The Grand Theatre

1575 S. State Street

Salt Lake City, UT

When: Saturday, September 18 · 7:30pm - 10:00pm



Price: $8 pre sale, $10 at the door

Buy tickets online at: www.the-grand.org or call 801-957-3322.



One night, one trophy, a million laughs.



Come join us as Generation A, along with the Grand Theater, brings together Utah’s funniest and finest improv comedians on one stage for the 2nd annual Battle of the Improvs, Saturday September 18th at the Grand Theater in Salt Lake City.



With a list of troupes, both well known and those up and coming, this one event promises to flood the stage with one laugh after another. Audience response will decide the winner. Each troupe will compete with other troupes in both qualifying and elimination rounds, guaranteeing ample opportunity to see your favorite in action.



All proceeds for the show will go towards The Grand Theatre. Your attendance not only supports Utah’s improv artists, but also benefits the rapidly growing artistic community in Utah as a whole.


Buy tickets online at: www.the-grand.org or call 801-957-3322.

Participating troupes include:
- Absoludicrous
- And...Go!
- The Antics
- HiJinks
- The Improvables
- Jesters Royale
- Mission: Improvible
- Quick Wits
- ToySoup

The Battle of the Improvs begins at 7:30pm, with doors opening at 7:00pm, at the Grand Theater, located at 1575 South State Street, Salt Lake City, UT. Tickets can be purchased for $8 pre-sale, and will also be available at the door for $10. Tickets at the door, as well as concessions, can be purchased with cash only. Come support your favorite improv troupe, and take the chance to see some new ones, as we continue a tradition of laughter that will sound for years to come.

Only 1 Improv team will walk away with the 2010 prize and you decide!



Media Contact: Amy Brown Allred 801-580-8525 or amy.allred@ionicinnovations.com

Generation A : http://www.generation-a.org/






--

Paul Draper
Mysteries of the Mind
Mentalist | Anthropologist | Speaker

801-541-2976
paul@mentalmysteries.com
www.mentalmysteries.com
Paul's Monthly Newsletter

H20 @ RDT (SLC: Sept 30 - Oct 2)

H2O September 30 – October 2, 2010 Jeanné Wagner Theatre 7:30 pm
September 30 Community Night all tickets $15
Oct 1-2 Tickets $30 ($15 seniors/students)
Tickets available through ArtTix 801-355-Arts or www.artTix.org

Pre performance event by Brolly Arts 5:30-7:30pm in the lobby and surrounding areas of the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center | Free to the public

Studio D after party at Flemings after the October 2 performance of H20. For Studio D tickets use the promo code "StudioD" at the ArtTix Box office.

H2O is a sensuous journey inspired by the rhythm of the tides and the precarious ribbon of life in the desert. Whether in lakes, rivers, oceans or swimming pools, water is the earth’s most precious and vital resource. RDT and Brolly Arts join forces to honor the beauty, the power and the sacred nature of life’s most important element. Whether it rages or seeps, evaporates or gathers, water is the source of inspiration for the choreography, exhibits and performance art. Two atoms of hydrogen joined to one of oxygen, nothing could be simpler or more important to our existence. How we use or reuse water will define the future of our planet.

The performance features Zvi Gotheiner’s GLACIER, a contemporary water ritual that imagines a future civilization coping with shrinking resources. WATERMARK by RDT alumnus, Ford Evans, with original score by composer Ricklen Nobis examines the mysteries and the movement of water, the most conspicuous, the most powerful and the most essential element sustaining life in the desert.

WATER STUDY created in 1928 by Doris Humphrey, one of the founders of modern dance, who experimented with natural rhythms, motor, pulse and breath building rhythmic phrases from the natural ebb and balance of the tides. The piece will be performed by members of Children’s Dance Theatre.

Lastly don’t miss the return of Francie Lloyd’s THE LADY OF THE LAKE, the magical and mysterious supernatural Celtic goddess of water who will leave you breathless.