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Friday, January 27, 2012

SALT LAKE ACTING COMPANY PRESENTS ‘RED’ BY JOHN LOGAN, DIRECTED BY KEVEN MYHRE (SLC: FEB 8 - MARCH 4)


Salt Lake Acting Company                       News Release
PRESS CONTACT: CYNTHIA FLEMING. 801 363 7522. CYNTHIA@SALTLAKEACTINGCOMPANY.ORG
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. 

SALT LAKE ACTING COMPANY PRESENTS ‘RED’  BY JOHN LOGAN, DIRECTED BY KEVEN MYHRE.

“I am here to stop your heart...I am not here to make pretty pictures.”
-Artist Mark Rothko

SLAC brings Broadway to Salt Lake with RED by John Logan, directed by Keven Myhre. Winner of the Drama Desk Award, Drama League Award and six Tony Awards, RED is an intimate glimpse into the world of outspoken and opinionated artist Mark Rothko. This two man drama illustrates the struggle between mentor and student as it illuminates their attempts to communicate through intellectually thrilling artistic encounters.

Referring to one of his gallery shows Rothko once said, “This is not a show, it is an event.” RED Director Keven Myhre interprets the play similarly, “RED makes an event out of Rothko’s life.” The audience is invited to delve into this unique drama alongside one of the world’s most contemplated visionaries

When Rothko lands the biggest commission in the history of modern art – a series of murals for the Four Seasons Restaurant in New York – the achievement becomes agonizing. Master abstract impressionist Mark Rothko is challenged by his young assistant Ken and by the threat of his own undoing. Director Keven Myhre says, “For me, this play is more than just an artistic biopic of a historical figure.  It’s about two men at a primal level just trying to communicate.” RED portrays an artist’s ambition and vulnerability as he attempts to create a definitive work for an extraordinary setting.  Playwright John Logan uses the stage as a canvas where we witness the layers of Rothko’s battle through dialogue, texture, and through electrifying revelation.

Mark Rothko was a Russian-American painter born in 1903. Though he was classified as an abstract expressionist, he rejected this and all labels. Rothko resisted explaining his work, once saying, "Silence is so accurate," fearing that words would only paralyze the viewer's mind and imagination. Rothko’s most recognizable work depicts “fuzzy rectangular clouds of color” which some find deeply moving, despite their lack of imagery or recognizable subject matter, while others claim their lack of substance. Rothko once said, “If you are only moved by color relationships [in my paintings], you are missing the point. I am interested in expressing the big emotions – tragedy, ecstasy, doom.”

The NY Times quotes, “RED captures the dynamic relationship between an artist and his creations.” It is an intense, witty play that will ignite passion and creativity.

RED premiered at the Donmar Warehouse Theatre, London on December 3, 2009. 

Salt Lake Acting Company’s production of RED is directed by Executive Producer, Keven Myhre who was chosen to receive the Mayor’s Artist Award in the Performing Arts for 2009. He has designed all of SLAC’s sets and many of the costumes for the last seventeen years. His most recent directing credits at SLAC include ANGELS IN AMERICA: MILLENIUM APPROACHES and PERESTROIKA which opened SLAC’s 2010-2011 Season. Salt Lake Acting Company is thrilled to welcome veteran actor Morgan Lund (Rothko) back to the SLAC stage. This will be Morgan’s twelfth production at SLAC since 2002. Morgan was most recently seen at SLAC last spring as James in CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION. He is the Artistic Director of The OtherSide Players a new professional acting company in residence at the Rio Theatre in Helper, Utah. Morgan has been a professional actor/writer/producer/director/teacher and artist for 30 years. Ted Powell (Ken) will be making his SLAC debut. A native Philadelphian with a BA in Theatre from Temple University, Ted has several credits from productions across the country.  Ted is also a musician with a solo outfit called The Study, as well as a playwright, author, and teaching artist. 

-About MARK ROTHKO-
Born Marcus Rotkovitch in the town of Dvinsk, Latvia, then part of the Russian Empire, Mark Rothko immigrated to the United States with his family at the age of ten, settling in Portland, Oregon. A gifted student, Rothko attended Yale University on scholarship from 1921-23, but disillusioned by the social milieu and financial hardship, he dropped out and moved to New York to "bum around and starve a bit." A chance invitation from a friend brought him to a drawing class at the Art Students League where he discovered his love of art. He took two classes there but was otherwise self-taught. Rothko painted in a figurative style for nearly twenty years, his portraits and depictions of urban life baring the soul of those living through The Great Depression in New York. The painter Milton Avery offered Rothko both artistic and nutritional nourishment during these lean years. In the 1930s, Rothko exhibited with The Ten, a close-knit group of nine (!) American painters, which included fellow Avery acolyte, Adolph Gottlieb. Success was moderate at best but the group provided important incubation for the Abstract Expressionist school to come. The war years brought with it an influx of European surrealists, influencing most of the New York painters, among them Rothko, to take on a neo-surrealist style. Rothko experimented with mythic and symbolic painting for five years before moving to pure abstraction in the mid 1940s and ultimately to his signature style of two or three rectangles floating in fields of saturated color in 1949. Beginning in the early 1950s Rothko was heralded, along with Jackson Pollock, Willem deKooning, Franz Kline and others, as the standard bearers of the New American Painting--a truly American art that was not simply a derivative of European styles. By the late 1950s, Rothko was a celebrated (if not wealthy) artist, winning him three mural commissions that would dominate the latter part of his career. Only in the last of these, The Rothko Chapel in Houston was he able to realize his dream of a truly contemplative environment in which to interact deeply with his artwork. RED presents a fictionalized account of Rothko’s frustrated first attempt to create such a space in New York’s Four Season’s restaurant. Rothko sought to create art that was timeless; paintings that expressed basic human concerns and emotions that remain constant not merely across decades but across generations and epochs. He looked to communicate with his viewer at the most elemental level and through his artwork, have a conversation that was intense, personal and, above all, honest. A viewer’s tears in front of one of his paintings told him he had succeeded. While creating a deeply expressive body of work and garnering critical acclaim, Rothko battled depression and his brilliant career ended in suicide in 1970.

SLAC NOTES
Tickets range from $15-$41 depending on performance. Discounts available for students, 30 & under, and groups of ten or more.

Tickets available at 801-363-SLAC (7522), at www.saltlakeactingcompany.org, or in person at 168 West 500 North, Salt Lake City, Utah 84103

FACT SHEET

SLAC PRODUCTION                                  RED

PLAYWRIGHT                                             John Logan

DIRECTOR                                                    Keven Myhre

CAST                                                              Morgan Lund, Ted Powell

SET DESIGN                                                 Keven Myhre       

COSTUME DESIGN                                     K.L. Alberts

LIGHTING DESIGN                                    Jesse Portillo

DIALECT COACH                                       Adrianne Moore

SOUND DESIGN                                          Josh Martin

PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER          Penny Pendleton


DATES                                   Previews:         February 8 & 9, 2012
                                                Opening:         February 10, 2012
                                                Closing:           March 4, 2012

TIMES                                    Previews:         Wednesday & Thursday- 7:30 p.m.
                                                Regular:           Wednesday - Saturday- 7:30 p.m.
                                                                        Sun- 1:00 p.m. & 6:00 p.m.
                                               
SLAC is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 professional theatre found in 1970 and is dedicated to producing, commissioning and developing new works and to supporting a community of professional artists.  SLAC has been nationally recognized by the Shubert Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Edgerton Foundation, among others. SLAC operates under a STP Actors Equity Association contract. SLAC is a Constituent Member of Theatre Communications Group, a national organization for non-profit professional regional theatres, and the National New Play Network.



SPY HOP PRODUCTIONS SHOWCASES DIGITAL ART AT UTAH MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART (SLC: jan 24 - march 24)


MEDIA ADVISORY
Contact: Virginia Pearce  virginia@spyhop.org  801-532-7500

SPY HOP PRODUCTIONS SHOWCASES DIGITAL ART AT UTAH MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART
           
SALT LAKE CITY, UT (January 17, 2012) — Spy Hop Productions, Utah’s only youth media arts center, looks at the idea of “collaboration” through its new exhibition at Utah Museum of Contemporary Art (UMOCA).  A digital media experiment, SONIC SQUEEZE invites visitors to play an interactive game that only gets better when you work together.

Created by Spy Hop Productions music, audio and game design instructors with input from Spy Hop students, SONIC SQUEEZE is a 21st century mash-up of video games, drum machines and tone makers.  Play the game to create sounds from one of three stations – but work together with other participants to get all three games to create your own song.

“SpyHop provides cutting-edge educational opportunities for youth in our community, especially in the kinds of new forms of media and transmedia that are so important now in the world of contemporary art,” said Adam Price, Executive Director of UMOCA.  “We are delighted to be able to give our visitors an opportunity to see new work by tomorrow’s artistic leaders today.”
Kasandra VerBrugghen, Executive Director of Spy Hop Productions, "We're thrilled to be back at the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art.  All of Spy Hop’s programs blend together art and creative technology and its great to have an opportunity to show off some of the innovative projects we’re working on.”

SONIC SQUEEZE exhibits from Tuesday, January 24 – March 24.  Concurrent exhibitions at UMOCA include 2012 Sundance Film Festival New Frontier and Kim Schoenstadt, recipient of the Catherine Doctorow Prize for Contemporary Painting. Hours vary daily, see www.utahmoca.org for more information. 

Utah Museum of Contemporary Art (formerly Salt Lake Art Center) was recognized as Best Museum in the State of Utah for 2011.  Founded in 1931 and now located in the heart of Salt Lake City, UMOCA exhibits groundbreaking work by leading local and international artists. Recent exhibitions include Fallen Fruit of Utah, a state-wide collaboration with museums and individuals about the role of fruit in Utah’s history, led by artist collective Fallen Fruit; and Doublespeak, codes and entendres by contemporary women artists.  Current exhibitions include Kim Schoenstadt, winner of the 2011 Catherine Doctorow Prize for Contemporary Painting; and Mirko Martin’s Noir;  upcoming exhibitions include Sundance Film Festival New Frontier, and also Play Me I’m Yours, inviting the people of Salt Lake to show off their piano skills on street corners all over Salt Lake.  UMOCA rounds out its offerings with a lively mix of award-winning educational programs, film screenings, panel discussions, and events celebrating Salt Lake’s vibrant local art scene. UMOCA is located at 20 S. West Temple, just off the intersection with South Temple. Admission is free year-round. Business hours are Tuesday-Thursday: 11 am-6 pm; Friday: 11 am-9 pm; Saturday: 11 am-6 pm; closed Sunday and Monday. For more information call (801) 328-4201 or visit www.slartcenter.org.

About Spy Hop Productions
Spy Hop Productions is a nonprofit 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.  Recognized by the White House as one of the top arts and humanities based organizations in the country, Spy Hop was chosen as a finalist for the 2010 National Arts and Humanities Youth Award given by the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.   www.spyhop.org 
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-- 
Virginia Pearce
Director of Marketing & Community Programs

Empoweringyouththroughmultimedia

Kindred Spirits features The Awesome Puppet Company (SLC: FEB 8 - MARCH 14)


Kindred Spirits 
features
The Awesome Puppet Company

Kindred Spirits' featured artist Daniel Stolfi will lead students in an exploration of puppet making, puppet-craft and storytelling.  The work will draw on an extensive range of object performance elements, from rod, hand, and string puppets through to mask and narrative performance.  The repertoire includes myths and legends from world cultures as well as original and personal stories.

The workshop will be hands-on and interactive, allowing for the imaginative exploration of materials, craft, content, creativity and performance.  Recycled materials will be used as basic building blocks as much as possible.

Daniel is founder and artistic director of The Awesome Puppet Company.  He has a background in drama therapy and medical anthropology and is interested in creativity, healing, and in ways puppetry can be used both as a communication tool and therapeutically.
Class Schedule:
Wednesdays, February 8 - March 14 from 4:30 to 6:00PM

Max Enrollment: 10 (20 with partners) for each class
Children are usually accompanied by a partner, often a parent or sibling.

Fee: $50 and includes all art supplies (no fee for partner companion).  

Email amanda@accessart.org to recieve the registration form, or download it HERE.

ABOUT
KINDRED SPIRITS

Visit our WEBSITE to learn more and to download the registration form.

Our Mission
Art Access/VSA Utah provides equal opportunities to inclusive arts programming for Utahns with disabilities and those with limited access to the arts.

       



Art Access/VSA Utah
230 So. 500 West, #125
Salt Lake City, UT
801-328-0703



CHARETTE: RDT's Annual FUNdraiser & Choreographer Competition (SLC: FEB 11)


Sent by: Repertory Dance Theatre
Reply to the sender


For Immediate Release
January 18, 2012
Media Contact:
Stephanie Perkins
PR & Marketing Director
801-534-1000 or
stephanie@rdtutah.org
Repertory Dance Theatre presents
Charette
February 11, 2012

RDT's Annual FUNdraiser & Choreographer Competition
Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center: 138 West Broadway, SLC

Repertory Dance Theatre's signature event and FUNdraiser, Charette, returns to the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center on February 11, 2012 with a few new twists and turns!

Bring your Valentine to a night of "dynamic duos," delectable refreshments, racous bidding & bribing, and witty choreography hosted by KUED's Ken Verdoia. Audience members are invited to bribe the judges to vote for their favorite choreographer, bid on "collectibles" from RDT's circle of friends, and watch as five new dances are created in record time!

How Charette works:

  1. Audience goes immediately to the theatre for introductions to the choreographers and a short performance.
  2. Choreographer duos are given "secret ingredients" that they must use in each composition.
  3. RDT's 8 professional dancers and 30 gifted community dancers are divided between the choreographers then sent to one of the 5 studios to create their work.
  4. Charette guests (the audience) eat, drink, and merrily wander between the party and the studios where dance is being created. During this time guests are invited to "bribe" the judges to vote for their favorite choreographer with RDT Funny Money and bid on Silent Auction items - collectibles from RDT's circle of friends.
  5. After an hour everyone returns to the theatre to see the competition, vote for their favorite, and see who wins the title of RDT's "Iron Choreographer" for 2012!
  6. Keep reading for announcements of judges, choreographers, and more!

Important Pricing Info

Tickets can be purchased through ArtTix
www.arttix.org or 801-355-ARTS

Tickets $30*
Discounts & Specials:
Couples price $50*
*all tickets will go up $5 on the day of the show.

Click here for more information about Charette.


The Key Players

Choreographers, dancers, and judges gather on stage for the announcment of the Iron Choreographer in 2010.

Judges
Chris Vanocur
After earning many awards ranging from the George Foster Peabody Award to the Columbia University Dupont Silver Baton, this local journalist joins the presitigous panel of judges for the first time! An honor like no other!

Miss and Mr. Margene
Our "dynamic duo" of the panel - Miss Margene of Miss Margene's Creative Classroom and her husband, Kevin Conde, an extreme dance enthusiast.

Janet Gray
The local studio owner returns for her seventh year as our veteran panelist. Janet knows the ins and outs of Charette and isn't afraid to tell it like it is!

Peter Christie
Representing the ballet side of things, Peter has been a choreographer, a judge, and a patron of Charette for years! It shouldn't be hard to bribe Peter.

Audience member
New this year! An audience member will have the opportunity to buy his/her seat on the judging panel. 

'Dynamic Duo' Choreographers
Nathan & Suzie Balser
Nathan Balser is a former dancer of Repertory Dance Theatre and a current Assistant Professor of Dance at Wyoming Community College. His wife, Suzie starred in Mamma Mia in Las Vegas. 

Jacque Bell & Bart Poulson
Jacque returns for the fourth time, this time along with her husband and former RDT Board Member, Bart Poulson, who is an Associate Professor of Psychology. Quite a dynamic duo!

Melissa Anast & Stephanie Richards
Our duo from the East (of Utah)! Melissa, an Assistant Professor of Dance at the College of Eastern Utah, is joined by her friend and Adjunct in the Ballet department.

Nicholas Cendese & Natosha Washington
The co-directors of RawMoves join forces once again on the Charette stage. This dynamic duo never ceases to amaze.

Silent Auction Items
This year audience members will have the opportunity to bid on some fabulous "collectibles" from RDT's circle of friends! Everything from paintings to knick-knacks - these one-of-a-kind items cannot be missed!
Check our website soon for a complete list of items and a break-down of how the Silent Auction will work.


Visit our website for full biographies and silent auction items


Why a Fundraiser?
Charette is RDT's signature event and annual fund-raiser. By supporting Charette, you support RDT's dedicated mission to build community through the creation, performance, perpetuation, and appreciation of modern dance.

RDT designs entertaining and educational dance performances, community activity and school residencies (K-12, colleges and universities) in order to provoke socially relevant dialogue, celebrate a sense of place, history, stories, concepts, music and visual arts that provide a rich legacy of content to be explored and enjoyed by future generations. RDT’s focus in 2011 and 2012 continues our long-term commitment to dance preservation and a unique arts/environment project that uses the language of dance to empower youth and mobilize individuals to make a life long commitment to fitness and health.
Click here to learn more about supporting RDT.


***
RDT would like to thank the following contributors for their artistic, production, and general support of Charette: The Utah State Office of Education, Utah Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts, Salt Lake City Arts Council, Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts & Parks Program, the George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation and the Emma Eccles Jones Foundation.
Sponsorships are still available. Please call Susan Sandack at 801-534-1000 if you are interested.


Repertory Dance Theatre
138 West 300 South | PO Box 510427
Salt Lake City, UT 84151-0427
801-534-1000 | fax 801-534-1110
www.rdtutah.org | rdt@rdtutah.org
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Share Your Wares at the Art & Craft Market at the Downtown Farmers Market Applications are now available online (Deadline: April 2)


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Danica Farley
(801) 419.8544

Share Your Wares at the Art & Craft Market at the Downtown Farmers Market
Applications are now available online

Salt Lake City - The 20th annual Art & Craft Market at the Downtown Farmers Market is currently seeking applications from vendors for the upcoming season. The 2012 marketplace will be open June 9-Oct. 27, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Historic Pioneer Park in downtown Salt Lake City. The Downtown Art & Craft Market features unique local art and handmade crafts. Artists working in new or traditional styles are encouraged to apply. Market patrons will find locally made home décor, jewelry, leather goods, personal care products, woodwork, clothing, ceramics and fine traditional or contemporary artwork.

Art and Craft Market vendor applications are being accepted now, through midnight on April 2. Late applications are not accepted. Zapplication is the online system used to process all applicants (returning and new). To qualify, artists must be Utah residents, designing and making their products in Utah. Artists can apply for full or part time status.

The Downtown Farmers Market offers a unique variety of farmers, growers, bakeries, prepared food and beverages, packaged foods and local artisans. Each year new vendors are added to strengthen existing product offerings and to provide exciting opportunities for the community to support local growers, food producers, and artisans. More than 300 vendors are involved in the Downtown Farmers Market and the Art & Craft Market throughout the season.

Additional information can be found at www.slcfarmersmarket.org

The Downtown Alliance is dedicated to building a dynamic and diverse community that is the regional center for culture, commerce and entertainment. For more information, visit downtownslcMarket patrons will find locally made home décor, jewelry, leather goods, personal care products, woodwork, clothing, ceramics, and fine traditional or contemporary artwork.

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Topaz: Artists in Internment @ RIo Grande (SLC: Jan 20 - Feb 4




Please join us at the Rio Gallery January 20 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. for the Topaz: Artists in Internment exhibit opening reception. The Rio Gallery is located at 300 South Rio Grande Street (455 West), Salt Lake City. Other special activities including a play reading, panel discussions, and film screenings will continue into February. The exhibit can also be seen Mondays through Fridays between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm. Admission is free.

The opening reception, held during the Salt Lake Gallery Stroll, will feature a reading by the poet Lawson Inada, former Oregon poet laureate, a screening of the short documentary Days of Waiting, recognition of descendants and survivors of internment and an Ikebana display by Theresa Sueoka.

Japanese Americans interned in the Topaz War Relocation Center near Delta, Utah, brought with them the skills from their interrupted lives. Shortly after arriving they established an art school with 19 instructors teaching 23 subjects to 600 students. The Topaz exhibit features 32 artworks created during internment on loan from the Topaz Museum. Artists exhibited include Chiura Obata, Setsu Nagata Kanehara, Charles Erabu Suiko Mikami, Mine Okubo, Thomas Ryosaku Matsuoka, Yajiro Okamoto, Kaneo Kido and Kenji Utsumi.

Interspersed with the images are Inada's Jan Ken Po-ems, words with surprise beginnings, middles and ends that invite response. Join the conversation at the exhibit blog.

Other special activities will be held in conjunction with the exhibit.

January 19, 7:00 pm Merrill-Cazier Library, Room 101, Utah State University, Logan
Poetry reading with Lawson Inada

February 3, 7:00 pm Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, 20 S West Temple, SLC
Screening of Unfinished Business followed by a panel discussion with Lawson Inada and civil rights activist Mark Alvarez

February 4, 4:00 pm Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, 20 S West Temple, SLC
Screening of American Pastime

February 4, 7:00 pm Salt Lake Buddhist Temple, 211 W 100 S, SLC
Reading of Plan-B Theatre Company's BLOCK 8. The performance is free and online reservations are encouraged at planbtheatre.org by clicking on Script-in-Hand Series.

Visit artsandmuseums.utah.gov or call 801-236-7555 for more information.







Salty Cricket’s First Foray into the World of Broadway (SLC: Feb 9)


Contact:
Rick Mortensen
(801) 230-3118 | rick.mortensen@gmail.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 
Tuesday, January 10, 2011

SALTY CRICKET IS WILD ABOUT BROADWAY
With Salty Cricket’s First Foray into the World of Broadway, They’ll Present Five Fully-staged Scenes from Works-in-Progress by Utah Composers

_____________________________________________________________________

SALT LAKE CITY -- On February 9th, 2012, five new musicals will receive their first fully staged performances in productions created by the Salty Cricket Composers Collective. In a land-mark move, this concert will be Salty Cricket’s first musical theatre concert. “Broadway Bound?” will be presented on Thursday, February 9th, 2012 at 7:30pm in the Leona Wagner Black Box at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center. 

The works, written by Utah-based composers, lyricists and book-writers, will be performed by five local actors. Directed by Laura Crosset, the showcase will feature a fully-staged scene from each new musical.The four works include Erica Glenn’s The Weaver from Raveloe, Rick Mortensen’s My Rock, Annelise Muryphy’s Justice at Gold Dust, Rick Rea’s Olympus isn't Heaven, and M. Ryan Taylor’s The Giant’s Heart. Composer statements are below. The show is produced by Salty Cricket board member Rick Mortensen. The performers include Rachel Shul (a WSU Musical Theatre student), Jaron Barney (a University of Utah Musical theatre student), Emilie Starr (a WSU Musical Theatre student), Thomas Kulkus (a graduate of SUU’s Musical Theatre program), and Tia Galanis (a Musical Theatre student at the University of Utah).

According to Mortensen, “Before a show gets a million-dolllar set, a full orchestra pit and over-priced souvineer T-shirts, it starts with dialogue, songs, and movement on a bare stage. Rose Wagner's Black Box theatre provides the intimate setting for this evening of new opera and musical theatre scenes. We want to get these shows in front of a discerning audience, so the writers can see what works. Come be a part of the process!”

Tickets are $15 ($10 for students) and available through ArtTix in person, online, or by calling 801-355-ARTS (2787).  This is the third of four concerts in Salty Crickets’ 2011-12 season. The final concert of the season is an evening of works for organ in March 12th at the University of Utah’s Libby Gardner Concert Hall.
______________________________________________________________________


Erica Glenn: The Weaver of Raveloe

In the house where I grew up, there is a large bookshelf full of novels that I have collected throughout the years. Many are well-worn and well-loved; some are still unread. I remember pulling George Eliot's Silas Marner from a dusty corner years ago and falling quickly and irreversibly under the spell of this beautifully-crafted gem of a story.  Part nineteenth century fairytale, part drama, it is also a parable of industrialization and a good, old-fashioned love saga.  Silas Marner combines the sweeping themes of a musical like Les Miserables with the psychological depth and intimacy of one like The Secret Garden.  The script, which I began drafting several years ago, was selected for an intensive, six-week WDA Workshop at BYU this past fall and is currently moving toward full production.   It is the story of an embittered clergyman, Silas Marner, who flees his hometown after being falsely accused of murder and abandoned by the woman he loves.  Silas becomes a reclusive weaver in a small village called Raveloe.  His story intersects unexpectedly with that of prominent villager Godfrey when a child named Eppie forces both men to confront past ghosts and re-discover the importance of human connection.  In the final scenes of the show, Eppie and Silas confront Godfrey about a dark secret he has hidden for many years--even from his own wife, Nancy.  Tales of love, loss, and healing intertwine against the backdrop of pre-industrial England in my musical re-imagining of this beloved classic.   (Find demo recordings and updates on the show at:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Weaver-of-Raveloe/154334254664601)

Rick Mortensen: My Rock

I read Albert Camus'  essay "The Myth of Sisyphus" my freshman year of college as part of Tim Slover's contemporary British and American Drama class, and it has been rattling around in my brain ever since. In Greek mythology, Sisyphus was sentenced by the gods to roll a stone up a hill every day only to have it roll back down again. To Camus, Sisyphus's task was symbolic of the pointlessness and absurdity of life. His essay casts Sisyphus as a hero who sneered and the gods and chose to find meaning in his absurd  task. I thought about Camus' essay a lot when I worked as an in-house attorney at a large corporation -- especially when I had a stack of boring contracts to review. As I rolled my metaphorical rock, I imagined a sardonic little tune, with a deliberately clumsy, bombastic rhythm as a way of channeling the sneering sarcasm Camus ascribed to Sisyphus.  The characters and scene -- which will eventually be part of a full length musical -- arose out of this tune and the sentiment behind it. Mike is a PH.D candidate struggling with writers block on his dissertation, which forces him to face the ultimate pointlessness of his chosen career path and perhaps, his life. Kylie is a happy, well-adjusted nurse who is attracted to Mike, but sees the pointlessness of pursuing a relationship with him. Still, both characters soldier on with their seemingly pointless objectives because, what else can they do? Will they, like Camus' Sisyphus find meaning in their absurd pursuits?          

Annelise Murphy: Justice at Gold Dust
Classic westerns hold a unique place in the American experience. The romance and raw survival of the Wild West has long held captive the imaginations of dreamers. In Justice at the Gold Dust, the obsolete mining town of Silvercrest has dried up and the local residents are doing all they can to get by. Gun-slinging and gambling are just a part of the day to day routine.  "The Cards I Hold in My Hands" is a fun and upbeat number featuring the corrupt Mayor of the town, Mister Duke Mallory, the local vigilante, Jesse Joe James and resident poker player, Black Jack. The stakes are high as the newly producing gold mine is on the table. With a nod to Las Vegas, this jazzy number features brassy trumpets, swinging trombones, crisp drums and is nothing but pure,simple and raw entertainment.

Rick Rea: Olympus isn’t Heaven
The myths of the Greek gods were a reflection of the problems facing the everyday lives of the Ancient Greeks. The myths helped give their lives meaning and purpose, as all belief systems have attempted to do throughout all modern history. Somewhat uniquely to the Greeks, the gods were not omnipotent all-moral beings, but completely human in nature--their status and power is what differentiated them from mortal men and women.

When you come down to it, the gods were one big dysfunctional family.

Godville is the marriage of several myths into one through-line exploring the family and power dynamics that affected the gods: the human story behind the cosmic stories. Centering around the neglected children of Zeus—Hephaestus and Persephone, among others—Godville is an original musical about the greatest Dysfunctional family in the history of the world.

M. Ryan Taylor: The Giant's Heart:
Long before Harry Potter found out he was a Horcrux, George MacDonald's giant was hiding his heart away in a bid for immortality. Follow Trixie Wee and Buffy Bob as they attempt to thwart the jolly, child-eating, giant Thunderthump, by freeing a group of children destined for the pickle jar.

C.S. Lewis once referenced the wild-eyed Scotsman as his 'master,' and MacDonald was an influence on other great fantasy authors such as J. R. R. Tolkien and Madeleine L'Engle. The short story upon which I based this scene (our heroes' defining moment in the house of Thunderthump) is filled with a mix of humor, fairy-tale gruesomeness, and moral ambiguity. On my first reading I was imagining ways to bring it to the stage, and am excited to see the first step toward that fulfillment in this production sponsored by the Salty Cricket Composer Collective.

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Crystal Young-Otterstrom
Vice-president & Marketing Director

M: 801.652.0737

The Salty Cricket Composers Collective
450 E 100 S #29
SLC, UT 84111


BALLET WEST EMBRACES SPANISH FLAIR WITH DON QUIXOTE (SLC: feb 10 - 18)


BALLET WEST EMBRACES SPANISH FLAIR WITH DON QUIXOTE
Utah premiere promises bull fighting, gypsies, comedy, romance and show-stopping dance

SALT LAKE CITY – January 19, 2012 – Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Ballet West presents one of the world’s most well-loved bravura ballets – Don Quixote, February 10, 11 and 14-18, 2012 at the Capitol Theatre. Set to joyous music by Ludwig Minkus, this production is based on the original 1869 version by Marius Petipa and is choreographed by internationally-renowned artist Anna-Marie Holmes, the first American dancer to train and dance in Soviet Russia.

“I’ve long admired Anna-Marie Holmes’s work and career,”  said Ballet West Artistic Director Adam Sklute. “It is an honor to bring her celebrated version of Don Quixote to Ballet West.”
Based on the epic masterpiece by Miguel de Cervantes, Anna-Marie Holmes’s Don Quixote takes audiences on the fun and fanciful adventures of the eccentric Man of La Mancha, the antics of village barber Basilio, and the passions of Basilio’s beautiful young lover Kitri.

“Don Quixote is one of the most entertaining and vibrant ballets performed today,” said Adam Sklute. “This production has everything – romance, humor, brilliant dancing, lavish sets and costumes, and a lively score.”

Don Quixote will be accompanied by the Utah Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Terence Kern, on February 10, 11 and 18 at 7:30 p.m., and at 2 p.m. on February 11 and 18. Jerry Steichen, Principal Pops Conductor for the Utah Symphony, will serve as guest conductor during the evening performances on February 14, 15, 16 and 17 at 7:30 p.m.
In conjunction with the performances of Don Quixote, Ballet West offers Warm Ups. These fun and informative discussions are free of charge to ticket holders and will begin promptly one hour prior to each presentation of Don Quixote. Get the inside scoop on the evening’s program including background on the ballet, information on the choreographer and other interesting behind-the-scenes facts. At Warm Ups, members of the Ballet West artistic staff are available to answer any questions that the audience might have.

Single tickets range from $19 to $75 and are available through ArtTix at www.arttix.org or by calling (801) 355-ARTS.   Discounts are also available for groups of 15 or more by calling Ballet West at (801) 869-6900.





RDT's Ring Around the Rose presents Samba Fogo (SLC: Feb 11)



For Immediate Release
January 20, 2012
Stephanie Perkins
stephanie@rdtutah.org or 801-534-1000

Repertory Dance Theatre's Ring Around the Rose Samba Fogo
February 11, 2012
Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center (138 W Broadway)
Leona Wagner Black Box Theatre
Tickets: $5, through ArtTix, 801-355-ARTS

SALT LAKE CITY, UT – RDT's Ring Around the Rose presents Samba Fogo!

Samba Fogo
February 11, 2012 
Black Box Theatre (138 W. 300 S., SLC)
Learn all about Brazilian dances and rhythms with the dancers of Samba Fogo!
Drawing on rich Afro-Brazilian traditions and mythology, Samba Fogo will present an interactive drum and dance experience geared toward youth and families. Audience members will get to sing, drum and dance along with Samba Fogo as they perform Brazilian drum and dance styles from all over the country of Brazil, from Rio de Janeiro to Salvador, Bahia.

Samba Fogo is Utah’s only “Escola de Samba” or “Samba School”. Samba Fogo provides year-round cultural arts programming locally and nationally. Find more info at www.sambafogo.com, and watch for their upcoming children’s show in the Jeanne Wagner Theatre, September 28-29, 2012. 

Samba Fogo's highly esteemed musicians and dancers strive to produce quality cultural art works. The group's high-energy performances offer audiences the chance to experience the deep-rooted culture, infectious enthusiasm, and celebratory spirit that makes Brazil famous.

***
About Repertory Dance Theatre's Ring Around the Rose series


Ring Around The Rose is a wiggle friendly series of performances for children and families that explores the magical world of the arts including dance, theatre, music and storytelling. All shows begin at 11:00am at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, 138 W Broadway, SLC. Shows are $5 (kids 2 and under are free).

Ring Around The Rose is supported in part by: The Utah Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, Salt Lake City Arts Council, Union Pacific Foundation, and the Salt Lake County Zoo Arts & Parks Program.

For more info visit rdtutah.org

***
Repertory Dance Theatre
138 West 300 South | PO Box 510427
Salt Lake City UT 84151-0427
(801) 534-1000 | rdt@rdtutah.org
www.rdtutah.org





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SUU'S ART INSIGHTS, RICK BERRY (CC: FEB 2)



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 01/23/12
Whitney Hershberger
Marketing & Public Relations Associate
College of Performing and Visual Arts
Southern Utah University
Office: 435-865-8667
cpvamktg@suu.edu

Image credit: Courtesy of Rick Berry 

FOR CALENDAR EDITORS: ART INSIGHTS, RICK BERRY
WHAT:              Rick Berry is internationally recognized for his unique and powerful expressionistic figurative art. His awarding winning work has appeared in print, games, film, theater, and galleries. 

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

WHEN:             Thursday, February 2, 2012

TIME:               7:00pm

WHERE:           Centrum Arena Section K, 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
FANTASY ARTIST AND ILLUSTRATOR, RICK BERRY
FEBRUARY 2, 2012

Southern Utah University, Cedar City, Utah: Rick Berry is internationally recognized for his unique and powerful expressionistic figurative art. His awarding-winning work has appeared in print, games, film, theater, and galleries. He will be speaking about his exciting career and his work in multiple mediums in SUU’s Department of Art and Design’s weekly lecture series, Art Insights, on Thursday, February 2, 2012. The lecture begins at 7pm at Centrum Arena, Section K, admission is free and the general public is encouraged to attend.

Rick Berry’s work simultaneously evokes movement and emotion. The human body becomes story – mythic, visionary, or perhaps urgent social commentary—told with rapid, expressive line and a mastery of anatomy. Up from the streets, Berry began his art career in underground comics. Executing often without sketches, models or photography, Berry's compositions are unplanned, but emerge from intentional styles of "scribble" in paint. Discovery during the art process is the basis of his work. As Berry often states "I use art to see."

Rick Berry’s career is not only impressive but expansive. Credited with the first digitally painted cover worldwide, Neuromancer by William Gibson, other acclaimed projects include CGI sequence for Tri-Star’s film, Johnny Mnemonic (where Berry also had the role of Keanu Reeves cyber stunt double); paintings for the stage musical Cabaret starring Amanda Palmer; limited edition Stephen King novels; and Neil Gaiman Marvel Comics covers. Berry’s 2011 solo exhibition at Northeastern University featured paintings from recent residencies at American Repertory Theater and Opera Boston. Berry has also created four solo exhibitions at Tufts Institute for Global Leadership; and a museum installation piece and a live collaborative event in Italy with former apprentice, Phil Hale. This spring his work will be seen in exhibitions in California, Boston and Soho, New York. A traveling project with Amanda Palmer is in the works for her album release this summer. Books of his gallery art are Sparrow and Double Memory and his early work appears in anthologies on history of Science Fiction and Fantasy art. 

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.

Learn more about Rick Berry’s exciting career and artistic exploration by attending his lecture. 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 Shakespeare Festival 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.



Utah Arts & Museums Announces Arts Education Grants (DEADLINE: MARCH 1)


**The body of this e-mail is also in the attachment**

For immediate release                Alyssa Hickman Grove, 801.533.5760
23 January 2012                        Arts Education Coordinator, Utah Arts & Museums

Geoffrey Fattah, 801.386.4755
Communications Director, Utah Dept. of Community and Culture

Utah Arts & Museums Announces Arts Education Grants

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Arts & Museums is now accepting online applications for arts education grants for the 2012-13 school year. The due date for submitting applications is 5 p.m. on March 1, 2012.

There are two arts education grants. The first is for teacher-initiated projects, which provide funding for teachers to gain skills in an artistic discipline of their choice. The second is for grants to schools and school districts, which offer either an artist-in-residence, which provides schools with funds to bring an artist into a school for 40 hours of instruction, or arts education projects, which provide funds for a comprehensive project using the services of artists or artistic companies.

“Arts education grants are a valuable aid for teachers and schools who seek to provide high-quality arts learning to their students,” said Margaret Hunt, Director of Utah Arts & Museums. “We encourage schools from throughout the state to apply for this vital funding opportunity.”

The grant guidelines can be accessed by visiting artsandmuseums.utah.gov and clicking on “Funding," then "Grants." The grant applications can be found online at utahdcc.force.com/portal. For assistance with the application process, please contact Jean Tokuda Irwin at jirwin@utah.gov or 801.533.5760, Alyssa Hickman Grove at agrove@utah.gov or 801.533.5760, or Katie Woslager at kwoslager@utah.gov or 801.236.7550.

For more information, visit Utah Arts & Museums at artsandmuseums.utah.gov.


About Utah Arts & Museums
Utah Arts & Museums is a division of the Utah Department of Community and Culture with a goal to promote innovation in and the growth of Utah’s arts and culture community. The division provides funding, education, and technical services to individuals and organizations statewide so that all Utahns, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity or economic status, can access, understand, and receive the benefits of arts and culture. Additional information on the programs and services can be found at www.artsandmuseums.utah.gov or by calling 801.236.7555.

###

The Nature of Things Free Event: Radiolab Hosts Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich @ NHMU (SLC: APRIL 3)


The Nature of Things Free Event: Radiolab Hosts Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich
Making Tricky Science into Sticky Stories
Tuesday, April 3, 2012  
7:00 pm
Natural History Museum of Utah at the Rio Tinto Center  
The Nature of Things lecture series employs the helps of Radiolab hosts Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich's to make science profound and memorable. Their lecture event,"Making Tricky Science into Sticky Stories," is at the Natural History Museum of Utah at the Rio Tinto Center on April 3 at 7 p.m. Information is at www.nhmu.utah.edu/nature.

SHARON BEGLEY TALKS NEUROPLASTICITY @ NHMU'S NATURE OF THINGS (SLC: MARCH 22)



The Nature of Things Free Lecture: Sharon Begley
Neuroplasticity: New Stories about Your Brain
Thursday, March 22, 2012
7:00 pm
Salt Lake City Main Library 

The Natural History Museum of Utah's The Nature of Things lecture series will delve into the human drama behind the advances in neuroscience. Award-winning journalist and health correspondent Sharon Begley lectures on, "Neuroplasticity: New Stories about Your Brain," at the Main Library on March 22 at 7 p.m. Information is at www.nhmu.utah.edu/nature.



STORYTELLER RANDY OLSON AT NHMU'S NATURE OF THINGS (SLC: FEB 9)


The Nature of Things Free Lecture: Randy Olson
Storytelling: Clear Proof Scientists Descended from Humans
Thursday, February 9, 2012  
7:00 pm
Salt Lake City Main Library  

The Natural History Museum of Utah launches The Nature of Things lecture series with scientist-turned-filmmaker, Randy Olson. Highlighting the crucial role of storytelling in communicating science, his lecture, "Storytelling: Clear Proof Scientists Descended from Humans," is at the Salt Lake City Main Library on February 9 at 7 p.m. Information is at www.nhmu.utah.edu/nature.


SALT LAKE CITY - Scientist-turned-filmmaker Randy Olson's lecture on communicating science to a mass audience will open the 2012 Nature of Things lecture series, hosted by the Natural History Museum of Utah, the University of Utah, at the Salt Lake City Main Library, this Thursday, Feb. 29, at 7 p.m. It is free and open to the public. 

Olson's lecture, "Storytelling: Clear Proof that Scientists Descended from Humans,"
is an exploration of the crucial role of storytelling in the mass communication of science. His lecture will air live on KCPW, 88.3 and 105.3, the media partner for the entire series. 

Scientists often have a hard time with the idea of storytelling. But Olson believes scientists descended from humans and still possess vestiges of storytelling skills that can make their communications more effective. In films like Flock of Dodos and Sizzle, Olson uses the power of story to put science front and center in an age of information overload.  

Olson earned his Ph.D. in biology from Harvard University and became a tenured professor of marine biology at the University of New Hampshire before moving to Hollywood and entering film school at the University of Southern California.  Today he is an independent filmmaker and no longer considers himself a scientist, but is fluent in the two languages of science and cinema which he brought together in his 2009 book, Don't be Such a Scientist.

This year's Nature of Things speakers will couple complex scientific ideas with engaging storytelling to demonstrate the transformative power generated by the collision between great science and great storytelling. The Nature of Things is underwritten by the R. Harold Burton Foundation. 

The Natural History Museum of Utah, the University of Utah, is one of the leading scientific research and cultural institutions in the country. Established in 1963, the Museum's collections contain over 1.2 million objects and offers innovative exhibitions and educational programs to thousands of residents and visitors each year, including traveling and permanent exhibits, special events and other programs. With an expected attendance of 180,000 visitors a year, the Museum also offers a variety of outreach programs to communities and schools throughout Utah, reaching every school district in the state annually. The Museum has an active science program with more than 30 scientists and 10 field expeditions each year.



DR. BRIAN GREENE @ NHMU'S NATURE OF THINGS (SLC: FEB 29)


The Nature of Things Lecture: Dr. Brian Greene
Why Science Matters
Wednesday, February 29, 2012 
7:00 p.m.
Kingsbury Hall, the University of Utah 

Physicist Dr. Brian Greene headlines the Natural History Museum of Utah's The Nature of Things lecture series at Kingsbury Hall on Feb. 29 at 7 p.m. Greene adeptly conveys the concepts behind time and space to reveal the importance of understanding science in his keynote lecture, "Why Science Matters." Ticket information is at www.nhmu.utah.edu/nature




Utah Museum of Fine Arts February 2012 Exhibitions and Events



Media contact:
Shelbey Lang, 801-585-1306
Utah Museum of Fine Arts
February 2012 Exhibitions and Events


SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS

Georges Rouault: Circus of the Shooting Star
February 3 - May 13, 2012
Artist Georges Rouault was fascinated by the circus, a world where superficial brightness was underscored by overwhelming sadness. The images in his portfolio of etchings, Cirque de l'Etoile Filante (Circus of the Shooting Star), demonstrate Rouault's attempt to strip away the spangles of the clown's costume and reveal the "reflection of paradise lost." On loan to the UMFA from the Syracuse University Art Galleries, this exhibition comprises color etchings that introduce the portfolio and wood engravings illustrating Rouault's text. The Circus of the Shooting Star exhibition will be accompanied by a fun-filled family guide, in-gallery puppet theater, a film series and special art-making events for kids and parents.

At Work: Prints from the Great Depression
February 10 - May 6, 2012 
What is the place of labor in our lives? Organized in collaboration with Dr. Matthew Basso, Assistant Professor of History and Gender Studies and Director of the American West Center at the University of Utah, this exhibition features Depression-era prints focusing on men and women and work. At Work explores the role of working artists during one of America’s most trying eras, and tells the compelling story of life and labor during the Great Depression through prints by Thomas Hart Benton, Grant Wood, Herschel Levit, Riva Helfond and dozens of other artists. The exhibition features selections from the collection of Mrs. Marcia Price and Ambassador John Price. At Work will be accompanied by a film series and art-making activities for families. 

The Faculty Show: Recent Work by The University of Utah Art Faculty
February 17 - May 6, 2012
The UMFA is pleased to present an exhibition of artwork by the University of Utah Department of Art faculty. New works by tenured, tenure-track, and adjunct faculty artists will be on view in the Museum's Great Hall and first-floor galleries. The exhibition reflects current trends in contemporary art, as well as traditional practices in a variety of media, including: ceramics, painting and drawing, sculpture, photography and digital imaging, printmaking, installation, and new media. Visitors to The Faculty Show are encouraged to attend a series of three gallery talks by featured artists.


SPECIAL EVENTS

Highlights of the Collection Tour
6:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month and 1:30 p.m. on all Saturdays and SundaysFREE with general museum admission
Experience the UMFA galleries through a thirty-minute tour with a docent. No pre-registration necessary.

Anthropology Tour and Film Series 
5:30 p.m. on February 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29 FREE admission
The UMFA and U of U Anthropology Department are pleased to present five free screenings of films from around the world. Each film highlights themes in anthropology and connects to artworks on display at the UMFA. More information at www.anthro.utah.edu. The films include:

  • February 1: Kundun (American), 1997, rated PG-13
  • February 8: Captain Abu Raed (Jordan), 2007, not rated
  • February 15: Fast Runner (Atanarjuat) (Canada), 2001, rated R
  • February 22: Creation (United Kingdom), 2009, rated PG-13
  • February 29: Tambien la lluvia (Even the Rain) (Spanish), 2010, not rated

Art of the Circus Family Celebration 
1:00-4:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 18 FREE admission
Artists and jugglers and circus balloons, oh my! Join in the fun as the UMFA celebrates the new Georges Rouault: Circus of the Shooting Star exhibition with a circus-themed art event just for families. Enjoy a treasure hunt, face-painting, art activities and more. Funded in part by the Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts and Parks fund.
The Faculty Show Gallery Talk 
12:00 p.m. on February 24 • FREE with general admission 
Meet talented University of Utah faculty artists and learn about their work during this reception held in conjunction with The Faculty Show exhibition.

At Work Film Series: Pare Lorentz: Documentaries from the 1930s 
2:00 p.m. on February 25 • FREE admission
Pare Lorentz was a well-known film critic before he directed and wrote documentaries in the 1930s for the Roosevelt administration. His films about the Dust Bowl, clear-cutting, and other environmental issues garnered critical acclaim. This film series is presented in conjunction with the At Work exhibition.

ONGOING EXHIBITIONS

salt 4: Xaviera Simmons
On view through February 26, 2012
salt 4:  Xaviera Simmons is the fourth in the Museum's series of exhibitions featuring innovative art from around the world. Through photography, installation, and performance, New York-based artist Xaviera Simmons constructs multivalent narratives of collective and personal histories.  Her work often references traditions of American landscape painting, exploring depictions of the individual in nature.  salt 4: Xaviera Simmons features a series of photographs, as well as a sculptural installation made of hand-lettered, locally found wooden scraps affixed directly to the gallery wall.  This tangled matrix of text gleaned from notes, news articles, folklore, and literature forms its own kind of lyrical landscape, one imbued with historical and personal memory.

Res Mortis: Matters of Death
Now on View
Experience the UMFA’s ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman collection in its new home on the second floor. The Egyptian gallery features the 26th dynasty anthropoid coffin of Padiusir (a visitor favorite), along with other intriguing objects that explore the economic sacrifices of preparing for the afterlife. The revitalized Greek and Roman gallery highlights the UMFA's recently conserved Apulian funerary amphora and the marble sarcophagus of a young Roman nobleman.
**Exhibition dates are subject to change.

####


Utah Museum of Fine Arts
University of Utah 
Marcia & John Price Museum Building
410 Campus Center Dr
Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
(801) 581-7332

Museum Hours
Tuesday–Friday: 10 am–5 pm
Wednesday: 10 am–8 pm
Saturday and Sunday: 11 am–5 pm
Closed Mondays and holidays
Visit our website: umfa.utah.edu 

General Admission
UMFA Members FREE 
Adults $7
Youth (ages 6-18) $5
Seniors & Students $5
Children under 6 FREE
U students, staff & faculty FREE
Active duty military personnel FREE
Thanks to the Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts, and Parks fund, the UMFA opens its doors for FREE on the first Wednesday and third Saturday of the month.

SUU’S BALLROOM DANCE COMPANY’S “VALENTINE’S GALA” (CC: FEB 10)



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 01/24/12
Michael French
Marketing & Public Relations Coordinator
College of Performing and Visual Arts
Southern Utah University
Office: 435-865-8667
michaelfrench@suu.edu

Photo credit: Randall Seely and Ariel Peterson dancing. Photo: Danelle Cheney

FOR CALENDAR EDITORS: SUU’S BALLROOM DANCE COMPANY’S “VALENTINE’S GALA”

WHAT:              There’s music, dance and romance in the air when Southern Utah University’s Ballroom Dance Company presents a very special “Valentine’s Gala.” The fun-filled Gala will include the meal, live music and entertainment. In addition, there will an open dance for social dancing.

WHO:               Southern Utah University’s Ballroom Dance Company

WHEN:             Friday, February 10, 2012

TIME:               7:30pm

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

TICKETS:         Call (435) 865-8375, or email ballroomdance@suu.edu

PRICES:           $25.00 per person includes catered meal

Southern Utah University, Cedar City, Utah: There’s music, dance and romance in the air when Southern Utah University’s Ballroom Dance Company presents a very special “Valentine’s Gala” Friday, February 10, 2012, in the Great Hall, at Hunter Conference Center. The romantic evening begins at 6:00pm and should end by 11:00pm. Tickets are $25.00 per person which includes a lovely catered dinner and dessert.  

The SUU Ballroom Dance Company Valentine’s Gala promises a romantic atmosphere. This semi-formal dress event will include dinner, dessert, live music, and some fun-filled entertainment. Dinner begins at 6:30 pm. In addition, there will an open dance floor for social dancing until 10:45 pm.  As a keepsake there will be couples photos. This is an event that you and that special someone won’t want to miss!

To purchase tickets, please call (435) 865-8375 or send an email to ballroomdance@suu.edu. Tickets are available for advanced purchase only until Jan 30th.  If you require a vegetarian meal, please let us know. This event is open to all, not just SUU students.

For romance, music and movement, SUU’s Ballroom Dance Company’s Valentine’s Gala is the place to be for an evening you will never forget.

The Southern Utah University Ballroom Dance Company is one of SUU's outstanding performing groups. The company consists of three performance ensembles with more than seventy student participants. The focus of the group is performing ballroom dances such as the electric American swing, the elegant waltz, the rhythmic samba of Brazil and many more. The SUU Ballroom Dance Company puts on several campus and community events annually including fall showcase, spring showcase, and Dancing with the Stars. In addition the company reaches out to the surrounding community frequently doing performances for local organizations. This energetic group will keep you tapping your feet as you are entertained by wonderful music, beautiful costumes, and amazing formation ballroom dancing.
The SUU Ballroom Dance Company has toured throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, and Latin America receiving numerous accolades for their performances. The Ballroom Dance Company has quickly grown to become one of the premier performing groups on the Southern Utah University campus. The company maintains a touring program that typically reaches cities across the United States and internationally.

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 Shakespeare Festival, 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.



Friends of Art Works for Kids and the Utah Arts Council Board of Directors invite you to participate in Arts Day on the Hill (Feb 7)


Friends of Art Works for Kids and the Utah Arts Council Board of Directors invite you to participate in Arts Day on the Hill at the Capitol rotunda on Tuesday, February 7, 2012. Be among the arts interested individuals and organizations that will gather to celebrate the arts and meet with their state representatives.

We will have an orientation at 8:30 in the Multi-Purpose Room and meet with legislators between 9:00 and 12:00. There will be a resource table where you can leave information about your organization and art and performances in the rotunda.

We hope that you will join us for this new event and take advantage of the opportunity to meet with your state representatives. Please confirm your attendance by contacting Leah Piccolo at 801-236-7555, lpiccolo@utah.gov to RSVP. You do not have to have any special training or prior experience to participate in this event, and Utah Arts & Museums grant recipients may use this activity in lieu of the required legislative thank you letter.

We also have information on our website:


Noted Author, Composer Gerald Elias to Speak and Perform at The City Library (SLC: Feb 4)



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Media Contact:
Julianne Hancock
P: 801.455.3432

Noted Author, Composer Gerald Elias to Speak and Perform at The City Library

January 25, 2012 – Salt Lake City – Celebrated author, conductor and composer Gerald Elias will speak and perform at Salt Lake City Main Library on Saturday, February 4 at 10:00 A.M.

Elias draws upon his intimate knowledge of life on the stage and drama behind the curtains to influence his award-winning books, including the popular Daniel Jacobus mystery series.

His novel Danse Macabre was the recipient of the 2010 Utah Book Award in Fiction and selected as one of the top five mysteries of 2010 by Library Journal. Elias’ debut novel, Devil’s Trill was featured in Barnes and Noble’s “Discover Great New Writers” catalog. Death and the Maiden was released in 2011, and Death and Transfiguration will arrive in the summer of 2012.

Elias will discuss the effect his career in classical music has had on his literary work. Following the discussion, Elias, an accomplished concert violinist, will perform for the audience.

This unique event is provided by the Utah Humanities Council, and is part of the Mainly Reading Book Club, hosted by The City Library. The event is free to the public. More information is available at www.slcpl.org.

About Gerald Elias:

A graduate of Yale, Gerald Elias has been a Boston Symphony violinist, Associate Concertmaster of the Utah Symphony, adjunct professor of music at the University of Utah, first violinist of the Abramyan String Quartet, and Music Director of the Vivaldi Candlelight concert series.  He is author of Devil’s Trill, selected by Barnes and Noble for their 2009 “Discover Great New Writers” catalog, and Danse Macabre, hailed as one of the top five mysteries in 2010 by Library Journal. More information is available at www.geraldelias.com.


###



__ 
JULIANNE HANCOCK 
Communications Manager | Salt Lake City Public Library 
p: 801.524.8219 | m: 801.455.3432 | jhancock@slcpl.org 

The U Department of Theatre Presents Elmer Rice's THE ADDING MACHINE February 3-12, 2012 in the Babcock Theatre Directed by Jerry Rapier





PRESS RELEASE
 January 24, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:       Amy Oakeson
      Communications Specialist, Department of Theatre
      801-581-6406 or amy.oakeson@utah.edu

The U Department of Theatre Presents
Elmer Rice's THE ADDING MACHINE
February 3-12, 2012 in the Babcock Theatre
Directed by Jerry Rapier

            Have you ever been passed over for a promotion, or gone years without a raise?  Ever felt like murdering your boss? Then meet Mr. Zero, a neurotic, number-crunching accountant who goes to work every day at a monotonous and wearisome job where he’s exploited.  At home, his unsympathetic wife constantly nags him. Mr. Zero is just what his name suggests—a nobody. When the company he’s faithfully worked at for the past twenty-five years informs him that, instead of giving him a promotion, they’ll be giving him the boot and replacing him with a machine, Mr. Zero goes berserk and kills his boss without remorse.  Mr. Zero is convicted and hanged for his crime, but in the afterlife is presented with freedom of choice and opportunities unlike anything he’s experienced.  Will he improve his existence, or will fear hold him back, stuck in a rut, doomed to repeat his decisions?   
           
            Jerry Rapier, Producing Director of Plan-B Theatre, directs the University of Utah's gripping production of Elmer Rice's THE ADDING MACHINE, playing February 3-12 in the Babcock Theatre.

            Originally written in 1923, THE ADDING MACHINE is Elmer Rice's experiment in expressionism. The play is an American classic—a heartbreakingly brilliant tale about the life of a middle class worker. The themes explored are incredibly relevant to today's technologically advanced society. Written before the dawn of computers, the play presented a frightening view of society's future—if technology continued its rapid advancement, the human worker would become obsolete.

            THE ADDING MACHINE has found an even greater resonance in recent times. Today, technology has become such a crucial part of our daily existence with ever-present labor-displacing technology. Self-service grocery checkout lanes replace clerks, ATM machines replace bank tellers, and automated airline kiosks replace ticket agents. The driving force behind many technological advances is the elimination of labor. Each discarded job means improved productivity and reduced cost. But what does this mean for the millions of people who are currently out of work, and whose jobs aren't likely to come back?
           
            Mr. Zero's struggle to cope with the intimidating force of advancing technology and its impact on the meaning of life is something we wrestle with today. How will humanity survive in an ever increasingly dehumanized atmosphere? Says Rapier, "…the play feels as though it was written about us, now. In an election year where Occupy Wall Street has reached every corner of the country and the chasm between corporate America and the working classes feels unbridgeable, the play feels very much like a cautionary tale for our time."

            Rapier is thrilled to be working on the play. "As far back as I can remember, I have loved the unabashed theatricality of THE ADDING MACHINE. It's beenexciting to explore the heightened expressionistic style—something that both contemporary audiences and actors aren't all that familiar with."

            THE ADDING MACHINE will bepresented in the Babcock Theatre February 3-12 at 7:30 PM with additional matinees on February 11 and 12 at 2:00 PM. Tickets are $20 for General Admission, $15 for University of Utah Faculty and Staff, and free for University of Utah students with a valid U Card under the new U and the Arts initiative. Tickets are $7.50 for all other students with valid ID. Individual tickets and Season Flexpasses for the U Department of Theatre’s season can be obtained now by calling 801-581-7100, online at www.kingsburyhall.org, or at the Performing Arts Box Office, located at Kingsbury Hall.

High-resolution publicity photos will be available at www.theatre.utah.edu on January 24, 2012.

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