SPRING 2012 AT SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY A FESTIVAL OF MUSIC, ART, THEATRE AND DANCE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 01/13/12
Michael French
Marketing & Public Relations Coordinator
College of Performing and Visual Arts
Southern Utah University
Office: 435-865-8667
michaelfrench@suu.edu

Photo credits: 

Bethany Hess and Payden Adams in "Dream of Helen." Photo: Xiaosu Fang

SUMA Exterior Photo: Asher Sawn 

SPRING 2012 AT SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY

A FESTIVAL OF MUSIC, ART, THEATRE AND DANCE

Southern Utah University, Cedar City, Utah: To celebrate 2012, Southern Utah University’s College of Performing and Visual Arts is the place to be with a spectacular bounty of music, art, theatre and dance. From an exhibition spotlighting the forthcoming art museum to a tuneful adaptation of a beloved family novel to a pair of wondrous chamber operas to dynamic choreography, SUU has it all.  

The Theatre Arts Spring 2012 season begins with the mystical romantic comedy, Almost, Maine. Hailed as one of the most produced new plays in recent years by The New York Times, Almost, Maine, by Tony Award nominee John Cariani and directed Professor Richard Bugg, founder of the Neil Simon Festival, centers on the romantic happenings on a cold Friday night in a small New England town – situations which prove to be universal in theme and appeal. Performed at the Randall L. Jones Theatre, the show will be performed March 1-3 and 8-10 at 7:30pm. The joys and woes of the March sisters come to life in this song-filled adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s cherished American novel, Little Women the Broadway Musical. Featuring a book by Allan Knee, lyrics by Mindi Dickstein and music Jason Howland, this delightful musical will be directed by guest artist Brad Carroll, composer of Lend Me a Tenor: the Musical. The musical will be performed at the Auditorium Theatre, April 12-14, 16 and 19-21, 2012, at 7:30pm.

SUU’s dance season continues Journeys, A Faculty Dance Concert. Featuring works by Paul C. Ocampo, Shannon Vance and Chien-Ying Wang among others, this concert includes a variety of new works by the dance faculty performed by talented students. A recreation of one of Burch Mann’s signature works for American Folk Ballet and a selection from the newly created and acclaimed Dream of Helen are highlights of the program. The concert will be performed at the Auditorium Theatre February 2-4 and 9-11, 2012. All performances will begin at 7:30pm.   

The Music Masterworks Series has an exciting spring 2012 season. The SUU Symphony Orchestra performs a diverse array of classic musical selections on Monday, February 27, 2012 at Cedar City’s Heritage Theater at 7:30pm. Gian Carlo Menotti’s The Old Maid and the Thief and Milton Granger’s The Proposal are paired together by SUU Opera. The two chamber pieces will be performed in the intimate Thorley Recital Hall, Wednesday through Saturday, March 7-10, 2012 at 7:30pm. The joint is jumping when acclaimed trumpeter Wayne Bergeron is guest artist with SUU’s Jazz Band at Cedar City’s Heritage Theater stage on Saturday, March 24, 2012. The concert begins at 7:30pm and features a variety of works from the jazz catalogue. SUU’s Orchestra and Choirs join forces for a glorious Easter Concert on Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at the Heritage Theater in Cedar City. The performance begins at 7:30pm. The final Music Masterworks concert features SUU’s Wind Symphony on Wednesday, April 25, 2012. The performance will be in the Heritage Theater and will start at 7:30pm.

As Southern Utah University continues its fundraising efforts for “The Future Is Rising” campaign, the campus’ Braithwaite Fine Arts Gallery is throwing the spotlight onto one of the campaign’s most prestigious projects – the Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA). Now through February 4, 2012, the Braithwaite hosts a unique exhibition entitled SUMA – The Preview, which provides an overview of the museum from inspiration through concept to a representation of the facility and its galleries. The exhibition is made possible by the generous support of Rainbow Sign and Banner. The exhibition is free and open to the public Tuesday through Saturdays, noon to 7:00 p.m. The gallery is located on the lower level of the Braithwaite Liberal Arts Center on the SUU campus.

Tickets are now on sale for the various productions and concerts. For tickets, call the ticket office at (435) 586-7872, Monday-Friday, 8am-4:30pm, or order online at www.suu.edu/arts.

This spring SUU’s College of Performing and Visual Arts offers a diverse range of performances, concerts and exhibitions. Check the website at www.suu.edu/arts for additional arts events.  

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.