September 23, 2014
Southern Illinois University Arts and Cultural Events
Sept. 23-Oct. 7
Welcome to the second issue of the Southern Illinois University Arts and Cultural events email. We are moving our distribution to Tuesday. This weekly email brings together all the arts and cultural events happening in a two-week period at SIU. From music to art, film to dance, guest lectures to workshops and theater, you will find the information here. Please note that information listed under “for the media” is to assist reporters and is not intended to be published or aired.
SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK
It’s “Curtains” at the McLeod Theater. The play is the first fully staged production of the theater season and it’s got a little of everything: murder-mystery, show-biz musical, and comedy. It plays Oct. 2-5, with performances at 7:30 p.m., Thursday through Saturday, and 2 p.m. on Sunday. A free lecture precedes the Sunday show, beginning at 1 p.m. in the College of Mass Communication and Media Arts Dean’s Conference Room.
Some special notes about this production:
• McLeod Theater welcomes a guest director. Erica Gould visits from New York City. She has directed a wide range of projects including world premieres of two of Neil LaBute’s short plays, site specific theater and opera productions and a host of Shakespeare classics. She is a certified fight choreographer and serves on the Fight Steering Committee for the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.
• McLeod Theater sets in recent seasons have raised the bar each year. This set turns McLeod into the Colonial Theater, Boston, Mass., 1959.
FOR THE MEDIA: For provided photos, photo opportunities, interviews with cast, crew or our guest director, or a behind-the-scenes look at the set and its creation, contact Vince Rhomberg, mcldpub@siu.edu or 453-7589.
Upcoming Events:
SEPTEMBER
23 – The SIU School of Law and the United Nations Association sponsor a program on the Ebola crisis at 7 p.m. in the SIU School of Law building, Room 202. Speakers are Jennifer Brobst, assistant professor of law with expertise in health law; and Dr. Erica Kaufman, an infectious disease specialist with SIH Medical Group.
FOR THE MEDIA: Contact Jennifer Brobst, jbrobst@siu.edu or 453-8702.
23-24 – The School of Music welcomes Ronald Chioldi for a piano recital and a piano master class. The recital, which is open to the public, begins at 7:30 p.m., Sept. 24, in the Old Baptist Foundation Recital Hall. Chioldi is professor of piano at Northeastern State University in Okla., and co-author on several popular piano textbooks.
FOR THE MEDIA: The master class might be a good option for photos or B-reel; it is 3-5 p.m. on Sept. 23 in the Old Baptist Foundation Recital Hall. Contact is Junghwa Lee at the School of Music, jlee@siu.edu or 453-5816.
25 – The Paul Simon Public Policy Institute welcomes Sarita Gupta, executive director of “Jobs with Justice,” to discuss “The State of the American Worker: How We Build a Better America.” Her presentation is from 7 to 8 p.m. in Student Center, Ballroom B.
FOR THE MEDIA: Contact is Carol Greenlee at PSPPI at cgreenlee@siu.edu, or 453-4009.
25 – “Triple Divide,” a documentary film covering the issue of fracking, plays at 7 p.m. in Morris Library’s John C. Guyon Auditorium.
FOR THE MEDIA: Contact is Brent Ritzel, Buckminster Fuller Future Registered Student Organization, brent@siu.edu or 203-4844.
25 – Salsa is not the only dance perfected in Hispanic culture. The Latino Cultural Association will present a workshop on cumbia dance, sometimes called “the mother of all Latin music.” The workshop begins at 5 p.m. in the Student Center’s Delta Room.
FOR THE MEDIA: Contact Jose Najar, assistant professor of history, jnajar@siu.edu or 453-4391.
25-27 – Doctoral student Jason Hedrick presents “The Final Chapter of Nick Carter: The Price,” a performance drawing on the style of film noir to tell the story of the hardboiled detective, the femme fatale who hired him, and his nemesis, “The Hawk.” Performances are at 8 p.m. each night at the Kleinau Theater in the Communications Building.
FOR THE MEDIA: Contact is Jason Hedrick at jhedrick2772@siu.edu.
26 – Katja Vetter, digital sound artist, is an artist-in-residence Sept. 26 to Oct. 1. A highlight is her Sept. 26 performance at 4:30 p.m. in Morris Library’s John C. Guyon Auditorium. Vetter uses digital signal processing techniques, including Puredata, which is an open source visual programming language geared to musicians, visual artists, performers, researchers and developers.
FOR THE MEDIA: Katja Vetter is available for interviews and discussions during her visit. To make arrangements, contact Jennifer Horton, jhorton@lib.siu.edu or 453-2663.
28 – Baroque flutist Paul Thompson presents a master class, courtesy of the SIU Flute Choir, 8-9 a.m. in Altgeld Hall, Room 112.
FOR THE MEDIA: Contact Douglas Worthen, worthen@siu.edu or 453-5832.
29 – Staci M. Yandle, formerly a civil litigation private practice attorney in Southern Illinois and recently appointed to the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, visits the SIU School of Law to talk about the federal confirmation process. This is a Paul Simon Public Policy Institute event. Judge Yandle will be in the SIU School of Law auditorium at 7 p.m.
FOR THE MEDIA: Contact is Carol Greenlee at the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, cgreenlee@siu.edu or 453-4009.
30 - Longtime educator Ronda Dunn will present “Excellence in Education” at 5:30 p.m. in the Student Center Auditorium. She will talk about issues of particular interest to SIU students.
FOR THE MEDIA: Though this event is directed toward students, media may enjoy the opportunity to hear from the SIU system president’s wife, who is also an educator. Contact Lanel Love, llove2@siu.edu or 453-3470.
30 – Hispanic Heritage Month event: “Latina Revolutionaries and the Life of Frida Kahlo,” a presentation by Melinda Yeomans, 6 p.m., Lawson Hall, Room 201. Kahlo was an artist known particularly for her stylized self-portraits, and emphasis on Mexican and American Indian motifs. She is also known for her devotion to revolutionary politics; she referred to her own style as “revolutionary realism.”
FOR THE MEDIA: Contact Melinda Yeomans at the Center for Inclusive Excellence, myeomans1@siu.edu or 453-4846.
OCTOBER
1 – The Paul Simon Public Policy Institute hosts “Building a Creative Economy in Southern Illinois,” and welcomes Ann Markusen as the guest speaker. The luncheon meeting is at 11:30 a.m. at the Carbondale Civic Center. Markusen is the director of the Arts Economy Initiative and the Project on Regional and Industrial Economics at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs, and principal of Markusen Economic Research. Her expertise is in economic development at the state and local level and more recently, her focus is on the impact that artists and arts organizers have on economic and quality-of-life.
FOR THE MEDIA: Contact is Carol Greenlee at the PSPPI, cgreenlee@siu.edu or 453-4009.
1 – Hispanic Heritage Month event: “Mi Tierra USA: Latinos Here and Now,” a presentation by Kayeleigh Sharp, teaching assistant in the Department of Anthropology, 5 p.m., Lawson Hall, Room 231.
FOR THE MEDIA: Contact Kayeleigh Sharp at sharpka@siu.edu or 453-5037.
1 – SIU alumnus Alex Steyermark visits the Global Media Research Center for a movie screening, record cutting session, and panel discussion on his new documentary “The 78 Project Movie.” The documentary tells the story of a journey across America making 78 rpm records with musicians in their hometowns. The event is from 7 to 9:30 p.m. in Morris Library’s John C. Guyon Auditorium.
FOR THE MEDIA: Contact Alex Steyermark at contact@1m1.com or alex@1m1.com. You can also reach Jay Needham, interim director of the Global Media Research Center, jneedham63@gmail.com.
2 – Film screening: “Gasland,” 7 p.m., Morris Library, John C. Guyon Auditorium. "Gasland," directed by Josh Fox, explores the issue of fracking, with particular attention to possible hazards of natural gas drilling.
FOR THE MEDIA: Contact is Brent Ritzel, Buckminster Fuller Future Registered Student Organization, brent@siu.edu, 618/203-4844.
2 – Hispanic Heritage Month event: Learn a style of dance that originated in the Dominican Republic -- bachata! The Latino Cultural Association hosts a bachata dance workshop, 5-7 p.m. in the Student Center’s Delta Room.
FOR THE MEDIA: Contact Jose Najar, assistant professor of history and RSO adviser, jnajar@siu.edu or 453-4391.
2 – Inaugural Harvest Festival and Open House, hosted by the SIU Sustainable Vegetable Farm and LOGIC (Local Organic Gardening Initiative of Carbondale), 3-6 p.m., at 3373 W. Pleasant Hill Road, Carbondale. The event includes a tour of the farms and snacks. Other activities during the day include an accordion player and the band, “Hey Honey.” Eco-art activities include soda bottle planters and henna tattoos.
FOR THE MEDIA: Contact Karen Schawecker, karens@siu.edu or 206/713-6607.
2-5 – “Curtains,” McLeod Theater, Thursday through Saturday, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. A pre-show lecture is at 1 p.m., Sunday. Tickets are $16 for the general public, $6 for students. This play is the first of the four show subscription series. Tickets are available by phone at 453-6000, online at SIU Special Event Ticketing, or at the McLeod Theater or SIU Arena box offices.
FOR THE MEDIA: Contact Vince Rhomberg, mcldpub@siu.edu or 453-7589.
3 – Hispanic Heritage Month event: The School of Music presents the third annual “Concert in Honor of Hispanic Heritage Month,” 5-7 p.m., Old Baptist Foundation Recital Hall. Performances include solo vocal, piano, guitar and bassoon works, presenting a variety of classical music from Spain to Latin America.
FOR THE MEDIA: Contact Diane Coloton, dcoloton@siu.edu or 453-5915.
6 – Hispanic Heritage Month event: Film screening of “Cesar Chavez,” a documentary of the civil-rights activist’s life, 6 p.m., Morris Library, John C. Guyon Auditorium.
FOR THE MEDIA: Contact Luisa Ballester-Concepcion, lbconcepcion@siu.edu or the Hispanic Resource Center at 453-2127.
7 – Hispanic Heritage Month event: Keynote speaker: Dolores Huerta, 7 p.m. Shryock Auditorium. Huerta teamed with César Chávez to create the National Farm Workers Association. She fought to end gender discrimination as well, and even suffered life-threatening injuries while participating in a protest against presidential policies. She is the founder and president of the Dolores Huerta Foundation and continues to work on behalf of social justice, civil rights and equality. She is a 2012 recipient of The Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States.
FOR THE MEDIA: Contact Luisa Ballester-Concepcion, lbconcepcion@siu.edu or the Hispanic Resource Center at 453-2127.
Looking ahead: Oct. 8-14
8 – Hispanic Heritage Month event: “Latino Revolutionaries: Che and Freire,” discussion by Melinda Yeomans, 5-7 p.m., Lawson Hall, Room 231.
9 – Wind Ensemble and Concert Choir concert: “PRISM: We Shall Overcome,” 7:30 p.m., Shryock Auditorium.
9 – Film screening, “Gasland II,” 7 p.m., Morris Library.
9 – Hispanic Heritage Month event: “The Latino History in the U.S.” Jose Najar lecture, 5-7 p.m., Lawson Hall, Room 231.
10 – Museum exhibit reception: “SIMS: Southern Illinois Metalsmiths Society Exhibition,” 4-7 p.m., University Museum.