Festival of the Arts leads spring lineup

Get ready to celebrate spring on the Sacramento State campus by enjoying a variety of exhibitions, plays, dance and musical performances all semester long.

The centerpiece of the spring semester is the annual Festival of the Arts, March 18-21, a four-day focus on fine arts, performing arts, design and creative writing.

The Festival will include performances of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, which runs March 13-29 in the University Theatre, an exhibition of photos by White House photographer David Hume Kennerly in the Library Gallery, guest trumpeter Terell Stafford performing with the Sacramento State Jazz Ensemble I, March 19 in Capistrano Hall’s Music Recital Hall, and “Tango: A Faculty Gala Concert” featuring music faculty members on March 20, also in the Music Recital Hall.

There will also be master classes by stage and television actress Cristin Mortenson, opera director Ed Reichert and renowned dance choreographer-director Melanie Stewart.

Lectures will be presented by visiting artist Alice Aycock and art historian Norman Bryson, photographer Abe Morell, and literary award winners such as Sheila Kohler, Gabriel Gudding and Kathryn Cowles.

A reception acknowledging the University’s many artistic contributions will be held from 5 to 8 p.m., Friday, March 20, in the University Library Gallery.

The arts exhibition continues throughout the semester. The following represent just some highlights of the spring season. Most tickets are available at the Sacramento State Ticket Office, 278-4323, or www.tickets.com.

Music

• 2009 Valencia Young Pianist Competition, free recital, 7:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 23, Capistrano Hall’s Music Recital Hall.
• Piano Series: Paul Roberts, Saturday, Feb. 21; Mark McCray, Saturday, March 28; and Svetozar Ivanov, Saturday, April 11. All concerts are at 7:30 p.m. in the Music Recital Hall. Tickets are $12 general and $10 for students and seniors.
• Sun Quartet with guest pianist Eric Zivian, 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 8, Capistrano Hall Room 151. Donations accepted.
• New Millennium Series: Harlem Quartet, Wednesday, Feb. 25, $20 general, $10 seniors, $5 students; Kronos Quartet, Tuesday, April 14, $30 general, $10 seniors, $5 students. Both concerts are at 7:30 p.m. in the Music Recital Hall.
• World Music: Kora (harp) player Youssoupha Sidibe, 8 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 28; Balinese music and dance with Gamelan Sekar Jaya, 8 p.m., Saturday, March 21; North Indian classical music with Pandit Partho Sarathy on sarod and Ramdas Pulsule on tabla, 8 p.m., Saturday, April 18; Australian “bebop” with didjeridu player Stephen Kent, 3 p.m., Sunday, April 19; South Indian classical music with saxophonist Prasant Radhakrishnan, 8 p.m., Saturday, May 9. All concerts are $15 general and $8 for students in the Music Recital Hall.
• Opera Theatre: Gilbert and Sullivan’s Gondoliers, 8 p.m., April 9 and 10, 3 p.m., Saturday, April 11, University Theatre, $18 general, $12 for students.

In addition to these performances there will be concerts by Sacramento State’s symphony, band, jazz ensembles and choirs throughout the semester. For more information, visit www.csus.edu/music/ or call 278-5155.

Theatre and Dance

• Sacramento Black Art of Dance: Director and department chair Linda Goodrich leads young dancers in a variety of contemporary styles. Feb. 26-March 1 and March 4-8, Solano Hall 1010.
• How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying: Irreverent musical satire of big business. Written by Shepherd Mead and directed by professor Ed Brazo. March 13-15, 19-22 and 26-29, University Theatre.
• In the Blood: A postmodern re-visioning of The Scarlet Letter, following the daily trials of a single, homeless African-American woman who is raising five children. Written by Suzan-Lori Parks and directed by professor Melinda Wilson. Playwright’s Theatre, April 16-19 and 22-26.
• Senior Dance Concert: Directed by professor Melissa Wynn, the concert’s various pieces are choreographed by the students. Solano Hall 1010, May 6-10.

Tickets for How to Succeed are $15 general admission, $12 for Sacramento State employees, students and seniors and $10 for children 11 years old or younger. Other productions are $12, $10 and $8 for opening night and Friday-Sunday performances and $8 and $5 for other Wednesday and Thursday performances.

For more information, call 278-6368 or visit www.csus.edu/dram/.

Art and Design

• Exhibit of the European and Japanese ceramic works from the Sharon and Paul Dauer collection continues through Feb. 28 in the Library Gallery. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.
• Yonsei University Graduate School, “Prof. Hyunju Lee and Students Exhibition,” Feb. 2-9, Mariposa Hall Design Gallery. Reception at 5 p.m., Feb. 3.
• “Capturing History: David Hume Kennerly,” photos by White House photographer, March 13-June 20, Library Gallery. Talk by Kennerly at noon, Friday, March 20 followed by reception from 5 to 8 p.m.
• “Hellenism and the Elements – Mehri Yazdani” March 20-April 25, Library Annex Gallery. Hosted by the Hellenic Studies Program. Reception from 5 to 8 p.m., Friday, March 20.
• Senior art show, Kadema Hall’s Else Gallery, May 4-20.
• MA art show, Kadema Hall’s Witt Gallery, May 4-20.
• Art Ball: An evening celebration honoring graduating students. At various locations around the campus, May 15.

Art Department: 278-6166, www.csus.edu/art
Library Gallery: 278-4189, www.asn.csus.edu/sota/
Design Department: 278-3962, www.csus.edu/design