Department of Theatre packs a one-two punch this week with dual performances showcasing musical theater
"A New Brain," a sardonic comedy with music and lyrics by William Finn and book by Finn and James Lapine, depicts a composer who suffers a brain injury and awakens in a hospital surrounded by his lover, his mother, a co-worker, a doctor and a nurse. Throughout his treatment and recovery, he struggles to complete an unfinished work and worries his life will end with his greatest songs unwritten.
This production is directed by John Woodson, teaching associate in CCU's Department of Theatre, and performances take place in the Edwards Theatre Thursday, April 11-Saturday, April 13, at 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday, April 17-Friday, April 19, at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, April 20, at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. General admission is $17.
Eight selected students in the Department of Theatre will be performing a new work written for them by guest artists Lauren Taslitz, lyricist, and Danny Ursetti, composer, in the inaugural Spring Cabaret. Taslitz and Ursetti have both had their works performed on Broadway.
Adam Pelty, assistant professor and associate chair of the Department of Theatre, directs the production, which takes place in the Singleton Ballroom on Saturday, April 13, at 9:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 14, at 4 p.m. Saturday's performance follows the production of "A New Brain" and features reduced-price tickets for those who attend both events.
Admission is $17, or $10 on Saturday, April 13, in combination with "A New Brain." Contact Regina Duncan for more information at 843-349-6635 or rduncan@coastal.edu.
All events below are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. For more information, visit www.coastal.edu/culturalarts.
Monday, April 8
EXHIBIT
Graduating seniors from CCU's Department of Visual Arts with a focus in graphic design exhibit work completed as theses, on exhibit Monday, April 8 through Friday, April 19, in the Rebecca Randall Bryan Art Gallery, Edwards 129. A gallery reception with the artists will be held Wednesday, April 10, at 4:30 p.m. Works include digital media, websites and augmented reality experiences. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
CONTACT: Jim Arendt, 843-349-6409 or jarendt@coastal.edu
LECTURE
J. Michael Hoffpauir, associate director of the Lyceum Program and clinical assistant professor of politics at Clemson University, presents a lecture titled "Virtue, Law, and Property in Machiavelli's 'The Prince'" at 5 p.m. in the Edwards Recital Hall as part of CCU's Politics and Economics Lecture Series, sponsored by the Department of Politics and Department of Economics, with support from the Charles Koch Foundation.
In "The Prince," Machiavelli teaches princes to revolutionary moral teaching that they can maintain their states through the securing of their citizens' property, laying the foundation of a new sort of democratic republic.
CONTACT: Kimberly Hale, 843-349-2653 or khale1@coastal.edu
MUSIC
Under the direction of Jesse Willis, associate professor in the Department of Music, the CCU world percussion ensemble CalypSamba will perform a concert joined by steel pan virtuoso Liam Teague at 7:30 p.m. in Wheelwright Auditorium. CalypSamba has performed at music festivals, conferences and schools throughout the United States. Teach is a professor of music and head of steel pan studies at Northern Illinois University (NIU), where he also directs the renowned NIU Steelband.
Admission: $7
CONTACT: Jesse Willis, 843-349-2776 or jwillis@coastal.edu
Tuesday, April 9
FILM
The Department of Language and Intercultural Studies presents a free screening of "I'm Not Scared" ("Io Non Ho Paura") (2003) at 5 p.m. in the Coastal Theater (Lib Jackson Student Union, A-110) as part of the Edwards College Film Series. In this film, a young boy named Michele accidentally discovers a deep hole in the ground, where another boy, Filippo, is kept prisoner. Based on the novel by Niccolo Ammaniti, the story delves into the psychological and cultural dilemma of the 9-year-old boy as he struggles to understand what he has discovered and whom he can trust. Following the screening, Elisa Modolo, lecturer in the Department of Languages and Intercultural Studies, will discuss the cultural context of the film. This film will be shown in Italian with English subtitles.
CONTACT: Elisa Modolo, 843-349-6416 or emodolo@coastal.edu
Thursday, April 11
PANEL DISCUSSION
The Department of Intercultural and Inclusion Student Services presents a panel discussion titled "You So Crazy" at 6 p.m. in the Wall Boardroom, Room 222, as part of the Chants Chat dialogue series. A group of CCU faculty, staff, students and community members gather for open dialogue about stigmas surrounding mental health.
CONTACT: Franklin Ellis, 843-349-2792 or fellis@coastal.edu
MUSIC
The Department of Music presents Flute Studio Recital at 7:30 p.m. in the Edwards Recital Hall. Under the direction of Amy Hardison Tully, professor of music and associate dean of the Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts, the recital will feature student performances of classical, contemporary and popular works for flute. The recital will close with a performance by the entire flute choir.
Admission: $7
CONTACT: Amy Tully, 843-349-2352 or atully@coastal.edu
Additional information:
The Wheelwright Box Office is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is located at 108 Spadoni Park Circle, Conway, SC 29526.