Archive for August, 2013
43rd Season of Gustavus Artist Series Announced
When Baritone Robert Merrill's performed at the dedication of the new Gustavus recital hall in 1971, the hall named after his friend and colleague Tenor Jussi Björling, a tradition of bringing world-class artists and performers to the Gustavus Adolphus College campus took root. Since Merrill's performance in the fall of 1971, nearly 200 actors, dance companies, artists, musicians and ensembles have presented more than 250 performances and exhibitions in music, dance, theatre and art and have contributed to the Gustavus Artist Series' reputation as the leading performance series in southern Minnesota. The College is pleased to announce the 2013-14 season with hopes to continue that tradition of excellence. The new season opens with an art exhibition in Schaefer Gallery and includes performances by the Rose Ensemble, the Bach Society of Minnesota, the Aeolus String Quartet, Michael Johnson, 'cellist Su-a Lee, classical guitarist Robert Gruca and an exhibition by American artist Emily Sheehan.
Parker Quartet, Esther Wang & Justin Knoepfel Featured at Bridge Chamber Music Festival
For thirteen year, artistic director and founder David Carter has brought the Bridge Chamber Music Festival to Northfield and with it a series of concerts which include internationally acclaimed artists and some of the region's finest talent. This summer, season 14, which opens August 20 with the Parker String Quartet, will not disappoint. Gustavus pianist Esther Wang and Justin Knoepfel, viola, will perform as part of the Bridge Chamber Players in the festival's second concert on August 22
Fringe Festival Names Clocked One of Sixteen Audience Picks
Each year at the Minnesota Fringe Festival, productions with the highest attendance at each venue are selected as "Audience Picks" and an additional performance is added to its schedule. CLOCKED, one of this year's Fringe Festival events produced by Ben Kolis (Theatre Honors ’12), Renee Guittar (Dance Honors ’12) and Sarah Jabar (Dance ’10), earned the audience pick designation at its venue, the Rarig Center Proscenium at the University of Minnesota. CLOCKED was one of only 16 productions at this year's Festival to be selected out of the 176 productions on the schedule.
Shane Jensen ’10 Returns to Minnesota for Newest Film The Way The Crow Flies
For some graduates, a move off of the campus following graduation includes a move back home for a time of soul-searching, reflection and discovery, a time to consider a path for the next step in their journey. While this move may not fit into their original master plan, it does provide some time to determine what that next destination may be. The move home this summer for New York City actor and budding film-maker Shane Jensen '10, is both intentional and welcomed as he brings his passion for film-making home to Minnesota and the filming of his newest film, The Way the Crow Flies. With him on this journey is his writing partner Tyler McClain, six actors and a film crew. They are headed for a 26-acre horse farm near Delano, Minnesota, owned by his mother. They are all, in a sense, moving back home.
St. Croix Theatre Festival Features Kim Braun ’11 & Ethan Bjelland ’12
The annual St. Croix Theatre Festival in St. Croix Falls, Wisc., has opened for another season and, again this year, includes some familiar names from the Gustavus Department of Theatre & Dance and the Department of Music. The festival, based in a 1917 vaudeville playhouse overlooking the St. Croix River, has a full schedule planned for its 24th season, which opened June 20 with the award-winning musical Crazy for You. The summer series includes performances of The Foreigner, Ichabod Crane & the Headless Horseman, A Christmas Story and the debut of the new play This Untoward Generation! The "new" Gershwin musical, Crazy for You, runs through August 18 with a lead role performance by Kim Braun '11. In August, Kim will be joined by actor Ethan Bjelland '12 in a new play, This Untoward Generation!, which opens August 10 and runs through September 8.
Gusties to Light Up the Stage at Fringe Festival in August
A number of current and former Gustavus students will be performing, directing, and producing at the 2013 Minnesota Fringe Festival, which will take place August 1-11 at various locations in Minneapolis. Circe: A Musical Odyssey is written and directed by alumna Maggie Sotos ’09, who returns to the Fringe Festival after her debut show, Troy! […]