2007-2008 Fine Arts Season Announced

The Fairmont State University School of Fine Arts 2007-2008 season offers a wide range of theatre, music and art events.

The School of Fine Arts at FSU will produce Caryl Churchill's Top Girls in October 2007, Once Upon a Mattress in late November 2007, Wiley and the Hairy Man in February 2008 and Equus in April 2008. According to the web site www.contemporarywriters.com, Top Girls brings together five historical female characters at a dinner party in a London restaurant. The plot of Once Upon a Mattress, a musical, centers around a king under a curse and how he regains his rightful place as ruler of his kingdom. The children's show Wiley and the Hairy Man is based on an African-American folktale. The story of Equus deals with issues surrounding coming of age, sexuality and horses; this show is for adult audiences only.

Adding to the FSU performances will be a third campus appearance by the American Shakespeare Center in January 2008. The American Shakespeare Center, formerly known as Shenandoah Shakespeare, is a national professional touring troupe of Shakespearean actors from Staunton, Va., (where they perform in a re-creation of Shakespeare's indoor theatre, the Blackfriars Playhouse). In January, they will be touring with The Taming of the Shrew, Henry V and The Merchant of Venice.

Sponsored by Student Government, the Montana Repertory Theatre will make a third visit to FSU with their production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Montana Rep's mission is to bring to life the great stories of America--stories that explore the core of a nation's experience and help to uncover the heart of American character. Established in 1977, Montana Rep has become one of the most respected professional touring companies in the country today.

In February 2008, Student Government will sponsor Tango Fires Dance Company's appearance in Wallman Hall Theatre.

September 2007 and January 2008 will see the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra return with guest soloists and Conductor Grant Cooper.

FSU's Collegiate Singers will present October 2007, December 2007 and April 2008 concerts; the Fairmont State University Community Orchestra performs in November 2007 and April 2008; and there will be concerts by the Jazz Ensemble in November 2007 and April 2008. The Wind Ensemble will perform in December 2007, March 2008 and April 2008.

The James David Brooks Memorial Gallery will feature photographic exhibitions by John Piscitelli in August 2007 and Beth Nardella in September 2007; Mystical and Ethereal -- The Work of Noel W. Tenney, a mixed media exhibition, in October 2007; a Day of the Dead exhibition in late October 2007, which will be a collaborative effort among area artists and FSU students; the Drawings of Stephen Pavlovic in January 2008; and an installation exhibition by Karen Gergely in March 2008. The Juried Student Exhibition will be held in April 2008.

Many FSU events are free and all are open to the public. Check the Fine Arts web calendar at http://www.fairmontstate.edu/calendars/finearts_calendar.asp for a complete listing of all events, including music recitals and performances of the Fairmont Chamber Music Society. For events that require tickets, call the FSU Box Office at (304) 367-4240. The Fine Arts Hotline at (304) 367-4125, which will be updated by Aug. 2, will also offer details on FSU events. For more information, call Susan Bailey at (304) 367-4203 or e-mail her at sbailey@fairmontstate.edu.