On Friday, Oct. 1, the School of Music, Theatre and Dance will present a concert of composer and lyricist Georgia Stitt’s music. “She’s an incredible artist and activist,” director David Coolidge said. “It’s a great opportunity for our students not only to work with a great level of material, but to receive direct feedback from Georgia.” For the past month, the department has been working every day to perfect the show. “Once we got into rehearsal, it has been pretty … [Read more...]
Upcoming Encore to include a Homecoming twist
Every year, student talent is showcased and celebrated in Encore performances presented by the Avanti Boosters. Students have the opportunity to audition and perform for their peers in Reardon Auditorium with a full band. This year, the 30th Anniversary of Encore, will be extra special. Past Encore concerts have included themes like “Soundtrack” and “British Takeover.” The first Encore of this year will be “Anything Goes” but with a twist: a limited number of alumni will have the opportunity … [Read more...]
Gerald Potts
Gillian Lintz catches up with junior Gerald Potts about the unique circumstances that make music such an important part of his life. This audio interview was produced for the Spring 2021 Advanced Newswriting and Reporting course. … [Read more...]
Brady Day
Thomas Piotrowski sits down with junior Brady Day to discuss the creation of his new musical, "Reign." This audio interview was produced for the Spring 2021 Advanced Newswriting and Reporting course. … [Read more...]
SOMTD position filled by a familiar face
The end of the unique school year parallels the retirement of two significant figures in the School of Music, Theatre and Dance (SOMTD): Dr. Richard Sowers and Dr. Fritz Robertson. Sowers, professor of music and director of AU Chorale, and Robertson, professor of music, voice area coordinator and director of Boze Lyric Theatre, retired at the end of this semester. Both worked diligently to ensure a smooth transition for everyone in the School of Music, Theatre and Dance. However, the … [Read more...]
Avanti Boosters and CAB to hold joint Encore-Bond event
Usually held four times a year by the men’s social club Avanti Boosters, Encore has become a staple of the student experience at AU. However, the options for hosting such a large event on campus have been limited since the beginning of the pandemic. This reality has also affected popular CAB events, such as Bond. Before the semester ends, Boosters and CAB hope to give students a taste of post-pandemic normalcy—for the first time since February of 2020, both Encore and Bond will be held in … [Read more...]
Select events return to campus as select restrictions lifted
As restrictions on public gathering sizes are being loosened and lifted campus-wide and state-wide, several classic events are making a return to AU to wrap up the semester. Several of these events to which students can look forward are below. April 26 – Pitch on the Prairie Each year, AU’s MBA program hosts a Business Plan Competition, allowing students to pitch business ideas to a panel of judges. This year, the event is titled to reflect its venue: Conner Prairie. “Competitors … [Read more...]
“Evening of Excellence” to recognize students in SOMTD
Every spring, students in the School of Music, Theatre and Dance (SOMTD) are recognized for accomplishments in both the academic side of the arts as well as the performance side in a gala-style event entitled “Evening of Excellence.” A number of awards are given out for academics, dance history, music history, music theory and many other subjects in the SOMTD, along with a few named scholarships. The performances of the Solo Competition winners will be included in the event, as well. This … [Read more...]
Black Bird Film Festival to be held in person
While most film-fanatics are getting excited for the upcoming Oscars, AU students, faculty and staff are eagerly awaiting the fifth annual Black Bird Film Festival. A mix between the Oscars and a Hollywood movie premiere, AU’s cinema and media arts program hosts the festival each year to show off student-made short films, commercials and even music videos. Last year, at the height of the pandemic, the festival was held virtually. Associate Professor of Cinema and Media Arts … [Read more...]
Lights, camera, action: Cinema and media arts students to release three short films
Among the busyness of spring semester on campus, cinema and media arts students have begun casting, filming and editing short films set to premier at this year’s Black Bird Film Festival. The film team for “The First Day” shot many of the scenes last semester, but were forced to delay further shoots due to COVID-19. This semester, the crew picked up where they left off and recently finished shooting. Director and producer Jonathan Williams, a junior cinema and media arts major, … [Read more...]