Fabulous Presto Opens at UMBC (11/29-12/2)

Fabulous Presto, an original production created and directed by Department of Theatre faculty member, Colette Searls, opens this Thursday, November 29 in the PAHB Black Box Theatre, and will continue on through Sunday, December 2.

Fabulous Presto is a quirky variety show of puppet acts for adults, mixing humans with objects and old-fashioned spectacle with high-tech tricks. Creatures emerge out of packing material in one act — a puppet undergoes cosmetic surgery in another. At turns humorous, uncanny and weird, this is a production where anything goes and every THING wants to come out to play.

Performances:
Thursday, November 29, 4 p.m. (free performance for the UMBC campus community)
Friday, November 30, 8 p.m.
Saturday, December 1, 2 p.m.
Saturday, December 1, 8 p.m.
Sunday, December 2, 2 p.m.

This production is inappropriate for children under 12.

For reservations and ticket information, click here, or visit the Department of Theatre’s website.

Grand Opening of Phase I of the new Performing Arts and Humanities Building (9/19)

Philip Rous, Provost and Senior Vice President

Dear Colleagues:

On Wednesday, September 19, the campus will celebrate the grand opening of Phase I of the new Performing Arts and Humanities Building with a series of outdoor programs and festivities, including a ribbon cutting ceremony with Governor Martin O’Malley. This day marks an exceptional occasion for the university, and we hope that you will be able to join us for some or all of the events.

From 2:00 to 6:30 p.m. on the PAHB grounds (on the north side facing Parking Lot 8), a series of outdoor programs will use amplification. While we hope to minimize any disturbance to academic activity, it is possible that the sound of remarks or live musicians may be disruptive, especially to classrooms in the PAHB, Fine Arts and the side of Engineering facing the new building. If you have concerns that the events may create a particular hardship for your work or teaching, please contact Tony Moreira at moreira@umbc.edu or x56576, or Sandy Campbell at campbell@umbc.edu or ext. 5-6878.

Performing Arts and Humanities Building Grand Opening Celebration (9/19)

Wednesday, September 19
2:00 – 9:00 p.m.

You are invited to join President Freeman Hrabowski, Governor Martin O’Malley and the UMBC community on Wednesday, September 19 as we celebrate the opening of the first phase of UMBC’s Performing Arts and Humanities Building.

2 p.m.
Phase One Ribbon Cutting and Phase Two Groundbreaking Ceremony with Governor Martin O’Malley
Performing Arts and Humanities Building Entrance

4–6:30 p.m.
Arts and Humanities Festival
Featuring food trucks, UMBC student groups and community performers, and a jazz concert with Lafayette Gilchrist ’92, Africana Studies.
Performing Arts and Humanities Building Grounds

3:30–5 p.m.
UMBC and the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance Present: New Space
Leaders breaking fresh ground in the region’s cultural land- scape reveal the physical, conceptual, and virtual spaces that motivate their work, answering the question: How do new spaces inspire us to think, create and engage in expected and unexpected ways?
Proscenium Theatre
A limited number of free tickets will be available at the door.

New Space Presenters:

• Wendy Salkind, UMBC Theatre & Jessica Berman, UMBC English
• Fred Lazarus, MICA & Tim Nohe, UMBC Visual Arts
• Vincent Lancisi, Everyman Theatre & David Mitchell, Arena Players
• Doreen Bolger, BMA & George Ciscle, founder, The Contemporary
• Liz Lerman, Choreographer & Sharayna Christmas Rose, Muse 360
• Kalima Young, The Baltimore Art + Justice Project & Nicole King, UMBC American Studies
• Marvin Pinkert, Jewish Museum of Maryland & Kevin Griffin Moreno ‘95, Full Circle Storytelling

Moderator: Tom Hall, Baltimore Choral Arts Society & WYPR Radio Host

4:30–6:30 p.m.
Tours of the building

7–8:30 p.m.
Inaugural Lecture: The Humanities Forum Presents “The Humanities, Without Apology,” featuring Pauline Yu, President of the American Council of Learned Societies
Proscenium Theatre, followed by dessert reception in PAHB Lobby
Students, faculty, and staff can pick up free tickets at The Commons information desk until September 18. Tickets will also be available at the door.
(An additional calendar listing with more details will be posted.)

Public Forum on the Performing Arts & Humanities Building (5/2)

Performing Arts & Humanities Building image courtesy of Whiting-Turner

Facilities Management and the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences cordially invite the campus to a public forum to learn about the new Performing Arts & Humanities Building.

Phase I of the building is scheduled to open in Fall 2012 and includes space for the Departments of English and Theatre, as well as the Dresher Center for the Humanities, the Humanities Scholars Program and the Linehan Scholars Program. Phase II, scheduled to begin construction this summer and to open in 2014, includes space for the Departments of Ancient Studies, Dance, Music and Philosophy.

The forum will be held on Wednesday, May 2, from 12 to 1 p.m. in ITE Building Room 102.