Category: News

I Am My Own Wife Featuring Dennis Kerwin

I Am My Own WifeTech Theatre Company Presents “I Am My Own Wife”

“I Am My Own Wife,” is a poignant one-man tour de force featuring VPA’s Dennis Kerwin who plays Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, and over 28 other characters. Based on a true story, and inspired by interviews conducted by the playwright over several years, “I Am My Own Wife” tells the fascinating tale of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, a real-life German transvestite who managed to survive both the Nazi onslaught and the repressive East German Communist regime. The play won the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the 2004 Tony Award.

Read more at Tech Today.

Witness the masterpiece “I Am My Own Wife”

Read more at Michigan Tech Lode, by Rohit Sharma.

Plummer and Anderson Finalists for Distinguished Teaching Award

CTL Annual Distinguished Teaching Award Finalists

The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) seeks input for its annual Distinguished Teaching Awards, which recognize outstanding contributions to the instructional mission of the University.

Associate Professor Christopher Plummer is a finalist in the Associate Professor/Professor category.

Assistant Professor Jared Anderson is a finalist in the Assistant Professor/Lecturer/Professor of Practice category.

Read more at Tech Today.

KSO and Wagner’s 200th Anniversary

WagnerKeweenaw Symphony Orchestra Celebrates Wagner’s 200th Anniversary

The most revolutionary and influential musician of his day, Wagner reinvented musical styles to the extreme, the capstone being his epic 17-hour opera, Ring of the Nibelung. Wagner’s penchant for incredibly long music, supersized orchestras, emotionally charged music drama, and dark themes, invariably changed music history.

Read more at Tech Today.

Celebrating Wagner’s 200th anniversary

Read more at the Michigan Tech Lode, by Nick Blecha.

KSO celebrates 200 years of Wagner

Read more at the Michigan Tech Lode, by Nick Blecha.

VPA Co-Sponsors Sibelius Lecture

Glenda GossJoin Sibelius Academy professor Glenda Goss, the Finlandia Foundation Lecturer of the Year, for Kalevala Day lectures based on her extensive research on Finnish national composer Jean Sibelius. Lectures at 2 pm and 6 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013. Free and open to the public.

Hosted by: Finnish American Heritage Center
Finnish Theme Committee/ Finlandia Foundation Copper Country Chapter

With generous support from
Finlandia University’s Campus Enrichment Fund
Michigan Technological University Department of Visual and Performing Arts
Finlandia Foundation National
Anonymous Donor

Read more at the Finnish American Heritage Center Facebook Event.

Finlandia Foundation Lecturer of the Year at Heritage Center Feb. 28

Finland experienced an unprecedented Golden Age of music and art late in the 19th century. Among the crowning achievements of this age were the compositions of Jean Sibelius, whose works served as a soundtrack to Finland’s growing sense of cultural independence. As the Finns enjoyed this flourishing of the arts, a political awakening resulted, while Finland was still an autonomous Grand Duchy of the Russian Empire.

Read more at Keweenaw Now.

Great Lakes Showcase Kicks Off March 5

GLS 2013The Rozsa Center is pleased to announce the opening of the 2013 Great Lakes Showcase: An Annual Juried Exhibition of Fine Arts and Crafts, sponsored by Michigan Tech’s Department of Visual and Performing Arts. The public is invited to a reception for the artists on Tuesday, March 5, 7 p.m.-9 p.m.

According to Susie Kilpela, artist and longtime faculty member of the VPA, “I am happy to be involved in the GLS, a celebrated art exhibit at Michigan Tech.”

According to showcase coordinator Sarah Fayen Scarlett, “The Peoples’ Choice award gives visitors a chance to choose their favorite. Come in and vote for the piece you like best!”

Read more at Tech Today, by the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts.

Superior Wind Symphony RE: Location

SWS LocationThis Friday, Feb, 22, at 7:30 p.m., Michigan Tech’s Superior Wind Symphony, under the direction of Mike Christianson, will present a concert at the Rozsa Center titled, “RE: Location,” that will send listeners on a musical journey from New York City to the forests of the Upper Peninsula. Be swept away while sitting in your seat.

Tickets are $12.75 for adults, and free for Michigan Tech Students. To purchase tickets, call 487-2073, go online at rozsa.mtu.edu , or visit Ticketing Operations at the SDC. SDC box office hours are 8 a.m.–9 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.–7 p.m. Saturday, and noon-8 p.m. on Sunday. Please note the Rozsa Box Office is closed during regular business hours and will only open two hours prior to show times.

From Tech Today.

Superior Wind Symphony Returns to the Rozsa

Read more at the Michigan Tech Lode, by Alex Saari.

Stealing Fire at McArdle Theatre

Playing God at the McArdle Theatre

“Prometheus was a titan and had a lot to do with creating Earth,” said

Kalen Larson, who is director of flying for the play. “It’s loosely based around the Greek mythologies.”

“Stealing Fire” is an original production by students and teachers of MTU.

“There’s nothing that was preexisting when we started this,” Larson said. “…All of the music in the show is composed by students.”

Read more at the Mining Gazette, by Scott Viau.

Actors Flying High at Michigan Tech

“The first challenge is to keep it safe,” Director Christopher Plummer, associate professor of sound, says during a recent rehearsal. Actor Paige Borel is strapped into a harness, going throughther paces, some airborne. “And it actually means different types of rehearsals,” Plummer goes on to say,”the emotional intensity of covering the story; the technical rehearsals, including sound and lights; and the everyday flying systems set-up, which has to be checked each time.”

Read more at Michigan Tech News, by Dennis Walikainen.

Jazz Cabaret

Jazz Cabaret 2013Jazz Cabaret: Backstage at the Rozsa

See the Rozsa stage transformed into an intimate jazz-club atmosphere for the Jazz Cabaret: Backstage at the Rozsa. The Rozsa stage will become a jazz lounge with cocktail tables and cash bar, and of course hot jazz provided by two Michigan Tech jazz ensembles, Momentum and the Research and Development Big Band. Experience live jazz at 7:30 p.m. this Friday and Saturday, Jan. 25 and 26.

Read more at Tech Today.

Cold nights, hot jazz

Read more at Michigan Tech Lode, by Alex Saari.

Jazzin’ it up at the Rozsa

“I’ve had people tell me it’s like a jazz buffet,” said Mike Irish, director of jazz studies at Michigan Technological University. “There’s really something for everyone and I like to give that wide variety.”

Read more at the Mining Gazette, by Zach Kukkonen.

Theatre Auditions for Fiddler on the Roof

Fiddler on the Roof AuditionsAuditions for Fiddler on the Roof will be conducted on MONDAY, JANUARY 21 at 7 PM in the Choir Room (Rozsa 120) and TUESDAY, JANUARY 22 at 7 PM on the Rozsa Stage.

Please arrive 15 minutes early to complete the audition registration process.

You may sing one verse of a song of your choice from memory or you may audition by singing music offered by the music director. Everyone will dance.

One half of those present to audition 7 PM will sing while the other half of the group work with the choreographer. The groups will then switch places.

Call backs will be held on WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23 and MONDAY, JANUARY 28 by invitation.

*Note: Auditions for children will be held at a later date TBA.

VPA at KCACTF Region III Festival 2013

Theatre Performance KCACTF IIIStudents and faculty from visual and performing arts are now attending the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) for region III, which consists of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. The festival this year takes place at Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan from January 8-12, 2013.

Visit the Facebook page for Michigan Tech Visual and Performing Arts to view some of the performances and design entries from students at Michigan Tech.