Michigan Tech has launched a new virtual tour of campus and the local area. The Walker Arts and Humanities Center is included among the virtual walking tours. There are interactive panoramas of McArdle Theatre and the Rozsa Center for Performing Arts as well.
Northwest Michigan Chapter in Cherry Royale Parade
On Saturday, July 6, alumni and friends from the Northwest Michigan Alumni Chapter were joined by students from Advance Motor Sports, Concrete Canoe, the Michigan Tech Pep Band and Blizzard T. Husky and shared their Michigan Tech spirit in the Cherry Royale Parade in Traverse City.
Read more at TechAlum Newsletter, Alumni Around the World.
Visit the Northwest Michigan Chapter – Michigan Tech Alumni Association on Facebook.
See photos of the 2013 Cherry Royale Parade on Facebook.
Over the years, the Rozsa Center has become known for the funny, dramatic or thoughtful performances, plays and musicals it puts on during its yearly season and the programming scheduled for its 2013-14 season will be no different.
“I’m always excited about all the seasons, but in particular I’m really excited about this coming season,” Rozsa Center Director Susanna Brent said. “We’re doing a lot of theater that’s close to my heart.”
Read more at the Mining Gazette, by Scott Viau.
The Huskies Pep Band marched in the parade on Friday, June 21, for Bridgefest and FinnFest 2013.
Read more at Past-E-Mail.
Upper Peninsula Marketing Department, Inc., has shared images of the parade on Facebook.
The Huskies Pep Band is a Michigan Tech point of pride and one of the most lauded pep bands in the Midwest. Members enjoy an active schedule, performing at concerts, athletic events, parades, and special events. Open to all with band experience.
Contact Mike Christianson or visit the DAWGS page to learn more. Get involved with music in the Department of Visual and Performing Arts.
During FinnFest 2013, artist Susanne Kilpela will have work displayed at the Gallerie Boheme, 423 Fifth Street in Calumet. The exhibit will include drawings and porcelain sculpture. The artist reception is on Thursday, June 20, 2013, from 7-9 pm.
Kilpela will be co-curating a group exhibition at the Rozsa Gallery. Five Contemporary Finnish-American Artists will exhibit paintings, bronze sculpture, paper and found object assemblages. The gallery reception is on Saturday, June 22, 2013, from 5-7 pm.
Learn more about FinnFest 2013 and the event schedule.
Bruce Seely, dean of Michigan Tech’s College of Sciences and Arts, announced the appointment of three new department chairs. On July 1, Anne Beffel will assume chairmanship of the Department of Visual and Performing Arts.
Beffel is an artist who works in many forms and media, including the visual and performance arts. She replaces Roger Held, who is completing seven years as chair of VPA. Beffel joins Michigan Tech from Syracuse University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts, where she has taught since 2000. She defines herself as a “time artist,” which she says means that she is deeply interested in connecting art and social context in time, using all forms and media.
“Anne’s interests as an artist intersect with every area of expertise and emphasis within the department,” Seely said. “She seems an almost perfect fit to guide the department forward.”
All three new department chairs, Seely added, have had distinguished careers that demonstrate academic and administrative accomplishments and a commitment to education that promises success in their new roles. “I am deeply gratified at their willingness to take on one of the hardest roles in academic administration. But I am even more excited about the chance to work closely with these three energetic and enthusiastic new chairs,” the dean said. “I ask the campus community to help them feel welcome as they arrive in Houghton over the next month.”
Read more at Tech Today, by Bruce Seely.
The former area of Yugoslavia conjures up images of war and civil unrest for many people, but for some members of the Michigan Tech Concert Choir, the Eastern European region is where many great memories were recently made.
“It was a lot of preparation, a lot of logistical and administrative kinds of things we had to prepare for, but the tour was very successful from beginning to end,” said Jared Anderson, third-year director of the choir. “… There were remnants of communism in some ways, but you could also see some countries really flourishing.”
The choir, previously under the leadership of Milton Olsson, has taken trips to Mexico City, Central Europe, Eastern Europe, Brazil and China, and Anderson said the group will likely travel again in three to four years.
Read more at the Mining Gazette, by Stephen Anderson.
As a part of FinnFest 2013, Michigan Tech’s Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts presents three nights of “Beautiful: A Cirque-Tale of How the Butterfly Grew Her Wings,” Wednesday, June 19, 9 p.m.; Thursday, June 20, 7:30 p.m.; and Friday, June 21, 7:30 p.m. Creator/Producer/Director Jennifer Kelly describes “Beautiful” as “A metaphysical and visceral experience inspired by the life cycle of a caterpillar.”
“Beautiful” is the brain-child of Kelly and Aerial Choreographer Jason Whicker. Whicker’s aerial work surpasses flight originally created for any show on or off Broadway. Featured guest choreographers include “So You Think You Can Dance” finalist Robert Taylor, Jr., and Dreya Weber, Pink’s Aerial choreographer.
Read more at Tech Today.
‘Beautiful’ — a tale of transformation
Most everyone knows of the wonder and spectacle that Cirque du Soleil shows can bring, now residents of the Copper Country and beyond can experience “Beautiful,” a cirque-style show that will be premiering next week at the Rozsa Center.
“It’s a woman’s transformative journey,” she said. “It’s about how we’re either paralyzed by (change) or transformed by it, but ultimately if we embrace our own hero story, we’ll become transformed.”
Read more at the Mining Gazette, by Scott Viau.
The article Faking It by Jennifer Donovan concerns Tech theatre students and the art of illusion.
Each year, students and professionals who work in theatre technology—sound, lighting, costumes, stage effects—gather at the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) annual conference.
“Each year, there is usually one, maybe two student presentations, ordinarily by graduate students,” says Mary Carol Friedrich, associate professor and director of theatre design and technology programs at Michigan Tech. “That our students, all undergrads, were chosen to present speaks to the strength of the very practical and professionally relevant work they are doing in the degree programs in the visual and performing arts department.”
A bent for swordsmithing is about Matt Willett, a Michigan Tech theatre technology student who had dabbled in magic when he was in high school and had seen a sword trick or two.
Willett’s teacher, Assistant Professor Kalen Larson, was so impressed with Willett’s creation that he invited the student to write a paper about it with him.
OMG! From wet head to up-do in five minutes is about Elizabeth LaRouche, who is working as costume shop manager in the Department of Visual and Performing Arts.
Sew faux: painted embroidery for the Shakespearean stage is about Katy Ellenich, a Calumet native who worked at the Calumet Theatre all through high school.
Making every new glove old again is about Morgan Nelson, a third-year costume design student from Cadillac.
Read more at Michigan Tech Magazine, by Jennifer Donovan.
For more color photos, including a high flying performance in Stealing Fire, view the PDF or Flash versions.
Learn more about the BA program in Theatre and Electronic Media Performance and the BS program in Theatre and Entertainment Technology.
Five Tech Students Win International Scholarships
Four Michigan Tech undergraduates applied for Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships this year, and all four received the competitive awards.
Sound design major Christopher Trevino received a Gilman Scholarship for international study.
The Gilman Scholarship program aims to diversify the kinds of students who study abroad by supporting undergraduates who otherwise might not participate in international study due to financial constraints. The grants to Michigan Tech students total $18,000.
Read more at Tech Today.