The University of Toledo student artwork to appear on area digital billboards January – February, 2016

In collaboration with Lamar Outdoor Advertising, University of Toledo Department of Art students have been invited to display their work on digital billboards throughout the Toledo area. Many students submitted entries. The works chosen will be on display until the end of February 2016.

Assistant professor of art, Barry Whittaker, who coordinated the project, says this is the fourth year UT art students have been invited to have their work displayed. To see the images in this year’s exhibition, visit the online photos album “UT Art Student Billboards 2016” on Facebook.

Student artists participating in this year’s exhibition:

Nikka Geiermann

Katelyn Greenhill

Crystal Hand

Isabel Isaza

Kayla Kirk

Mike Miller

Joseph Okoyomo

Emily Rose

Abbey Ruppel

Brandy Save

Chelsea Thompson

Michelle Trivisonno

Mark Yappueying

Visit the UT Department of Art at http://www.utoledo.edu/comm-arts/art/index.html

The billboards can be found at: Reynolds Road/Corner of Glendale, The Anthony Wayne Trail at City Park, The corner of Alexis and Lewis, Monroe Street/Corner of Laskey, Byrne Road/Airport Highway, Monroe Street/West corner of Douglas, and Erie at Monroe

Source: UT Department of Art – Facebook

University of Toledo to present Sartre’s NO EXIT

The University of Toledo Department of Theatre & Film, will present its production of philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre’s existentialist play, NO EXIT, in February. The play will be directed by UT Theatre student, Andrés Medina.

Performances are Friday, February 19 through Sunday, February 21, and Friday, February 26 through Sunday, February 28. All performances will start at 7:30 p.m., except for Sundays which are at 2 p.m.

NO EXIT written by Jean-Paul Sartre, takes place in hell where three souls are mysteriously placed in the same room. There they are trapped together for eternity, where they begin to realize the binding force keeping them there, is one from within. During the course of the play the characters reflect on their past, and share all of the unforgivable things they have done throughout their lives. The classic theme, “Hell is other people,” is presented as the story begins to unfold.

Medina says he is excited to explore the play’s theme of life after death and intrigued by Sartre’s philosophy. “Everybody wonders about death and the meaning of life. I was also interested in Sartre’s philosophy that human beings supply meaning to the big questions of life and death out of their own experience of each.”

The set will be minimalist says, Medina. “Especially with this kind of play, I prefer to rely on movement, on the actors and their characters, to captivate the audience and hold their interest.”

Medina is a UT senior majoring in Theatre. While NO EXIT is his directorial debut, he assistant directed the UT productions of “Cabaret” and “The Adding Machine.” “The Adding Machine” was invited to be performed at the 2015 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, Region 2. He was also the Assistant Stage Manager for UT’s production of “Orpheus.” Professionally, he served as the Stage manager for the Glacity Theatre Collective’s production of  “House of Vinyl.”

On stage, Medina has played roles in various UT-produced plays such as “Twelfth Night,” “Miss Julie,” “Cabaret,” “Out to Lunch,” “Ghost Light,” “Three Sisters,” “Metamorphoses,” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” His professional acting credits include a role in Glacity Theatre Collective’s “Nightmares Come in Threes.”

Prices for performances of NO EXIT are: $8 – Students, Children; $10 – Seniors (60+), Military, UT Faculty/Staff/Alumni; $15 General Public. To purchase tickets or for more information on this event, visit www.utoledo.tix.com or call 419.530.ARTS (2787)

Cast

·       “Garcin”  Davion T. Brown (double-majoring in Theatre and Communication at UT, senior)

·       “Inez” Olivia M. Pierce (majoring in Theatre and minoring in Art at UT, junior)

·       “Estelle” Christina M. Pinciotti (majoring in Theatre and minoring in Communication at UT, junior)

·       “Valet” Reshi Phillips (double majoring in Theatre & Film at UT, sophomore)

For more information about other events presented by the UT College of Communication and the Arts and its programs, visit www.utoledo.edu/cocaevents.

Twelfth Night – Center for Performing Arts Center Theatre

UT to present two concerts on the Toledo Museum of Art Great Performances in the Great Gallery Series – February 14 and 21

 

The Toledo Museum of Art Great Performances in the Great Gallery series will include two performances – one featuring University of Toledo students and another featuring UT faculty and internationally-acclaimed baritone, Ryan De Ryke.

Sunday, February 14 at 3 p.m. voice and piano students from the UT Department of Music will perform a range of selections from operas and favorite vocal music. The following Sunday, February 21 at 3 p.m., UT professor of piano, Dr. Michael Boyd and De Ryke will perform a program of art song. Highlights from the program include Schumann’s “Dichterliebe” and a cycle of songs by The Smiths arranged by Ryan. Admission to both concerts is free and open to the public.

Current professor of piano at UT – Dr. Boyd received his undergraduate degree from the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, and his master’s and doctoral degrees from Eastman School of Music. Over the years he has given many solo recitals across the country and internationally.

Baritone Ryan De Ryke has studied at the Peabody Conservatory, the RAM, and the National Conservatory of Luxemburg. Aside from his recital career De Ryke is also a regularly traveling soloist in various oratorios. He has worked numerous operatic roles, and has had the opportunity to work with a variety of different groups such as the Haymarket Opera, El Paso Symphony Orchestra, and the Chamber of Chicago.

For more information on these events, visit the museum’s website at http://www.toledomuseum.org/calendar/

For information on other UT arts events, visit http://www.utoledo.edu/cocaevents/index.html

Source: Michael Boyd

Source: UT Department of Music

Dr. Michael Boyd, a University of Toledo professor, and violinist Merwin Siu of the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, will perform a program of Stravinsky’s works for violin and piano, recreating a concert Stravinsky himself performed on the same stage 81 years ago with violinist Samuel Dushkin. The event is set to take place Saturday, January 23 at 2 p.m. in the Toledo Museum of Art Peristyle. Admission is free.

The University of Toledo Department of Music has long collaborated with the Toledo Museum of Art, providing many performers for the TMA’s Great performances in the Great Gallery series. “I give a lot of credit to Scott Boberg [TMA Manager of Programs and Audience Engagement], says Dr. Boyd. “The concert was his brainchild, to recreate Stravinsky’s Peristyle concert. It was a great honor to be asked to play the Peristyle and I always enjoy the opportunity to perform with such a wonderful violinist as Merwin Siu”.

Dr. Boyd, a Steinway artist and renowned pianist, is a professor of piano at The University of Toledo. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, and his master’s and doctoral degrees from Eastman School of Music. Dr. Boyd has played many solo recitals throughout the years. He has also had the honor of performing across the country and internationally as well, and has presented two music lectures in Spain.

Merwin Siu and Dr. Boyd perform regularly with cellist, Damon Coleman of the Toledo Symphony. The three comprise the Bezonian Trio, a chamber ensemble.

Source: Michael Boyd

Students will unleash their own brand of creativity when The University of Toledo Department of Theatre & Film hosts the annual 24 Hour Plays, to be presented Saturday, January 30, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. in the UT Center for Performing Arts Center Theatre. The event is being coordinated by the UT chapter of Alpha Psi Omega, the national theatre fraternity.

For the performers, the mayhem begins the night before on Friday when students are divided into teams whose members collaborate to write, produce and rehearse the play. They have until just before show time on Saturday to pull it together for performance.

“It’s always amazing to me how the deadline crunch squeezes out some of the most creative juice from our students. They always have a blast doing it and audiences always enjoy it too,” says Dr. Edmund Lingan, Chair of the UT Department of Theatre & Film. “Most of the plays end up being short comedies, but not always. You just never know exactly what they’re going to come up with, but it’s always a fun time.”

For those wishing to participate in the 24 Hour Plays, sign up sheets are available on the Alpha Psi Omega bulletin board in the UT Center for Performing Arts (near the vending machines).

Tickets to the 24 Hour Plays are sold in advance or at the door for $10 general admission, and just $5 for students, children, seniors, members of the military and all UT faculty and staff. Advance tickets are available through the Center for Performing Arts Box Office by calling 419.530.ARTS (2787) or online at www.utoledo.Tix.com.