Want to plan your Summer Arts performance experience? Here are 5 picks to guide your way
Happy opening to CSU Summer Arts, which kicks off its new season today (Monday, March 24) with the first of a pair of two-week sessions involving artist professionals and students from throughout the California State University system. The month-long festival features a series of public performances. We asked the Summer Arts staff to help compile this list of five picks:
LIVE COMEDY: An Evening of Chicago Style Comedy
June 29: Prepare yourself for a hilarious mix of improv and sketch comedy from artists from Chicago’s Second City and more, including: Amy Seeley, Jamie Moyer, Mike Ross, Patrick Rowland, and Carlos Santos. (Mature themes)
THEATRICAL PERFORMANCE: Shakespeare & Company
July 9: Award-Winning actress MaConnia Chesser will perform a modern-day retelling of Homer’s classic An Iliad. Poetry and humor, the ancient tale of the Trojan War and the modern world collide in this captivating theatrical experience. MaConnia’s performance as the poet is beautiful, irreverent and powerful. (Mature themes)
FILM SCREENING: Fabulous Fresno: “Paris is Burning” screening, conversation, and drag reception
July 11: Join us for a screening of the award-winning film “Paris is Burning” hosted by Cuautémoc Peranda. Cuautémoc will lead a discussion with Dr. Katherine Fobear and Professor Dion Foster about the cultural, historical, and aesthetic significant of this documentary that explores race, class, gender, and sexuality in America. (Mature themes)
A reception with drag performances will follow the event featuring Dr. Angel Gonzalez, Lucy Yale, and Miguel Cisneros. All tickets are $5.
CONCERT: An Evening With The John Santos Quartet
July 12: A Summer Arts favorite! The John Santos Quartet returns to Fresno for an electrifying evening of Latin Jazz. Move to the rhythms of four-time Latin Grammy nominee John Santos (percussion and vocals), Marco Diaz (piano and trumpet), Saul Sierra (bass), and David Flores (drums).
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DANCE PERFORMANCE: Dohee Lee Puri Arts “Ritual on the Road”
July 13: Experience the powerful performance of Oakland based artist Dohee Lee’ Puri Arts (DLPA) using dance, visual art, and soundscapes, including traditional instrumental and vocal music. The performance includes Puri Arts collaborators and live musicians.
BONUS: STUDENT SHOWCASES
Summer Arts Student Showcases are the season’s best kept secret. They are the product of two weeks of intensive study at a master level under the tutelage of guest artists.
All student showcases are free of charge to the public.
Friday, July 5
Social Action Writing – 4 p.m. John Wright Theatre
Hip Hop & Street Dance – 7:30 p.m. John Wright Theatre
Saturday, July 6
Process-Oriented Photography – 11 a.m. Phebe Conley Art Gallery
Screen Scoring – 2 p.m., John Wright Theatre
Scoring for Video Games – beginning at 3 p.m. and running concurrently with events through the afternoon, John Wright Theatre
Devising New Work Through Dance/Theatre- 4 p.m. John Wright Theatre
Chicago-Style Comedy – 7:30 p.m. John Wright Theatre
Friday, July 19
Triple Threat: Writing for Film, TV, And Theatre – 2 p.m., John Wright Theatre
Comics and Graphic Storytelling Workshop – 4 p.m. John Wright Theatre
Dance Improvisation & Ritual – 7:30 p.m. John Wright Theatre
Saturday, July 20
Art >Anthropocene<Action Exhibit – 11 a.m. Phebe Conley Art Gallery
Jazz Con Clave – 2 p.m., John Wright Theatre
The Business of Acting – beginning at 1 p.m. and running concurrently with events through the afternoon, John Wright Theatre
Animation Production Studio – 4 p.m. John Wright Theatre
Shakespeare & Company – 7:30 p.m. John Wright Theatre
