Participate in USU's Arts Week 2012 Jan. 17-21

Utah State University’s Caine College of the Arts (CCA) invites community members and students to be part of Arts Week 2012. The week’s activities showcase the programs and talents in the college — both student and faculty.

With a variety of artistic events, including performances, concerts, exhibits and a networking activity, the week is meant to connect people and programs throughout the community.

“Arts Week is a terrific occasion and a great way to continue tradition for the college,” said Craig Jessop, dean of the Caine College of the Arts.

Traveling campus performers, known as CCA Buskers, are back and ready to entertain university audiences with musical magic Jan. 17-19 at a variety of locations throughout campus.

A networking dinner designed especially for USU students features honored alumni — interior designer Nathan Fischer and ceramics program director Forrest Lesch-Middleton. The dinner is Jan. 17 and provides an opportunity for students to connect with professionals (see full schedule for cost/ticket details).

The Caine College of the Arts will host two performances of Raising Caine, a musical concert, featuring CCA faculty, staff and students that will lighten the evening Jan. 18. The Raising Caine concert was a “hit” during the first Arts Week in 2011. Two performances are offered this year for the popular entertainment.

“We are proud to share the talents of our students and faculty with the community,” said Jessop. “We are honored to collaborate with distinguished USU alumni and other special guests.”

Following the first Raising Caine performance, work produced by USU sculpture students working with first year professor Ryoichi Suzuki will be unveiled. The unveiling is free and open to the public and can be seen at the promenade area outside the USU Performance Hall.

For the first time at Utah State, students will be able to compete in USU’s Got Talent Jan. 19. Students from across campus will compete as singers, dancers, comedians and many other acts during this first-time activity.

The Grand Gala event, featuring Broadway star Christiane Noll, is Friday, Jan. 20, at 7:30 p.m. and provides an evening of glitz, glam and world-class entertainment. The Gala will also honor top students as well as artistic highlights from the Caine College of the Arts fall 2011 semester.  In addition to the CCA students, two previous theater department faculty members and department heads, Sid G. Perkes and W. Vosco Call, will be honored.

“Sid and Vosco have inspired generations of performing and creative artists and it is our great pleasure to honor their achievements,” said Jessop. “We’re excited to recognize, at the Grand Gala, these individuals as well as a number of students from the Caine College of the Arts who have excelled during the past year.”

Activities conclude Saturday, Jan. 21, with the Prix Fixe: Dinner and a Show. The dinner-drama provides an opportunity to experience dinner at the Bluebird Restaurant, located on 19 N. Main St. in Logan, and an Old Lyric Repertory Company production of Greater Tuna by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears and Ed Howard starring the OLRC’s very own W. Lee Daily and Stefan Espinosa at the Caine Lyric Theatre, located at 28 W. Center St. in Logan.

For tickets and more information on Arts Week 2012, visit the CCA Box office located in room 139-B of the Chase Fine Arts Center on USU’s campus, call 435-797-8022 or go online to the college website (arts.usu.edu).

The list of events for Arts Week 2012 includes:

Jan. 17-19

Second Annual Student Art Sale:  All day, Taggart Student Center Ballroom

USU art students again offer some of their best work for sale to the campus community during Arts Week 2012. There will be lots of variety as students from many disciplines display affordable art for just three days in the TSC.

CCA Buskers: All day, USU campus

Bold performers from the Caine College of the Arts will take the stage in various university buildings.

Free and open to the public

Jan. 17

Networking Dinner: 5:30-7 p.m., Tippetts Exhibit Hall, Chase Fine Arts Center

Honored Alumni: Nathan Fischer, design principal of Stiles Fischer Interiors, and Forrest Lesch-Middleton, ceramics program director of the Sonoma Community Arts Center.

$8 for networking dinner | $10 for both networking dinner and “Raise Your Voice with ‘The Sound of Music.’” Tickets available at the door.

Raise Your Voice with “The Sound of Music”: 7:30 p.m., Morgan Theatre, Chase Fine Arts Center

$5 general admission | $3 USU students w/ID

Jan. 18

Art Exhibit: Marion R. Hyde Opening Reception: 4:30 p.m., Tippetts Exhibit Hall, Chase Fine Arts Center

The exhibition highlights the most recent work of Utah State’s emeritus professor of art Marion R. Hyde. Professor Hyde retired from the Department of Art in 2002 after more than 33 years of dedicated service, including 12 years as department head. Since retirement, Hyde has worked in oil and pastel to create images that both represent and abstract the Utah landscape. A wide selection of his best works are featured in this opening exhibition of the 2012 season.

Free and open to the public

Raising Caine: A Concert Showcasing Faculty, Staff and Students: 6 & 8 p.m., USU Performance Hall

The Caine College of the Arts hosts the popular “Raising Caine,” a musical concert featuring CCA faculty, staff and students. See these performers in a new light. (see related story)

$10 adults | $8 seniors and youth |$5 USU faculty and staff | Free for USU students w/ID

Fire & Ice: Sculpture Showcase: 7:15 p.m., Performance Hall Promenade

Work produced by sculpture students working with first year professor, Ryoichi Suzuki, will be featured in this unique unveiling.

Free and open to the public

Jan. 19

Second Annual Design Star: 4-7 p.m., Sunburst Lounge, Taggart Student Center

The interior design program presents a magnificent light display to illuminate the winter sky.

Free and open to the public

USU’s Got Talent: 7:30-9:30 p.m., Morgan Theatre, Chase Fine Arts Center

USU students from across campus will compete in a colorful array as singers, dancers, comedians and many other acts.

$5 general admission | $3 w/a can of food

Jan. 20

Grand Gala featuring Christiane Noll: 7:30 p.m., Kent Concert Hall, Chase Fine Arts Center

The Grand Gala event features Broadway star Christiane Noll and provides an evening of glitz, glam and world-class entertainment. The Gala will also honor top students as well as artistic highlights from the CCA fall 2011 semester from art, theater, music and interior design. Long-time theater arts faculty members W. Vosco Call and Sid Perkes will be honored for their career-long dedication to the arts and the university. (see related story)

$10 adults | $8 seniors and youth | $5 USU faculty and staff | Free for USU students w/ID

Jan. 21

Prix Fixe: Dinner and a Show

Show: 3 and 7:30 p.m. | Old Lyric Repertory Company presents Greater Tuna, Caine Lyric Theatre, 28 W. Center St., Logan

Dinner: 4:30 p.m. | Bluebird Restaurant, 19 N. Main St., Logan

Experience dinner and a show in historic downtown Logan. Enjoy dinner at the Bluebird Restaurant and be whisked off to rural Texas in the Old Lyric Repertory Company’s rendition of Greater Tuna at the historic Caine Lyric Theatre.

Rated I for Intermediate – Recommended for children age 8 and older.

$15 dinner and a show | $10 show only

Jan. 26

Basketball Halftime Show: 7:05 p.m., Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, USU vs. Hawaii

The Caine College of the Arts will take the court during the USU Aggie Basketball game halftime show. The CCA’s visual spectacle is bound to have the famous Aggie fans dancing in the aisles.

More information about the 2012 Arts Week is at the Caine College of the Arts website.

Writer: Rachelle Nielson, 435-797-9203, rachelle.nielson@usu.edu

Contact: Denise Albiston, 435-797-1500, denise.albiston@usu.edu