eInside Events

Kent State University Roe Green Visiting Director Series Presents “Spring Awakening”

Tony Award winner Michael Rupert to direct production

Tony Award-winning actor Michael Rupert
will direct the "Spring Awakening" production
by Kent State's School of Theatre and Dance.

Kent State University’s School of Theatre and Dance continues its 2012-2013 season with “Spring Awakening,” as part of the Roe Green Visiting Director Series. Tony Award-winning actor Michael Rupert will direct the production. The show will run Feb. 15-24 at Kent State’s E. Turner Stump Theatre in the Music and Speech Building at 1325 Theatre Dr., on the Kent Campus. The Feb. 17 and 24 performances will be held at 2 p.m., and all other shows will be held at 8 p.m.

“Spring Awakening” is an exhilarating and provocative rock musical about first loves, youthful passions and lasting regrets, focusing on teens coming of age in late 19th-century Germany. The musical won eight Tony Awards in 2007. Please note: the show contains mature themes.

“Spring Awakening’s” book and lyrics are by Steven Sater, with music by Duncan Sheik. The musical is based on the play of the same name by Frank Wedekind.

Visiting director Michael Rupert is an actor, director and composer. Rupert has appeared on Broadway in such shows as Legally Blonde, Ragtime, Pippin, City of Angels and the 1986 revival of Sweet Charity, a performance for which he won a Tony Award and Drama Desk Award.

As a composer, Rupert wrote the off-Broadway musical 3 Guys Naked from the Waist Down and the Broadway musical Mail. His directing credits include Thrill Me with York Theater Company and Breaking the Code with Weathervane Playhouse.

Wendla will be played by senior theatre studies major Meredith Kochan, Melchoir by senior theatre studies major Michael Glavan, and Moritz by senior theatre studies major Jesse Markowitz.

Single tickets for “Spring Awakening” are free for full-time, undergraduate Kent State students, $8 for non-Kent State students with valid ID or students under 18, $14 for Kent State faculty, staff and Alumni Association members, $12 for seniors (60+), and $16 for adults. Groups of 10 or more are $10 per person.

Kent State students can earn FLASHperks by attending the Wednesday, Feb. 20 performance.

Tickets are available at the Performing Arts Box Office (PABO) located in the lobby of the Roe Green Center in the Music and Speech Building at 1325 Theatre Dr. on the Kent Campus. The box office hours are weekdays noon to 5 p.m., and one hour prior to each performance.

Tickets and more information are also available by calling 330-672-ARTS (2787) or by visiting http://theatre.kent.edu.

Two Award-Winning Poets to Present at Wick Poetry Center

The Wick Poetry Center’s annual reading series resumes with two notable poets, Lisa Ampleman and Heather Kirn Lanier, on Tuesday, Feb. 19, at 7:30 p.m. at the Kent Student Center. The event is free and open to the public.

“It is always a really nice opportunity for students to meet with visiting poets,” says Jessica Jewell, program coordinator for the Wick Poetry Center. “The poets do a Q & A for students in the Wick Poetry Corner.”

Lisa Ampleman and Heather Kirn Lanier, both award-winning poets, will read from their chapbooks, published by the Kent State University Press, as well as from their new works.

Ampleman has received several awards throughout her career, including the Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Prize and was a finalist in the Ruth Lily Poetry Fellowship Contest. Ampleman’s chapbook of poems, I’ve Been Collecting This to Tell You, was a winner of the 2010 Wick Chapbook competition. Ampleman has poems featured in several books, including Cave Well, Court Green and Massachusetts Review, among others. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Beloit College and continued her education at George Mason University for her master’s.

Lanier is the author of Teaching in the Terrordome: Two Years in West Baltimore with Teach For America. She has received multiple recognitions throughout her nonfiction career, including the winner of the 2010 Wick Chapbook competition. She has noted work in The Best American Essays Series and the Atlantic Monthly. Lanier also has several published stories in literary journals, including The Southern Review, Fourth Genre and The Cincinnati Review, along with others.

The reading series is an annual event that hosts writers, both emerging and established, to provide readings, lectures and workshops. The series showcases writers and poets ranging from award winners, to young children.

“Since these poets have won the Wick competition, they have gone on to have good publications,” says Jewell. “We are thrilled to host these two poets and look forward to an exciting semester in our Reading Series."

For more information, visit www.kent.edu/wick.

The Dish Blogger Andrew Sullivan to Speak at Kent State Guest of Honor University Artist/Lecture Series

Journalist, author and The Dish blogger Andrew Sullivan will present “Knowing (and Loving) Thine Enemy: Gays, Conservatives and Common Ground” at Kent State’s Guest of Honor University Artist/Lecture Series on Tuesday, Feb. 12, at 6 p.m., in the Kent Student Center Kiva. A reception will follow at 7:30 p.m. in Room 204 at the Kent Student Center. This event is free and open to the public.

Sullivan is known for his provocative, astute, political and social commentary, as well as sharp debating skills. Along with blogging for The Dish, Sullivan is a regular panelist on The Chris Matthews Show and Real Time with Bill Maher. He is a contributor to the Newsweek and The Daily Beast, and a columnist for The Sunday Times of London. He was one of the first journalists to experiment with blogging. Sullivan now writes 250 to 300 posts per week for The Dish that include incisive analysis and observations about the politics, sociocultural issues, foreign affairs and religion. His blog reaches more than 1.3 million subscribers.

Sullivan was The New Republic’s youngest editor-in-chief, and has been acknowledged for making the magazine more relevant to his generation. He was named Editor of the Year by AdWeek and has received multiple National Magazine Awards. More recently, he served as senior editor for The Atlantic after working for Time and The New York Times.

Sullivan is the author of five books, most notably Virtually Normal: An Argument about Homosexuality, known as the first text to advocate civil marriage rights for gay couples. Sullivan is a practicing Catholic, but challenges the church’s beliefs on gay life.

The Guest of Honor University Artist/Lecture Series is funded by the Office of the Provost and coordinated by the Honors College. Notify the Honors College at 330-672-2312 if special accommodations for disabilities are needed.

To see examples of Sullivan’s blogs, visit http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com.

Why is Change So Hard?

Cynthia Ackrill, M.D., noted speaker and
president of Wellspark, will speak about
why change is hard on Feb. 15 at the Kent
Student Center Kiva.

That will be the topic for a special presentation on Friday, Feb. 15, at Kent State University. Cynthia Ackrill, M.D., noted speaker and president of Wellspark, will speak at 10 a.m. in the Kent Student Center Kiva on “Habit Shifting - Why It Is So Hard to Make a Change, and How to Make it Easier; The Neuroscience of Behavior Change.” The session is open to faculty, staff and students.

Change is always difficult, whether it is your New Year’s resolution, losing weight or getting that job promotion. Ackrill explores the role of the brain (neurological) and body (physiological) in changing habits, and what you can do to help produce the results you want.

Today’s problems demand extraordinary leadership. And such leadership requires developing the best of human potential — physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Ackrill’s mission is to drive innovative change by applying science and wisdom to help extraordinary leaders enhance their skills.

Ackrill is a graduate of Duke University and the University of Maryland School of Medicine, a Fellow and Board Member of the American Institute of Stress, a charter member of HeartMath, and a former board member of the International Society of Neurofeedback and Research. She is also a certified Wellcoach® and Wellness Inventory coach, and has completed training in advanced executive coaching, positive psychology and intrinsic motivation.

Registration to attend the program is requested and can be done online. For those unable to attend, the session will be streamed live. You can access the live stream link here on Feb. 15, about 15 minutes prior to the start of the program.

The program is sponsored by Kent State OneWellU wellness program and the College of Nursing.

Faculty Concert at Ludwig Recital Hall on Feb. 16

Cellist Keith Robinson and pianist Donna
Lee will perform together during the Faculty
Concert on Feb. 16 at the Ludwig Recital Hall
in the Music and Speech Building.

Cellist Keith Robinson and pianist Donna Lee will perform together in the Ludwig Recital Hall, Feb. 16 at 3 p.m. The program will include “Adagio” by Benedetto Marcello, as well as works by Camille Saint-Saëns and Richard Strauss. The concert is free and open to the public.

Robinson and Lee released a CD together last year on Blue Griffin Recording, titled “Mendelssohn: Complete Works for Cello and Piano.” The pair has also performed “The Complete Works for Cello and Piano by Beethoven” together on many occasions.

Robinson is a founding member of the Miami String Quartet and has been active as a chamber musician, recitalist and soloist since his graduation from the Curtis Institute of Music. Robinson has had numerous solo appearances with orchestras throughout the U.S. including the New World Symphony, The American Sinfonietta and the Miami Chamber Symphony.

Highlights of recent seasons include performances in New York City at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall, engagements in Boston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, New Orleans, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Paul and Philadelphia. Internationally, Robinson has performed in Bern, Cologne, Istanbul, Lausanne, Montreal, Rio de Janeiro, Hong Kong, Taipei and Paris.

Lee, pianist and associate professor of music at Kent State University, has appeared as a soloist and collaborative artist at Kennedy Center’s Concert Hall and Terrace Theater in Washington, D.C. and Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall in New York City. She has also performed in Asia, Europe and throughout the U.S., with recent performances in Wuhan, China; Brno, Czech Republic; and Maui, Hawaii.

Lee earned her doctorate from Peabody Conservatory of The Johns Hopkins University, her masters from The Juilliard School, and her bachelor of music degree from the University of Maryland, College Park, where she studied with prominent artist-teachers Julian Martin, the late Rudolf Firkusny and Thomas Schumacher, respectively.

For more information, visit www.kent.edu/music or call 330-672-2172.

Cleveland News Anchor Leon Bibb to Speak at Kent State University Regional Academic Center in Twinsburg

WEWS-TV5 news anchor Leon Bibb will speak at the Kent
State University Regional Academic Center in Twinsburg
during its Diversity Enrichment program on Feb. 12.

Join the Kent State University Regional Academic Center in Twinsburg for its Diversity Enrichment program on Tuesday, Feb. 12, at 7 p.m. Leon Bibb, news anchor with Cleveland’s WEWS-TV5, will speak at the event, which is free and open to the public.

Bibb is Ohio’s first African-American primetime news anchor. He hosts WEWS-TV5’s Sunday morning show "Kaleidoscope," which focuses on urban issues in Cleveland.

Bibb has covered several national stories, including an interview at the White House with President George H.W. Bush, the first interview with Neil Armstrong, 10 years after his historic first walk on the moon, as well as coverage of The Persian Gulf War. Among Bibb’s many honors are several local Emmys, the Distinguished Journalist Award from the Cleveland Chapter of the Society for Professional Journalists, as well as the Excellence in Journalism Awards from the Cleveland Press Club. Bibb has also been inducted into several Halls of Fame, including the Broadcaster’s Hall of Fame, Bowling Green State University School of Journalism Hall of Fame, Associated Press Ohio Broadcasters Hall of Fame, and the Cleveland Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

For more information, contact Constance Longmire, Ph.D., at 330-888-6400.

Medieval Music Ensemble Bernardus to Perform Feb. 14 in Ludwig Recital Hall

“The Eternal Flame: Visions of Love Throughout the
Medieval World” will be performed by Medieval music
ensemble Bernardus on Feb. 14 at the Ludwig Recital Hall,
located in the Music and Speech Building.

Medieval music ensemble Bernardus will perform “The Eternal Flame: Visions of Love Throughout the Medieval World” Feb. 14 at 5:30 p.m. in Ludwig Recital Hall, located in the Music and Speech Building on the Kent Campus.

The group, named after the troubadour Bernard de Ventadorn, presents the compelling and rarely heard repertoire of the Middle Ages. Performers include founding members, Associate Professor of Music Jay White (countertenor), and Assistant Professor of Music Craig Resta (vielle), along with Associate Professor of Theatre Eric van Baars, and Assistant Professor of Music Marla Berg (readers).

This program offers a unique look at how medieval citizens expressed the various emotions and forms of love, both sacred and secular. The repertoire includes troubadour song, art images and poetic readings to illustrate love and passion among the lives of courtiers, troubadours and crusaders.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.kent.edu/music or call 330-672-2172.

American Heart Association’s HeartChase Race Comes to Kent State

The American Heart Association’s HeartChase is coming to Kent State on Saturday, March 16. This innovative competition offers the community a creative way to explore the university, have a good time and contribute to an important cause.

HeartChase is a new event that allows all participants the chance to have an adventure, without having to leave their city, and raise money to support the life-saving work of the American Heart Association. The adventure takes teams throughout the university where they are going to have to solve clues to complete checkpoints in the quickest time possible – to beat the other teams and be named as HeartChase champions. This interactive race allows teams to track their points using a smartphone application that also guides them through the course.

Faculty, staff and students can register their teams today for this fun and exciting event. For more information, visit the HeartChase community website at www.heartchase.org. Once there, select “Join the Chase” and search for Kent, Ohio. Next, select the “HeartChase Kent, Ohio” event and click “Register.”

For more information, contact Mark Lyberger at mlyberge@kent.edu or Katie Goldring at kgoldrin@kent.edu.

Football Signing Day Party Takes Place Feb. 6 at Quaker Steak & Lube

Join the Kent State football coaching staff and members of the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics on Wednesday, Feb. 6, for a National Signing Day Party at Quaker Steak & Lube in the lower level of the Kent Student Center from 5:30-7:30 p.m. A live radio show with football color analyst Rob Polinsky will begin at 6 p.m. He will be joined by new Kent State head football coach Paul Haynes.

Main Street Kent 2013 Chocolate Walk

Participating downtown Kent businesses
will hand out chocolate goodies during the
2013 Chocolate Walk on Feb. 9. Advance ticket
purchase is required for participants.

Main Street Kent announces the 2013 Chocolate Walk, which will take place in downtown Kent on Saturday, Feb. 9, from 1-5 p.m. Tickets are now on sale and must be purchased in advance at $15 per person. Two hundred tickets are available and can be purchased online at www.mainstreetkent.org or in person at McKay Bricker Framing & Gallery. This is a rain, snow or shine event and tickets are nonrefundable. All proceeds will benefit Main Street Kent.

The day of the event, ticketholders will go to Earl's Nest (located in Acorn Alley) to pick up their Chocolate Walk "passes" and bags to collect their chocolate goods. Then, at their leisure, they can go to each of the participating businesses to gather a chocolate surprise at each one.

Just in time for a pre-Valentine’s Day activity, people can take a loved one out for the afternoon or grab a friend and enjoy this excursion in downtown Kent. It is a great opportunity to explore some of the new places in Kent, as well as the classics. To date, participating businesses have included the following: Arctic Squirrel, Baked in the Village Café, Bent Tree Coffee Roasters, Carman and Pugh Photography, Downtown Gallery, Empire, FJKluth Art Gallery, Gracy Lane, HOME International Markets, Laziza, McKay Bricker Framing and Black Squirrel Gifts, Off the Wagon, Pita Pit, Pufferbelly, UniversiTees, Wild Earth Outfitters and more.

Main Street Kent is a non-profit organization focused on the revitalization of downtown Kent. It is an affiliate of the national Main Street program and the Heritage Ohio program.