Southeastern Dance, concerts and art exhibits highlight Fanfare's third week
Wednesday, October 8, 2014 
by: Tonya Lowentritt
DISCUSSING TOLKIEN– Southeastern Associate Professor of English Jeff Wiemelt will present the Then and Now Lecture "J.R.R. Tolkien: History and the Mythological Imagination" on Oct. 15 at 1 p.m. in Pottle Auditorium. The free lecture is part of Fanfare, Southeastern's annual fall festival of the arts, humanities and social sciences.
HAMMOND – A pair of dance presentations, musical concerts and art exhibit openings, are just some of the events on tap for the third week of Southeastern Louisiana University's Fanfare, a month long celebration of the arts, humanities and social sciences.
Southeastern Dance will present "Danceapalooza" Oct. 14 at 7:30 p.m. in Vonnie Borden Theatre in D Vickers Hall on Southeastern's campus. The concert will feature dances created on the spot. Dances to be performed have not been rehearsed, as the dancers will only receive instructions outlined on paper. The program will showcase the dancers' ability to spontaneously create movement designs from a map or score structured by selected students and faculty.
Southeastern Dance will present a second concert on Oct. 17 titled "It Was the 80s" at 7:30 p.m. in Vonnie Borden Theatre. The concert remembers the 1980s with choreographed works selected by students and faculty. Themes include MTV, arcades, the "Fame" television series, Sun Myung Moon, AIDS, Tiananmen Square and the Capital Hill murders.
Tickets for both concerts are $5 and will be sold one hour before the concert.
The Then and Now Lecture Series continues Oct. 15 with a free presentation by Jeff Wiemelt titled "J.R.R. Tolkien: History and the Mythological Imagination." Scheduled for 1 p.m. in Pottle Auditorium, the free lecture explores the historical and mythological sensibilities that gave life to Tolkien's fantasy fiction and that continue to engage readers, writers and fans today.
On Oct. 16, Southeastern's Contemporary Art Gallery will open three exhibits: Street Art to Gallery Art by artist Joseph Staples of Vancouver, Canada and painter and graphic designer Chic Connell of Nashville; Spinning on the Enola Gay Hangar Until I Make Myself Sick by photographer Lisa K. Blatt; and the Alumni Designers Exhibition guest-curated by award-winning photo journalist and graphic designer Tony Romain. All three exhibits will remain open through Nov. 7. Gallery hours are Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and from 2 to 5 p.m. on Homecoming Day, Saturday, Oct. 18.
Fanfare's third week also includes:
▪ A benefit concert for Columbia Theatre and Fanfare by the band Impaired Faculties is scheduled for Oct. 16 at the Columbia Theatre. Tickets are $12 for Southeastern faculty, staff, and the general public and $5 for Southeastern students with a university ID. Tickets can be purchased at the Columbia Theatre Box Office at 220 East Thomas Street in Hammond, which is open 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday-Friday, or by phone at 985-543-4371.
▪ The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra will perform on Oct. 18 at Columbia Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Reserved tickets are $35 and $20 and are available at www.lpomusic.com.
▪ Masters of Soul, a tribute group that celebrates the legendary songs and performances that defined Motown and soul music, will perform on Sunday, Oct. 19, at Columbia Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range are $20 and $34 and can be purchased at the Columbia/Fanfare box office, 220 E. Thomas Street, 985-543-4371.
Fanfare tickets are on sale at the Columbia/Fanfare box office, 220 E. Thomas Street, 985-543-4371. The box office is open Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. and one hour prior to Columbia performances. For a complete schedule, contact the Columbia/Fanfare office at 985-543-4366 or visit columbiatheatre.org.
