Performance season to feature livestreamed concerts and virtual events
Students and faculty in the Millikin University College of Fine Arts are adjusting to a new world of virtual instruction, social distancing and practicing their art in unexpected ways. The new modes of learning on Millikin's campus have led to a reimagined fall 2020 performance season for the College of Fine Arts featuring a combination of in-person and virtual performances in accordance with the University's health and safety regulations.
Millikin University's College of Fine Arts is pleased to announce the following events for its fall 2020 performance season.
School of Theatre & Dance
"This year, the School of Theatre & Dance main stage season looks different than ever before. We are exploring all options for continuing to create theatre and dance performances, while keeping our casts, crews and audiences safe and socially distanced," said Mary Black, director of the School of Theatre & Dance. "Our first production, 'Some Enchanted Evening,' was originally scheduled to be performed at various locations throughout Decatur (Ill.) last spring. This production will now be performed outdoors, on the patio of the new Center for Theatre & Dance, for a limited socially-distanced audience seated in lawn chairs and on blankets on the quad."
Black added, "Our second production, 'The Race,' will examine what Americans are looking for in our next leader as we approach the 2020 elections. This show will be livestreamed on both Facebook and YouTube. Finally, we will produce and record Jason Robert Brown's song cycle, 'Songs for a New World,' which will be available for on-demand streaming in December, and will bring us all hope for what our new world will look like in a post-pandemic world."
"Some Enchanted Evening"
Music by Richard Rodgers, Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, Concept by Jeffrey B. Moss
Sept. 25-27, 2020
Center for Theatre & Dance Patio
Performed for a Limited and Socially-Distanced Audience
Experience the wit and wisdom of Oscar Hammerstein's lyrics buoyantly soaring above the unique melodies of Richard Rodgers. This first-rate revue captures moments from musicals that could only have been created by this famous duo, including "Oklahoma!" "South Pacific," "Carousel" and "The Sound of Music."
"The Race"
By Michael Rohd
Oct. 24, 2020
Livestreamed
In the midst of a global pandemic and civic unrest, this production will use technology to help us come together to discuss and debate the important issues facing our community today. Millikin joins universities and theatre companies across the country in presenting "The Race" as a means of driving civic dialogue and inquiry around the American political system and our relationship to it.
"Songs for a New World"
Music and Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown, Conceived by Daisy Prince
Available digitally on demand Dec. 5, 2020
Written by Tony Award winning composer/lyricist Jason Robert Brown, ("The Bridges of Madison County" and "The Last Five Years"), "Songs for a New World" weaves characters and history together, illuminating the timelessness of self-discovery. A song cycle that examines life, love and the choices that we make, "It's about one moment. It's about hitting the wall and having to make a choice... or take a stand... or turn around and go back."
School of Music
Millikin Symphonic Wind Ensemble I: We're Back!
Sept. 19, 2020
Kirkland Fine Arts Center
7 p.m.
Free Livestreamed Event
Join the Millikin Symphonic Wind Ensemble online as they present an eclectic and exciting variety of chamber music. You will enjoy everything from dramatic brass fanfares, to relaxing woodwind serenades, to engaging contemporary works, all streaming live from Kirkland Fine Arts Center to the comfort of your home.
Millikin Chamber Orchestra Fall Concert
Sept. 26, 2020
Kirkland Fine Arts Center
7:30 p.m.
Free Livestreamed Event
The Millikin Chamber Orchestra Fall Concert gives audiences a unique opportunity to experience the variety produced by an orchestra of strings as well as the many colors imagined by great composers. One of the evening's featured works will be William Grant Still's "Danzas de Panama." The music is full of life and the sounds of the Americas. It will be a great way to start the concert in celebration of our diverse heritage and coming together to make great music.
School of Music Faculty Recital Series featuring Alexandra Rodriguez, David Cook and Pei-I Wang
Oct. 4, 2020
Kaeuper Hall
4 p.m.
Free Livestreamed Event
The first event of the 2020–21 Faculty Recital Series features Alexandra Rodriguez (flute), Dr. David Cook (clarinet) and Dr. Pei-I Wang (piano) in a recital exploring solo and chamber music by six different French composers.
Millikin Symphonic Wind Ensemble Homecoming Concert
Oct. 17, 2020
Kirkland Fine Arts Center
7 p.m.
Pre-Recorded and Streamed Event
The Millikin Symphonic Wind Ensemble's second socially-distanced performance of the year will feature a rich array of chamber music with wonderful woodwind, brass and percussion players of Millikin University, along with esteemed faculty soloists. This contemporary, international program will feature something for everyone.
Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra Masterworks II Opening Night
Oct. 24, 2020
Kirkland Fine Arts Center
7:30 p.m.
Free Livestreamed Event
The Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra (MDSO) will feature one of its very own, David Cook, principal clarinetist of the MDSO, in Mozart's "Clarinet Concerto in A" followed by an exhilarating performance of Respighi's "Ancient Airs and Dances, Suite No. 1."
Flute Choir
Oct. 28, 2020
Kaeuper Hall
7:30 p.m.
Pre-Recorded and Streamed Event
Join Millikin flutists for a concert of flute chamber ensembles featuring music of Buss, Debussy, Haydn, Quantz and Scarlatti. The concert will be pre-recorded and available on the School of Music YouTube channel.
University Percussion Ensemble Halloween Concert
Oct. 29-30, 2020
7:30 p.m.
Pre-Recorded and Streamed Event
Celebrate the spookiest holiday tradition on Millikin's campus. Join the Millikin University Percussion Ensemble for its 14th annual Halloween Concert. This year's free online event will be available on the School of Music YouTube channel.
School of Music Faculty Recital Series featuring Amy Catron and Silvan Negruţiu
Nov. 1, 2020
Kaeuper Hall
4 p.m.
Free Livestreamed Event
Featuring Amy Catron (cello) and Dr. Silvan Negruţiu (piano), the second event of the 2020–21 Faculty Recital Series is inspired by the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth and features the world premiere of a new work by Robert Chumbley that is dedicated to Amy Catron.
Fall Jazz Band Concert
Nov. 5, 2020
Kirkland Fine Arts Center
7:30 p.m.
Free Live streamed Event
Millikin Symphonic Wind Ensemble III
Nov. 16, 2020
Kirkland Fine Arts Center
3 p.m.
Free Livestreamed Event
Guitar Ensemble Concert
Nov. 18, 2020
Kaeuper Hall
5 p.m.
Free Livestreamed Event
Join Millikin's classical and electric guitar ensembles for an exciting evening of music livestreamed from the School of Music's own Kaeuper Hall. The two groups will perform traditional and modern repertoire arranged for guitar ensembles, including classical, jazz and rock styles. Several of the pieces are arranged by Millikin students.
Art Department
Both the Perkinson and Lower Galleries are free and open to the public. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 12 noon to 5 p.m., or by appointment.
Robert Sedestrom: "As I See It," A Collection of Work
Perkinson Gallery
Aug. 31 – Oct. 29, 2020
Robert Sedestrom was born in Detroit, Mich., and lives and works in Chicago, Ill. He received a Bachelor of Science in Design from the University of Michigan and a Master of Fine Arts from the Cranbrook Academy of Art. Sedestrom has received grants and fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Organization of American States, USAID and the Research Foundation of the State of New York. His work can be found in major public and private collections in Europe, Middle East and the United States. Sedestrom is professor emeritus of art at the State University of New York.
Works from the Permanent Collection
Nov. 2 – Jan. 22, 2021
Selected artworks from the Millikin University permanent collection will be displayed featuring a wide range of subject matter, media, techniques and ideas.
Arts Technology & Administration Department
Fall 2020 Arts Technology & Administration Virtual Expo
Dec. 2 – 4, 2020
Featuring live and interactive elements. Prerecorded elements will be released at 6 p.m. each day.
Millikin University's Arts Technology & Administration Department Virtual Expo will feature student work including design, photography, videography, animation, audio production, marketing, interactive media and more. The virtual expo will also feature a High School Showcase where students from any high school can submit work to be shown. Millikin Arts Technology faculty will judge the work and the top pieces can earn up to $5000 in talent scholarships toward Millikin University's Arts Technology & Administration Department.
The arts are a living and vital part of Millikin University's culture, as almost a third of Millikin students study within the College of Fine Arts. For more information about the College of Fine Arts and the fall 2020 performance season, visit millikin.edu/cfa.