The 12th Annual Kaleidoscope Arts Festival made its way to Slippery Rock for another two weeks to bring art, dance, music and theater to the university.
The festival is being directed by Dr. Colleen Reilly of the theater department. In her third year as director, she says that the festival is, “a way to create a bridge between Slippery Rock University Arts Programs and the outside community.”
When asked about the students’ and community members’ reaction to Kaleidoscope, she said that it is “met with enthusiasm” and that the students’ favorite event is typically the elaborate opening ceremony.
Particular events of public interest are Children’s Day, the featured play “Good Night Desdemona Good Morning Juliet”, and the array of guest speakers, including local artist Bill Smith.
Children’s Day, the favorite event of Dr. Reilly’s, will occur on Saturday, April 20 from 1 p.m. to 6pm. Children’s Day will also feature the Missoula Children’s Theatre. The traveling children’s theatre will stop in Slippery Rock to bring the production of “Blackbeard the Pirate.” The production will star 60 local children aged from kindergarten to sixth grade.
Dr. Reilly emphasizes the need for children to be exposed to art programs and regards this exposure, “as essential as love” and insists that it is a “necessary life skill”.
The play “Good Night Desdemona Good Morning Juliet” will commence on Friday, April 19, then it will continue on from Sunday, April 21 to Wednesday, April 25. All performances will be held in the Multi-Purpose Room (MPR) of the University Union at 7:30 pm with an additional 2 pm performance on Sunday.
Distinguished performers and speakers during Kaleidoscope include, Jay Smar, Vijaya Lukose, Stanley Murashige, the Hunts, and Bill Smith.
Jay Smar, made his appearance on Thursday, April 18th. Smar is a musician with a theme devoted to Northeastern Pennsylvania coal mining.
Adept at guitar, banjo, fiddle, and vocals, Smar demonstrated his talents to his audience in the Sheehy Theater in the Maltby Center. Vijaya Lukose, author of the book Ten Steps to Become an Air Hostess, will speak Wednesday, April 24 at 6 p.m. in room 105 of the Vincent Science Center.
On Thursday, April 25, Stanley Murashige will host a speech entitled: “Images of the Buddha: Reflections on Buddhist Art”. This will occur during common hour in the Robert M. Smith Student Center Theater.
Local artist, Bill Smith, will make a guest appearance on Saturday, April 27 at 6 p.m. He will converse with the public in the Russell Wright Alumni House and Conference Center.
The last guest will be the Hunts, a family band of nine, who perform covers of Celtic, country, and rock genres. The family will host a step dancing workshop at 1:45 pm at the dance studio in McKay Education Building. The Hunts will also perform at 4 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room of the University Union. These performances will be held on Sunday, April 28, and will conclude the Kaleidoscope Arts Festival.
Featured dance and musical performances include the Third Coast Film Festival, the senior dance synthesis concert: “Here’s the Story”, saxophone quartets, jazz combos, and a solo saxophone recital by Andrew Lake. The senior dance synthesis “Here’s the Story” will occur on Saturday, April 20 and Sunday, April 21. Both days will feature the dancers at 2 pm and 5 pm in Swope Music Hall.
Saxophone quartets will perform in Swope Music Hall at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 23. On Thursday, the 25, the Sheehy Theater in the Maltby Center will feature SRU jazz combos at 7:30 pm. Andrew Lake’s solo saxophone recital is to take place at 7:30 p.m. in Swope Music Hall. Additionally, the Senior Art Exhibit opened on Tuesday, April 16 and will continue to be displayed through Monday, April 22.
Dr. Reilly admits that directing Kaleidoscope comes as a “welcome challenge”, but the most difficult part is projecting the enthusiasm she feels on to the community. “It’s easy to put up posters,” she says, “It’s spreading the excitement that I feel that’s difficult.” She continues on to say that the easiest part of directing is “I get to see amazing art all day, and that’s my job.” The Kaleidoscope Arts Festival will continue until Sunday, April 28.
