Wheaton offers full slate of events in new arts center

Wheaton students return to the classroom on January 28 for the opening of the spring semester. As the semester gets underway, there are a number of events for both students and members of the local community to anticipate in Wheaton's renovated arts center, Watson Fine Arts Center and Mars Arts and Humanities.

The following highlights are just a small sampling of upcoming cultural events open to the public. For a complete listing of arts events available this spring at Wheaton, consult the Wheaton arts brochure or e-mail arts@wheatoncollege.edu.

Feb. 1-Feb. 28: "True Blue" art exhibition
Visiting assistant professor of art Helen Beckman Kaplan will exhibit gouache drawings from her "True Blue" series. Davis Art Court, Mars Arts and Humanities.

Feb. 5: Loser Concert Series featuring violinist Joshua Bell
Joshua Bell, Grammy-award winning violinist brings his lyrical musicianship to Wheaton. Cole Memorial Chapel. SOLD OUT AS OF 1/23/2002

Feb. 7: Fiction reading
Author Jill McCorkle will read from her novels Creatures of Habit, Carolina Moon and others. A reception and book signing to follow. Meneely 301, Mars Arts and Humanities.

Feb. 19: Tropp Lecture Series featuring educator Beverly Daniel Tatum
Dean of the College and Professor of Psychology and Education at Mt. Holyoke College, Tatum focuses her work on race relations in America, particularly black families in white America, racial identity in teens and race in the classroom. Tatum is best known for her 1997 book, Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?: And Other Conversations About Race. Time and location, TBA

Feb. 21: Otis Social Justice Lecture featuring writer Barbara Ehrenreich
Barbara Ehrenreich is a political essayist and social critic who tackles a diverse range of issues in books and magazine articles. She is the author or co-author of twelve books including Fear of Falling: The Inner Life of the Middle Class, Blood Rites: Origins and History of the Passions of War and Nickle and Dimed: Surviving in Low-Wage America. Time and location TBA.

March 17: Celtic concert
The Southeastern Mass. Wind Symphony performs music on St. Patrick's Day from Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. Suggested donation: $5 adults, $ students/seniors. $10 family. Weber Theatre, Watson Fine Arts, 3 p.m.

March 21-23: The Vagina Monologues
Eve Ensler's compelling work, The Vagina Monologues, performed by Wheaton students and faculty with a special appearance by President Dale Marshall. Proceeds to be donated to local non-profit organizations for women. For ticket information, please contact the Wheaton Ticket Office at 508-286-3575. Watson Experimental Theatre, Watson Fine Arts, 7:30 p.m.

Mar. 25: Ruby Lecture featuring educator E.D.Hirsch
Known for his controversial views on K-12 education, Hirsch is the founder and chairman of the non-profit Core Knowledge Foundation and Professor of Education and Humanities at the University of Virginia. He is the author of several books on education issues including the bestseller Cultural Literacy and The Schools We Need and Why We Don't Have Them.

April 10: Ruby Lecture featuring anthropologist Mary Catherine Bateson
Bateson is a cultural anthropologist who has written and co-authored numerous books and articles and is president of the Institute for Intercultural Studies in New York City. Her most recent book, Full Circles, describes a course on women's life histories that she taught at Spelman College.

April 18, 19, 20 and 25, 26, 27: A Midsummer Night's Dream
Shakespeare's magical and maddening night in the moonlit woods. Come join Puck, Bottom and company in this classic, comic ride through bush and briar. Tickets: $5 general admission, $2 students and seniors. Special opening night performance April 18 begins at 8 p.m. For ticket information, please contact the Wheaton Ticket Office at 508-286-3575. Weber Theatre, Watson Fine Arts, 7:30 p.m.

April 30: World Music Ensemble
Wheaton student musicians perform world music traditions from South Africa, Indonesia, aboriginal Australia, India and the U.S. Cole Memorial Chapel, 7:30 p.m.

May 3, 4 and 17: Confronting September 11
Theatre arts majors in the Class of 2002 fashion a multimedia presentation centering on the staggering events of that late summer morning. Through interviews, original inscriptions, music, dance and projected visuals, students try to make sense of the world they are about to enter. Weber Theatre, Watson Fine Arts May 3 and 4, 7:30 p.m., May 17 4 p.m.

For directions to Wheaton, go to www.wheatoncollege.edu/about/directions or call 508-286-5602. For more information on spring events at Wheaton, contact the Office of Communications at 508-286-8235.