Cowley College has exciting arts lineup

Many exciting performances are scheduled to take place during the 2007-08 academic year at Cowley College. Here are some of the performances you won’t want to miss.

Crazy for You - October 18-21
The fall musical “Crazy for You” is a two act tap dancing musical comedy for stage written by Ken Ludwig featuring music by Ira and George Gershwin. This musical is to a large extent an adaptation of the George and Ira Gershwin-written musical Girl Crazy (1930).
Crazy for You won the Tony Award for Best Musical in 1992. The musical will take place at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18-20 in the Robert Brown Theatre. A matinee performance will take place at 2 p.m. Oct. 21.

African Footprint - November 6
Don't miss Richard Loring’s “African Footprint” on November 6th at 8 p.m. in the Robert Brown Theatre. African Footprint is to South Africa what Riverdance is to the Irish and Stomp is to the Brits!
In post apartheid South Africa, Richard Loring, the country’s foremost producer decided to start a school for black young people interested in the performing arts. According to Loring: “For black South Africans from the townships there was no Julliard, no Fame where they could refine their talents and learn the skills. There was incredible talent but no training.”
Loring started a school for disadvantaged South African performers in 1998, but the initiative really took off when CNN asked the South African government to shoot Millennial Festivities on New Years Eve in the prison cell where Nelson Mandela had been held. The South African government invited Loring’s troupe to perform before Mandela, and other dignitaries in a performance that was broadcast around the world on CNN. Based on a deluge of demands the school started a show, and that show became African Footprint. It has toured the world and been invited for command performances twice before Prince Charles and Prince Phillip.
The show is highly energetic with beautiful costumes, and wonderful singing and dancing. The first part of the performance tells the story of South Africa and then later in the show the troupe moves through tap dancing and other styles up into hip hop.

Endowment Association Banquet - December 3
Nebraska Theatre Caravan will perform A Christmas Carol in the Robert Brown Theatre at 7:30 p.m. at the endowment Association Banquet. A Christmas Carol transports audiences on a magical journey right alongside Ebenezer Scrooge. Through creative staging, costumes, and superb performances, this production captures every beloved detail of A Christmas Carol from the spine-chilling ghosts to gorgeous renditions of traditional British carols. A Christmas Carol evokes a three-dimensional Victorian Christmas card that literally leaps to life as the setting for one of the most powerful stories of kindness, redemption and the healing powers of the holiday spirit.

Vespers Concert - December 9th
December 9 is the Vespers Concert performed by the Cowley College Concert Choir. It will be at 2 p.m. in the theatre.

John Bul Dau - Febuary 18
February 18, 2008 is speaker John Bul Dau. He is one of thousands of the “Lost Boys of Sudan”. He was forced as a young boy to flee the violence in his village and travel on foot for hundreds of miles facing disease, starvation and violence. Dau’s story is the subject of the film God Grew Tired of Us, which won the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival. His memoir, also entitled God Grew Tired of Us was released in January 2007 by National Geographic Press. The presentation will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the Robert Brown Theatre.

Stories from the Edge of the World - April 4
April 4, 2008 will be the production of First Person: Stories from the Edge of the World. Ensemble Galilei with NPR’s Neal Conan. Tales of adventure and exploration edited and narrated by NPR’s Neal Conan accompanied by Ensemble Galilei with stunning photographs from the National Geographic Image Collection projected onstage on a large screen.
Travel to 14th Century Iraq, climb with Mallory as he attempts the summit of Mount Everest, attend the last days of the Empire of the Incas in Peru. Listen in to Darwin’s doubts aboard the Beagle or brave a howling gale aboard a Cape Horn windjammer. Probe the ocean’s depths with Cousteau, Beebe and Ballard and listen to the exploration of the human spirit of discovery in the poetry of Mary Oliver, Constantine Cavafy, Sara Vial and Him Harrison as glorious music surrounds the senses.
The photographs from the National Geographic Image Collection are unparalleled. The music of Ensemble Galilei is extraordinary – Bach, traditional Scottish fiddle music, medieval dances and original compositions.