April 2008

Upcoming Events

Piano Students

Over three evenings, more than 20 students perform solo piano works by Bach, Haydn, Rachmaninoff, Debussy, Stravinsky, Prokofiev and others. Knuth Hall, Creative Arts building. 415/338-1431.

April 29 – May 1, 7:30 p.m. FREE.

City of Angels

Set in late 1940s Hollywood, this long-running, Tony-winning musical presented by the Theatre Arts Department embraces the film noir and detective story genres. What results is a story of crime, love, affairs and the fine line between truth and fiction … all in classic Hollywood fashion. Music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by David Zippel, book by Larry Gelbart. Directed by Barbara Damashek, faculty. McKenna Theatre, Creative Arts building. 415/338-1341.

May 2 – 3, May 8 – 10, 8 p.m. May 11, 2 p.m. $15 – $25.

Afro-Cuban Ensemble

The Beatles go Latin! The Afro-Cuban Ensemble pays homage to the Beatles by performing several of their most popular tunes in various Cuban and Latin American styles as well as other American pop songs of the 1970s – 1990s and its standard repertoire. Directed by John Calloway, faculty. Knuth Hall, Creative Arts building. 415/338-1431.

May 2, 7:30 p.m. FREE.

Big Band

Standards performed by the University’s vibrant student jazz ensemble. Directed by Andrew Speight, faculty. Knuth Hall, Creative Arts building. 415/338-1431.

May 7, 7:30 p.m. FREE.

An Evening in Vienna

The University Chorus and University Orchestra perform the Lord Nelson Mass by Joseph Haydn plus music from the Viennese tradition. Conducted by David J. Xiques, faculty. Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 100 Diamond St. (at 18th St.,), San Francisco. 415/338-1431.

May 9 – 10, 8 p.m. $10 – $15.

Oculus: The 19th Annual Design and Industry Department Spring Exhibition

Advanced students display a wide array of innovative designs in visual communication, multimedia/digital, electronics, furniture manufacturing and green and universal design. Jack Adams Hall, Cesar Chavez Student Center. 415/338-2211.

May 13, 4 – 9 p.m. May 14 – 15, 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. May 16, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Opening reception: May 14, 6 – 9 p.m. FREE.

M.F.A. Thesis Exhibition

Emerging artists Steve Allen, Marque Cornblatt, Ian Everard, Dawn Forsyth, Anthony Ryan, Cyane Tornatzky and Jessica Walker present work in ceramics, textiles, interactive media, printmaking and more. Fine Arts Gallery, Fine Arts building. 415/338-6535.

Tuesdays – Saturdays, through May 15. FREE.

Nohgaku Kai

Combining elements of song, dance, mask, space and time, Nohgaku combines the Japanese noh (drama) and Kyogen (comedy) traditions. Kai is a meeting. Production of the Theatre Arts Department and Theatre of Yugen. Directed by Jubilith Moore, visiting artist. Studio Theatre, Creative Arts building (May 15 – 17). Theatre of Yugen, 2840 Mariposa St., San Francisco (May 18). 415/338-1341.

May 15 – 16, 8 p.m. May 17 – May 18, 2 p.m. $5.

BECAfest 2008

Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts students present their best documentary, sports, advertising, drama, news magazine and music recordings of the year. Studio One, Creative Arts building. 415/338-1787.

May 15, 7 p.m. FREE.

Spring Sing featuring the Men’s Chorus and Women’s Chorus

Arrangements of folk tunes, modern a cappella, classical and opera works and spirituals. Raymond Hebert and Paul Kim, student conductors, Men’s Chorus. Florence Cheng and Xu Hao Low, student conductors, Women’s Chorus. Covenant Presbyterian Church, 321 Taraval St., San Francisco. 415/338-1431.

May 15, 7:30 p.m. $3 – $5.

48th Annual Film Finals

Showcasing the year’s top Cinema student productions, the juried Film Finals features short films in animation, experimental, documentary, narrative and film noir. McKenna Theatre, Creative Arts building. 415/338-1629.

May 16, 7 p.m. Reception: 5:30 p.m. $5 – $7.

Applause

Alum is No. 1 at Channel 2

Emmy Award winner Frank Somerville, a BECA alumnus, will take over the co-anchor position at KTVU-Channel 2, replacing Dennis Richmond.

Cinema professor shoots Olympics documentary

As the Olympic torch travels across the globe en route to Beijing, Cinema faculty member Weimin Zhang is filming the festivities and stories of top athletes. She is a unit director and cinematographer for the official 2008 Summer Olympics documentary.

Dance professor receives Jefferson Award

Albirda Rose was recently honored for her efforts to teach — through dance — work ethic, self-esteem and communication skills to disadvantaged children.

Soprano has ‘it’

At age 25, Music alumna Angela Cadelago is a rising star in Bay Area opera. The soprano is “in a class by herself, ” the San Francisco Classical Voice wrote in a recent review.

Dig This

SF State History: Uniting Creative Arts

San Francisco State’s college orchestra debuted in 1928. Starting with four members, it grew to 29 by the following year. William Knuth, who established the Music Department, is credited with developing the concept of combining Theatre, Music, Art and Broadcasting into a single working unit known as the Creative Arts. In 1961, the main auditorium in the Creative Arts building was renamed in memory of Knuth.

This and many more SF State historical nuggets can be found in “San Francisco State University, ” a new book by Archives Reference Specialist Meredith Eliassen (B.A., Radio and Television, ’88), published by Arcadia. The book is an unauthorized, pictorial history of the University.

Photo: courtesy of SF State J. Paul Leonard Library, Special Collections

Tune In

BECA Citywide Cablecasts

Bring the Creative Arts into your living room — Set your DVR for San Francisco’s Cable 27. BECA students produce “State of Events,” College Sports Reports” and “Under San Francisco,” a discussion about the city arts scene.

Fridays, 5 and 10 p.m. Tuesdays, 8 a.m. Through May 16.

KSFS Radio

KSFS Radio. BECA students create radio programs including show tunes, local news and hip-hop, bringing an independent attitude to the airwaves and Internet. iTunes keyword: ksfs.

Mondays – Fridays. Through May 16.