Spring Semester Brings Another Full Slate of Arts Events

This semester, the College of the Holy Cross is offering a dynamic series of arts events aimed to excite, engage and challenge audiences.

From the staging of renowned theatre productions and installations of multimedia gallery exhibitions, to world premieres of compositions created by our own artists-in-residence and performances by internationally admired dancers, there is much to look forward to.

“Arts events help us to think about our world differently,” says Lynn Kremer, director of Arts Transcending Borders and professor of theatre. “A piece of art, music, theatre, dance, or creative writing can transport us and open our minds to unforeseen possibilities.”

Highlights of the spring semester include:

Feb. 25, 7:30 p.m. Rehm Library, Smith Hall Performance and Discussion by James Keegan ‘83 James Keegan ‘83, a poet and actor with the American Shakespeare Center, performs monologues from some of his favorite roles, such as King Lear, Iago, Macbeth, Falstaff, Shylock, Prospero, and Titus Andronicus. The event is a part of the Working Writers Series and is co-sponsored by the Creative Writing Program, the Jenks Chair of Contemporary American Letters and the theatre department.

March 31, 8 p.m. Brooks Concert Hall, Fenwick Hall Questions for the Moon A multi-media song cycle, “Questions for the Moon” is a collaboration between composer Shirish Korde, Distinguished Professor of Humanities, and Karen Turner, professor of history. Inspired by stories of the many North Vietnamese women who answered Ho Chi Minh’s call in 1965 for youth volunteers to fight American forces, this music-theater work is a meditation on the boundaries crossed and the potent forces unleashed in wartime. The event is co-sponsored by the music department, Asian Studies and Arts Transcending Borders.

March 14-April 16, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (M-F), Noon-5 p.m. (Sat.) Cantor Art Gallery, O’Kane Hall “Alexa Horochowski: Club Disminucíon” This exhibition is a multi-media video and sculpture installation by artist Alexa Horochowski, who immigrated to the United States as a child with her family from the Argentinian Patagonia. The exhibition is a video-immersive work inspired by her residency at Casa Poli in Chile and is co-sponsored by Cantor Art Gallery and Arts Transcending Borders. ATB is planning ancillary programming and cross-disciplinary academic engagement opportunities around this exhibition in the Cantor Art Gallery. Opening reception is March 15, 5-6:30 p.m.

April 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 8 p.m. Fenwick Theatre, O’Kane Hall “Hamlet” by William Shakespeare This provocative, modern-dress production explores the angst of a young man trying to find his way in a corrupt world filled with dissembling politicians, paranoia and surveillance — perhaps a bit like the one we inhabit today. Directed by Edward Isser, professor and chair of the theatre department. Ticket Box Office: (508) 793-2496

April 29, 8 p.m. Location to be determined A Jookin’ Jam Session with Lil Buck and Friends The College’s “Become More: Campaign for the Future of Holy Cross” kicks off with an evening of celebration headlined by the international jookin’ phenomenon Lil Buck, who came to international attention when ballet star turned director Damian Woetzel paired the young dancer with cellist Yo-Yo Ma. The performance, captured on video by Spike Jonze, went viral with more than 3 million views. Lil Buck has gone on to perform with the New York City Ballet and in Cirque du Soleil’s “Michael Jackson: One,” the Spike Jonze film “Her,” and Benjamin Millepied’s “NOWNESS” videos. In the latest series of unique performances created by Damian Woetzel, Lil Buck is joined by a stellar cast of musicians, marking the welcome return of Fall ’15 ATB artist-in-residence, Galician gaita player Cristina Pato. This event is happening in conjunction with the College’s 2016 Academic Conference.

View the arts calendar for a full list of arts events taking place this upcoming semester.