Join us in exploring a world of arts & culture at MSU

The MSU Museum celebrates a landmark 150 years as Michigan's natural history and culture museum, and the state's first Smithsonian Institution affiliate

Thie exhibit explores the striking red-on-white embroidery style popularized in the 1880s and still practiced today in quilts and other textiles.

The exhibit showcases more than 160 examples of contemporary baskets using a variety of techniques and materials -- cultivated and natural -- including antlers, birch bark, black ash, cattail, copper, flax, grape vine, porcupine quill, spruce root, strapping tape, sweet grass, wax linen and willow fibers. The baskets range from functional pieces to creative works of art, and document the skills, wisdom and traditions in basketmaking. The exhibit is a partnership between the Association of Michigan Basketmakers and the MSU Museum.

"Picturing Faith" is a unique series of photographs showing the place of religion in American society through the lenses of some of America's most well-known photographers-Walker Evans, Dorothea Lange, and Gordon Parks. It also presents the works of equally talented but lesser known photographers-John Collier, Jr., Marion Post Wolcott, Russell Lee, Jack Delano and Marjory Collins. Supported by a grant from the Lilly Endowment, the exhibition includes 45 black-and-white photographs gathered from the Library of Congress archives. In 1935, in order to generate support for New Deal reforms, the Historical Division of the Farm Security Administration (FSA) began making a photographic survey of economic struggle and social dislocation in Depression era America. Historical Division director Roy E. Stryker also wanted to produce a composite picture of American society, so in the "scripts" he sent out to his photographers, he asked them to include pictures of America's religious life. These "sociologists with cameras" entered the homes and churches of the poor as well as the middle class. They photographed people in prayer, domestic shrines, dinner graces, parishioners going into their churches, revival meetings, and even the gospel trucks of itinerate preachers. While many of the FSA (and later Office of War Information) photographs are familiar, this is the first exhibition of how government photographers represented religion during this critical time in our nation's history. "Picturing Faith" was curated by Colleen McDannell, Sterling M. McMurrin Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Utah, and is based on her recent book, "Picturing Faith: Photography and the Great Depression" (Yale University Press).

This is an interactive exhibition that brings artists and visitors together by providing a hands-on art making experience. The exhibition is composed of works by 29 artists, drawn on flat sheets of paper and stacked in the gallery space. The visitor chooses a project, takes the printed sheet, cuts out and assembles the three-dimensional sculpture. As the weeks pass, the gallery spaces become filled with art work.

The five architectural designs proposed for the future Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum will be on display. Unveiled on July 18 before a jury, these designs represent the ideas of internationally renowned architectural firms: Coop Himmelb(l)au; Kohn Pederson Fox Architects, PC; Randall Stout Architects, Inc.; Zaha Hadid Architects, and Morphosis. Models, drawings and CD presentations reveal the range of designs for MSU's art museum's future home on Grand River Avenue to open in 2010.

Aloka Kanungo will be performing Odissi (Indian classical dance) on September 8 at Brody Auditorium from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Shreelina Ghosh, a doctoral student of MSU is honored to be sharing the stage with her Guru. The recital is free and all are welcome. Aloka will conduct workshops from September 4 to 8 where she plans to demonstrate the history and grammar of the dance, and also teach Odissi items to those interested in trying out the dance themselves. She will also give advanced training in Odissi. MSU students are entitled to discounts. Aloka Kanungo is a nationally acclaimed Odissi dancer from India and is currently on a US-tour with a series of workshops and recitals at Houston, Phoenix, Austin, New York, Detroit and yes, East Lansing. Please download the flyer and workshop registration form here:- Recital Flyer
Workshop registration form

Exhibit curator Colleen McDannell will offer insights and inspiration on her nationally-known research in material religion and the development of this exhibition.

Curator Colleen McDannell will lead a gallery tour for "Picturing Faith: Religious America in Government Photography, 1935-1943."

Family funfest for all ages featuring a storyteller, singer, and crafts.

The Asian Studies Center presents the Odissi classical Indian dance recital featuring Aloka Kanungo, reknowned dancer and choreographer from India and Shreelina Ghosh, MSU Ph.D student and dance student.

The East Lansing Historical Society and East Lansing Centennial Commission present a panel of local individuals who recount their personal experiences during the time of the civil rights movement in East Lansing. Panelists include: Clarence Underwood, Don Coleman, Charles McMillan and Claudette Nelson. George Brookover will moderate.

Please enter a description for this event. (Under 100 Words)

This preview of WKAR-TV's new documentary about World War II focuses on the personal stories of mid-Michigan veterans who served in the European and Pacific Theatres. Also featured, a preview of Ken Burns' new series for PBS.

Design legend Massimo Vignelli will lecture in conjunction with the screening of "Helvetica". His significant contributions to design influence how we experience our environment and the stature of graphic design in contemporary society. Far-ranging in media and scope, Vignelli's work is included in collections from the MOMA to the Die Neue Sammlung in Munich.

Sponsored jointly by the Department of Art&Art History and AIGA Detroit Chapter, this independent film explores typography, graphic design and global visual culture as part of a larger conversation about the way type affects our lives.

Directed by Michael Roemer (1964). Presented by Jeff Wray, Department of English and Co-Director of Film Studies, in coordination with One Book One Community. A landmark independent film, Nothing But a Man is one of the most sincere and sensitive pictures ever made about the struggles and hardships of Black life in 1960s America. Lauded by critics at the Venice and New York film festivals when it first premiered in 1963, this quietly moving, beautiful film remains as relevant and powerful today as it was then. (from the distributor?s website) North Conference Room, 4th floor, West Wing, MSU Main Library

The MSU Gospel Choir will perform for members of the East Lansing and MSU communities. There will be a book discussion about Lay That Trumpet in Our Hands following the performance.

Being the foremost disciple of Ravi Shankar, Vishwa Mohan belongs to that elite body of musicians which traces its origin to the Moughal emperor Akbar's court musician Tansen and his guru the Hindu Mystic Swami Haridas. Creator of the mohan veen (modified slide guitar with 20 strings used in Indian classical music) and the winner of a Grammy Award, Mohan has mesmerized the world with his pristine pure, delicate yet firey music. Mohan's powerhouse performances have electrified audiences around the globe. Mohan has become the cultural ambassador of India by glorifying and popularizing Indian culture and music throughout the world.

Best known for his Soundsuits, fiber and performance artist Nick Cave transforms found and recycled materials into sculptural and ritualistic costumes. Cave is currently Professor and Chairperson of the Fashion Department at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

In Lay that Trumpet in our Hands the integration of baseball serves as a backdrop, and in many ways, a metaphor, for the events of that time. During the same time period, Michigan State University was also paving the way for African-American athletes on the athletic field. This event will showcase some of this history, and allow participants to hear directly from former MSU athletes about their experiences during this turbulent period.

Art museum staff will give a guided tour of the BAM architectural models in The Future.

Evan Wyler is a hot new young writer who is snatched up by a mysterious woman, Alexa Vere de Vere, who promises him connections, wealth and supreme success. As her promises never materialize, the writer investigates Alexa's past which holds secrets both dark and hilarious. This satire of fame, art and trendiness is an excellent introduction to the "Year of Arts and Culture."

This two-part documentary tells the stories of the men and women who served in World War II's European and Pacific Theatres. Their oral histories -- telling stories of such battles as D-Day and Iwo Jima and experiences such as the sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis -- offer a powerful look at courage and sacrifice. For many repeat times and interview transcripts, visit WKAR.org.

The Department of Philosophy and the Department of English at Michigan State University announce a film series and symposium on the conditions, dilemmas and experience of "outsiders" and on our questions about our response to visitors, immigrants (legal and illegal) and "guest workers." We will view and discuss a series of films after an initial session on the conceptual and moral complexity of hospitality as understood by Immanuel Kant and Jacques Derrida. The series will be ended with a panel of short papers and a roundtable discussion culminating with a symposium. The films will be introduced briefly by the College of Arts and Letter faculty.

Book groups and individuals throughout the region are invited to join others for facilitated discussion of the themes, events and other dimensions of this book. Registration is required for this event.

Please enter a description for this event. (Under 100 Words)

Residence halls will feature dinners focusing on the joy of reading and the One Book, One Community program. The dinner theme is Florida and Southern Cuisine.The dinner will be served in all halls except Holden. Students will have the opportunity to register to vote during this event.

Guest singers from the People's Republic of China

Jim Daniels, one of the most respected voices in contemporary poetry and fiction, and specifically of labor and working people, returns to the MSU campus to introduce his two films, NO PETS and DUMPSTER. Discussion to follow.

Book groups and individuals throughout the region are invited to join others for facilitated discussion of the themes, events and other dimensions of this book. Registration is required. Call (517) 351-2420 to register.

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND! Discover what nearly 9 million fans worldwide are laughing about! This comedy musical follows four women at a lingerie sale with nothing in common but a black lace bra AND memory loss, hot flashes, night sweats, not enough sex, too much sex and more. This joyful musical parody set to 25 classical baby-boomer songs from "Puff, My God I'm Draggin" to the disco favorite "Stayin' Awake, Stayin' Awake" will have you cheering and dancing in the aisles! It is definitely not the Silent Passage anymore.

An evening of arias, duets and ensembles performed by voice students from Southwest University, Chongqing, the International School, Shenyang Conservatory of Music, and Michigan State University College of Music. This event is in conjunction with the third annual collaboration between the MSU College of Music and Chinese university students.

Jim Daniels is a Professor of English and Creative Writing at Carnegie-Mellon University. He has a variety of poetry collections that reflects the physicality of manual labor, the noises and smells of machine shops and factories, the metallic glint of polished steel and iron. His more recent books, Niagara Falls, Blessing this House, and Blue Jesus changed course with their issues of faith. He is the author of eight books of poems including Show and Tell: New and Selected Poems, which was a finalist for the 2004 Paterson Poetry Prize. Jim Daniels realistic, gritty, and sometimes violent portrayal of working people?s lives, has been recognized numerous times with various awards. His co-sponsors include RCAH (Residential College in the Arts and Humanities), MSU Libraries, MSU Press, The Public Humanities Collaborative, and Our Daily Work/Our Daily Lives.

Award winning poet and author Jim Daniels presents his two recent books, Revolt of the Crash-Test Dummies (winner of the Blue Lynx Poetry Prize) and Now Showing, as part of the MSU Library's Writers Reading Series.

The Tribute recreates one of the famous "Summit at the Sands" hotel shows, when the swingin' ring-a-ding group known as the "Rat Pack" was creating hipster legends with a free-wheeling, no-holds-barred nightclub act of Las Vegas' four favorite sons: Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin and Joey Bishop. Uncanny vocal recreations, unbridled hilarity, and a swinging big-band send audiences straight to the coolest time in history, with all-time hits such as "Come Fly with Me," "That's Amoré," "Mr. Bojangles," and more.

Bryan Christie is a 3D Illustrator whose work and illustrations appear regularly in WIRED, Newsweek, The New York Times, Esquire, Field&Stream and many other publications and his work covers a broad range of complex topics, from the microbiological to the gastrointestinal.This is Christie's first show, taking place in the Communication Arts and Sciences Building from Sept. 23 to Nov. 16, 2007.

Rachel Naomi Remen, MD, master story teller and author of the bestselling books Kitchen Table Wisdom and My Grandfather's Blessings will share her perspective on the power of story and the hidden potential in our connection to one another. In her presentation called Becoming a Blessing: Remembering Our Power to Change the World, she will discuss our innate capacity to heal and be healed and enable us to remember how we make a difference in this world just as we are. Come prepared to celebrate the strength of community and the gift of service.

An up-and-coming graphic designer, Hudd Byard is an Art Director with Contemporary Media in Memphis, TN. Before taking his current position, Byard worked at GQ Magazine in New York, NY.

This event celebrates excellence in arts and humanities outreach. Exhibits prepared by faculty and students in the College of Arts and Letters will illustrate the wide range of ways that MSU engages with communities throughout Michigan. Refreshments will be served. RSVP by September 14 to Bets Caldwell at (517) 432-2479 or caldwell@msu.edu.

The Smithsonian's Dr. Richard Kurin reveals the true story behind the most famous--and infamous--stone in the world. The Hope Diamond, a glimmering deep-blue gem weighing more than 45 carats, is not only exceptionally beautiful, it has a long and incredibly colorful history. That history -- spread over three centuries and three continents -- features diamond mining in India, the French Revolution, the machinations of British King George IV, the Gilded Age in America and a number of very clever jewelers including Pierre Cartier and Harry Winston. In the 20th century, the myth of the Hope diamond curse made the diamond more notorious and famous than ever before.

The Smithsonian's Dr. Richard Kurin reveals the true story behind the most famous--and infamous--stone in the world. The Hope Diamond, a glimmering deep-blue gem weighing more than 45 carats, is not only exceptionally beautiful, it has a long and incredibly colorful history. That history--spread over three centuries and three continents--features diamond mining in India, the French Revolution, the machinations of British King George IV, the Gilded Age in America and a number of very clever jewelers including Pierre Cartier and Harry Winston. From its origins in 17th Century India, the Hope Diamond today resides at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, where it is most viewed artifact in all of the Smithsonian's 19 museums and 136-million holdings. Kurin is director of the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage responsible for the Smithsonian Folklife Festival held annually on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and the Grammy-award winning Smithsonian Folkways. Since 2004, he has headed the Smithsonian's National Programs, overseeing its traveling exhibition service, its network of 144 affiliated museums, its educational programs, and its 55,000 Smithsonian Associate membership organization. The MSU Museum is the state's first Smithsonian Institution affiliate, and museum researchers and scholars have collaborated on fieldwork, research, publications and exhibitions over the past 20 years. The Hope Diamond events are presented as part of the MSU Museum's 150th anniversary and MSU's Year of Arts and Culture in 2007-2008. Schedule of events: 7 p.m. Reception -- Cowles House 8 p,m. Dinner - Cowles House 8:30 p..m. - Carillon Concert at Beaumont Tower 9 p.m. - Dessert and Cordials - MSU Museum Valet parking available. Dinner attire and special-occasion jewelry recommended.

The Kresge Art Center will buzz with activity until midnight on Friday, September 28, when the Department of Art&Art History and Kresge Art Museum host The Arts Blitz, a variety of art-centered events, activities and programs in the building. Be "a part of the art" and complete paper sculptures to display in the museum as a part of The Paper Sculpture Show. Enjoy a live DJ (Jeff Owens (Bloom/Ghostly) in the museum 9 p.m. – midnight. Get a peek at models and renderings of proposals for the future Eli&Edythe Broad Art Museum, or watch a screening of the film Basquiat in 108 KAC at 7p.m. See student work in a variety of media at The Graduate Show closing reception in KAC Galleries 101 and 114 (8-11 p.m.), and "draw on the walls" on large, continuous sheets of paper set up throughout Kresge Art Center. This programming is coordinated and supported by Kresge Art Museum, Department of Art and Art History, and the College of Arts and Letters.

Featuring premiere student ensembles and soloists in a fast-paced musical extravaganza.

This Fall Mike Birbiglia, comedian and author of the popular blog and syndicated radio segment "My Secret Public Journal," embarks on a 30-city tour with Comedy Central Live called My Secret Public Tour to promote the September release of his Secret Public Journal LIVE CD. Last year, Birbiglia released his Comedy Central Records debut Two Drink Mike to rave reviews. Esquire Magazine described Birbiglia as "Jerry Seinfeld if he were remotely conversant with hip-hop." AMG Music called Birbiglia "the arrival of standup's next big thing." And The New York Post called Birbiglia "on the cusp of comic greatness." With Secret Public Journal LIVE, Birbiglia delves deeper into storytelling, revealing his most painful stories in the style that has made him popular with all ages. The Boston Globe recently called Mike's new material "as honest as any Richard Pryor confession, and as engaging and inclusive as an old Bill Cosby record." My Secret Public Journal LIVE is an attempt to make what's "secret" into something "public" and the results are hilarious, closing with a couple of acoustic ballads entitled "The Medium Man on Campus."

Lecture by Leslie A. Adelson, professor of German Studies and director of the Institute for German Cultural Studies at Cornell University, on the work of Turkish novelist and Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuck; reception following.

Join us for a guided tour of the exhibition, The Paper Sculpture Show and then learn how to make handmade paper using recycled materials. The handmade paper will be turned into your own paper sculptures to take home.

To some, he's the Tony® Award-winning revolutionary from Evita who grew into a bona fide Broadway star in Sunday in the Park with George. To others, he's the Emmy® Award-winning Best Actor, for his portrayal of Dr. Jeffrey Geiger in Chicago Hope, or the star of the CBS drama Criminal Minds. To some, he's Madonna's piano man in Dick Tracy or the scholar who made Streisand swoon in Yentl. And to others still, he will always be Inigo Montoya, the swashbuckling swordsman in The Princess Bride. But whichever role you know him for, Mandy Patinkin's favorite is reaching out to live audiences with the power and passion of popular song. He belongs to the special breed of performers who don't merely dramatize songs, but incorporate them into their very being. His interpretations of popular standards, superbly accompanied by Paul Ford at the piano, come straight from the heart, mesmerizing audiences from coast to coast. Selections to highlight Rodgers and Hammerstein, Stephen Sondheim, Harry Chapin, Claude-Michel Schönberg, Irving Berlin and Cole Porter among others.

Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk, winner of the 2006 Nobel Prize in Literature, is one of the most prominent novelists at work in the world today. Among his many highly regarded works are "The White Castle" (1991), "The Black Book" (1994), "The New Life" (1997), "My Name is Red" (2001), "Snow" (2004), and "Istanbul: Memories and the City" (2005). Mr. Pamuk's speech at MSU is expected to touch on some of the issues raised during his Nobel lecture, in which he noted that "what literature needs most to tell and investigate today are humanity's basic fears: the fear of being left outside, and the fear of counting for nothing, and the feelings of worthlessness that come with such fears; the collective humiliations, vulnerabilities, slights, grievances, sensitivities, and imagined insults, and the nationalist boasts and inflations that are their next of kind."

College of Arts and Letters Signature Lecture by Orhan Pamuck, winner of 2006 Nobel Prize in Literature. For ticket information, visit www.cal.msu.edu/SignatureLecture.php

Philip Sinder, guest artist

Music by MacDonald, Rubinstein, and others.

It burst onto the cultural landscape as a smash hit movie musical on The Disney Channel. Now, get ready for "the start of something new!" Disney Theatrical Productions, the producers of THE LION KING and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, have created a thrilling stage version of the phenomenal HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL. It's the irresistible story of two teenagers – Troy Bolton, super-popular captain of the basketball team, and Gabriella Montez, super-smart transfer student and a genius in science class – who try to navigate the tricky currents of peer pressure to follow their dream and score the leads in the big school show. All the characters from the movie, every single song that propelled the soundtrack to the top of the Billboard charts – plus two new songs written especially for the stage – make HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL a top-drawer Disney production, and a must-see for every fan of the film and every theatre-goer. So "getcha head in the game!" And get ready for HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL. Live on stage at Wharton Center.

Gallery walk and docent-assisted activity for The Paper Sculpture Show.

Keith Taylor has authored two recently published books: Guilty at the Rapture, a collection of poems and stories that won a 2007 Michigan Notable Book Award, and Batter Guitars: The Poetry and Prose Kostas Karyotakis a book Taylor translated with his friend William Reader. Over the years he has worked and appeared in numerous places, ranging from the Story to the Los Angeles Times, from Bird Watcher?s Digest to the Chicago Tribune to Michigan Quarterly Review, Poetry Ireland, and The Southern Review. Taylor has won awards for his work here and in Europe and coordinates the undergraduate program in creative writing at the University of Michigan.

A fall-time favorite, this competitive 5K run/walk helps support educational programs at the MSU Museum. Meanwhile, younger Dashers get some fresh-air fun and fitness in the Museum Mile and Mini Dash. All finishers get a medal. The MSU Museum is hope to the area's only full-mounted dinosaur casts -- Allosaurus and Stegosaurus -- providing the inspiration for the colossal-sized fun.

Before the Nazi Holocaust, it was a generally-held belief that protecting human rights was the concern of individual governments. But the international alliance formed during World War II, combined with the final revelation of the horrors that had taken place at the hands of the Nazis, convinced many people of the necessity of making human rights a universal concern monitored under universal standards. The prints featured in this exhibition were produced by a diverse group of artists from all over the world, from Africa, Asia and the Middle East to Australia and the Americas. These striking, sometimes disturbing works are accompanied by artist biographies and statements by the artists that reveal their individual perspectives on issues of art and human rights. The set of prints, owned by the Michigan State University Museum, is being circulated in North America as one of a series of activities between Michigan State University and a consortium of agencies in South Africa, including the African National Congress; Centre for Cultural Studies, University of Fort Hare; and Mayibuye Centre, University of the Western Cape. This exhibition revolves around a special human rights theme at the MSU Museum during 2007-2008.

Please join us for The Friends Annual Meeting at Kresge Art Museum. Plan to attend the 2 p.m. meeting to hear about the year's achievements and future plans. Then join a reception from 3–5 p.m where you can create a paper sculpture to add to the growing exhibition in the gallery and enjoy refreshments.

The timeless story of a lowly flower girl who is transformed by the distracted Professor, Henry Higgins. Eliza Doolittle sells flowers in London. Henry Higgins is the professor who will transform this young lady from a cockney guttersnipe to a fashionable high society lady. His work is complicated as unexpected and unexplainable feelings emerge. This classic tale by George Bernard Shaw contains some of his most vibrant wordplay.

"Saltimbanco" is a Cirque du Soleil signature performance, inspired by the urban fabric of the metropolis and its colorful inhabitants. Decidedly baroque in its visual vocabulary, the show's eclectic cast of characters draws spectators into a fanciful, dreamlike world, an imaginary city where diversity is a cause for hope.

Aka: POPIOL I DIAMENT. Directed by Andrzej Wajda (1958). Presented by Sherman Garnett, Dean of James Madison College. Ashes and Diamonds is the strongest of Andrzej Wajda's early films. Wajda's father was killed in the early days of World War II, and Wajda himself fought with the resistance against the Nazis. In Ashes and Diamonds, he revisits the themes of choice and consequences, with an overriding anti-war sentiment. Ironically, the central factor influencing Wajda's later, more mature work was the 1967 death of his close friend Zbigniew Cybulski, who plays the assassin protagonist in Ashes and Diamonds. Cybulski's performance is generally regarded as the finest of his brief career, and brought to Poland the same sort of restless youth motif that Western audiences had found appealing in the also dead-too-young James Dean. (www.allmovie.com)

Twenty-five years ago, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) performed to thunderous ovation during the inaugural performance for Wharton Center's grand opening. Now they return to a premier performing arts center celebrating its 25th anniversary. Rich in tradition and innovation, the CSO is a musical force in Chicago and around the world. Featuring over 100 musicians and two internationally-renowned conductors, the CSO is not just one of America's best orchestras, but one of the finest in the world. This concert also features special guest Branford Marsalis joining the symphony for this once-in-a-lifetime anniversary event. Program features Faure's Sicilienne, from Pelleas and Melisande Suite, Debussy's Rhapsody for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra, Copeland's Clarinet Concerto (arr. for soprano saxophone) and Dvorák's Symphony No. 9.

Last day to view The Paper Sculpture Show, The Future: The Eli&Edythe Broad Art Museum, and Prints from South Africa.

CéU, (pronounced "cell with a light L"). It sometimes happens that a new artists appears on the scene and brings together all that is best at that particular moment in time; an artists whose vision is both personal and of universal significance, and the fruit of a particular time and place. A case in point is CéU., whose first album is in fact a sound-photo of the city of São Paulo, that wonderfully rich musical melting pot. What strikes you first and foremost is CéU's incredible voice, with its highly subtle tessitura. The versatility of her voice in different registers is truly astonishing. This Latin Grammy nominee is making an international name for herself. Newsweek writes, "The 26-year-old São Paulo singer and composer easily segues on her debut CD from pop to reggae to dub in velvet, jazz-accented vocals. But Brazilian rhythms are still the foundation… Just when you think that Brazil must surely have exhausted its supply of irresistibly jazzy, funky, sexy, soulful electro-pop singer-songwriters, someone like CéU comes along and makes you think that maybe that particular well is bottomless after all."

One of the most popular and highly recognized stand-up comedians on the road today has also made quite an impression in the feature film and television arena. D.L. is currently starring in the Aaron Sorkin drama series for NBC-TV "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip." The comedic drama shows the behind-the-scenes politics of a fictional broadcast network's flagship late-night comedy series. D.L. stars as long-standing cast member "Simon Stiles" alongside an all star ensemble cast that includes Matthew Perry, Amanda Peet and Steven Weber. Next up for D.L: he will shoot a one-hour comedy special for HBO entitled "Maybe Its Just Me." The special will shoot in June and is scheduled to premiere on HBO this September.

The Bob&Tom Comedy All Stars featuring Bob Zany, Chick McGee, Donnie Baker, Drew Hastings, Greg Hahn&Patti Vasquez. Heading straight from your radio and coming to a theater near you, The Friends of the Bob&Tom Show Comedy Tour brings laughter along with your favorite comedians! Featured on the syndicated radio show, the Friends are finally on-stage and in-person. Featured guests include everyone's favorte sports reporter and author of the Zany report. The comics are regularly featured guests on the show, stars of the newly released DVD and are ready to crack you up with new material&old favorites you've heard on the Bob&Tom show.

tobyMac is more than just your run-of-the-mill triple threat. On one hand he ranks among the most successful artists in Christian music history in terms of radio success, sales power and critical acclaim. On the other he is universally recognized as a creative force, an artistic maverick and a prophetic voice for racial reconciliation, social justice and a fierce devotion to faith and family. On the third hand, he's the most humble and approachable merchant of cool on the scene today. Yeah; that's three hands. Some things defy common logic. Obviously, when it comes time for a new tobyMac record to drop there are a lot of people paying attention. His rampant eclecticism and consistent excellence have set the bar very high, and on his third solo outing, Portable Sounds, he does not disappoint. An increased commitment to melody and soulful singing abounds, while his now trademarked rock/funk/hip-hop side hits deeper grooves and catchier hooks than ever before. On February 20th, the man Christianity Today called "one of the fifty most influential evangelical leaders in America" sets a new standard with the release of Portable Sounds.

earned her MFA and PhD from Western Michigan University. She has taught courses in literature and creative writing at a variety of colleges. She has spent almost all of her life in Michigan. Her work appears in the anthologies The Best of the Prose Poem: An International Journal (White Pine Press, 2000) and New Poems from the Third Coast: Contemporary Michigan Poetry (Wayne State, 2000). Her poems have also appeared in literary magazines including Boston Review, Epoch, Field, The Laurel Review, The Prose Poem: An International Journal, Seneca Review and Quarterly West.

Tomás and the Library Lady, a play with music adapted by José Cruz González from the book of the same name by Pat Mora, has been an enormous success in theaters and in schools. This timely story inspires children to look beyond the confines of poverty, language barriers, and cultural intolerance to find joy in reading.

Final event in honor of The "Right to Hospitality: Migration, Accommodation, Globalization" film series. Symposium includes reading of papers, roundtable discussion and reception.

The RCAH Center for Poetry presents "Walk. Chalk. Poetry," an MSU community event in the heart of campus. What is commonly known as "the rape trail" is one of MSU's most beautiful stretches of riverbank. Themed poems about space and the transformative power of language will be transferred from paper to pavement in an effort to encourage MSU community members to reexamine their own use of language about this space. Doughnuts and cider will be available for participants while chalking. Come join us by the river and play with poetry!

Marion Post Wolcott Photographs and Robert Birmelin (Works on Paper Gallery) open.

New music from the group that brought you the Grammy Award winning Planet Drum. Global Drum Project reunites Grateful Dead percussion heavyweight Mickey Hart with his longtime friend and collaborator, tabla master Zakir Hussain, along with talking drum ace Sikiru Adepoju and the formidable conguero Giovanni Hidalgo. Planet Drum was released in 1991 and went on to earn the first-ever Grammy® in the World Music category. "This is a deep drumming groove. We're taking the archaic rhythm worlds into outer space. Planet Drum explores rhythm and noise; it's a sound yoga of processed acoustic percussion headed straight for the trance zone that becomes a dance of ancient and modern worlds. Deep drumming is a skeleton key into these realms." - Mickey Hart

An exhibition of over 40 photographs by Marion Post Wolcott featuring her work from the 1930s and 1940s, and specifically her best known photographic documentation for the Farm Security Administration between 1938 and 1941 in New England and the South. They provide a look at daily life during this period, portraying both the poor and the wealthy as well as racial discrimination in the south.

Classical Indian music featuring well known Indian singer, Anurag Harsh.

Opening reception for Marion Post Wolcott Photographs.

Edward O. Wilson is one of the most highly-respected scientists in the world today. Hailed as "the new Darwin" by Thomas Wolfe, and one of "America's 25 Most Influential People" by TIME magazine, he has twice received the Pulitzer Prize for "The Ants" and "On Human Nature." Wilson's book "The Diversity of Life," which brought together knowledge of the magnitude of biodiversity and the threats to it, had a major public impact. In his latest book, "The Creation: An Appeal to Save Life on Earth," Wilson sounds the alarm the earth is in danger and its destruction threatens us all—no matter what we believe about its origins.

Part of the first generation of figure painters following the abstract expressionist movement, Robert Birmelin's work explores the crowded streets of the urban landscape. His work has been acquired by 40 public collections, including the Metropolitan, MOMA and the Hirshhorn.

On October 23, the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities will officially open its new Center for Poetry with an inaugural celebration that will include a reading by RCAH poet and faculty member Anita Skeen. The Center's mission is "to encourage the reading, writing, and discussion of poetry and to create an awareness of its place and power in our everyday lives," says Skeen. The Center will highlight not only the importance of poetry in our individual lives but the need today, perhaps more than ever, for poets in our world. All who enjoy poetry are welcome.

Please join us for a lecture by visual artist Tanya Hartman, associate professor of art at the University of Kansas. Hartman will address memory and its translation into words and narrative imagery. The preoccupation with memory and with words in her work is an attempt to synthesize a shared experience of historic upheaval common to Americans of Jewish heritage who were displaced during the Second World War. The importance of remembering personal as well as our collective history are important themes in her artistic work.

"Blue Man Group" is a uniquely clever, interactive rock concert that regardless of musical tastes, delivers enthralling entertainment for every generation. You just have to see it!

Directed by Richard Berge, Bonni Cohen and Nicole Newnham (2006). Presented by Kenneth Waltzer, Professor of History and Director of Jewish Studies, and Susan Bandes, Director of The Art Museum at MSU. In coordination with The Art Museum at MSU. Adolph Hitler spent years struggling to establish himself as an artist before his political ambitions rose to the surface and he brought the Nazi Party to power in Germany, and documentary filmmakers Richard Berge, Nicole Newnham and Bonni Cohen offer a unique perspective on how Hitler?s aesthetic viewpoint may have affected his nation?s actions during World War II. The Rape of Europa examines the artistic tastes of Hitler and his leading advisors, and how they looted many of the great museums and private art collections of Europe during the course of World War II in order to stock museums built during the Third Reich (and benefit the collections of Germany?s leaders). In addition, Axis forces actively participated in raids to destroy artwork and artifacts from nations and cultures Hitler regarded as ?degenerate,? serving as a curious parallel to ?the Final Solution? that left six million dead. The film features rare newsreel footage and photographs documenting the Nazi?s obsession with art; Joan Allen narrates. (www.allmovie.com)

This documentary film from Actual Films tells two strains of the story: how Hitler's hand-picked art historians and dealers conspired to steal great masterpieces from private and public European collections while the American forces fighting towards Berlin took the cultural heritage of the occupied countries seriously and saved what they could. Based on Lynn H. Nicholas' book of the same title, the movie presents a mesmerizing morality play, rich in rare archival footage and complete with heroic Allied saviors (Variety). One of the greatest antiwar films ever produced… using art as a vehicle to convey the greed, ethnic bias and sheer cruelty of the Axis. (Kenneth Lindsay, Binghamtom University, and member of the American Monument Men team). Presented by Kresge Art Museum, Jewish Studies, and the MSU Libraries. Discussants: Prof. Kenneth Waltzer, Professor of History and Director, Jewish Studies, and Susan J. Bandes, director, Kresge Art Museum.

Exhibit of Christie's work in Room 190 (Push-Pin Gallery) now through mid-November. The stunning and talked-about computer-generated artwork now on display in room 190 was created by New Jersey-based artist Bryan Christie for a variety of clients. His art appears regularly in WIRED, Newsweek, The New York Times, Esquire, Field&Stream and many other publications and his work covers a broad range of complex topics, from the microbiological to the gastrointestinal. Journalism instructor Karl Gude curated this inaugural exhibit. Christie will sign prints purchased prior to his arrival and has offered to donate most of the proceeds from the sale of his work to help fund future exhibits in CAS.

The Chicago Jazz Ensemble, led by Artistic Director Jon Faddis, is known for his work as the leader of the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band. Faddis is regarded as the pre-eminent jazz big band leader and is dedicated to making the Chicago Jazz Ensemble the best big band in the world. Faddis brings not only his virtually unparalleled skill and passion as a trumpeter and conductor, but also his abiding enthusiasm for jazz education to Chicago and beyond. Three of the most creative geniuses in Jazz – vocalist Nat King Cole, trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie and pianist Thelonious Monk – were all born in 1917, making 2007 the 90th anniversary of their births. Join Jon Faddis and the Chicago Jazz Ensemble in celebrating the musical legacy of these three exceptional musicians. The concert features classic Dizzy Gillespie big band arrangements, as well as Monk's music as arranged by Michael Philip Mossman, Slide Hampton and Dennis Mackrel – charts that were premiered at Carnegie Hall, under Faddis' direction. The CJE's own vocalist, Bobbi Wilsyn, highlights the music of Nat King Cole, with songs such as "Route 66" and "Straighten Up&Fly Right."

A twin fears her sister was lost in the 9/11 disaster. In this funny and philosophical play, Craig Wright explores the question of whether our lives are shaped by free will or random unconnected events. It is September 12, 2001 and Waverly has a blind date. She is also concerned that her sister has been killed in the World Trade Center disaster. As Waverly's concerns grow, her life becomes more complicated by her date, her neighbors and a visit from Joyce Carol Oates….played by a sock puppet. The Department of Theatre at Michigan State University and the Williamston Theatre have entered into a historic collaboration to celebrate the

In the on-going tradition of spectacular touring productions, Neil Goldberg and Cirque Productions have once again reinvented the circus with European flair, imaginative theatrics and world-class acrobatics. Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy is an all-new adventure that takes audiences soaring into a magical forest through the air and on stage. An international cast of graceful aerialists, spine bending contortionists, vine swinging characters, strong men and balancers bring this jungle dream to life in a lush Broadway setting filled with wildly unpredictable designs, special effects, inventive choreography, puppeteering and dazzling costumes. Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy is an exhilarating journey the entire family can experience together.

Tales of Christopher Robin's friends and their adventures in the Hundred Acre Wood have delighted children of all ages for generations. Join Eeyore, Rabbit, Piglet, Owl, Kanga, Roo, and of course, everyone's favorite bear of very little brain, Pooh, in this enchanting musical based on A. A. Milne's stories.

Latin American Music

The Center for Poetry continues its inaugural year with a reading by poet and novelist Gordon Henry. Henry is well-known locally and nationally. An enrolled member of the White Earth Chippewa Tribe of Minnesota, Henry first drew attention as an American Indian writer in 1983, when his poetry was anthologized in Songs from This Earth on Turtle's Back: An Anthology of Contemporary American Indian Poetry. At that time he was a graduate student in Michigan State University's English/Creative Writing program. Since then he has been published in a variety of journals and has lectured on issues within American Indian literature. Henry's fiction has appeared in the anthology Earth Song, Sky Spirit (Doubleday), and his novel entitled The Light People (1994) appeared to much critical acclaim. Henry is an associate professor of English at MSU.

Lou Diamond Phillips stars in this magnificent new production of Lerner and Loewe's timeless masterpiece. King Arthur's enchanted kingdom, Camelot, is a place where honor and chivalry reign. But can this idyllic land survive when Queen Guenevere falls in love with Sir Lancelot? The splendid, memorable score includes the romantic and haunting "If Ever I Would Leave You," the captivating "How to Handle a Woman" and the majestic "Camelot." Rediscover the grandeur of one of history's greatest love stories.

Tony® Award-winner Brian Bedford is one of the finest Shakespearean actors in the world today. Over the course of three decades, Bedford has played leads at the Stratford Festival in Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night," "Richard III," "Measure for Measure" and "As You Like it," Chekhov's "Uncle Vanya," Molière's "The Misanthrope," Noel Coward's "Private Lives" and Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot," among many others. More recently he appeared as Bottom in Richard Monette's production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Don't miss this unique opportunity to see arguably the Stratford Festival's finest actor perform his unique one-man show entitled, "The Lunatic, The Lover and The Poet," which explores the emotion and psychology behind Shakespeare the man, as well as Shakespeare the playwright.

Alison Swan is an award-winning environmentalist whose work Fresh Water won a 2007 Michigan Notable Book award. Her writing has appeared in Peninsula, Essays and Memoirs from Michigan (MSU Press), plus many literary journals and environmental publications, including the Bellingham Review, the Red Cedar Review and the Detroit MetroTimes.

This conference examines the poetry and philosophy of Rumi, the 13th-century Muslim poet, philosopher and mystic, and its relevance to contemporary understandings of Islamic culture. It also deals with renewed interests in Rumi's writings in recent years throughout the Middle East, Europe and the United States. The starting point of the conference is Rumi's well-known verse "come, come again, whoever you are, come!" Rumi's eloquent and humanistic poetry, written sometimes with a sense of humor, creates a window on Islamic beliefs, values and wisdom that is far removed from images of violence and terrorism. Bringing well-known scholars of Islamic mysticism, Rumi and the Middle East together, we explore Rumi's writings, their place in Islamic literature and society, and their resurgence as bestsellers in the West. The universality of Rumi's poetry fosters an understanding of the human experience that transcends the boundaries of nations, religions and languages.

WKAR adds to new channels to its digital tier. WKAR Life (23.3) features lifestyles, how-to and encore programs; WKAR World (23.4) features documentaries, history and current events.

The RCAH Center for Poetry continues its inaugural year with a reading by "Poet of Witness" Carolyn Forché. Forché's first poetry collection, Gathering the Tribes, won the Yale Series of Younger Poets Award from Yale University Press. A Guggenheim Fellowship enabled her to travel to El Salvador, where she worked as a human rights advocate. Forché's second book, The Country Between Us (1981), received the Poetry Society of America's Alice Fay de Castagnola Award and was also the Lamont Poetry Selection of the Academy of American Poets. Author of numerous articles and reviews, Forché also has held three fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, and in 1992 she received a Lannon Foundation Literary Fellowship. Her anthology, Against Forgetting: Twentieth-Century Poetry of Witness, was published in 1993, and her third book of poetry, The Angel of History (1994), won the Los Angeles Times Book Award. Her fourth book of poems, Blue Hour, was released in 2003. Forché currently teaches at Skidmore College.

Diana Cooper combines drawing, painting, sculpture and installation by using unorthodox but commonly available materials such as foamcore, felt, and pom-poms to create work that is simultaneously chaotic and orderly. She has received the prestigious Rome Prize and a Guggenheim Fellowship.

Often working collaboratively, Suzanne Lacy creates installations, video and large-scale performances that incorporate social themes and urban issues. Supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, Guggenheim and Rockefeller Foundations, Lacy is also noted for her writings focused on public and politically relevant art.

Films, music, food, and dance from Argentina, Brazil, Cuba and Mexico and other countries of Latin America. The goal of the film festival is to communicate through film the humanity, diversity, and culture of an area of focus in the world.

Aka: CINEMA, ASPIRINAS E URUBUS. Directed by Marcelo Gomes (2005). Presented by Saulo Gouveia, Department of Spanish and Portuguese. Marcelo Gomes, co-writer of the successful "Madame Sata" makes an impressive if sober feature helming debut in "Cinema, Aspirin and Vultures" set in Brazil's desert-like sertao in 1942 as the country prepares to enter war against the Axis. The friendship that springs up between two young men, one German and the other Brazilian, is etched with a quiet delicacy. (from Young, Debra, VARIETY, vol. 399, 2, 2005)

Each year Michigan State University joins educational institutions, organizations, and agencies throughout the U.S. and around the world in celebrating International Education Week, a tradition begun in 2000 by the U.S. Department of State and Department of Education. MSU will celebrate its traditional extended version of International Education Week beginning Saturday, November 10 and continuing through Sunday, November 18, with performances, films, and other cultural events; lectures and presentations on international issues; Global Plate dinners and conversations in select residence halls; international coffee hour and the annual Global Festival.

A Michigan State tradition in its 36th year of production, Spartan Spectacular returns to the Wharton Center's Cobb Great Hall in 2007. This musical showcase features more than 400 musicians from the College of Music and includes a unique program diverse in sight and sound. The production features performances by MSU's Symphony Band, Wind Symphony, Jazz Octet, with faculty artists Sunny Wilkinson, Ron Newman, Deborah Moriarity, and Caroline Hartig. The event concludes with a concert performance by the Spartan Marching Band featuring the highly acclaimed MSU Drumline with selections from the 2007 season.

In collection of original scenes ranging from the hilarious to the disturbing, this premiere explores censorship and snobbery involved in judging the artistic. From early Greek architecture to Christina Aguilera—nothing is safe from this biting and incisive new work.

The Center for Poetry continues its inaugural year with a reading by MSU Distinguished Professor of English Diane Wakoski. Wakoski has published more than 40 collections of poetry, including four books that constitute her series "The Archaeology of Movies and Books: Argonaut Rose (1998), The Emerald City of Las Vegas (1995), Jason the Sailor (1993), and Medea the Sorceress (1991), all published by Black Sparrow Press. Among Wakoski's many honors are a Fulbright fellowship, a Michigan Arts Foundation award, and grants from the Guggenheim Foundation, the Michigan Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the New York State Council on the Arts. Her book EMERALD ICE, selected poems 1962-1987, won the 1989 Poetry Society of America's William Carlos Williams award. All who love poetry are welcome to attend this special evening.

Retelling the tragic story of the Edmund Fitzgerald, which sank to the bottom of Lake Superior along with its crew 30 years ago. Gales of November features music and excerpts from the hit play "Ten November." Prudence Johnson, known for her unmistakable voice and her work with Garrison Keillor on "A Prairie Home Companion," leads the stellar cast. Claudia Schmidt and Ruth MacKenzie round out the powerful trio, singing of love, loss, and life on the lakes. Peter Ostroushko on mandolin and violin; Dan Chouinard on accordion and piano; Eric Peltoniemi on guitar; and Jeff Willkomm on electric bass; make this an unforgettable musical experience. Kevin Kling returns to Wharton Center to deliver a narrative that shifts between reality and fantasy, as he spins tales of Great Lakes lore and stories of the tragedy.

Founded by Bernice Johnson, "Sweet Honey In The Rock" is an internationally-renowned a cappella ensemble, which has been a vital and innovative presence in the music culture of Washington, D.C., and in communities of conscience around the world. Rooted in a deeply held commitment to create music out of the rich textures of African-American legacy and traditions, "Sweet Honey In The Rock" possesses a stunning vocal prowess that captures the complex sounds of blues, spirituals, traditional gospel hymns, rap, reggae, African chants, Hip Hop, ancient lullabies and jazz improvisation. Sweet Honey's collective voice, occasionally accompanied by hand percussion instruments, produces a sound filled with soulful harmonies and intricate rhythms.

This lecture provides a scholarly and activist overview on doing oral history projects in the Mexican and Latino community. Jose examines the various oral historical methodologies and models that make Chicano and Latino Studies different from other social science fields. Finally, he provides tools on how to organize and develop an oral history project in Mexican and Latino communities.

To celebrate the 90th birthday of MSU composer James Niblock, 90.5 WKAR plays several of his compositions throughout the day.

Gioacchino Rossini's rollicking comic opera based on the classic fairy tale of the girl who rises from the ashes to wed her Prince Charming. Fully staged. Sung in English. Raphael Jimenez, conductor Melanie Helton, stage director A preview lecture will be held 45 minutes before each performance. Reserved seating only.

MSU Museum presents a collection of wooden molds from the Philippine Islands and the finished papier-mâché Christmas figures made from those molds. In the town of Paete, Laguna in the Philippines, an old tradition has been preserved. Molds are hand-carved from the local mango wood and strips of paper are glued over the outside of the molds with rice paste. The paper layer is then cut off and the two halves are glued together with strips of paper. The technique was used early in the twentieth century to create religious images and toys for the children. It eventually became an important local industry supplying holiday figures and festival masks to many nations. The pieces from the United States in the exhibition will include a variety of molds and painted papier-mâché figures of Santa Claus, reindeer and Christmas trees. The material for this exhibit is drawn from Curator of History Val Berryman's personal collection of over 3,000 Christmas objects and images from around the world. The entire collection is being donated to the MSU Museum.

The MSU Museum Store is bursting with unique offerings -- from books and toys to jewelry and decorative figurines -- and all 1,400 items in the shop directly reflect the mission of the MSU Museum and focus on understanding, interpreting, and respecting natural and cultural diversity. All items in the store are traded ethically or collected through fair trade, with companies as well as individuals who use ethical business practices. Many of the items are direct from the artisans and communities that created them. This process of purchasing ensures that each item is one-of-a-kind and quality-made. There are educational books, science kits, and do-it-yourself craft projects as well as many locally-made crafts. With unique jewelry, toys, and many Michigan-themed items, customers can find a variety of distinctive gift ideas for friends and loved ones. Many items are under $10. The MSU Museum Store is found on the first level of the MSU Museum, located on West Circle Drive next to the Beaumont Tower. The store is open Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.- 4:30 p.m., and Sunday 1-4:30 p.m. For more information, call: (517) 355-2373 or see http://museum.msu.edu .

Rania Matar, a documentary photographer who has been photographing the aftermath of the war in Lebanon, will be giving a public lecture on Tuesday evening, November 27 at 7 p.m. An exhibit of her photographs, most of which deal with the life of women in a war ravaged country, will be in the new Push Pin Gallery (Room 190 Communication Arts & Sciences building)from late November until the end of January 2008.

Professor at University of Minnesota, Clarence Morgan is a painter, printmaker and writer. He is interested in spontaneity and visual systems. Morgan's current work combines geometric and painterly abstraction within the realms of subjectivity and materiality.

A collection of scenes and monologues that will showcase all freshman actors and designers in the Department of Theatre. This new event was designed to introduce our newest members so that audiences may chart their growth during their time at MSU.

Join MSU Professors Joseph Lulloff, saxophone, and Caroline Hartig, clarinet, as they host international guest artists Charles Neidich, clarinet, and Jean-Michel Goury, saxophone, for concerts and master classes including MSU student performances.

The passionate fan base that has made TSO both the most successful annual tour in North America. The hottest ticket of the winter already knows to expect the unexpected from the group's concert performances, which combine the arena-rock spectacles of Pink Floyd and the musicality of Queen with classic Christmas songs. This year, the group plans to add even more elements to its live sensory extravaganza, which already includes an orchestral string section, a full rock band, multiple vocalists, a narrator, extensive pyrotechnics, a stunning laser and light show and possibly the first snowfall of the year.

Celebrate the spirit of the season with a festive evening of classic holiday songs showcasing the talents of the critically-acclaimed MSU Symphony Orchestra, Men's and Women's Glee Clubs and the Grammy® Award-winning MSU Children's Choir and State Singers. One of mid-Michigan's favorite holiday traditions offers a heartwarming evening for the whole family full of perennial favorites including an audience sing-along.

"Oh, the thinks you can think" when Dr. Seuss' best-loved characters and stories hit the stage in a musical adventure by Broadway veterans Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens. In this new production, the noble Horton the Elephant, the one-feathered bird Gertrude McFuzz and the antics of the Cat in the Hat steal the spotlight in this unforgettable show for the entire family!

Joseph Lulloff and Richard Fracker, guest soloists

Jazz Orchestra I and Vocal Jazz Ensemble
With Detroit Symphony Civic Orchestra, Charles Burke, conductor

Featuring two versions of the holiday classic:
Tchaikovsky's original score and the adaptation by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn.

Winner of the 2005 Tony Award® for Best Musical, Monty Python's Spamalot is the outrageous new musical comedy lovingly ripped off from the film classic Monty Python and The Holy Grail. Directed by Tony® Award-winner Mike Nichols, with a book by Eric Idle and music and lyrics by the Grammy® Award-winning team of Mr. Idle and John Du Prez, Spamalot tells the tale of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table as they embark on their quest for the Holy Grail. Flying cows, killer rabbits, taunting Frenchmen and show-stopping musical numbers are just a few of the reasons audiences everywhere are eating up Spamalot.

Glorious Russian Classics

The Grammy® Award-winning Turtle Island String Quartet joins forces with the iconic, acoustic finger-style guitarist Leo Kottke, in a joyous voyage through World Holiday Music. The collaboration honors the musicians' ancestral roots in a series of concerts showcasing the music of the Jewish and Hindu traditions of the Festival of Lights. From the songs of Chanukah to the music of India's Dewali to the old English carols and Scottish reels of the 16th century, the concert explores with a hip, modern twist, the timeless music that has been an integral part of winter holiday celebrations for centuries. Also included are new takes on classics for the season by Vince Guaraldi, Miles Davis, and others.

International superstar and Grammy Award-winner Kenny G is acknowledged as the most successful instrumental recording artist in contemporary music history. He has sold 70 million albums over two decades. Now he brings the sounds of the season to Wharton Center with a selection of magical holiday favorites and classic hits. When Kenny G's last holiday album, WISHES was released in 2002 he noted, "I just take the songs - most of which are classic holiday tunes - and do whatever I can to create an arrangement and recording that I hope will stand the test of time." The best-selling set included time-honored tunes such as "Do You Hear What I Hear," "God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen," a medley of "Deck The Halls" and "The Twelve Days Of Christmas" and a very timely emotionally-charged new "Freedom Mix" of the evergreen "Auld Lang Syne."

Nearly 100 of the best high school musicians in Michigan will perform an all-star concert – the culmination of an intensive weekend-long rehearsal/workshop with MSU faculty members.Concert proceeds benefit the College of Music Scholarship Fund.

33 artists who participated in the Impressionist shows in Paris and are included here with works on paper. Spanning the 1860s-1890s, these mentors, forerunners, competitors and followers were united in their willingness to experiment and question traditional aesthetic standards. Opening Reception 1/13/08, 3-5, at Museum.

An exhibition featuring the artwork of students studying printmaking in the Department of Art & Art History.

MSU will be displaying the 2007 Photo Imaging Education Association's Annual Student Photo Exhibition. The show features 67 images chosen from over 6,493 entries submitted by students and faculty from countries around the world.

Berlin artist Max Klinger represents a late 19th century artistic trend that explored psychological effects in art rather than recording the visual sensations of modern life as the Impressionists did. Although he was well known in his day for his paintings, he is now best rememberes for his series of prints, among them Intermezzi, Opus IV. These twelve etchings from the Kresge Art Museum's collection, acquired in 2006, are on view for the first time.

In the Tony® Award-winning new musical comedy The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, six young people in the throes of puberty, overseen by grown-ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves, learn that winning isn't everything and that losing doesn't necessarily make you a loser. Spelling Bee has been hailed by the Wall Street Journal as "perfect in every possible way – that rarity of rarities, a super-smart musical that is also a bona fide crowd pleaser." This tuneful, offbeat and at times heartwarming show offers audience members the opportunity (strictly voluntary) to become part of the action as on-stage spellers. The New York Times calls Spelling Bee, "irresistible, riotously funny and remarkably ingenious – gold stars all around."

Hosted by Friends of Kresge Art Museum

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra has established a worldwide reputation for its performances. Its musical direction and development have been guided by a series of distinguished maestros including Rudolf Kempe, Antal Dorati, André Previn, Vladimir Ashkenazy and Daniele Gatti. The Orchestra continues to expand its international status while maintaining a deep commitment to its self-appointed role as Britain's national orchestra. Now the Royal Philharmonic has joined forces with modern day master Pinchas Zukerman for an incredible North American tour celebrating its 60th anniversary. Zukerman has been recognized as a musical phenomenon for nearly four decades. His musical genius and prodigious technique have long been a marvel to critics and audiences, and his exceptional artistic standards continue to earn him the highest acclaim. Equally respected as a violinist, violist, conductor, chamber musician and teacher, Zukerman is indeed a master of our time. The all Beethoven program includes Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 61, Pinchas Zukerman violin soloist, and Symphony No. 5 in c minor, Op. 67.

"Quilts and Human Rights" is an exhibition exploring the role that quiltmakers have played in raising awareness of human rights issues around the world and the power of textiles to communicate important ideas and information. The exhibition will feature inspiring and often provocative quilts made to document and express transgressions of human rights, to educate others about human rights issues and to pay tribute to leaders of human rights movements. A special component of the exhibition is being developed in collaboration with the Nelson Mandela Museum in Mthatha, South Africa and will focus on human rights champions Rosa Parks and Nelson Mandela. The exhibition and related programs are partially supported by funds from the MSU Office for Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives, the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, and the Michigan Quilt Project Endowment.

Dr. Dolan is a 19th century French painting specialist whose interdisciplinary research brings together the visual arts, music, theater and literature, weaving together artists such as Manet, Bizet, Wagner, Liszt and Baudelaire. A prize-winning teacher, she has lectured extensively across the country and at many museums. Sponsors: The Department of French, Classics, and Italian; Art&Art History Department, MSU.

Lecture by Theresa Dolan, Professor of Art History, Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia. Sponsored by the Department of French, Classics, and Italian; Art & Art History Department; and Kresge Art Museum.

After viewing the exhibit, The Impressionist Era: Works on Paper, join us for a painting activity in the style of the Impressionists. FREE, ages 7-11. Registration required. To register, call the museum at (517) 353-9834 or email Cari Wolfe at wolfeca1@msu.edu.

Drew Hastings' appearances on the Bob and Tom Show were so well received that he is a regular guest, regaling listeners with his stories, questioning his life and everyone else's, and giving his comedic opinions on just about any topic that comes up. "The Bob and Tom Show has been a perfect outlet for me," says Drew. "I tend to have a no-nonsense Mid-western attitude and their show is a Midwest-based show with a huge National reach." He adds, "Hollywood has never figured out what to do with me, so I'm just doing it myself." For Mature Audiences

A commemorative concert, "Let There Be Peace On Earth," celebrating the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. Excerpts from Ellington/Strayhorn "Far East Suite," and gospel and spiritual favorites Must have ticket to enter. Tickets available at Wharton Center Box Office only. (517) 432-2000, (800) WHARTON.