Actress E.P. McKnight as civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer. McKnight’s performance on Jan. 20 served as the kick-off for a full slate of spring arts and cultural events on the Union campus.

Union Spring Events Feature Local Talent, Appalachian Culture, and Renowned Speakers

Union College has kicked-off a spring slate of arts and cultural events that features everything from riveting choral performances and dramatic live theatre to engaging presentations on topics like basketball, race and Appalachian culture.

See detailed information on each event at the end of this article, and check the Web calendar frequently for newly added items.

The season began on Jan. 20, with a special spring convocation performance by actress E.P. McKnight in honor of Martin Luther King Day.

February brings several events, starting on Valentine’s Day with the annual Valentine Concert. Area fans who enjoy the music program’s long-running Christmas and spring concerts will also appreciate this relatively new addition to the program’s offerings. On Feb. 17, acclaimed Affrilachian poet Bianca Spriggs-Floyd will present “’The Afro That Ate Kentucky’ and Other Poems” as part of Union’s annual Celebration of Diversity. The Union College Theatre will open its spring production, “Twelve Angry Jurors,” on Feb. 24. The play continues Feb. 25, 26, March 4 and 5 and features the powerful drama of a jury, a life or death decision, and a sole dissenter who challenges his peers’ unanimous judgment. The last event on February’s calendar is the highly anticipated visit from Christian scholar and author Martin Marty. Marty will deliver the Staley Distinguished Christian Scholar Lecture Series on Feb. 28 and March 1, an annual event that brings guest lecturers to campus to speak to the role of spirituality in the education and lives of students and community members.

In March, Union will host two guest speakers. The first, Reuben May, Ph.D., an MIT professor and author, will give a public lecture on March 3. He will present “Living Through the Hoop: High School Basketball, Race, and the American Dream,” based on his award-winning book of the same name. On March 29, Union will welcome Appalachian scholar and author Phillip Obermiller, Ph.D., who will share insights from a forthcoming book, “Appalachians: Their Health and Well-Being.”

The spring schedule comes to an end with the always enjoyable Redbud Festival and two choral performances. Union will host the Redbud Festival on April 8 and 9. Hundreds crowd the campus each year to take advantage of this celebration of traditional Appalachian arts and culture. On April 19, the Union College Singers and Union Harmony will perform their annual spring concert. On May 1, the Union College Regional Chorus takes the stage for the Regional Chorus Spring Concert.

All events are offered as part of Union’s commitment to provide an array of arts and cultural events for the campus and local communities. All are free and open to the public, with the exception of fall and spring Union College Theatre productions, tickets for which are five dollars each.

For additional information, call 606-546-1230.

A Valentine Concert
Mon., Feb. 14, 8 p.m., Conway Boatman Chapel. Join the Union College Singers, Union Harmony and Union’s Regional Chorus as they perform a selection of sentimental favorites perfect for Valentine’s Day.

“‘The Afro That Ate Kentucky’ and Other Poems”: A Reading
Thurs., Feb. 17, 6:30 p.m., Patridge Campus Center. Union will host Kentucky’s Bianca Spriggs-Floyd, an acclaimed Affrilachian poet and member of the Kentucky Humanities Council’s speakers’ bureau. She will read from her collection of poetry.

“Twelve Angry Jurors” at Union College Theatre
Feb. 24, 25, 26, March 4, 5 at 8 p.m., Rector Little Theatre. The theatre’s spring production features a powerful drama of a jury, a life or death decision, and a sole dissenter who challenges his peers’ unanimous judgment. Tickets are $5.

Martin Marty: Building Cultures of Trust
Mon., Feb. 28, 7 p.m., Patridge Campus Center and Tues., March 1, 9:30 a.m., Conway Boatman Chapel. Renowned author and theologian Martin Marty is this year’s guest for Union’s Staley Distinguished Christian Scholar Lecture series, bringing Christian scholars to campus to speak to the role of spirituality in the lives of students and community members. Dr. Marty will speak on “Building Cultures of Trust.”

Basketball, Race, and the American Dream
Thurs., March 3, 7 p.m., Conway Boatman Chapel. Special guest Reuben May, Ph.D., will talk about his award-winning book, “Living through the Hoop: High School Basketball, Race, and the American Dream.”

Appalachian Health and Well-Being
Tues., March 29, 7 p.m., Patridge Campus Center. Phillip Obermiller, Ph.D., a Fellow with UK’s Appalachian Center, will cover topics from his forthcoming book, “Appalachians: Their Health and Well-Being.” Dr. Obermiller has written extensively on Appalachia.

Redbud Festival
Fri., April 8, and Sat., April 9, Union College campus. Union is a proud host of the annual Redbud Festival and Heritage Living Event, a celebration of traditional arts, crafts and culture. Enjoy live traditional music, crafts, barbecue, storytelling, Redbud Marketplace, art displays and more. For complete information, visit redbudfestky.com.

UC Singers and Union Harmony Spring Concert
Tues., April 12, 8 p.m., Conway Boatman Chapel. The annual spring concert features classical and contemporary music, from 1600 to the present day. The choirs will perform under the direction of Union’s V. Gay Gandy, DMA.

Union College Regional Chorus Spring Concert
Sun., May 1, 3 p.m., Conway Boatman Chapel. Under the direction of Union’s V. Gay Gandy, DMA, the Regional Chorus brings together talented voices from local communities and Union’s faculty and students. The concert will feature the music of Mozart, Schubert and other notable composers.

January 28, 2011

[Top]