January 5, 2006 :: No. 100

Jan. 13, 14 and 15, 2006 mark the three-day celebration at California State University, Fullerton to open the new 109,000-square-foot Performing Arts Center. This new facility will be united with the current facility to support the university’s growing and award-winning performing arts programs.

The festivities begin at 11:00 a.m. Friday, Jan. 13, with a dedication ceremony. Southern California composer William Kraft was commissioned to write a new piece especially for the occasion. Entitled “Vintage Renaissance and Beyond,” the work will be performed by Cal State Fullerton’s University Wind Ensemble under the direction of Mitchell J. Fennell, associate professor of music.

Among those expected to attend are: State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell, CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed, CSU trustees Debra S. Farar and George G. Gowgani, Assemblywoman Lynn Daucher (R-Brea), Fullerton Mayor Leland Wilson and the other members of the Fullerton City Council — Mayor Pro Tem Don Bankhead, F. Richard Jones, Shawn Nelson and Sharon Quirk — plus architect Bill Murray from Pfeiffer Partners. Following the ceremony, tours will be conducted of the new center.

Community members who reserve seats in advance are invited to attend the dedication. Reservations can be made by calling 657-278-2356 from 1-4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Saturday, Jan. 14, welcomes CSUF alumna and international opera star Deborah Voigt to the Vaughncille Joseph Meng Concert Hall for the black-tie inaugural concert. Hosted by Marc Cherry (B.A. theatre arts ’95), creator and executive producer of the hit TV show “Desperate Housewives,” this sold-out performance welcomes other esteemed alumni, including Mark Garcia (B.M. performance ‘82), currently performing in opera houses throughout Europe and living in Germany; Aram Barsamian (B.M. performance-vocal ’94), who has performed with opera companies from San Francisco to Nevada; Roger Castellano (B.A. theatre arts ’84), who maintains an active schedule of performances in Asia, the United States and Central America; alumnus Rafael Duran, who has performed with Opera Pacific and LA Opera, among others; and graduate music major Tyler Thompson — all accompanied by the CSUF University Symphony Orchestra, with Kimo Furumoto, associate professor of music, conducting.

Prior to the concert, which features selections from Mozart to Sondheim, the evening opens with a sit-down dinner in a star-lit tent designed by alumni Julia (B.A. theatre arts ’84) and Greg (B.A. theatre arts ’85) Christy, owners of Brite Ideas.

The Sunday of the gala opening weekend features performances at both 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. by students, alumni and friends of the Department of Theatre and Dance. Performing in the James D. Young Theatre — a 250-seat thrust theatre — is the musical theater revue “The Broadway Connection: Present, Past, Future,” bringing back to Fullerton alumni currently working on Broadway in productions from “Hairspray” to “Mama Mia!,” along with today’s students and faculty members.

The Dale and Millie Hallberg Theatre — a 150-seat black box — hosts the return of the award-winning “Grasmere” by alumna Kristina Leach and reunites the original cast. This production has been staged at the Kennedy Center and also in New York and Hollywood. Playwright Leach was voted “Best in Festival for Playwriting” at the 34th regional Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival following the work’s premiere on campus in 2001.

Rounding out the Sunday offerings, in the 50-seat McGarvey Family Dance Studio, is a dance revue “Kinetically Alive,” featuring alumni and members of the BARE Dance Company.

All three shows will be performed concurrently at 2 and 6 p.m. Nestled between the performances, audience members will have the opportunity to see more of the center and mingle at a 4 p.m. reception.

Tickets to each of the Sunday performances are $75 per person and available by calling the Performing Arts Center Box Office at 657-278-3371 from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Parking for all three days is free in the Nutwood Parking Structure located off State College Boulevard at Arts Drive (north of Nutwood Avenue).

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