Author: Stacy Salters

“(Re)Current Unrest” will take place at the noon-1:30 p.m. Monday, March 21 at the Rhatigan Student Center Sante Fe Room. “(Re)Current Unrest” is a social justice dance theatre film screening and artist talk. This event is presented in collaboration with and is free and open to the public.

Created by Charles Anderson, “(Re)Current Unrest” explores the kinesthetic state of unrest—the condition of unease, discontent and social disturbance. This physical state of agitation represents staying woke. To stay woke refers to an intangible level of awareness about community issues and social justice.

Due to COVID-19, the live immersive performance engagement has been reimagined by Anderson in the form of a digital iteration of “(Re)Current Unrest” featuring live and pre-recorded video footage.

Wichita State’s School of Performing Arts will host the Wichita Contemporary Dance Theatre spring Concert 2022 beginning at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 24-26 at Wilner Auditorium. 

The event will be a repertory dance concert featuring the faculty works of Denise Celestin, Cheyla Clawson Chandler, Nick Johnson, Sabrina Vasquez and other guest artists.

Tickets are free to WSU students who present their ID, $10 for other students, $18 for faculty, staff, military, and senior citizens. For more information or to get tickets, contact 316-978-3233 or visit the online WSU College of Fine Arts Box Office. 

In response to the global pandemic, the Wichita State Dance program has created a new format for the annual Kansas Dance Festival – The Kansas Screen Dance Festival. This virtual event will take place at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3-5.

During the event, choreographers from the Midwest will share their digital dance works. Wichita State will present “Brave New World/Re-Imagined for Film,” an experimental work of dance and physical theatre inspired by the book by Aldous Huxley. The work examines the effects of a conformist society when confronted by the behavior of the outcast individuals.

This event is free and open to the public. To get the link, visit the WSU Ticket Office Home website.

A reception to celebrate Linda Starkey’s will take place at 3:30 p.m. Dec. 3 at the Wilner Auditorium Commons. Starkey, who worked as the director of the School of Performing Arts, has been a guiding light and driving force for the performing arts at Wichita State for more than 40 years.

Throughout her tenure, Starkey was inducted into the Mary Jane Teall Hall of Fame, awarded as the Mary Jane Teall Educator of the Year and received the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Gold Medallion. Her greatest accomplishment has been to teach and inspire students who have graced the stage from Wichita to Broadway.

Wichita State University’s School of Performing Arts presents “Love’s Labor’s Lost.” Showtimes for performance will be 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 18-20 and 2 p.m. Sunday Nov. 21.

“Love’s Labor’s Lost” is a lighthearted comedy by William Shakespeare. In the story, the King of Navarre and his three companions commit to a life of study and self-improvement for three years. To help them keep their oath, the king demands that all women must remain at least a mile from the court. As the king and his men are settling down to a life of study, the princess of France and her three ladies-in-waiting arrive. The women are forced to camp a mile away, but it isn’t long before the king and his men find themselves falling for the charms of the ladies, and their carefully laid plans are soon abandoned.

To reserve a seat, contact the WSU Box Office at 316-978-3233 or visit the WSU College of Fine Arts Box Office.

Wichita State’s School of Performing Arts presents “Keepers of the Flame” at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 30-Oct. 2 and 2 p.m. Oct. 3 at Wilner Auditorium.

“Keepers of the Flame” is a celebration that includes a collection of musical theater scenes and songs that celebrate Wichita State’s Musical Theatre Program. Tickets are free for students with a valid WSU Student ID.

For more ticket prices, contact 316-978-3233 or click the link below.

Wichita State’s School of Performing Arts will host a virtual event featuring a playlist of projects created by students during the pandemic 8 a.m. to midnight May 15-16 via YouTube. The projects will include dance, musical theater and theater. The event will also include the premiere of the dance film “She Moved the Prairie.”

You can also donate to the school online or via text to help plan for next year’s season and to support student opportunities. To donate online visit the following link, click “College” then choose “Fine Arts” and select the “School of Performing Arts Patrons Fund.”  To donate via text, text to 52014: @shockers #WSUSPA $50. You will receive a link to follow to submit your payment information to complete the gift.