AUGUST 2011

Friday, August 26
Playing Well with Others
The Domino Players theatre company welcomes new students to campus with a wacky collection of short comedies.  The students and Professor Julia Matthews, Ph.D., ill make it an occasion not only for offering engaging comedic performances, but also an occasion to reinforce information that will have been given to new students earlier in the day about the nature, purpose, logistics, and etiquette of the Experience program.  Incoming students will also be able to choose a live theatre experience rather than a karaoke session (which is also available during that time).

9-10:15 p.m., Wachovia Theatre

SEPTEMBER 2011

Tuesday, September 6
Chemistry: The Central Science
This lecture by Gary Patterson, Ph.D., professor of chemistry and chemical engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, is part of Albright’s Celebration of the Sciences.
4 p.m., Klein Lecture Hall

Thursday, September 15
The End of the World: Predicted by Mayans, Confirmed by Science?
Matthew Restall, Ph.D., Edward Erle Sparks Professor of Latin American History and Anthropology at Penn State University, will give this lecture based on his recent book, 2012 and the End of the World: The Western Roots of the Maya Apocalypse.
4 p.m., Klein Lecture Hall

Thursday, September 15
Todd Siler: Neuro-Impressions
Artist’s Lecture
6–7 p.m., Klein Hall
Closing Reception
7–8 p.m., Freedman Gallery

Todd Siler uses art to examine, explore, and explain the most mysterious phenomenon in the universe – the human brain, that hidden engine of invention and innovation. How is the brain connected to nature and how is nature connected to everything the brain creates? Siler’s large-scale, mixed-media canvases and various sculptures search for these connections.  On view in the Freedman Gallery through September 18.

Thursday, September 15
Friday, September 16
Saturday, September 17
Sunday, September 18

Baby with the Bathwater

Helen and John, a rather dim-witted but well-meaning couple, have just brought home their new baby named Daisy.  The trouble is, Daisy is a boy! One child-rearing calamity piles on top of another as Daisy grows into a polite, but rather confused young man.  Will Daisy avoid making the same mistakes when it is his turn to be a parent?  Nobody said parenthood was going to be easy, or this funny.

All evening performances are at 8 p.m.; Sunday matinee is at 2:30 p.m.  Wachovia Theatre

Friday, September 16
The Art of Teamwork
This is an exploration of the commonalities between musical, theatrical and athletic preparation, practice and performance.  The Tempest Trio – Alon Goldstein, piano; Ilya Kaler, violin; and Amit Peled, cello – is a chamber ensemble with a growing international reputation. John Pankratz is director of the String Chamber Orchestra at Albright. Jeffrey Lentz is artist in residence at Albright. Janice Luck is head women’s basketball coach. Rick Ferry is head men’s basketball coach. They will recruit student participants for this expanded Master Class.

Friday, September 23 
Saturday, September 24 
The Colored Museum by George C. Wolfe 
Directed by Szalene Anthony ’12 and Brandon Bailey ’12. Extremely limited seating.

This play explores the history of African-American culture in the United States from the time of slavery through the Vietnam War. Set in a museum, this production offers the unique twist of actually being performed in Albright’s own gallery space.
8 p.m., Freedman Gallery

Sunday, September 25
Berks Opera Workshop Recital with Francine and Tamara Black
Local favorites, Tamara and Francine Black, will perform this special recital at Albright College for its 11/12 Concert Series season. Join us on the CFA Mezzanine for refreshments following the concert. Call the box office at 610-921-7547 for prices/tickets.
3 p.m., Roop Hall

Wednesday, September 28
Even the Rain
One of the many events being held to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, the film Even the Rain (2010) features a Spanish film crew in Bolivia who shoots a movie about the discovery of America.  A local struggle over water rights curiously parallels the theme of the film being made. This powerful and emotional film on social and historical issues in Latin America was directed by Mexican superstar Gael GarcA-a Bernal. Brian Jennings, Ph.D., assistant professor of sociology, will lead a discussion following the film.

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OCTOBER 2011

Saturday, October 1
On the Streets of Old San Juan, a concert of Puerto Rican Rhythms
Special guest artist, guitarist Christian Rosa Rodriguez, a graduate of the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music and a student of the famed Conservatoire Rue il Malmaison, will be joined by Albright’s own talented pianist, Jesse Grieb ’13, in a performance featuring traditional and contemporary music by Spanish and Latin American composers.
7:30 p.m., Women’s Center of Reading (Bus transportation provided to/from campus with reserved ticket.  Call the box office at 610-921-7547 for tickets.

Saturday, October 1
Off Road: the Regional Landscape Photography of Greta Brubaker
Greta Brubaker takes us “off road” to view the ravages of industrialization across Pennsylvania as she captures landscapes struggling to recover in the aftermath of strip mining and deforestation in the pursuit of coal and oil.
5-7 p.m., Opening Reception, Freedman Gallery

Saturday, October 1
New York, September 11 by Magnum Photographers

From various vantage points we are transported to Ground Zero by 11 photographers to witness the destruction of the World Trade Center. As a tribute to the World Trade Center’s noted place in history, “New York September 11,” also includes some of the most beloved photographs of the Twin Towers taken by Magnum over the last quarter of a century.
5-7 p.m., Opening Reception, Freedman Gallery

Wednesday, October 5
Justice After Genocide?  The Case of Yugoslavia
Join Albright graduate Rachel Williams as she discusses her work as a legal assistant with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

4 p.m., CCSL

Wednesday, October 5

Cancer Research - Oncology Panel Discussion

As part of the Celebration of the Sciences, four alumni, all of whom are prominent researchers in the treatment of cancer, will present their work.  A Q&A session will follow.

4 p.m., Klein Lecture Hall 

Thursday, October 6

Revolution

“Revolution” is a series of short films made by contemporary Mexican filmmakers on the legacy of the Mexican Revolution on its 100 year anniversary. Commentary will be by John Incledon, Ph.D., professor of Spanish.

7 p.m., Klein Lecture Hall 

Saturday, October 8
Fall Pops Choral Concert
Revisit some of the most popular songs of all time in a performance by Albright College’s four choral ensembles: the Albright Angels, Mane Men, Concert Choir and Women’s Chorale.  This concert includes hits such as “Runaround Sue” and Harry Belafonte’s “Jump in the Line.”  Adlai Binger will conduct.
7:30 p.m., Memorial Chapel

Monday, October 10 and Tuesday, October 11
Summer 2011 ACRE Presentations

Students will present their summer ACRE research.  On October 11, presentations will be followed by a reception, during which each of the students will be recognized.

6 p.m., Science Center Lecture Hall, Room 256 

Wednesday, October 12
Japanese Textiles, Quilts and Art Making

In this presentation, Susan Ball Faeder presents an overview of Japanese fabric and textiles, especially as they pertain to the quilting world. She explains techniques of traditional fabric masters in Japan, including threads and dyeing; the philosophy and meaning of images, textures and designs (including silks used in kimono); and how American quilt making using Asian themes has brought two diverse worlds, the East and West, together. Faeder’s own fabric artwork will be displayed and discussed.

6:30 p.m., Campus Center South Lounge

Friday, October 14

Keynote Address on Science Education by Robert Full, Ph.D., professor of integrative biology, University of California at Berkeley

As the keynote speaker for the grand opening celebration of Albright’s new Science Center, Full will discuss the importance of science education and present his own research on the motion of multi-footed creatures. 

4:30 p.m., Memorial Chapel 

Thursday, October 20
Latinos in Berks County, PA: Migration, Settlement, and Employment – an Update

Mark Reisinger, associate professor of geography at the University of Binghamton and a specialist in the issues of Latino migration to Berks County, will talk about research he has done on Reading’s population since the 2010 census.
4:30 p.m., Campus Center South Lounge, Fireside

Saturday, October 22
Mane Men Turns 10, the Reunion Concert
Celebrate the 10-year anniversary of one of Albright College’s most popular musical groups in a special concert that reunites the present ensemble with alumni from the last decade.
7:30 p.m., Memorial Chapel

Monday, October 24
An Audacious Experiment in Applying Anthropology in Peru: The Vicos Project 50 Years Later
This presentation on applying anthropology in Andean Peru focuses on the Vicos Project 50 years after it was initiated by anthropologists. The Vicos Project has two goals: To bring about, with the participation of the people of Vicos, community possession of their land base and to end their subjugation to the landed gentry; and secondly to study at Vicos the change process as it unfolded, advancing anthropological understanding of the cultural change.

4 p.m., Campus Center South Lounge

Tuesday, October 25
Conversations with a Rwandan Genocide Survivor:  Eugenie

Rwandan genocide survivor, Eugenie Mukeshimana, will share her experiences as a survivor of the Rwandan genocide.  As a young woman, Eugenie endured nearly 100 harrowing days trying to escape the genocidaires. Today, she speaks to others about her experiences and the dangers of hate and indifference within a society.

Thursday, October 27
Facul-Tea 

Kennon Rice, Ph.D., associate professor of sociology, post-sabbatical presentation. 

4 p.m., Library group study rooms A&B

Friday, October 28
Saturday, October 29
Sunday, October 30
Arcadia by Tom Stoppard

Part thriller, part romance, part science lesson, this widely acclaimed play tackles the ongoing human struggle between our unquenchable thirst for knowledge, our unremitting quest for fame, and our unrequited desire for love.  Friday, October 28, free talkback and reception following performance.

All performances at 8 p.m., except Sunday matinee, which is at 2:30 p.m., Wachovia Theatre

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NOVEMBER 2011

Wednesday, November 2
Facul-Tea 

Karen Campbell, Ph.D., P. Kenneth Nase, M.D. ’55 chair of biology, post-sabbatical presentation. 

4 p.m., Science Hall Room 223

Thursday, November 3
Eric Cornell, Ph.D., 2001 Nobel Laureate in Physics

Eric Cornell, Ph.D., who won the Novel Prize in Physics for creating a new, ultracold state of matter called a Bose-Einstein Condensate, will talk about how this fundamental advance is providing new insight into the nature of matter and leading to new technologies. Cornell is a fellow and senior scientist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Boulder, Colo.; a fellow and chair of JILA; and a professor adjoint in the Department of Physics at the University of Colorado at Boulder.  He received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2001 and is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, among other honors.

7 p.m., Memorial Chapel

Thursday, November 3
Spaces of Revolution: Rap Music, Youth, and Social Media in Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt

Zakia Salime, Ph.D., an assistant professor of sociology and women’s and gender studies at Rutgers University, will examine how rap, and its dissemination through Youtube and Facebook, has emerged as an important space of revolt for youth cultures in Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt.

7 p.m., Klein Lecture Hall

The candidates for Mayor of Reading, Vaughan Spencer, Democratic Party candidate, and Jim McHale, Republican Party, have agreed to speak and meet with students, faculty and community members at Albright.  They will each speak briefly about how Albright students and community members can participate in addressing the pressing local issues facing Reading.  After brief remarks by a faculty, student and/or administrator, the attendees will divide into small groups to discuss the issues raised by the candidates.  The two candidates will then circulate among the groups giving the students opportunities to meet and discuss ideas with each candidate in a small group. 

5 p.m., Campus Center Main Lounge

Thursday, November 3
Friday, November 4
Saturday, November 5 
Arcadia by Tom Stoppard

This witty and yearning play spins ideas about the shape of the universe and the needs of the heart as the efforts of two present-day scholars attempting to unravel the sorted history at an English manor home are juxtaposed against the original events that occurred in 1809.

Friday, October 28, free talkback and reception following performance.

 All performances at 8 p.m., Wachovia Theatre

Monday, November 7
Arcadia Panel Symposium

 7-8:15 p.m., Wachovia Theatre

The Department of Modern Foreign Languages and Literature will screen Abdellatif Kechiche’s critically acclaimed 2004 film L’Esquive (Games of Love and Chance), followed by a discussion. The film follows the everyday drama of a group of adolescents as they rehearse for a school play. Not only does L’Esquive offer insight into a segment of French society often ignored, it also constitutes a meditation on the place of role-playing in everyday life more generally. After the screening, Professor Arcana Albright, Ph.D., will lead a discussion of the film. The film is in French with English subtitles.

7 p.m., Klein Lecture Hall

Tuesday, November 8
Films for One to Eight Projectors

Renowned experimental filmmaker Roger Beebe, whose films have shown around the globe from Sundance to the Museum of Modern Art and from McMurdo Station in Antarctica to the CBS Jumbotron in Times Square, will be visiting Reading to present a program of his recent multi-projector films as part of a six-week East Coast tour. In his recent films, Beebe explores the possibilities of using multiple projectors, running as many as eight projectors simultaneously not for a free-form VJ-type experience, but for the creation of discrete works of expanded cinema.

7:30 p.m., Klein Lecture Hall

The Pennsylvania Department of Education, as well as the U.S. Department of Education, are experiencing great changes to the standards and certification systems. Become aware of what you need to know as future and current educators, as well as citizens of our nation within the system. Christopher Budano, assistant director of education services at the Pennsylvania State Education Association, will discuss the Standard Aligned System (SAS), Common Core Standards and changes to Pennsylvania certification.

6:30 p.m., Klein Lecture Hall

Saturday, November 12
Masquerade Ball, a Fashionable Affair
Enjoy a night of period music, dancing and costumes, many of which have been designed and created by the Albright Fashion Department. Learn period dances from the Victorian Dance Ensemble. All participants must wear a mask! Call the box office at 610-921-7547 for tickets; $15 per person.
7:30 p.m., LifeSports Center

Sunday, November 13
32^nd Annual Leo Camp Memorial Lecture featuring Deborah Lipstadt, Ph.D., author of The Eichmann Trial

Deborah Lipstadt, Ph.D., is the Dorot Professor of Modern Jewish and Holocaust Studies at Emory University in Atlanta where she directs the Institute for Jewish Studies. She is the author of several books including her most recent, The Eichmann Trial (Nextbook/Schoken, 2011), which chronicles the trial of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann. Her book, History on Trial: My Day in Court with David Irving (Ecco/HarperCollins, 2005) tells the story of her five-year libel trial in London against David Irving who sued her for calling him a Holocaust denier and right wing extremist.

Lipstadt was an historical consultant to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and helped design the section of the Museum dedicated to the American Response to the Holocaust. She was appointed by President Clinton to the United States Holocaust Memorial Council and has been called upon by members of the United States Congress to consult on political responses to Holocaust denial. She was recently reappointed to the United States Holocaust Memorial Council by President Obama.

The lecture is co-sponsored by Albright College and the Jewish Federation of Reading.

3 p.m., Memorial Chapel

3 p.m., Roop Hall

Monday, November 14
Facul-Tea 

Marian Wolbers, M.A., Instructor of ESL/Degree Start Program (DSP) Coordinator, ADP, presents a professional development summer scholarship grant from Albright called “The Japan Diaries: A Memoir.” 

4 p.m., Library group study rooms A&B

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Students will have the opportunity to ask questions about and explore Deborah Lipstadt’s studies of the Eichmann trial and the important effect that the testimony of survivors had in the courtroom. The event will be facilitated by Guillaume deSyon, Ph.D., professor of history.

9:30-10:15 a.m., Alumni Hall, Faculty Club 

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Environmental Campus Outreach (ECO) presents the docu-comedy YERT, a film chronicling a small group of friends as they travel across the U.S. Along the way they meet some of the most important people in the modern environmental movement. Following the film, Mark Dixon, one of the directors of YERT, will hold a Q&A to discuss his experiences while making this film.

7:30 p.m., Klein Lecture Hall

Saturday, November 19
Cornucopia: Fall Concerts by the Symphonic Band & Jazz Band

Featuring Albright’s Symphonic Band along with the ever-popular Jazz Band, this concert will delight listeners with songs that celebrate a season of harvest and thanksgiving. Rebecca Butler and Mike Eben, conductors.
7:30 p.m., Wachovia Theatre

Monday, November 28

Challenges to Sudan and South Sudan

Enough Project co-founder and activist John Prendergast will present a lecture on South Sudan and the implications of this new state’s founding to Darfur, human rights in the region, and U.S. foreign policy.

7 p.m., Campus Center South Lounge

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DECEMBER 2011

Thursday, December 1
Richard Hamwi: Journey
This solo exhibition features work from Richard Hamwi’s fall 2010 sabbatical, as well as earlier drawings. Hamwi’s vibrant and rich works will provide a bright spot of cheer and intensity to chase away winter’s chill.
4-5 p.m., Panel Discussion, Klein Hall
5-6:30 p.m., Opening Reception, Freedman Gallery

Thursday, December 1
Facul-Tea : "How Full was the Boat? Examining refugee border crossings into Switzerland, 1940-1945."

Professor Guillaume de Syon, Ph.D., professor of history, will talk about the research on refuges he did while on sabbatical.  In August 1942 at the height of the Holocaust, Swiss authorities declared "the boat is full" and closed their borders to all refugees. However, federal policy was not applied consistently as records from the Geneva state archives show. In fact, examining the police records held there shows a picture far more complex about the reasons some refugees were let in and others were returned to German-occupied France. Professor deSyon will examine the implications of this policy in his post sabbatical presentation.  Snacks will be provided.

4 p.m., Library group study rooms A&B

Argentina is a country that has such a tangled mixture of native and European traditions that it makes it hard to differentiate between them.  This talk will present an overview of the country’s most important geographical features, history, and traditions, as well as cultural aspects of present-day Argentina.

6:30 p.m., Campus Center South Lounge

Sunday, December 4
Bach to Basics, a String Chamber Orchestra and Small Ensembles Concert
During Albright’s Celebration of the Sciences, the String Chamber Orchestra explores the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, the genius, who rather like Isaac Newton, established the laws of motion on which subsequent composers have built.
3 p.m., Memorial Chapel

Tuesday, December 6
Thursday, December 8
Postcards from the Abyss, Two Evenings of Short Plays by Samuel Beckett
Join us as students from the Theatre Department’s “Directing Studio” showcase short plays by minimalist master, Samuel Beckett, in two distinctly different performances.

7:30 p.m. (both evenings), Wachovia Theatre

Thursday, December 8
Albright Student and Berks County Film and Video Show

Filmmakers will be present at this showcase for the best film and video work being done at Albright and in the Reading Area. Free admission for Albright students/faculty/staff.
7:30 p.m., Klein Lecture Hall

Saturday, December 10
Sounds of the Season: Holiday Choral Concert

Join us for 400 years of secular and sacred music that celebrate the spirit of the holiday season through songs performed by the Mane Men, Albright Angels, Concert Choir and Women’s Chorale.  Adlai Binger, conductor. A reception follows the performance. Honor your child, parents, or a cherished loved one by sponsoring a poinsettia ($12 each, you or your honoree take the poinsettia after the concert).

7:30 p.m., Memorial Chapel

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JANUARY 2012

Thursday, January 26
Day Job

Twenty emerging artists included in the “Viewing Program: registry of the Drawing Center, New York, explore the relationship between their day jobs and their creative practice.  Rather than subscribing to the belief that having a job steals time and is disruptive of the artists’ creative process, the works included illustrate how artists use information, skills, ideas, working conditions, and materials they encounter on the job to become a source of artistic influence. Lecture by Curator Nina Katchadourian.

6 p.m., Klein Lecture Hall7 p.m., Opening Reception, Freedman Gallery

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FEBRUARY 2012

Friday and Saturday, February 3 and 4
The Waiting Room

Written by the sister of Sheryl Smith, director and class of 13', this controversial play about women in the waiting room of an abortion clinic has received critical acclaim. For mature audiences only.

Saturday, February 4, Free Talkback and Reception following performance.8 p.m., Wachovia Theatre

Monday, February 6
Wag the Dog: Citizens, News and the Media

Political commentator Danilo Yanich, Ph.D. '68, a professor at the University of Delaware, will talk about the relationship between news and citizenship. He will discuss how news is presented increasingly in a way that makes the practice of citizenship difficult to accomplish. He will also provide examples of and approaches for critical news consumption. This is particularly relevant as we move into another election cycle.

6 p.m., Campus Center South Lounge, West

Friday, Saturday, Sunday, February 17, 18, 19; and Thursday, Friday, Saturday, February 23, 24, 25
On The Verge by Eric Overmyer

Join three intrepid lady explorers as they trek through space, time, history, geography, and discuss feminism, language and fashion. This whimsical comedy is full of surprises.

Friday, February 17, Free Talkback and Reception following performance
Sunday, February 19, 1-2:30 p.m., Theatre Luncheon, $25 per person.

8 p.m., except Sunday which is at 2:30 p.m., Wachovia Theatre

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MARCH 2012

Saturday, March 3
Elements

Enjoy the elements of life – the sun, moon, stars, earth, wind, water, fire - interpreted in song in this special concert that combines Albright’s choral ensembles with its symphonic band.  Adlai Binger and Rebecca Butler, conductors.

7:30 p.m., Memorial Chapel

Daniel Kruger, Ph.D., research assistant professor at the University of Michigan, will be sponsored by the evolutionary studies special program of studies at Albright and Psi Chi, honor society in psychology.  This presentation depicts how sex differences in mortality rates across age and cause can be understood in the context of life history allocation of somatic and reproductive efforts. 

6:30 p.m., Klein Lecture Hall 

Artists included used the natural environment as both subject and material in their exploration of the creative process. Sustainability, endangered species, and the beauty, utility, and diversity of nature are all themes explored in the works presented.
Lecture by Curator Patricia Miranda 6 p.m., Klein Lecture Hall

7 p.m., Opening Reception, Freedman Gallery

Local favorites Marie-Aline Cadieux, Johannes Dietrich, and Albright's own Rebecca Gass Butler, will perform as the Majore Trio playing classical songs for violin, piano and flute.

3 p.m., Roop Hall

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APRIL 2012

Sunday, April 1
Lights, Camera, Music! A String Chamber Orchestra and Small Ensembles Concert

The String Chamber Orchestra visits Hollywood and Sundance to capture the music that makes the movies sing.  John Pankratz, conductor.

Spring Student Recitals

7:30 p.m., Roop Hall

Founded in 1997, the Boston-based Walden Chamber Players has garnered a reputation for being one of the most exciting and versatile chamber groups performing today.  This string trio concert features works by Bach, Beethoven, Krenek and Schedl.  Join us on the CFA Mezzanine for refreshments following the concert.

3 p.m., Roop Hall

One of the great American plays of the 20^th century, Williams’ Pulitzer Prize-winning drama is ignited as Blanche Dubois, a fading southern belle, unexpectedly appears at the door of her younger sister, Stella, in the steamy French Quarter of New Orleans, with the news that their family plantation, Belle Reve, is lost.

Friday, April 20, Talkback and Reception, following performance, free
Saturday, April 21, Alumni After-Party, 10 p.m., Freedman Gallery Sculpture Court.  $12 per person
Sunday, April 22, Theatre Luncheon, 1-2:30 p.m.
Monday, April 23, Panel Symposium, 7-8:15 p.m.

All performance are at 8 p.m. (Sunday matinee, 2:30 p.m.), Wachovia Theatre

With toe-tapping rhythm and sweet melodies, the Albright Symphonic and Jazz Bands welcome spring, giving audiences a treat by performing songs that celebrate the season of new growth and rebirth.  Rebecca Butler and Mike Eben, conductors.

3 p.m., Memorial Chapel

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MAY 2012

Join our passionate young actors from this year’s “Acting Studio II” in an evening of monologues penned by classic American playwrights such as Arthur Miller, Clifford Odets, Thornton Wilder and Tennessee Williams.

7:30 p.m., Wachovia Theatre

Showcasing the work of Albright students, this annual exhibit celebrates the talents of our creative students, both art majors and non-art majors alike.

4 p.m., Reception and Awards Ceremony, Freedman Gallery

This highly anticipated annual event highlights the work of Albright’s student fashion designers through exhibition displays and a high-energy runway show.

5 p.m., Showcase, Campus Center Fireside and South Lounge
6:30 p.m., Runway Show, Campus Center, Main Lounge

Albright’s choral ensembles – Albright Angels, Mane Men, Concert Choir and Women’s Chorale – gather for the last concert of the season.  Join us for songs that celebrate the season.  Light refreshments served following the concert.

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