LOL this Weekend

Photo of the Week

Just for Laughs -- a madcap comedy revue featuring OSU alumni from the ‘60s -- returns to campus April 4-6 to raise money for student scholarships. Just for Laughs stars Jeffrey Weissman who played George McFly in Back to the Future II and III along with OSU alumni Denis Freeh and Richard D. Farshler, and features live music and a cast of wacky characters that pay tribute to comedy in America. The troupe will present a weekend of benefit performances Friday, April 4 and Saturday, April 5 at 7:30 pm, and Sunday, April 6 at 3 pm in Roy Bowen Theatre on campus. All proceeds benefit scholarships in the Department of Theatre. The troupe has its roots in a 1963 OSU experimental theatre production called the Esoterics at Large, created by Freeh and Farshler and resulting in standing-room-only crowds. Tickets are $25 (tax deductible) available at the door or by calling the box office at (614) 292-2295. For details, call the box office or go to the web.

Notable News

Also this weekend, check out the 31st Annual OSU Jazz Festival in Weigel Auditorium April 3-6, featuring concerts, university and high school jazz bands and internationally recognized artists like Eddie Bayard (left) and Tony Monaco. Tickets at the door; for info, call 292-0789.

Alumnus and filmmaker Michael Stickrod (Art, Sculpture) who went on to earn an MFA at Yale has been honored with a major award from the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York City -- one of four Altoids Awards for emerging American artists. The winners are nominated and selected exclusively by artists and include Stickrod (New Haven, CT), along with artists from New York City, Portland and Houston. They were selected from 46 nominees by a jury of artists, and each receives a $25,000 prize. In addition, their work will be hosted in a joint exhibition June 25-Oct 12 at the museum. The Altoids Award (named for its mint-making sponsor) is an initiative that will be organized biennially by the New Museum.

Artists' opinions needed! The Greater Columbus Arts Council has partnered with Artspace Projects, a Minneapolis-based national, non-profit developer, to study the space needs of the creative community in the Columbus area. Results of the study will help in the development of affordable space where artists may live and work, and where arts organizations and creative businesses may thrive. Any artist -- student, faculty, alumni, professional artist, etc -- is welcome to fill out a survey between now and May 20.

Save the date! The Department of Dance presents Dance Downtown 2008 at 8 pm May 1-3 incuding a matinee on May 3. The 10th anniversary of the playful and provocative show includes 4 Columbus premieres, and will be staged at the Riffe Center's Capitol Theatre. Tickets are available from CAPA (469-0939) or Ticketmaster (431-3600).

Speaking of surveys, design student Kevin Miller wants your opinion! Miller is researching how folks use the College of the Arts website; results will help him redesign the website for his senior thesis project. The online survey is anonymous and confidential.

Music student Samantha Mowery (MM 06, DMA 08) has been cast as Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia with Virginia Opera, which has engaged her with a 5-month contract. In OSU Opera, Mowery recently was Adina in Elixir of Love and the Queen of the Night in Magic Flute.

Chelsea Galleria in New York City presents an exhibition, Lente Latino -- Latin American Photography through May 3. The show features photos by five artists including Tony Mendoza (Art).

Special events this week at OSU Urban Arts Space: April 1, noon-1 pm, History of Lazarus with Brian Ezzell. Thurs, April 3, 5:30-8 pm, Carnival Closing Processional with students from Columbus Africentric Nubian Dance and Drum Co, and 7-8 pm Jump 'n Wave. Fri, April 4, noon-1 pm, Artist Talk with Robin Van Lear, artisitc director of Cleveland Museum of Art's Parade the Circle.

Art & Technology alum John Sherman Lathram III, along with undergraduate students Adon Newman, Jennifer Cooke, James Mericle and Ross Smith, exhibited robotics sculptures, digital images, sound installation, video and computer animations in the Fuse Factory exhibition Ignition in Columbus.

To expand Design's international student exchange program, Reinhart Butter and Heike Goeller (Design) traveled to Mexico to meet with representataives from universities in Guadalajara and Monterrey. Both universities' programs in industrial design and interior architecture are compatible with OSU's educational philosphy and offerings. Agreements are likely to be signed in time for student exchanges to begin as soon as fall quarter 2009. While there, Butter also made presentations about transportation design and collaborative student projects at OSU.