SHAKESPEARE'S ITALY: ROMEO AND JULIET IN CONTEXT - A pre-show talk by William Babula, professor of English and Dean, School of Arts and Humanities, will focus on Romeo and Juliet but also take us through the various plays set in Italy and the artistic and political reasons why Shakespeare chose a country he probably never visited as the setting for plays as diverse as Romeo and Juliet and Julius Caesar. 1 p.m., Saturday, May 3. Evert B. Person Theatre. Matinee performance of Romeo and Juliet follows at 2 p.m.
TWO NEW SHORT STORIES BY GREG SARRIS - The Word for Word Theater Company will be putting on performances of author, screenwriter and playwright Greg Sarris' original works "Ancestor", and "When Tom Smith Caused the 1906 Earthquake" followed by an interview with Sarris. In "When Tom Smith Caused the 1906 Earthquake", Sarris tells the story of two rival medicine men battling each other to see who is more powerful, one eventually causing an earthquake in his efforts to win. "Ancestor" follows 15-year-old R.D. after the death of his grandmother in his quest to find guidance from his ancestors. Both short stories reflect the importance of Native American influence on his life and the modern world. 2 p.m., Saturday, May 3. Warren Auditorium, Ives Hall. Admission is free and all are welcome to attend. (707) 664-2382.
THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE AS PROTOTYPE - Richard Hovannisian, Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles, presents a lecture on the Armenian Genocide Memorial. "The Armenian Genocide is in many respects the prototype of premeditated mass killing and ethnic cleansing from the early part of the twentieth century to the present," says Hovannisian. He has published 15 books and articles on the subject of Armenia and the Armenian genocide and has received many honors for his scholarship, civic activities, and advancement of Armenian Studies. 25th annual Holocaust Lecture Series. 4 p.m., Tuesday, May 6. Warren Auditorium, (707) 664-4296.
THE DIFFERENT FACES OF GOD: A BATTLE OF IDEAS - The notion of God is no easy matter. God has been called upon to fight for many sides of far too many battles, yet is said to be a God of peace. Dr. Shreibman will explore and discuss the battle for God in the Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Where do the disputes over God's will come from? Why are different religions often presented as opposing forces? What do all Abrahamic religions have in common? Why has there been such a rise in religious fundamentalism? All of these questions will be addressed in this enlightening lecture from the very popular and engaging Dr. Henry Shreibman. ASP Religion and Spirituality Lecture Series. 7 p.m., Wednesday, May 7. Student Union Multi Purpose Room, (707) 664-2382.
THE WORLD WITHOUT US: AN EVENING WITH ALAN WEISMAN - In a lecture discussing the premise of his best selling work of the same title, "The World Without Us", Alan Weisman offers an original approach to questions of humanity's impact on the planet: he asks the audience to envision Earth, without humans. "The World Without Us" reached #6 on the New York Times Best sellers list and #1 for Time and Entertainment Weekly Magazines. The book and lecture reveal how, just days after humans disappear, floods in New York's subways would start eroding the city's foundations, and how, as the world's cities crumble, asphalt jungles give way to real ones. It describes the distinct ways that organic and chemically-treated farms would revert to wild, how billions more birds would flourish, and how even cockroaches in unheated cities would perish without people. 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 7. Cooperage. Free to SSU Students, Staff, and Faculty, $10 for Lifelong Learning Students, and $15 general admission. (707) 664-2382.
MASAMI TERAOKA CONVERSATION AND BOOKSIGNING - Teraoka, an artist originally from Japan whose work pays homage to-and critiques-the traditions of both Japanese and European art, will not only discuss the works in his book, Ascending Chaos, but will discuss how his work evolved from Ukiyo-e narrative, providing both a social and personal context, and will discuss inspired him to arrive at the imagery in his current work. A Q&A period will follow, along with a light reception. 2 p.m., Saturday, May 10. University Commons. (707) 664-2295.
PERFORMANCES
ROMEO AND JULIET BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE - This guy falls for this girl, and she falls for him. There's trouble between their cliques, but they get it on anyway. It gets worse. Sex, street fights, secret potions and a not too happy ending. Oh, and amazing poetry. Any way you slice it, William Shakespeare's timeless classic has it all. 8 p.m., Friday, May 2; 2 p.m., Saturday, May 3; 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 7; 7:30 p.m., Thursday, May 8; 8 p.m., Saturday, May 10. Evert B. Person Theatre. $15 General, $12 Faculty/Alumni/Staff, $8 Seniors/Students, SSU Students free. (707) 664-2353.
WEST SIDE STORY - West Side Story slams into us with the most dynamic music-story-dance ever created for the stage. West Side Story dials Romeo and Juliet forward into today's landscape of gangs and warfare. Its creators were brilliant. They were also angry. Angry about stuff we're still angry about. How hatred kills love. How love is all that matters. Together they birthed America's hottest-coolest modern musical. Presented by Quantum Opera Theatre. 7:30 p.m., Thursday, May 1; 8 p.m., Saturday, May 3; 5 p.m., Sunday, May 4; 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 6; 8 p.m., Friday, May 9; 2 p.m., Sunday, May 11. Evert B. Person Theatre. $15 General, $12 Faculty/Alumni/Staff, $8 Seniors/Students, SSU Students free. (707) 664-2353.
CELEBRATING THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BERLIN AIRLIFT - Members of the top classical youth orchestra in Germany, the German National Youth Orchestra (Junge Deutsche Philharmonie) will present a special concert to commemorate and celebrate the 60th anniversary of the famous Berlin Airlift. The concert program features: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, String Quartett in B Major "Jagdquartett"; Kurt Weil, from String Quartett b Minor, "4. Durchweg lustig und nicht zu schnell"; Charles Argersinger, Quintett for Trumpet and String Quartett; Johannes Brahms, String Quartett in B Major. 8 p.m., Monday, May 5. Warren Auditorium, Ives Hall. Also on Monday, May 5, Karsten Tietz, German Consul for Cultural Affairs, will also offer a film screening and discussion on the Berlin Airlift at 10 a.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room of the Student Union and at 1 p.m. in the Cooperage. (707) 664-2637.
AN AMERICAN CHORAL LANDSCAPE - The Sonoma County Choral Society presents "An American Choral Landscape". The SSU Chorus, directed by Jenny Bent, offers an eclectic concert of American choral music by such composers as Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland and Moses Hogan. General Admission $12; SSU faculty, alumni, and staff $10; Students/Seniors $8. 8 p.m., Friday, May 9; 8 p.m., Sunday, May 11. Holy Family Episcopal Church, 1500 E Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. SSU Box Office 707-664-2353 (M-F, 12-5); online at sonomachoral.org.
MONTEVERDI'S LATE WORKS: THE EIGHT BOOKS OF MADRIGALS AND THE SELVA MORALE - The SSU Chamber Singers, accompanied by a chamber ensemble from Sonoma Baroque, and directed by Robert Worth will present some of the pieces from these books, representing the peak of Monteverdi's art in both secular and sacred realms. Sonoma County Choral Society. 8 p.m., Friday, May 16 and 8 p.m., Saturday, May 17. Holy Family Episcopal Church, 1500 E Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. General $12; SSU faculty, alumni $10; students/seniors $8. (707) 664-2353.
FILMS
CARNIVAL OF SOULS - Herk Hervey's low-budget cult classic is a combination of Alfred Hitchcock, Roger Corman and The Twilight Zone. A pre-credit drag race ends in tragedy, but one woman stumbles away with no recollection of what happened. Enroute to Salt Lake City, where she taking a job as a church organist, she is haunted by a ghoulish man who stares at her through the windshield, and lures her to an abandoned lakeside pavilion. (1962, 85 min.) Sonoma Film Institute. 7 p.m., Thursday, May 1. Darwin 103. General admission is $5.00. $4.50 for non-SSU students and senior citizens, $3.50 for SFI members and children under 12. SSU students admitted free. (707) 664-2606.
FOG CITY MAVERICKS- This film explores and applauds the extraordinary cinematic achievements of San Francisco Bay Area filmmakers, with notable attention to the way in which their lives and work mirror the spirit of invention and independence that makes the Bay Area such a unique cultural and artistic community. Filmmakers featured in the documentary include Bruce Conner, Carroll Ballard, Chris Columbus, Clint Eastwood, Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas, John Korty, John Lasseter, Phil Kaufman, Walter Murch, Sofia Coppola and Saul Zaentz. (2007, 119 min.) 7 p.m., Friday. May 2. Warren Auditorium. General admission is $5. $4.50 for non-SSU students and senior citizens, $3.50 for SFI members and children under 12. SSU students admitted free. (707) 664-2606.
