KENNESAW, Ga. | Oct 5, 2021

Baritone Reginald Smith, Atlanta Opera’s Donald Byrd, and Theatre’s “Everybody”

Fall has arrived, and with it, some fantastic events are planned at ArtsKSU.  Be inspired by concerts, plays, innovative choreography, and thought-provoking visual artists, all close to home. 

Psychological Space Made Physical
On Thursday, October 7, visual artist Janine Antoni will present a 1-hour virtual lecture in association with the fall exhibition, This Mortal Coil at The Zuckerman Museum of Art. Visual artist Janine Antoni will discuss how she uses her body as both her tool for making and the source from which her meaning arises. This event is offered online at 7 p.m. and is free with a simple reservation.

Last Call for Fresh Air Friday
Start your weekend early and head over to the Legacy Gazebo for the last “Fresh Air Friday” on October 8 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. This popular free event features KSU students and faculty performing; no reservations are required. 

Opera Great Reginald Smith, Jr. 
On Saturday night, Atlanta native and famed baritone Reginald Smith, Jr. will take the stage on October 9 at 8 p.m. in Morgan Hall, Bailey Performance Center. Smith’s repertoire ranges from Franz Shubert and Francis Poulenc to Ian Ric Gordon’s popular “When Sue Wears Red.” Opera fans may remember Smith’s work in “Porgy and Bess” and his much-anticipated debut at the Metropolitan Opera as Jim, followed by his role as Jake with the Atlanta Opera. Tickets are $10-$20. 

Personal, Celebratory, and Inspiring
The 9th Annual Coming-Out Monologues, produced in collaboration with the KSU LGBTQ Resource Center, will once again inspire audiences on Oct. 14-15. Held at the Onyx Theater, the performance features original coming-out stories from KSU and Atlanta-area communities, all performed by KSU students. Tickets are $5. 

Cellist Makes ArtsKSU Debut
Classical music resonates across campus in October from the Bailey School of Music, with an inaugural performance by world-renowned cellist Jesús Castro-Balbi, Director of the Bailey School of Music. Castro-Balbi will play the Saint-Saëns concerto with the KSU Symphony Orchestra on October 21 at 8 p.m. in Morgan Hall at the Bailey Performance Center. Dr. Nathaniel Parker, conductor, says, “This collaboration presents a great opportunity not only for our students—but also for our colleagues and patrons in the arts community—to get to know Dr. Castro-Balbi as a performer.” Tickets are $5-$10. 

Donald Byrd Dance Masterclass
In partnership with The Atlanta Opera, the Dance Department is hosting a Masterclass with legendary choreographer Donald Byrd on Oct. 23 from 11:00am-1:00pm. The class, held at the Dance Studios at 1200 Chastain Road, will be open to the dance community and the public. Free with a simple reservation. 

Death shows up for “Everybody” 
Next, the Department of Theatre and Performance Studies asks what might happen when Death shows up unexpectedly and tells Everybody his time is up. “Everybody,” running October 26-31, is Branden-Jacob Jenkins’ audacious riff on the 15th century morality play, “Everyman.” Director Amanda Washington explains, “A morality play happened in the medieval times; it was a play that had a moral easy enough for the church congregation to understand: if you are a good person, when you die, you get into heaven.” This production, however, surprised Washington in “how funny it is when it’s actually being performed. On paper it’s very dramatic, but it’s actually pretty hysterical.” Tickets are $5-$20. 

--Kathie Beckett