Arts & Culture

Poet and author Susan Wheeler, the visiting Fannie Hurst Professor of Creative Literature in Washington University’s Writing Program in Arts & Sciences, will read from her work Thursday, Oct. 25, and speak on the craft of poetry Tuesday, Oct. 30. Wheeler is the author of four poetry collections – Bag ‘o’ Diamonds (1993), Smokes (1998), Source Codes (2001) and Ledger (2005) – as well as a novel, Record Palace (2005).

Acclaimed conductor Leonard Slatkin — music director of the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C., and conductor laureate of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra — will return to St. Louis as guest conductor for Washington University’s “Piano Extravaganza” at 7 p.m. Oct. 28. Presented by the Department of Music in Arts & Sciences, “Piano Extravaganza” will mark the formal opening of the University’s newly renovated 560 Music Center, located at 560 Trinity Ave. in University City. The concert will feature performances by more than a dozen student, faculty and alumni pianists, including Seth Carlin, professor of music in Arts & Sciences, and Hugh Macdonald, Ph.D., the Avis H. Blewett Professor of Music in Arts & Sciences.

Over the last two decades, digital technology has had a major impact on the production and experience of art. At 6:30 p.m. Oct. 25, Christiane Paul, adjunct curator of new media arts at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, will discuss digital art and other new forms — including net art, software art, digital installation and virtual reality — for the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum.

The Reduced Shakespeare CompanyThey’ve shortened Shakespeare, abbreviated the Bible and compacted Western civilization. Now the Reduced Shakespeare Company, those world-renowned “bad boys of abridgement,” return to Edison Theatre with “Completely Hollywood (abridged),” an epic edit of movie masterpieces. Written by RSC stalwarts Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor, the show follows a trio of egotistical Tinseltown — the pompous Writer, the pandering Director and the narcissistic Actor — as they squabble their way to cinematic greatness.

*De-Viewer* by ART COMOver the last two decades, digital technology has had a major impact on the production and experience of art. On Oct. 25, Christiane Paul, adjunct curator of new media arts at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, will discuss digital art and other new forms — including net art, software art, digital installation and virtual reality — for the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum.

“Tensile Involvement”Alwin Nikolais (1910-1993) was a master of innovative and startling dance. In November, Utah’s acclaimed Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company will present Nikolais Dance Theatre, an evening-length collection of visionary multimedia works that transform dance into a visual and kinetic art.

Soprano Jennifer Jakob will perform an intimate Liederabend for the Department of Music in Arts & Sciences. Literally translated as “evening of song,” Liederabend is a German term referring to a recital given by a singer and pianist, particularly of works by 19th-century Austrian or German composers. The program will include songs by Hugo Wolf, Johannes Brahms, Franz Schubert, Robert Schumann and Richard Strauss.

Jennifer JakobSoprano Jennifer Jakob will perform an intimate Liederabend for the Department of Music in Arts & Sciences. Literally translated as “evening of song,” Liederabend is a German term referring to a recital given by a singer and pianist, particularly of works by 19th-century Austrian or German composers. The program will include songs by Hugo Wolf, Johannes Brahms, Franz Schubert, Robert Schumann and Richard Strauss.

Zarqa Nawaz knows something about crossing cultures. Born in England to Pakistani immigrants, raised in Toronto and now living in Saskatchewan, the Muslim writer, producer and filmmaker will give the annual Olin Fellows lecture at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 3, in Graham Chapel. The talk is free and open to the public. A panel discussion featuring Nawaz as well as other panelists will continue the discussion from 2-4 p.m. in the Women’s Building Lounge.

Leonard SlatkinAcclaimed conductor Leonard Slatkin — music director of the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C., and conductor laureate of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra — will return to St. Louis as guest conductor for Washington University’s “Piano Extravaganza” Oct. 28. Presented by the Department of Music in Arts & Sciences, “Piano Extravaganza” will mark the formal opening of the university’s newly renovated 560 Music Center, located at 560 Trinity Ave. in University City. The concert will feature performances by more than a dozen student, faculty and alumni pianists, including Seth Carlin, professor of music, and Hugh Macdonald, Ph.D., the Avis H. Blewett Professor of Music.