UK Fine Arts Wishes 'Happy Holidays to You'

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 1, 2015) — From the university's own art studios to the stages of Guignol Theatre, Singletary Center for the Arts and the Lyric Theatre and Cultural Arts Center, the talented students and faculty of the University of Kentucky College of Fine Arts are ringing in the holiday season with everything from classic annual offerings to several new theatrical productions from the stage's next celebrated playwrights, directors and choreographers. With "New Works Now!," Open Studio, "Collage," "Amahl and the Night Visitors" and "Celebration of Song," as well as the visiting production of Mark O'Connor's "An Appalachian Christmas" at Singletary, there is something sure to make your every wish come true Dec. 4-13.

Open Studio Ready to Deck Your Walls with UK Art

For the first time ever UK School of Art and Visual Studies will throw open its doors to the public for its popular Open Studio event at UK's new Art and Visual Studies Building. Open Studio gives the public a chance to tour the new building, as well as view and even purchase artwork by current students and acclaimed UK faculty.

UK School of Art and Visual Studies from University of Kentucky on Vimeo. Video by Jenny Wells, UK Public Relations and Marketing.

After more than 50 years in the Reynolds Building, the school celebrated the opening of its new state-of-the-art academic creative space in September. As part of this holiday event, the studios of graduate and select undergraduate students will be open with the young artists present to talk about their ongoing projects. A variety of artwork will be on display including metalwork, fiber, paintings, photographs, drawings, ceramics, plaster casts, printmaking and woodwork. Much of this work can be purchased in time for the gift-giving season.

Open Studio also includes the Carey Ellis Juried Student Show, featuring UK students' best work over the last year. To round out the festivities there will be arts and crafts for children, live music, food and drinks.

Check out Open Studio from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, at the Art and Visual Studies Building located at 236 Bolivar Street. This event is free and open to the public, but a $5 donation is suggested.

UK Theatre Gifts Community with 'New Works Now!'

Feel the holiday cheer as the UK Department of Theatre and Dance's brightest creative minds stage this year's performances of "New Works Now!," running Dec. 4-6, at Guignol Theatre.

An array of past and present UK theatre and dance students will present their original works with holiday settings from Christmas to New Year's Eve and even President's Day. The showcase of plays, poetry, choreography and even a "choreopoem" will offer a glimpse into the future of the stage.

In the spotlight are the following productions:

· "The D/s Auditions" by English and theatre junior Jenny Winstead, of Louisville, Kentucky, directed by theatre junior Maddy Williamson, of Norfolk, Virginia;

· "Paper People" by biology senior Olivia Grothaus, of Ft. Thomas, Kentucky;

· "President’s Day" by English and theatre senior Abby Schroering, of Louisville, directed by theatre senior Katie Noble, of Corbin, Kentucky;

· "Bitch Goddess" by UK alumna and noted Kentucky-born, New York City poet and playwright Ellen Hagan, directed by theatre junior Sloan Gilbert, of Lexington;

· "In the Midnight Hour" by alumna Madison McGhee, directed by theatre senior Alexis Slocum of Fort Knox, Kentucky;

· "Santa Baby" by theatre junior Kenny Hamilton, of Ludlow, Kentucky, directed by theatre and secondary social studies education junior Curtis Lipsey, of Louisville; and

· "New World Eve" by theatre senior Rob Miller, of Hilliard, Ohio, directed by theatre senior Peter LaPrade, of Marietta, Georgia.

"New Works Now!" hits the stage 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 4-5, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, at the Guignol Theatre. Tickets for "New Works Now!" are $5 for students with a university ID and $10 for general admission. To purchase tickets, contact the Singletary Center ticket office at 859-257-4929, visit online at www.scfatickets.com, or visit the ticket office in person.

'Collage': 18 Years of Joyous Sounds

Performance by UK Choirs and guest artists of "Betelehemu," the traditional closing number of the popular "Collage" concerts. 

UK Choirs' most popular concert of the year, "Collage," will get audiences in the spirit of the season at their 18th annual performances. Critically acclaimed vocalists and musicians from the UK School of Music and the Lexington community will take to the stage for this much awaited concert Dec. 5-6, at the Singletary Center.

A local tradition, the "Collage" concerts feature some of the most treasured holiday carols from around the world. Under the direction of Jefferson Johnson, director of UK Choral Activities, and Lori Hetzel, associate director of UK Choral Activities, "Collage" showcases the university's critically acclaimed UK Chorale, UK Choristers, UK Women's Choir and UK Men's Chorus, as well as the UK Choir's a cappella groups, the acoUstiKats, Paws and Listen and Blue Note. 

In addition to the choral talents filling the stage, "Collage" also features some of the school's most celebrated musicians and vocal soloists, including this year's winners of the Kentucky District of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions doctoral student Shareese Arnold and vocal performance senior Mary Catherine Wright, as well as Lexington's best musical talents.

The curtain rises on "Collage" 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, at the Singletary Center Concert Hall. Tickets are $27 for general admission, $13 for children and UK students with a valid student ID, and $22 each for groups of more than 15. Tickets can be purchased at the Singletary Center ticket office by calling 859-257-4929, visiting www.scfatickets.com, or in person.

We're Dreaming of 'An Appalachian Christmas' with Mark O'Connor at Singletary

A performance of "Jingle Bell Rock" from Mark O'Connor's "An Appalachian Christmas."
 

One of the world's most celebrated musicians, Mark O'Connor, will return to the Bluegrass this winter with a wonderful holiday experience for the whole family. O’Connor and company will present "An Appalachian Christmas" 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11.

A product of America's rich aural folk tradition as well as classical music, O'Connor's creative journey has garnered two Grammy Awards, six consecutive Musician of the Year titles from the Country Music Association, and seven National and Grand Master fiddling championships — all testaments to the outstanding skill and dedication of one of America’s most accomplished instrumentalists of any genre. With his body of work including 45 feature albums of mostly his own compositions, O’Connor has melded and shaped his classical, jazz and folk influences into a new American classical music form and a vision of an entirely American school of string playing. 

"An Appalachian Christmas" is now in its fifth nationwide tour, combining the familiar melodies of traditional Christmas songs with O’Connor’s world-class musicianship. The Associated Press called the concert "heavenly" and the Boston Globe remarked, "All Christmas music should be played so elegantly on violin."

Tickets for Mark O’Connor's "An Appalachian Christmas" range from $37 to $25 for general admission and $23 to $15 for children based on seating location. Fees will be applied upon transaction. To purchase tickets, contact the Singletary Center box office by phone at 859-257-4929, online at www.scfatickets.com, or in person.

Double the Holiday Fun with UK Opera Theatre's 'Amahl,' 'Celebration of Song'

The talents of UK Opera Theatre give local audiences two popular traditional ways to rejoice in the holiday season with their production of "Amahl and the Night Visitors" and their 10th annual sing-along concert with Alltech, "Celebration of Song."

UK Opera Theatre will team up with the Central Kentucky Youth Orchestra to present the English one-act opera “Amahl and the Night Visitors.” Written by Gian Carlo Menotti, "Amahl" tells the story of a disabled shepherd boy, who unexpectedly encounters three kings, traveling to Bethlehem to meet the newborn king. When Amahl offers his crutch to the kings as a gift for the child, a miracle happens and a new journey begins.

UK Opera Theatre's three performances of "Amahl and the Night Visitors" will begin 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11, and 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec.12, at the Lyric Theatre and Cultural Arts Center. Tickets are $22.50 for general admission and $12.50 for students. Handling fees apply. To purchase tickets contact the Lyric Theatre box office at 859-280-2218 or visit online at http://lexingtonlyric.tix.com.

Later that same weekend, UK Opera Theatre and Alltech invite the community to lend their voices in the spirit of the season at their beloved old-fashioned holiday sing-along concert "Celebration of Song." The free public concert, led by Professor of Voice and Director of UK Opera Theatre Everett McCorvey, will begin 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, at The Square.

The UK College of Fine Arts is the vibrant arts hub of UK. It's an incubator for creativity and discovery, offering quality educational opportunities for students and engaging arts experiences for the community. The college is comprised of the School of Music, the School of Art and Visual Studies, the Department of Theatre, the Arts Administration Program, the Singletary Center for the Arts and the UK Art Museum.

MEDIA CONTACT: Whitney Hale, 859-257-8716; whitney.hale@uky.edu