Thanksgiving is a highly underrated holiday in the arts, if you ask me.  Think of all the songs and movies inspired by Christmas festivities: dozens and dozens of carols and ballads and stories of homecomings and merrymaking.  The only Thanksgiving art out there probably exists in children’s coloring books.  In Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn (one of my personal favorites), the Thanksgiving scene doesn’t even merit a dance number.  Disappointing, indeed!

In my family, one of our dearest Thanksgiving traditions involves listening to an old cassette of Arlo Guthrie’s epic sing-speak tale, “Alice’s Restaurant” (still the only Thanksgiving song I can think of).  Here at Loyola, people tend to disperse across the country for one last home-cooked meal before final exams and Christmas preparations begin in earnest.

As campus begins to empty out and people head home to service their own favorite traditions, we’d just like to take a moment to give thanks for our faculty, staff, students, and patrons like YOU who give us a reason to fill this school with song and dance, color and laughter.  It’s always a pleasure.  From our family to yours, happy Thanksgiving!

–Sallyann

I don’t know about you, but my parents always used to tell me, “Only boring people get bored.”  While that may not always be the case in the midst of dreary November pre-final exam ennui, it certainly is on an evening such as this!  Not one, not two, but THREE events are happening right here on campus for your viewing and listening pleasure.

Start off with the Sister Corita: the Joyous Revolutionary opening reception at 5:30 PM in the Crown Center Gallery.  This is the first day of the last exhibit to be housed by the Crown Center Gallery before the space is gone next semester, so soak it some serigraphs while you still can!  Mix and mingle over free snacks, while you’re at it.  >>

Then you can head on over to the Honors Recital to check out some of our most talented student musicians doing their thing in Stella Maris Chapel at 7:30 PM.

Steel Magnolias is in full swing in the Studio Theatre!  Tickets are sold out for tonight and tomorrow, but if you hurry you just might be able to get your hands on tickets for Sunday.

So we don’t want to hear about anyone sitting at home tonight!  And if you are, I hope you’re making hot cocoa and listening to Christmas music in eager anticipation of JOYOLA, coming soon to an auditorium near you.

Don’t forget about our two student concerts happening  this week:

Guitar and Chamber Ensembles Concert and the  Honors Recital

These students have been working really hard  for these performances, so come on out and support them!  Here are some pictures of the musicians perfecting their art:

This Friday at 7:30 PM, the Cervantes Orchestra of Chicago will be holding a free concert at the Merit School of Music, focusing on pieces from Spanish and Latin American composers.  This concert will feature music from Loyola’s own music professor, Dr. Gustavo Leone!

Dr. Leone, originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, teaches theory and composition here in Loyola’s Department of Fine and Performing Arts.  He received his doctorate in Composition at the University of Chicago, and has since composed pieces for ensembles not only in Chicago, but worldwide.

This concert will feature Ben Melsky, harpist, and Emanuele Andrizzi, conductor.

Listen to a composition of Dr. Leone’s here!

Here are directions from Mundelein Center, if you’re interested in attending the free concert.

¡Nos vemos allí!

Tomorrow night marks the opening of STEEL MAGNOLIAS in the Studio Theatre.  After weeks of rehearsals, the students of the CAST and PRODUCTION TEAM are ready to present the fruit of their efforts to YOU!  As always, Second Stage productions are entirely student-run, so be sure to stop by and check out what these crazy kids have been up to.

If you’ve ever been in the Studio Theatre, you know it’s an intimate performance space: this means there aren’t a lot of seats.  BUY TICKETS ONLINE today to secure your spot for performances this week and weekend.

Now I know we’ve all seen the movie and cried with our moms, but STEEL MAGNOLIAS is hardly just a tearjerker “chick” show - it deals with some harsh realities that people deal with every day.  Does someone you know live with Type 1 diabetes?  The character of Shelby (portrayed by Bryce Gangel) was based on the playwright’s sister, Susan, who died young from diabetic complications.  We’re fortunate to live in an age of advanced medical technology and research, but it’s still a serious health issue that affects way too many of our friends and families.  If you come out to see the show, the cast will be collecting donations for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation after the performance.  If you are unable to make it but are interested in donating, shoot us an email at BoxOffice@LUC.edu or give us a call at 773.508.3847 and we’ll be happy to help you give.

In the meantime, we hope to see you at STEEL MAGNOLIAS this week!

–Sallyann Price (your friendly neighborhood Box Office Manager and resident diabetic in the Department of Fine and Performing Arts)