February 7, 2002

Jeanna Balibar plays Camille and Srgio Castellitto plays Ugo in Va Savoir, coming soon to the Ross Film Theater.

Va Savoir is next offering at Ross

A founder and leading light of the French New Wave, Jacques Rivette has Va Savoir (Who Knows?). Opening at the Mary Riepma Ross Film Theater on Feb. 14, Va Savior is a reflection on life, romance, theater, art-making and lovemaking.

Va Savoir is a romantic comedy that follows three men and three women as they become entangled in each other's lives during a brief run of a play in Paris.

The play's French star, Camille (played by Jeanne Balibar), is returning to Paris for the first time in three years since she left her pretentious boyfriend, Pierre (Jacques Bonaffé) and moved to Italy. Camille is in Paris with an Italian theatre troupe, led by her current lover, director and costar Ugo (Sergio Castellitto). While she seems to have found love and success in Italy, being back in Paris and having to confront her past is difficult for Camille.

Ugo is worried about the poor ticket sales for their production, but he is also obsessed with his search for a long-lost play, The Destiny of Venice. While searching for the manuscript, Ugo meets Do (Hélène De Fougerolles), a student who offers to help him in his quest.

Do's mother (Catherine Rouvel) has a library that may contain the missing manuscript, and while there Ugo encounters Do's possessive half-brother Arthur (Bruno Todeschini). Arthur is a shady character pursuing an affair with Pierre's wife, Sonia (Marianne Bader), a ballet teacher with a dark past.

After an unsettling dinner at Pierre and Sonia's home, tensions in Ugo and Camille's relationship rise to the surface. While Camille considers revisiting her past with Pierre, Ugo becomes more involved with Do. Throughout, Arthur pursues his own agenda, which mixes seduction with larceny.

As these six characters are drawn into a series of interlocking love triangles, the city of Paris serves as a backdrop for their misadventures. Va Savoir explores love without ever losing its sense of fun.

Va Savoir is showing on Feb. 14-17. Screenings are at 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, 1 and 7 p.m. on Saturday; and 3 and 7 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for students, senior citizens, children, and members of the Friends of the Mary Riepma Ross Film Theater.Shakespeare's Measure for Measure opens Feb. 14

University Theatre continues its 101st season with Shakespeare's dark comedy Measure for Measure. Directed by visiting artist Bill Jenkins, performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23 in Howell Theatre, first floor of the Temple Building.

In this play of power, deception and disguise, Duke Vincentio transfers his powers and duties to Angelo while the Duke purportedly leaves town. Escalus becomes Angelo's assistant. They are informed by Mistress Overdone, the town's leading "bawd," that Claudio is arrested and sentenced to death for impregnating Madame Juliet, his fiancée. Lucio makes a promise to Claudio that he will ask Claudio's sister Isabella to convince the deputy, Angelo, to free him out of kindness. Lucio comes to Isabella at a nunnery and convinces her to beg Angelo for mercy on her brother. Escalus, too, tries to dissuade Angelo from his harsh judgement, but Angelo will not be convinced unless Isabella agrees to sleep with him. She denies him for the sake of her chastity. Plots are hatched and further disguises are undertaken. The Duke, meanwhile, watches the proceedings of the town disguised as a monk, eventually setting everything to rights.

Leading the cast are graduate students Timothy Hornor as the Duke, Amber C. Irvin as Isabella, Steve Barth as Angelo, and Katherine LeRoy as Mistress Overdone. Undergraduates Tim Hammer as Claudio, John Wachter as Lucio, J. Eric Lauritizen as Escalus and Brianne Bassler as Juliet round out the cast of 22.

Guest director Jenkins is interested in "how the three primary characters (the Duke, Angelo, and Isabella) learn that the world is not merely black or white, but an ever-evolving shade of gray."

Jenkins is assistant professor/coordinator of the Musical Theatre Option at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. He holds a M.F.A. in Directing from Illinois State University.

Graduate students Kathryn Burton and Adam Mendelson design costumes and sound, respectively, with undergraduates Thomas Machan and Michelle Warner designing scenery and lighting, respectively. The production is stage managed by undergraduate Catherine Wallis.

This play contains adult themes and may not be suitable for all audience members. Call the box office for more information.

Tickets are available from the Lied Center Box Office, or at 472-4747 or toll free at (800) 432-3231 Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Individual tickets are $12 patrons, $10 UNL faculty/staff and senior citizens, and $8 students.

Shenandoah Shakespeare Express puts on the classics Feb. 11-12

The Shenandoah Shakespeare Express returns to Lincoln on Feb. 11 and 12 for special performances of theater classics. William Shakespeare's King Henry V will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 11 in the Centennial Ballroom of the Nebraska Union. George Bernard Shaw's Saint Joan will be staged at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 12 in the Culture Center, 333 N. 14th St. Both shows will be followed by discussions of leadership issues that are dramatized by the plays.

Based at the Shenandoah Shakespeare center in Staunton, Va., the globe-trotting Express is an ensemble committed to bringing classic plays to life through adapting the techniques of original Shakespearean theater. The actors of the SSE play multiple roles on a bare stage with minimal props, involving audiences that share the same light with the actors.

In past visits, the SSE has thrilled Lincoln audiences with its vigorous humor, its immediate rapport with theater-goers, and its inventive links between the history of the past and present-day popular culture.

One of Shakespeare's most enduring historical dramas, Henry V delivers a complex look behind the scenes at a young English monarch's attempt both to prove himself and to unify his subjects by waging war on France. Robert McClure tackles this role under the direction of Betsy Rudelich Tucker.

In Saint Joan, George Bernard Shaw provides insights into the mind and heart of Joan of Arc, the young maiden who led her countrymen's fight against English rule. Shaw's play combines wit and admiration as it depicts a woman who defied the conventions of her day and paid the ultimate price for that defiance, and who was later declared a saint. Tiffany Givens portrays the Maid of Orleans, under the direction of Shenandoah Shakespeare co-founder and artistic director Jim Warren.

After both shows, Stephen Buhler, professor in UNL's Department of English, will moderate discussions of the different and often problematic kinds of leadership presented by each play. The performances and discussion sessions are free.

These events are hosted by UNL's Leadership for Institutional Change initiative, which is funded by a grant from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. For more information, call 472-1784.

The Osiris Piano Trio: Ellen Corver, , left, piano; Larissa Groeneveld, center, cello; Peter Brunt, right, violin.

Osiris Piano Trio to perform at Sheldon

Three of Holland's most exciting young musicians will perform at 8 p.m. Feb. 8 in the Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery auditorium.

The Osiris Piano Trio from Amsterdam is the featured ensemble for the third concert in the 2001/2002 season of the Lincoln Friends of Chamber Music. The trio will play two well-known works, the Beethoven "Ghost" Trio in D Major, Op. 70. No. 1, and Schubert's B-flat Major Trio, D. 898. They will also present the vivacious Trio on English Folk Tunes by Frank Martin.

This is the last concert of the season to be held at the Sheldon, which is closing in March for renovation. The March 29 performance by the Ames Piano Quartet has been moved to the Johnny Carson Theater, and the April 20 concert by Phantasm will take place at the Great Plains Art Collection in Hewit Place (12th and Q St., south of the Lied Center).

Tickets for all concerts are $25 for adults and $5 for students, and may be purchased at the door.

For more information, call 435-5454.

Untitled sculpture from The New American Landscape series, 1998 by Paul Stout. Visiting artist Stout lectures Feb. 7 Paul Stout, visiting assistant professor of art at the University of Utah, will lecture on his sculpture and installation work and its referents in the history of technology, natural history displays and cultural criticism at 7 p.m. Feb. 7 in Richards Hall, Room 15.

School of Music Valentine's concert features romance

The UNL School of Music presents a Valentine's Day recital featuring faculty artists Clark Potter, viola, and Nicole Narboni, piano, at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 14 in Kimball Recital Hall.

Potter and Narboni will perform songs from the Romantic era by Chausson, Saint-Saens, Bruch, Faure, Vaughn Williams, Milhaud, Holst and others for this special day.

This event is free.

Double Reed Day Recital Feb. 8

The School of Music presents a Double Reed Day Recital featuring guest artist Margaret Marco, oboe, with faculty artists Nicole Narboni, piano and harpsichord, and William McMullen, oboe, at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 8 in Westbrook Music Hall.

The Double Reed Day Recital will showcase such works as Prémiere Sonate by Jacques Huguenet, Sonata No. 2 in d minor, HWV 381 for two oboes and Continuo by Georg Fredrich Händel, Six Metamorphoses after Ovid by Benjamin Britten, and others.

Marco has been the assistant professor of oboe at the University of Kansas since 1998. She has appeared as soloist with many orchestras including the Orquesta Sinfònica de Maracaibo, the Rome Festival Orchestra, the Dubuque Symphony and the St. Joseph Symphony.

The recital is free and open to the public.

White, Larson perform in Feb. 10 jazz gig

Music and information combine when four local musicians hit the stage at Saint Paul United Methodist Church's Black History Month Musical Celebration from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Feb. 10 in the church's sanctuary, 1144 M St.

Jazz is America's classical music, and Darryl White and Tom Larson will navigate the study of jazz from its roots in New Orleans to its present form through a performance and dialogue. They will be joined by Cory Biggerstaff on bass and Adam Reimnitz on drums.

White is an assistant professor of trumpet at UNL and is an accomplished jazz performer who recently released his first CD. He began playing trumpet at age 10 and holds a Ph.D. from the University of Colorado.

Larson, who teaches jazz history, rock history and jazz piano at UNL, has performed with Victor Lewis, Bo Diddley and Paul Shaffer, and he has written music for many nationally televised documentaries. He earned his bachelor's degree at the Berklee College of Music and a master's degree from UNL.

The performance is designed to entertain and inform people of all ages. The event is free to everyone.

For more information, call Sherry Melecki at 477-6951.

Theatrix sets spring season

After the debut of Two Rooms at the Region V American College of Theatre Festival, Theatrix is gearing up for the spring season with the Masquers' 2002 One-Act Play Festival at 7:30 p.m. March 7, 8 and 9, and at 10 p.m. March 8 in the Howell Theatre. This year they will feature two new one-act plays by UNL students and a performance by UNL's own improv troupe, The Huge Embarrassing Failures.

Theatrix will present John Steinbeck's classic Of Mice and Men at 7:30 p.m. April 11, 12 and 13, and at 10 p.m. April 12 in the Studio Theatre. The story of a friendship that binds two men together is directed by Steve Barth, Theatrix artistic director.

Tickets for all shows are $5 at the door.

Bailey and Clinton recital Feb. 12

The UNL School of Music presents faculty members John Bailey, flute, and Mark Clinton, piano, in a faculty recital at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12 in Kimball Recital Hall.

Bailey and Clinton will present an evening of instrumental pieces by C.P.E. Bach, Henri Dutilleau, Shulamit Ran, Camille Saint-SaÎns and Erwin Schulhoff.

This event is free and open to the public.

Weidman celebrated in February program

The School of Music Dance Program presents ACCELERATION: Works by Charles Weidman, at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 8-9, and 3 p.m. Feb. 10, in Kimball Recital Hall.

ACCELERATION is a celebration of Charles Weidman and his contribution to modern dance. Born in Lincoln, Weidman is best known for his choreographic work with his partner, Doris Humphrey. Their company and school, started in 1928, was devoted to exploring a new aesthetic in dance.

The UNL Dance Program will perform such works as Lynchtown (1936), The Study in Contrast (circa 1938) and others, choreographed by Weidman.

Tickets are available at the door. General admission is $5 and students $3.