November 6, 2003

'Lord of the Dance' fills Lied with Irish story

Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance tour - the international tour that has broken box office records in more than 30 countries - returns to 42 cities in the United States this fall. The show will offer three performances at the Lied Center for Performing Arts at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 12-14.

Flatley, who originated the role of the Lord, no longer dances in the show but serves as the artistic director and continues to oversee the production. The first American to win the All-World Championship in Irish Dance, Flatley opened the show in Dublin in 1996. About 50 million people worldwide have seen the Lord of the Dance.

Lord of the Dance blends traditional and modern Celtic music and dance and features Irish dance champions as the performers. The story is based on old Irish folklore as Don Dorcha, the Dark Lord, challenges the Lord of the Dance.

LuAnne Anderson, director of the Lincoln Irish Dancers, and Kit Voorhees, former director of UNL's Arts Are Basic program, will give a talk 30 minutes before the performance in the Lied's Steinhart Room.

Tickets for this performance are $55/$50/$39. College students and those 18 and under can buy the third-level tickets for $19.50 for the Wednesday and Thursday performances. Call the Lied box office at 472-4747 or (800) 432-3231 for tickets.

'Celebration of Youth' exhibits textile art

IANR News Service

Twenty-three Nebraska 4-Hers have their textile art on display at UNL as part of the 10th annual "Celebration of Youth: A Decade of Excellence," on exhibit at the Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery on UNL's East Campus through Nov. 14.

The projects were selected by jurors from more than 2,300 Nebraska State Fair 4-H clothing and home environment project exhibits, said Shirley Niemeyer, NU housing and environment specialist and activity co-coordinator.

The youth participated in workshops and experiments last month with faculty in the Department of Textiles, Clothing and Design in the College of Education and Human Sciences.

While 4-Hers experienced the college climate and worked in groups to examine the textile technology, industry and design, parents toured the International Quilt Study Center and the Historic Costume Collection and joined in a classroom activity with textile scientist Yiqi Yang.

Celebration of Youth is sponsored by the nonprofit group Friends of the Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery; the Textiles, Clothing and Design Department in the College of Education and Human Sciences; and 4-H, a part of Cooperative Extension in NU's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

For more information about the Celebration of Youth display, call 472-2911.

Coming soon to the Ross

These films will open Nov. 7 at the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center. Check the Ross website at <www.theross.org> for show times, or call 472-5353.

Dirty Pretty Things from director Stephen Frears. A Nigerian man trying to make a new life in London discovers a human heart in a hotel-room bathroom and is thrust into a dangerous situation. This film will run through Nov. 20.

In addition, the Ross will host "Mary, Norman & Me: Our Favorite Movies," the showing of some favorite movies of Mary Riepma Ross, Norman Geske and Danny Lee Ladely in celebration of the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center's 30th anniversary. The schedule for these movies can be found in the theater's lobby or by calling 472-5353.

The movies to be shown in this series will include: Aguirre, The Wrath of God; Au hasard balthazar; Band of Outsiders; The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie; The Films of Richard Myers; It Happened One Night; Jonah Who Will Be 25 In the Year 2000; McCabe and Mrs. Miller; Mr. Hulot's Holiday; The Night of the Hunter; Painters Painting; Seven Samurai; Stranger Than Paradise; Touch of Evil and The Trouble With Harry.

Susannah takes the stage Nov. 7, 9

The School of Music will present the musical drama opera Susannah by Carlisle Floyd at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 7 and 3 p.m. Nov. 9 at the Kimball Recital Hall.

The opera tells of young Susannah, who is persecuted by the members of a small-town mountain community. When the Elders come upon Susannah bathing in a creek near her home, the visiting preacher becomes her chief persecutor and then seducer.

Susannah will be performed by UNL graduate and undergraduate students and is staged by William Shomos with the UNL Orchestra under the direction of Tyler White.

Tickets are $20 general admission and $10 students and senior citizens. Advanced tickets are available through the Lied Center box office at 472-4747 or (800) 432-3231.