A play by William Saroyan, performances by some of the world’s acclaimed musicians and lectures by distinguished alumni are on the College of Arts and Humanities fall calendar. Here’s a preview of what’s ahead:

University Theatre – Saroyan’s “Slaughter of the Innocents” opens the season Oct. 3 and pays tribute to the award-winning author, playwright and lyricist William Saroyan, a Fresno native born 100 years ago this year. The drama takes its cues from the McCarthy Era of fear about Communism in the United States. Also on the Fresno State fall semester theater schedule are “Shiloh Rules,” a comedy about Civil War re-enactors (Oct. 31-Nov. 8) and Shakespeare’s “Measure for Measure” (Dec. 5-13). Click here for details.
http://www.csufresno.edu/Theatre/season0809.html

College of Arts and Humanities Distinguished Alumni Lecture Series – This year’s series begins with arguably the year’s most-awarded alumnus, producer Brad Lewis of Pixar Animation Studios. Lewis’ “Ratatouille” won an Oscar, Grammy, Golden Globe and Annie awards. His lecture is scheduled Oct. 9. Also this fall, the series will host Bill Feightner, chief technology officer and executive vice president of EFILM, reputed to be the world’s most advanced digital laboratory, on Oct. 30. Click here for details.
http://www.csufresno.edu/artshum/lecture_series/index.shtml

Music Department Concert Calendar – Fresno State faculty member and pianist Andreas Werz will play works by Haydn, Beethoven, Stockhausen, Liszt and Wagner in the season-opening recital Sept. 7. Musical guests on campus during the semester include the Adventist University of the Philippines Ambassadors (Sept. 9), percussionists Julie Spencer and Gernot Blume (Oct. 23), the Clendenin Brass Quintet (Nov. 16) and saxophonist Alan Durst (Nov. 20). Click here for details.
http://www.csufresno.edu/music/concerts/index.shtml

Philip Lorenz Memorial Keyboard Concerts – The series brings to campus some of the world’s best known pianists and organists, beginning Sept. 21 with Sergei Babayan in a piano concert co-sponsored by the Fresno State Armenian Studies Program. Also on the fall and winter schedule are pianists Markus Groh (Oct. 10), Richard Glazier (Nov. 2), Anne-Marie McDermott (Nov. 23) and Emanuel Ax (Jan 15). For more information, e-mail andreas werz@csufresno.edu <mailto:andreasw@csufresno.edu> .