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 California
State University, Fresno will play a major part in the yearlong
centennial celebration of William Saroyan’s birth with events on campus
and with faculty members sharing their expertise throughout the
community.
The university’s College of Arts and Humanities and the college’s
Armenian Studies Program – with the Theatre Arts and English departments
– are among the sponsors of the William Saroyan Centennial. Fresno
State’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and Henry Madden Library are
sponsors, too.
A Saroyan-themed public presentation will be part of the California
State University Summer Arts program, a July fixture on the Fresno State
campus that attracts students from all over California and guest artists
who perform and teach.
The celebration is dedicated to the memory of Fresno’s best-known
writer, whose work was inspired by his humble beginnings in Fresno as
the son of immigrant Armenians. Saroyan lived in San Francisco, Paris,
New York and elsewhere before returning to Fresno in the late 1960s,
where he died in 1981.
His first collection of short stories, “The Daring Young Man on the
Flying Trapeze,” published in 1934, was followed by “The Man with the
Heart in the Highlands,” “My Name is Aram,” “The Human Comedy” and “The
Time of Your Life,” which earned a Pulitzer Prize.
The movie version of Saroyan’s “The Human Comedy” received an Oscar for
Best Original Motion Picture Story.
Fresno State’s role in the Saroyan Centennial takes many forms. Here’s
the lineup:
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Story writing contest –
Open to students (Grade 1 through university) with the theme
“Stories from Your Home Place;” deadline for submissions is March
10; information at
www.williamsaroyansociety.org.
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Fiction, nonfiction,
drama writing contest – Open to adults; deadline for submissions is
March 15; Steve Yarbrough, Fresno State creative writing professor
and novelist, will judge fiction finalists; details:
www.williamsaroyansociety.org.
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“Saroyan: Views on
Ethnicity and History” – Course offered Feb. 21 and 28 through Osher
Institute at Fresno State; led by Barlow Der Mugrdechian, a lecturer
in the Armenian Studies Program; information at 559.278.0008 or
osher@csufresno.edu.
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Young Writers Conference
– For area high school students; 8 a.m. March 26 at Fresno State;
sponsored by College of Arts and Humanities and Department of
English; information at
http://csufresno.edu/crwr/15ywc.htm.
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International symposium:
“William Saroyan at 100” – 10 a.m. April 5 at Fresno State’s
University Business Center; sponsored by Armenian Studies Program;
information at 559.278.2669.
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Book discussion:
“Essential Saroyan” – 7 p.m. April 22 at Woodward Park Library and 7
p.m. April 29 at Sunnyside Library; led by Der Mugrdechian;
information at 559.433,3135 (Woodward) and 559.255.6594 (Sunnyside).
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Panel discussion: “Three
Pulitzer Prize Authors’ Children” – 7 p.m. April 23 at Fresno State
Satellite Student Union; Henry Madden Library and Fresno County
Library sponsor discussion among Aram Saroyan, Susan Cheever and
Thomas Steinbeck moderated by Yarbrough; information at
559.488.3856.
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Fresno Community Chorus
concert – 7:30 p.m. May 3, Fresno State Concert Hall; works by
Hovhaness, Stravinsky and Brahms; details at 559.278.2654.
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Theatrical reading – 7
p.m. May 12, 2nd Space (928 E. Olive Ave.), Fresno; excerpts from
Saroyan’s “Sons Come and Go, Mothers Hang in Forever;” organized by
Fresno State alumna Jacqueline Antaramian; details at
www.williamsaroyansociety.org.
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Steppenwolf Theatre
Company production – July 5; public performance during CSU Summer
Arts; details at 559.241.6090.
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Book discussion:
“Essential Saroyan” – 6:30 p.m. Sept. 17, Auberry Library; led by
Christi Henson, a Fresno State English professor; details at
559.855.8523.
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Play: “Slaughter of the
Innocents” – Oct. 2-11, John Wright Theatre at Fresno State;
University Theatre presentation of Saroyan drama; details at
559.278.2216.
Other Saroyan Centennial
events are listed at
www.saroyancentennial.org.
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