October 08, 2009

The CSU Summer Arts program, hosted by California State University, Fresno, will once again bring world-class artists to teach master classes and perform in more than 40 public events in Fresno from June 29 to July 26.

Most of the performances will be on the Fresno State campus, beginning June 29 with New York City’s Urban Bush Women, whose physically and emotionally energetic contemporary dance style has won strong reviews.

There are 24 events for which tickets must be purchased. The 17 other performances are student culminations that are free, open to the public and held on campus.

This year’s off-campus events feature:

Slam poetry master Jack McCarthy – The Seattle-based proponent of spoken-performance poetry will be one of the participations in an invitational slam at the Fresno Art Museum on July 3.

Flamenco guitarist Juan Serrano – He will be joined by his son, Juani Serrano, in concert July 13 at the Tower Theatre. Serrano is Fresno State professor emeritus of music and a popular master teacher in the CSU Summer Arts program.

Author Steven Church – A Fresno State assistant professor of English, Church wrote the critically acclaimed memoir “The Guinness Book of Me.” He will lecture July 16 at the Art Museum as part of the “Writing the Memoir: Transforming Truth into Art” course.

Other events include performances by:

Chicago’s famed Steppenwolf Theatre Company, featuring Emmy, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild award-winning actor Gary Sinise (“Apollo 13,” “Forrest Gump,” “Truman” and “CSI: New York”). Sinise is a founder of Steppenwolf.

David Shiner, a mime, master clown, producer and director of Cirque du Soleil’s most recent show, “KOOZA.” He also originated the role of the Cat in the Hat, for the Broadway stage musical “Seussical.”

The Grammy Award-winning Kronos Quartet, whose members for 30 years have been committed to expanding the range and context of the string quartet.

Author William Vollman, a National Book Award winner for “Europe Central,” who will read from his memoir.

Photographer and author, Nevada Wier, who will present an illustrated lecture.

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