The California State University released its 2024 Summer Arts guest artist performance calendar, announcing a season that opens on Friday, June 28, and runs through Saturday, July 20. This year’s offerings include a variety of live music, comedy, theater, dance, visual arts and more
CSU Summer Arts is an immersive, multi-disciplinary arts experience that offers masterclasses in the fields of art, creative writing, dance, media, music and theater. Classes are taught by guest artists and CSU professors who are renowned in their fields.
During Summer Arts, the public is invited to live performances by visiting guest artists. Attendees experience world-class talent that is often only enjoyed in major metropolitan areas. Summer Arts students also proudly showcase their artistic talents and what they have created during the intensive summer program. Student Showcases are July 5 and 6, and July 19 and 20.
Thanks to a generous gift from Prieto Automotive, tickets this year are $10 for adults; $5 for seniors, Fresno State faculty and staff; and free to students and children. Additionally, the Fresno State Alumnx and Allies Club provided a sponsorship of the “Paris Is Burning” film screening to lower the adult ticket price to $5. Student Showcases are free to the public.
The calendar of public events includes:
“On the Page and in the World: Voices of Action” (literary reading)
7 p.m. Friday, June 28, John Wright Theatre
Join acclaimed writers Faith Adiele, Bushra Rehman and Kimberly Dark for a powerful evening of inspiration and laughter as they perform their work and share strategies for writing to transform lives, families, communities and, ultimately, the world (mature themes).
“An Evening of Chicago Style Comedy” (live comedy)
7 p.m. Saturday, June 29, John Wright Theatre
Prepare yourself for a hilarious mix of improv and sketch comedy from artists from Chicago’s Second City and more, including: Dave Razowsky, Amy Seeley, Jamie Moyer, Mike Ross, Patrick Rowland and Carlos Santos (mature themes).
STUDENT SHOWCASES
Friday, July 5
Social Action Writing — 4 p.m. John Wright Theatre
Hip Hop and Street Dance — 7:30 p.m. John Wright Theatre
Saturday, July 6
Process-Oriented Photography — 11 a.m. Phebe Conley Art Gallery
Scoring for Video Games — Begins at 1 p.m. and runs concurrently with events throughout the afternoon in the Woods Theatre.
Screen Scoring — 2 p.m. John Wright Theatre
Chicago Style Comedy — 4 p.m. John Wright Theatre
“An Iliad by Lisa Peterson and Denis O’Hare” (theatrical performance based on Homer’s “The Iliad”)
7 p.m. Tuesday, July 9, John Wright Theatre
Award-Winning actress MaConnia Chesser performs a modern-day retelling of Homer’s epic poem. Poetry and humor, the ancient tale of the Trojan War and the modern world collide in this captivating theatrical experience (mature themes).
“Feeding Ghosts: Telling Stories with Graphics” (artist talk)
7 p.m. Wednesday, July 10, John Wright Theatre
Artist and writer Tessa Hulls leads a conversation about how comics and graphics can bring captivating stories to life by using personal experience, memoir and culturally relevant content.
“Paris is Burning” Screening, Conversation and Drag Reception (film screening)
7 p.m. Thursday, July 11, John Wright Theatre
Join us for the award-winning film “Paris is Burning” hosted by Cuautémoc Peranda. Cuautémoc will lead a discussion with Dr. Katherine Fobear and professor Dion Foster about the cultural, historical and aesthetic significant of this documentary that explores race, class, gender and sexuality in America (mature themes).
A reception with drag performances will follow the event featuring Dr. Angel Gonzalez, Lucy Yale and Miguel Cisneros. (Sponsored by the Fresno State Alumnx and Allies Club)
An Evening With The John Santos Quartet (concert)
7 p.m. Friday, July 12, John Wright Theatre
A Summer Arts favorite, The John Santos Quartet returns to Fresno for an electrifying evening of Latin Jazz. Move to the rhythms of four-time Latin Grammy nominee
John Santos (percussion and vocals), Marco Diaz (piano and trumpet), Saul Sierra (bass) and David Flores (drums).
Dohee Lee Puri Arts “Ritual on the Road” (dance performance/live music)
7 p.m. Saturday, July 13, John Wright Theatre
Experience the powerful performance of Oakland-based artist Dohee Lee Puri Arts using dance, visual art and soundscapes, including traditional instrumental and vocal music. The performance includes Puri Arts collaborators and live musicians.
STUDENT SHOWCASES
Friday, July 19
Triple Threat: Writing for Film, TV, And Theatre — 2 p.m. John Wright Theatre
Comics and Graphic Storytelling Workshop — 4 p.m. John Wright Theatre
Dance Improvisation and Ritual — 7:30 p.m. John Wright Theatre
Saturday, July 20
Art >Anthropocene<Action Exhibit — 11 a.m. Phebe Conley Art Gallery
Business of Acting — Beginning at 1 p.m. and running concurrently with events through the afternoon in the Woods Theatre.
Jazz Con Clave — 2 p.m. John Wright Theatre
Animation Production Studio — 4 p.m. John Wright Theatre
Shakespeare and Company — 7:30 p.m. John Wright Theatre
Tickets to all events are on sale now. For the full calendar or to purchase tickets, visit csusummerarts.org.
The CSU has offered this multidisciplinary program since 1985. Summer Arts is being hosted in-person at Fresno State for the 19th time, from June 24 to July 20. The program was hosted at Fresno State from 1999 through 2011 and returned to the Central Valley in 2017 after being held at CSU Monterey Bay from 2012-16. It wasn’t offered during the COVID shutdown in 2020 and was exclusively online in 2021. This summer, 12 intensive courses are being taught at Fresno State, two course are being taught online, and three courses are being offered abroad in Germany, Italy and Mexico City.
