Students in the West Virginia University School of Theatre and Dance Master’s of Fine Art Acting Class of 2018 are completing three years of intensive study and will soon begin their careers as professional actors.

The culmination of their years of study includes a MFA Actor Showcase, to be presented to invited industry professionals and guests in New York City. There will be two performances of the showcase at the Roy Arias 777 Theatre in New York on April 30, at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.

The Spring Student Dance Showcase in the West Virginia University School of Theatre and Dance will be held on April 26 and 27, with showings at 7 and 9 pm. It will take place in the Falbo Theatre at the WVU Creative Arts Center.

The performance will present choreographic works of students in the WVU Dance Program. The event is produced and directed by this year’s graduating dance majors as part of their Capstone assignment. 

You could feel the legacy of James Benner in the Metropolitan Theatre on April 5.

That night, the West Virginia University School of Music put together a memorial concert for Benner, who died in November 2017 at the age of 92.

In partnership with the Office of the President, the West Virginia University School of Theatre and Dance on Friday, April 20, will perform a play to raise awareness for gun safety and violence.

NATURAL SHOCKS will be performed at 7:30 p.m. in G21 Ming Hsieh Hall. The story takes place on the 19th anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting and the day Parkland, Florida students are organizing a national school walkout.

The WVU Symphony Orchestra will perform at the Creative Arts Center on Thursday, April 26 at 7:30 pm.

The orchestra will perform “Symphony No. 2 in D Major” by Johannes Brahms. “Like so many great orchestral works, the D Major symphony by Brahms, embraces so much of what makes us human, from our joys to grief, from sunny joyfulness to melancholy and despair,” said WVUSO conductor, Dr. Mitchell Arnold, WVU’s Director of Orchestral Activities. Through our work in rehearsals our talented musicians learn how to express the most touching aspects of this great work, in order that our audience can share in this experience.”

On Monday, Apr. 23 at 7:30 pm, the WVU Wind Symphony will take the stage at the Creative Arts Center with the George Washington High School Concert Band.

The George Washington High School Concert Band will perform four selections: “Caccia and Chorale” by J. Clifton Williams, “Fantasia in C” by J.S. Bach and arranged by Jordan Sterk, “Chanson de l’adeau” by Frederic Chopin and arranged by Matthew Jackfert, and “American Civil War Fantasy” by Jerry Bilik.

The West Virginia University Choirs will take the stage at the Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre at the Creative Arts Center Sunday, Apr. 22 at 2 pm. 

The program will feature performances by all four WVU Choirs including Chamber Singers, Men’s Choir, Women’s Choir and the West Virginia Community Choir. The concert will also include a performance by the University High School Chamber Choir directed by Barry Kolar.

“Art in the Landscape: Traditions in Sculpture Garden Design” and the Nath Sculpture Garden will be the focus of the Art Up Close! program scheduled for Tuesday, April 17.

Presented by Peter M. Butler, associate professor and extension specialist in landscape architecture and director of the School of Design and Community Development in the Davis College, the program begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Museum Education Center Grand Hall and is free and open to the public.

The West Virginia University School of Music will host a jazz ensembles concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 12 at the Creative Arts Center. 

The concert will feature music by female composers including Carla Bley, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Ayn Inserto, Lil Hardin Armstrong and Mary Lou Williams. Ensembles performing at the concert will be the big band, three vocalists and two jazz combos.

The 2018 West Virginia Mountaineer Short Film Festival is an international, competitive film festival that screens compelling and innovative works in narrative film, documentary, experimental video and animation.

The festival takes place this year on Saturday, April 14 in the WVU Creative Arts Center. From 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., the festival will screen upwards of 50 independent films and videos from across the country and around the world, including works from such diverse countries as Germany, Japan, Turkey, Poland, Iran, Russia, Bulgaria, Italy, Brazil, Slovenia, Canada, Switzerland and the UK. In addition to showcasing new and exciting works in the genres of Documentary, Short Narrative, Animation and Experimental Video, this year’s festival includes a special screening of works that explore the topical theme of “Borders.” Student works from aspiring filmmakers at the college level and young filmmakers under 18 will also be screened. Awards will be presented in each of the festival’s competitive categories. 

The festival schedule is: