Looking for something to do? Check out the Cultural Affairs calender

Anthony O’Connell
News Editor

The Cultural Affairs program hosts a wide range of events each semester which have included a lecture from poet and Presidential Medal of Freedom honoree, Maya Angelou, in 2003.

Tobias Wolff, author of acclaimed novel The Barracks Thief is set to appear on campus this semester, on March 10.
Wolff’s work appears regularly in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, Harper’s Magazine and literary journals. Wolff received a National Medal of the Arts from President Obama in Sept. 2015. Other awards include the PEN/Malamud Award and the Rea Award, both for excellence in the short story, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and the PEN/Faulkner Award.

“Mr. Wolff will meet with a small group of students familiar with his work prior to the main event in the Bulmer Telecommunications Center Auditorium, followed by a book signing and reception. This program allows students to meet and interact with authors whose works they are studying,” said Maria Zemantauski, coordinator of cultural affairs.

This event is co-sponsored by the Cultural Affairs Program and the English, Foreign Languages and English as a Second Language Department.

Cosponsored by the Theater Arts Program, the 8th annual Shakespeare & Company residency will take place Feb. 20 through Feb. 24. Workshops are held throughout the week and are open to all members of the Hudson Valley community.

“They’re active, physical and super fun. This year the touring production will be “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” performed on Thursday, Feb. 23 at noon in the Maureen Stapleton Theater. During this week, our theater students have the opportunity to learn from the professional actors while gaining a new appreciation for the works of Shakespeare,” said Zemantauski.

Expert on the English rock/pop band, The Beatles, Scott Freiman will present a two-hour program entitled “Deconstructing Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band” on May 4.

Zemantauski mentions that the most important approach to booking events is to never be afraid to ask or hear “no.” The first step is to inquire about an artist, performer or speaker’s fee. Once that information is received, preliminary details are discussed. The final step is to present the idea to the Cultural Affairs committee for their input and approval.

“Quite honestly, all of these events were easy to book because the Cultural Affairs Program is highly regarded within the artistic community by both artists and agents. We have a seller reputation for both our support of the arts and the hospitality we extend to our guests,” said Zemantauski.

Any students who are interested in volunteering at a Cultural Affairs event should get in contact with the department via email.

Zemantauski said, “Volunteering is a wonderful opportunity to meet professional actors, musicians, dancers, speakers, authors, etc. It also gives a student a behind the scenes look at event production.”