Poster Art: "Another Glass House Between Sea and Sky", designed by Shoei Yoh, class of 1966

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — A wide-ranging calendar of events — spanning the entertainment spectrum from dance to scholarly lectures to music to poetry — has been announced as part of the 2006-07 Wittenberg Series, continuing a 25-year tradition of bringing value-centered, intellectual and entertaining programming to Springfield, Ohio.

Since its inception in 1982, the Wittenberg Series has offered hundreds of culturally diverse free public events, featuring distinguished lecturers and performing artists of national and international prominence. Themed “Energy Made Visible,” this year’s Wittenberg Series offers more of the same — namely an academic calendar filled with educational opportunities.

The 2006-07 Wittenberg Series begins at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30, with the opening convocation of the university’s 162nd academic year featuring psychologist and author Dan P. McAdams. McAdams’ presentation will take place in historic Weaver Chapel.

McAdams will also deliver the IBM Endowed Lecture in the Sciences at 3 p.m. that same day in Bayley Auditorium in the Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center. His presentation will be the first of five lectures on the Wittenberg Series schedule for 2006-07. In addition, investigative journalist Charles Fishman is the featured speaker for the Fred R. Leventhal Family Endowed Lecture; author, professor and historian John W. Dower is the featured speaker for the William A. Kinnison Endowed Lecture in History; Lutheran theologian Martin Marty is the featured speaker for the Kenneth H. Sauer Luther Symposium, and prolific author and scholar Michael Eric Dyson is the featured speaker for the university’s annual Martin Luther King Commemorative Convocation.

In addition, pianist Juana Zayas, acclaimed throughout the world as one of the greatest living interpreters of the music of Chopin, and The Reduced Shakespeare Company, which has had six world-renowned stage shows, are scheduled for performances this year. The Paul Taylor Dance Company from New York and Ohio-born poet Rita Dove, Poet Laureate of the United States and Consultant to the Library of Congress from 1993-1995, will bring the final two performances of the 2006-07 Wittenberg Series.

“Series planners have been pleased with the wide variety of high-quality guest lecturers and the compelling subject matter they each have covered, as well as the performing artists who have accepted their invitations to come to Springfield and to Wittenberg,” said Gwen Scheffel, adjunct assistant professor of music and recently retired coordinator of the Wittenberg Series.

“The committee on programming is a joint committee of faculty and students appointed by the provost’s office,” Scheffel said. “In an effort to respond to the wide variety of interests, concerns and disciplines represented on Wittenberg’s campus and to appeal to the Springfield community, the committee coordinates its work with several administrative offices and academic departments across campus, as well as various campus-wide programs and committees, including those appointed to plan specially endowed events.”

Scheffel said a conservative estimate of overall Wittenberg Series attendance, just in the past decade, would exceed 100,000 people, with an approximate cost of $1 million.

“This is truly a gift not just to Wittenberg, but the entire Springfield community,” Scheffel said. “We welcome the community to our campus and to an open interaction with our students, faculty, staff and the invited guests.”

All Wittenberg Series events are free admission because of generous contributions to the general fund, income from endowed lecture funds, student fees, cosponsors and foundations.

Free general admission tickets for events at Kuss Auditorium in the Clark State Performing Arts Center can be reserved by calling the Benham-Pence Student Center Service Desk, (937) 327-7443, or the Kuss Auditorium Box Office, (937) 328-3874. Free tickets for The Reduced Shakespeare Company will be available at the Benham-Pence Student Center Service Desk only. Tickets are not issued for any other events.

To make special arrangements, receive a Wittenberg Series poster, or become a friend of the Wittenberg Series, contact Phyllis Eberts at (937) 327-6116 or send an e-mail to peberts@wittenberg.edu.

- Ryan Maurer, Phyllis Eberts

089-06

Contact: Ryan Maurer (937) 327-6114 Send a Message

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