Rehearsals in full swing for ‘Candlelight Outta Sight!’

Saint Mary’s University Student’s, Alex Gorgone, left, and Moreen Bosch, right, rehearse for the “Candlelight Outta Sight!” performance Feb. 9. SMU students will perform a variety of ’60s and ’70s favorites during the formal dinner.

WINONA, Minn. – Students have been getting back into the groove while rehearsing for “Candlelight, Outta Sight!” at Saint Mary’s University, which will provide a flashback to the era of peace and love on Feb. 9.

A select group SMU theatre and music students will perform a variety of well-known favorites from the ’60s and early ’70s including “Build me up Buttercup,” “All You Need is Love,” “Leaving on a Jet Plane,” as well as many, many more throughout the evening. After a five-course dinner, the seven-piece Diane Martinson Band will entice those in attendance to hit the dance floor.

Candlelight is a communitywide event, hosted biennially by the university. Formerly a fund-raiser, the event is now simply a fun evening, a formal celebration of the university and a thank you to the community for its support.

The evening will begin with hors d'oeuvres and cocktails at 6 p.m. in the lounge, followed by dinner in the dining hall, both in the Toner Student Center. The cost is $75 per person or $140 per couple. Dress is formal attire, and valet parking and coat check services will be available.

Invitations have been mailed, but everyone is invited! If you would like to attend or have questions about Candlelight, call Jo Nesler, (507) 457-1664.

Dance Repertory Company auditions for spring concert are Feb. 2

WINONA, Minn. — The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts will conduct auditions, Saturday, Feb. 2, for the Dance Repertory Company’s annual spring concert. Auditions will begin at noon at the Valéncia Arts Center.

Dancers with a variety of training are needed. Roles are available for male and female dancers, ages 12 – 25. The company is seeking intermediate and advanced dancers with contemporary ballet, modern, jazz, tap, and hip hop experience as well as musicians, ages 12 and older, who are proficient in percussion.

Percussionists should be prepared to show 16 – 32 measures of improvisational rhythms or sheet music and must bring their own hand drum, drumsticks and drum pad or other playable surface, and/or other auxiliary equipment.

Interested candidates are asked to bring a photo of themselves. Dancers should also bring proper shoes and attire.

The DRC will be presenting their annual spring concert, May 15 – 17 at Saint Mary’s University’s Page Theatre.

The Dance Repertory Company is the performing troupe of the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts of Saint Mary’s University. Company members participate in rehearsals, technique classes and stage performances. Past productions of the company include: “The Firebird,” “Sleeping Beauty,” “The Nutcracker,” “Paquita,” “Excerpts from Swan Lake,” “Cinderella,” “The Goodman Suite,” “Youth In Motion,” “Tappin’ to Connick,” and “Pure Entertainment.”

For more information about the Dance Repertory Company or the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts, visit www.smumn.edu/mca or call (507) 453-5501.

SMU Chamber Singers to perform in Madison, Victoria

WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary’s University Chamber Singers will perform a series of concerts in Madison, Wis., and Victoria, Minn., as part of their 2008 Concert Tour. The 22-voice select ensemble is directed by Dr. Patrick O’Shea, associate professor of music and Music Department chairman.

Tour performances will include concerts at:

• St. James Catholic Church (Madison, Wis.) – 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13
• St. Victoria Catholic Church (Victoria, Minn.) – 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15.

The Chamber Singers will also serve as the guest choir for Masses at the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis at 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, and at the Cathedral of St. Paul at 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 17.

All performances are free and open to the public. Repertoire will include a cappella works by Palestrina, Lauridsen, Stenhammar, and Ginastera, as well as English madrigals and spirituals.

For more information, call O’Shea at (507) 457-1598.

SMU Page Series presents ‘Hansel and Gretel’ Feb. 7

WINONA, Minn. — A musical performance of “Hansel and Gretel,” will come to life through giant puppets, special effects, and beautiful costumes, Thursday, Feb. 7, at Saint Mary’s University. The Page Series will host the performance, produced by Theatre Sans Fil, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in Page Theatre, located in the SMU Performance Center.

The familiar children’s tale will be accompanied by an orchestral soundtrack, created by Engelbert Humperdinck, that is based on Grimms’ fairly tale.

In “Hansel and Gretel,” the brother and sister are sent into the woods in search of strawberries, but are abandoned by their evil stepmother. Lost in the woods, they find a house made of candies and – unable to resist – they begin to eat it. The inhabitant of the house, an old woman, is actually a witch who has built the house to capture children, so that she may fatten and eat them. The children must rely on the only thing they have to save their lives – their wit.

Theatre Sans Fil, founded in Quebec in 1971, has performed across four continents in more than 25 countries, and has earned international recognition for its works with adults and children.

All tickets are $6, and are available by calling the SMU Box Office, (507) 457-1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, or online at www.pagetheatre.org.

Make it dinner and a show. Pre-show dinners are provided by Chartwells Catering. Seating begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Toner Student Center, located next to the Performance Center. Adult dinners cost $20 and include chicken, beef, and vegetarian options, along with beverages and dessert. Bottles of wine may be purchased for an extra fee. Children’s dinners cost $12 and include mac-n-cheese or chicken fingers with sides, beverages, and dessert. Orders will be accepted up to three days prior to the event; order online or by phone.

Menu announced for ‘Candlelight Outta Sight!’

WINONA, Minn. – Have you got a taste for a little nostalgia? “Candlelight, Outta Sight!” at Saint Mary’s University will provide a flashback to the era of flower power on Feb. 9.

Candlelight is a communitywide event, hosted biennially by the university. Formerly a fund-raiser, the event is now simply a fun evening, a formal celebration of the university and a thank you to the community for its support.

Attendees of “Candlelight, Outta Sight!” will savor the flavor of a five-course meal including:

• Belgian Endive and Spring Mix Salad with Fresh Raspberries and Roquefort Cheese with Raspberry Vinaigrette
• “Fruits of the Sea in a Crepe” — Crepe filled with Baby Shrimp, Baby Bay Scallops, and Fresh Lump Crab Meat and Ricotta Cheese and Fresh Parsley topped with Lobster Sauce
• Lemon Sorbet with Crème de Cassis
• Tornado of Beef Fillets with a Port Wine Reduction
• White Asparagus with Hollandaise Sauce
• Wild Rice with Fresh Dates, Cranberries and Yellow Raisins
• and Vanilla Ice Cream with Candied Chestnuts

The evening will begin with hors d'oeuvres and cocktails at 6 p.m. in the lounge, followed by dinner in the dining hall, both in the Toner Student Center. A highlight of the evening will include cabaret entertainment by SMU theatre and music students who will perform a variety of well-known favorites from the ’60s and early ’70s. The seven-piece Diane Martinson Band will then delight participants ready to hit the dance floor.

The cost is $75 per person or $140 per couple. Dress is formal attire, and valet parking and coat check services will be available.

Invitations have been mailed, but everyone is invited! If you would like to attend or have questions about Candlelight, call Jo Nesler, (507) 457-1664.

Saint Mary’s announces baseball/softball pre-season skills camps Feb. 3-March 2

WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary’s University will host a 2008 baseball/softball pre-season skills camp for boys and girls in grades seven through 12 on Sundays between Feb. 3 and March 2.

Boys baseball players meet from 1 to 2:30 p.m.; boys baseball and girls fast-pitch softball pitchers and catchers meet from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.; and girls fast-pitch softball participants meet from 3:30 to 5 p.m. – all in SMU’s Gostomski Fieldhouse.

Participants will practice pitching, hitting, catching, throwing and fielding; depending on which clinic you sign up for. Catchers will need to bring equipment; all others are asked to bring a glove, and no cleats are allowed.

The hitting, throwing, and fielding camp costs $60 per person; the pitching and catching clinic costs $40; and the cost for both clinics combined is $90. The registration fee includes a T-shirt and individual instruction by SMU staff and players including Nick Whaley, head SMU men’s baseball coach, and Jennifer Miller, SMU head women’s fastball coach.

The registration deadline is Wednesday, Jan. 30. Register online at www.smumn.edu/sportscamps. For more information, call (507) 457-6973.

SMU faculty join forces for 'Ignes Fatui' art show

“Flower of Youth” Giclee by Brother Roderick Robertson, FSC, one of eight Saint Mary’s University faculty displaying work in “Ignes Fatui” through Feb. 17 at SMU.

WINONA, Minn. — Eight Saint Mary’s University art faculty members will join forces for the next exhibit, “Ignes Fatui,” in SMU’s Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries.

“Ignes Fatui” or “an illusion” describes the diversity of work to be displayed — whether it be Sister Margaret Mear’s series of fantasy horses or Brother Roderick Robertson’s Giclees, which intertwine antique photographs with computer effects. Michelle Cochran will display a colored pencil drawing titled, “Sixth Summer.” Dr. John Whelan’s drawings focus heavily on the natural human form and the delicate beauty of flowers.

Also displaying works are Preston Lawing, Robert McColl, Charles Campbell, and Randi Campbell.

The exhibit will run Jan. 16 through Feb. 17, with an opening reception from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 16. The Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries are located in the Toner Student Center. Admission is free and open to the public, and gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. For more information, call (507) 457-1652.

Dominican nuns to share stories of civil disobedience Jan. 24 at Saint Mary’s

Two Dominican nuns, Sisters Carol Gilbert and Ardeth Platte, will visit Saint Mary’s University on Thursday, Jan. 24, to share their experiences as activists.

Sisters Carol and Ardeth were arrested for an act of civil disobedience at a Minuteman missile site in Colorado, and served 33 and 41 months in federal prison. The two women will tell their stories from 3:15-4:30 p.m., in the Common Room, located on the third floor of Saint Mary’s Hall. This event is free and open to the public. Contact Ken McCullough at (507) 457-8737 for more information.

A film about their experience, “Conviction,” will be featured at the Frozen River Film Festival, 5 p.m., Friday, Jan. 25, at Winona State University’s Somsen Hall.

SMU Oldie Moldies to perform at Visions Feb. 1

The Oldie Moldie All-Stars from Saint Mary’s University will perform a live and lively dinner show Friday, Feb. 1, at Visions Event Center.

Rock along to your favorite ’50s, ’60s and ’70s tunes, while you enjoy a menu of garden salad, grilled 6-ounce sirloin, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, green beans and carrots, béarnaise sauce, rolls and butter, and frosted marble cake.

The Oldies are all members of the national music fraternity Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia at Saint Mary’s. The group, which has been reformed each year for three decades, consists of talented and engaging singers and band members. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and dinner will be served at 7 p.m.; the Oldies will perform two sets, one at 6:30 p.m., and a second at 7:45 p.m.

The price for the dinner and show is $25 per person; reservations can be made by calling Signatures at (507) 454-3767. Payment is by either credit card with the reservation or by only cash or check at the door. The reservation deadline is Jan. 30.

Visions Event Center is located at Signatures Restaurant, 22852 County Road 17 in Pleasant Valley.

Saint Mary’s Page Series hosts Saint Petersburg Ballet Theatre

WINONA, Minn. — The world-renowned Saint Petersburg Ballet Theatre will stage the passionate tragedy of “Carmen” — a story of forbidden love, jealousy and murder — Jan. 24 at Saint Mary’s University.

The performance, part of SMU’s Page Series, will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Page Theatre, located in the Performance Center.

Founded in 1966 by Peter Gusev, the Saint Petersburg Ballet Theatre was the first of its kind in Russia. The professional company is one of few ballet companies in Russia (along with the Kirov and the Bolshoi State and Academic Ballet Theatres) that has been given the title of “State and Academic Ballet,” the highest official status and honor by the Russian government.

In December 2000, the celebrated choreographer Yuri Petukhov became the company’s artistic director.

In the upcoming performance of “Carmen,” a soldier, Don Jose, abandons his regiment to run away with the beautiful gypsy Carmen. When the cards foretell of her and Don Jose’s deaths, she abandons him and runs to the bullfighter Escamillo. At the bullfight in Seville, Don Jose finds Carmen alone and begs her to run away with him. She insists their love affair is over and that she now loves Escamillo. In a rage, Don Jose murders Carmen as the crowd inside the bullring cheers Escamillo.

Tickets are $22, $16 for seniors and $14 for students and are available by calling the SMU Box Office, (507) 457-1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, or online at www.pagetheatre.org.

Make it dinner and a show. Pre-show dinners are provided by Chartwells Catering. Seating begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Toner Student Center, located next to the Performance Center. Adult dinners cost $20 and include chicken, beef, and vegetarian options, along with beverages and dessert. Bottles of wine may be purchased for an extra fee. Children’s dinners cost $12 and include mac-n-cheese or chicken fingers with sides, beverages, and dessert. Orders will be accepted up to three days prior to the event; order online or by phone.

SMU students stuff backpacks for 'Ready to Learn'

Saint Mary’s University students, from left, Lori Brunner, Dulcie Basile, Sarah Groebner, and Alex Wieck stuffed more than 200 "Ready to Learn backpacks" with early learning activities for Winona’s 3- to 5-year-olds. The backpacks are given to children when they attend Early Childhood Screening, a requirement for all preschool-aged children before they attend kindergarten. The "Ready to Learn" project is coordinated by the Winona Early Childhood Initiative, in partnership with Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation and grant funding from the Winona Community Foundation. Through the Early Childhood Initiative we are helping to identify and promote early childhood education and care opportunities for children (from birth to age 5) and create local strategies that fill in any gaps. For more information, contact Jenni McHugh at 494-0812, Lezlea Dahlke at ldahlke@selco.info or visit www.smifoundation.org.

Saint Mary’s jazz groups go on tour, attend convention

WINONA, Minn. — The 16-piece Saint Mary’s University Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo I — under the direction of Dr. John Paulson, professor of music — will attend the 35th annual International Association of Jazz Educators' Convention in Toronto, Canada this week.

The IAJE Convention includes concerts and clinics by the top student and professional jazz groups from around the world, in addition to numerous exhibits and a music industry track.

Along the way, the students will perform at Rochester Lourdes High School, Cannon Falls High School and Hill-Murray High School in Woodbury.

Area students involved in the performances include Jennifer Thesing of Lewiston, Tom Briese of Rochester and Tommy Quinn of Cannon Falls. The tour is sponsored by the Saint Mary’s Music Department and the SMU Music Industry Club. Additional SMU faculty joining the tour include Eric Heukeshoven, Brett Huus and James Knutson.

'SMU 10K' citizens classic ski is Jan. 27 at Saint Mary's University

WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary’s University is inviting the public to its annual "SMU 10K" classic ski event on Sunday, Jan. 27.
“We’re very fortunate to have an excellent trail system here that is both scenic, as well as challenging," said Chris Kendall, SMU vice president for student development. “And this year we actually have snow.”

The classic-style citizens ski event will be held at Saint Mary's University, home to one of the region's finest cross country trail systems. The trails wind through the bluffs and valleys above the Mississippi River.

The event is open to all individuals, with a mass start slated for 1 p.m. On-site registration will begin at 11 a.m. at the SMU Toner Student Center. Pre-registration is encouraged. The race is free to SMU students, faculty, staff, alumni and family members. Each skier receives a souvenir race bib and a completion medal. Medals will be awarded to the top finishers — male and female — in two categories: open class and recreational class.

Weather permitting, a hot air balloon launch will mark the start of the race.

For more information or to receive a registration form, call Peggy Walters at (507) 457-1640. Visit the "SMU 10K" website at: http://saintmaryssports.com.