Grove City College’s upcoming Family Weekend provides a showcase for the arts on campus, with a series of Music Department concerts, the Spring Orchesis dance show, Theatre Showcase, All-College Sing, and more.
Orchesis gets a jump on the weekend, opening at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 25 in the Arena of the Physical Learning Center on campus. The theme of this year’s dance company show is “The Elements.” It will be reprised at 8 p.m. Friday, April 26 and 11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 27. Orchesis is free and open to the public.
Friday brings a pair of concerts from two of the College’s flagship musical ensembles.
The Grove City College singers present “Songs from Stage and Screen” at 6 p.m. Friday in Arnold Recital Hall of the Pew Fine Arts Center on campus. Under the direction of Dr. Stacy Paparone, professor of Music, and accompanied by sophomore Faith Chapman and senior Katherine Hatfield, the Singers will take on favorites from “La La Land” and “Pitch Perfect” as well as Broadway hits from “Hamilton,” “Waitress,” “Once on This Island,” and others.
The Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble Concert follows at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Ketler Auditorium of the Pew Fine Arts Center. The concert features a variety of music, from the nostalgic “Bugler’s Holiday” to the newer “Deus Ex Machina.” Other selections include the Air Force tribute “Aces” and “Meridian.” The show puts the spotlight on several standout student musicians, including many seniors. Professor of Music Dr. Andrew Erb directs the musicians.
At 1 p.m. Saturday, the College Jazz Ensemble and Stage Band will perform a concert in the auditorium of Crawford Hall on campus. The repertoire of the ensembles led by Professor of Music Dr. Joseph Hasper includes jazz standards, songs from “La La Land” and “Cowboy BeBop,” and by Norah Jones, Ella Fitzerald, and Sammy Rae & The Friends. Sophomore Olivia Falasca is the featured vocalist.
All three concerts are free and open to the public. They will be livestreamed at gcc.edu/livemusic.
All College Sing, a family weekend highlight that pits Grove City College’s Greek and housing groups in a friendly competition, is set for 7 p.m. Saturday in the Arena of the Physical Learning Center on campus. The fun-filled event will be livestreamed at gcc.edu/liveevents.
A Sunday concert featuring the combined Concert Choir and Touring Choirs performing Mozart’s Requiem caps the weekend’s musical lineup at 4:30 p.m. in Harbison Chapel on campus. Under the direction of Associate Professor of Music Dr. Katherine Mueller and accompanied by organist Dr. Bradley Fitch, the choirs will present the monumental work. The concert is free and open to the public.
In addition to celebrating the College’s talented student musicians and singers, Family Weekend also puts the spotlight on theater and visual arts. Alpha Psi Omega, the theater honorary, will present the Theatre Showcase, at 5 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday in the Little Theatre of Pew Fine Arts Center on campus. The show features scenes, songs, and monologues from this year’s Theatre Program productions.
Weekend visitors can also check out students’ work at the Student Art Exhibit in the Gallery of the Pew Fine Arts Center. The gallery is open from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.