Akhnaten
2019-11-23 13:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Pollak Theatre
Countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo headlines American composer Philip Glass’s transcendent contemporary creation, with Karen Kamensek conducting. Phelim McDermott’s stunning production employs a virtuosic company of acrobats and jugglers to conjure a mystical reimagining of ancient Egypt.
Runtime: 3 hours 56 minutes

COMPANY
2019-11-23 20:00 - 2019-12-02 22:00, 2019-11-24 15:00 - 17:00 | Lauren K. Woods Theatre
Sondheim’s game-changing musical is a sophisticated and honest look at modern adult relationships. From musical theatre’s most renowned composer, Company is largely regarded as a trailblazer of the dark-comedy, modern-musical genre and the winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Score, Best Lyrics and Best Book.

On the night of his 35th birthday, confirmed bachelor, Robert, contemplates his unmarried state. Over the course of a series of dinners, drinks and even a wedding, his friends – “those good and crazy people [his] married friends” – explain the pros and cons of taking on a spouse. The habitually single Robert is forced to question his adamant retention of bachelorhood during a hilarious array of interactions. (Source

Le Corsaire
2019-11-24 13:00 - 16:30 | Pollak Theatre
Choreography by Alexei Ratmansky
On the bazaar square of Andrinopolis, the Pacha is struck by the beauty of Medora and tries to buy her, but the lovely young woman is not for sale. As the transaction is about to be completed, Medora is kidnaped by Conrad, a charming corsair (pirate) who catches her eye. Bolshoi Prima Ballerina, the “mesmerizing” Ekaterina Krysanova and Leading Soloist Igor Tsvirko ignite Medora and Conrad’s passion with undeniable intensity. (The Guardian) Le Corsaire remains a breath-taking production reworked by Alexei Ratmansky, who has created enough dancing for nearly the entire troupe, along with luxurious cinematic sets and a shipwreck, bringing the magnificence of the Bolshoi to life.
Runtime: 3 hours 30 minutes

Peter Pan
2019-12-03 10:00 - 11:00 | Pollak Theatre
TheaterWorksUSA’s production of Peter Pan is based on John Caird and Trevor Nunn’s 1982 adaptation, which was originally developed for London’s Royal Shakespeare Company. In the spirit of the original tale, this production tells the story through the eyes of six children living in Edwardian England. Together, they transform the Darling family’s nursery into Neverland, turning pillows into clouds, long-johns into shadows, an ironing board into a ship’s plank, and antique snowshoes into a crocodile’s snapping jaws. This enchanting production celebrates childhood and captures the magic of the imagination.
Approximate Running Time: 60 Minutes
Recommended Ages: 3 and up

Hansard
2019-12-05 19:30 - 22:30 | Pollak Theatre
Tickets on Sale July 1
By Simon Wood

Hansard; noun
The official report of all parliamentary debates.
See two-time Olivier Award winners, Lindsay Duncan (Birdman, About Time) and Alex Jennings (The Lady in the Van, The Queen), in this brand-new play by Simon Wood, broadcast live from the National Theatre in London.
It’s a summer’s morning in 1988 and Tory politician Robin Hesketh has returned home to the idyllic Cotswold house he shares with his wife of 30 years, Diana. But all is not as blissful as it seems. Diana has a stinking hangover, a fox is destroying the garden, and secrets are being dug up all over the place. As the day draws on, what starts as gentle ribbing and the familiar rhythms of marital scrapping quickly turns to blood-sport.
Don’t miss this witty and devastating portrait of the governing class, directed by Simon Godwin (NT Live: Antony & Cleopatra, Twelfth Night) and part of National Theatre Live’s 10th birthday season.

Honors School Research Conference Fall 2019
2019-12-06 13:30 - 16:30 | Monmouth University Library Room 101
Join us to support Honors School students who are presenting their Capstone Projects at the Fall 2019 Research Conference. Student presenters come from disciplines across the university, with projects covering unique topics within their majors.
Click for larger image and details.
Conference Schedule
Session 1: 1:30 – 3:00 p. m.
Opening Remarks:
Dr. Nancy J. Mezey, Dean of the Honors School

Kathy Chen, Chemistry with a Concentration in Biochemistry
Alexa LaVere, Health Studies
Mika Schievelbein, Chemistry with a Concentration in Biochemistry
Catherine Harvey, History and Secondary Education
Alexia Raess, Social Work
Melanie Broman, English with a Concentration in Creative Writing
Michael Scognomillo, Clinical Laboratory Sciences

Break: 3 – 3:20 p.m. (light refreshments will be available)
Session 2: 3:20 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Chanell Singletary-Eskridge, Psychology
Thomas Prioli, History and Political Science
Nicole Tarsitano, English
Angelica Pellone, Interdisciplinary Studies and Elementary Education
Gianni Mazzone, Business, Economics and Finance
Omar Shah, Chemistry with a Concentration in Biochemistry
Jon P. Suttile, Political Science
Brian Mathew, Biology with a Concentration in Molecular Cell Physiology

Closing Remarks: Dr. Nancy J. Mezey
For more information, please contact Kate Sosnowski at ksosnows@monmouth.edu or 732-263-5308.

Winter Dance Concert
2019-12-06 19:00 - 21:00 | Lauren K. Woods Theatre
Winter brings us the joy and the wonder of the holiday season. Join us to celebrate the power of young artists’ imagination and their faculty’s interpretation of winter rhythms of the magical music of the season. Let the magic of dance be part of your holidays! The concert is created by our talented faculty, staff and students.

SOLD OUT - Orchestra of St. Peter by the Sea
2019-12-06 20:00 - 22:00 | Pollak Theatre
This event is sold out, but if you would like to be put on the waitlist please call the box office at 732.263.6889.
An annual holiday tradition, Father Alphonse Stephenson and the Orchestra of Saint Peter by the Sea return for their 29th concert of carols and
seasonal favorites. Conductor Father Alphonse Stephenson, who is a Brigadier General in the US Air National Guard, holds a honorary doctorate of music from Monmouth University and was the music director for the 1980’s Broadway run of A Chorus Line, provides humorous and personal anecdotes amidst a program of holiday classics and carols performed flawlessly by his 42-piece orchestra and distinguished vocalists.

Robyn Crawford's A Song For You: My Life with Whitney Houston – Book Signing
2019-12-08 12:00 - 15:00 | DiMattio Gallery at Rechnitz Hall
Join us for a book signing with the author, Robyn Crawford, former member of the women’s basketball team
About A Song For You

After decades of silence, Robyn Crawford, close friend, collaborator, and confidante of Whitney Houston, shares her story.
Whitney Houston is as big a superstar as the music business has ever known. She exploded on the scene in 1985 with her debut album and spent the next two decades dominating the charts and capturing the hearts of fans around the world. One person was there by her side through it all—her best friend, Robyn Crawford.
Since Whitney’s death in 2012, Robyn has stayed out of the limelight and held the great joys, wild adventures, and hard truths of her life with Whitney close to her heart. Now, for the first time ever, Crawford opens up in her new memoir, A Song for You.
With warmth, candor, and an impressive recall of detail, Robyn describes the two meeting as teenagers in the 1980s, and how their lives and friendship evolved as Whitney recorded her first album and Robyn pursued her promising Division I basketball career. Together during countless sold-out world tours, behind the scenes as hit after hit was recorded, through Whitney’s marriage and the birth of her daughter, the two navigated often challenging families, great loves, and painful losses, always supporting each other with laughter and friendship.
Deeply personal and heartfelt, A Song for You is the vital, honest, and previously untold story that provides an understanding of the complex life of Whitney Houston. Finally, the person who knew her best sets the record straight.
About Robyn Crawford
After a long career in the music industry, Robyn Crawford is now focused on mental and physical wellness and writing. She lives in New Jersey with her wife and children.

Madama Butterfly Encore
2019-12-08 13:00 - 16:30 | Pollak Theatre
Anthony Minghella’s vividly cinematic staging returns to cinemas, featuring soprano Hui He in the devastating title role. Pier Giorgio Morandi conducts one of opera’s most beautiful and heartbreaking scores, with a cast that also includes tenor Piero Pretti as Pinkerton, baritone Paulo Szot as Sharpless, and mezzo-soprano Elizabeth DeShong as Suzuki.
Runtime: 3 hours 32 minutes

Frank Sinatra, In the Wee Small Hours
2019-12-10 19:30 - 21:30 | Lauren K. Woods Theatre
It’s just like a book club but with albums! Get together with other music enthusiasts on Tuesday nights to discuss some of the greatest records of all-time! Listen to the album beforehand and then come prepared to discuss … there will be special guest moderators and panelists at each event!
This discussion will feature Frank Sinatra’s In the Wee Small Hours. This event is free but registration is required.

Principals' Academy: Session 2
2019-12-12 17:00 - 19:00
The School of Education at Monmouth University is pleased to announce the tenth year of their Principals’ Academy for principals and vice-principals.

SOLD OUT - Annual Holiday Concert: Season’s Greetings
2019-12-12 19:30 - 21:30 | The Great Hall
Please note that advance tickets to this event are SOLD OUT! A limited amount of STANDING ROOM only tickets will be available the evening of the event by CASH ONLY for $10 each. MU Students can also attend in the STANDING ROOM Section for free with their ID.

A cavalcade of Holiday favorites featuring the Monmouth University Chamber Orchestra, The Jazz Hawks, The Concert Choir, the Chamber Choir, soloists, and a special appearance by the Colts Neck Reformed Church Exultation Ringers, all in the magisterial setting of the Great Hall.

Akhnaten Encore
2019-12-15 13:00 - 17:00 | Pollak Theatre

Wozzeck
2020-01-11 13:00 - 15:00 | Pollak Theatre
Berg’s 20th-century shocker stars baritone Peter Mattei in the title role, with Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin on the podium and soprano Elza van den Heever as the long-suffering Marie. Groundbreaking visual artist and director William Kentridge unveils a bold new staging set in an apocalyptic wasteland.
Runtime: 1 hour 57 minutes

Superintendents' Academy: Session 3
2020-01-14 08:30 - 10:30
The School of Education at Monmouth University is pleased to announce the eleventh year of their Superintendents’ Academy for superintendents and central office administrators.

Closed: Access and Opportunity, Diversity & Inclusion
2020-01-21 - 2020-03-13 | Pollak Gallery
Acts of injustice, bias, and disrespect, against groups and individuals, continue to play out across our nation. This juried exhibition will feature works that define what it means to be a good citizen in a global context, a person appreciative of all cultures and committed to fairness with respect and equality for all. By looking broadly at access and opportunity for all members of society regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, national origin, race, religious affiliation, or sexual orientation we can help everyone recognize, appreciate, and respect difference.
Participating Artists include:
Joan Appel
Brandin Barón
Amy Block
Janet Braun-Reinitz
Lindsay Brennan
Kelly Burke
Monica Camin
Bonnie Carlson Diana
Marina Carreira
Ashley Carroll
Jacob Clayton
Linda Rae Coughlin
Rosemary Fineberg
Sandra Frankel
Linda Friedman Schmidt
Zach Horn
Rusty Leffel
Jonathan Lessuck
Jacqueline Madara-Campbell
Rashna Madon
Rosemary Meza-DesPlas
Maria Morales
Andrea Phox
John Piccoli
Robert Selby
Alice Sims-Gunzenhauser
Sandy Taylor
Nettie Thomas
Hui Tian
Emily Tironi
Shoaib Wazir
David Weed
Guta Galli and Aaron Wilder

Closed: Gina Torello: LightScapes
2020-01-21 - 2020-03-13 | Rotary Ice House Gallery
Light is a living element, fixed in a moment of time, captured by the lens of a machine or by the hand of man. This light shifts, changes and instantaneously alters landscapes. It illuminates color and contrast, in the key absence of artificial light. Lightscapes is the light in all our scapes, originating from the sun or moon, our natural resource. Lightscapes is the wonder of how light wraps itself around nature in a moment of stillness.
As you explore Lightscapes, you will be surrounded by examples of how this light pulls you to various environments – evoking emotions, some subtle and some turbulent. The exhibition does not seek to duplicate nature, but instead allows the expressive and intimate use of color and light to dance within the work.
Leveraging her strong classical European education, Gina Torello’s work is diverse in both media and style. Her sense of expression demonstrates a mastery of color and is captured in her freedom to recreate Lightscapes that speak to the viewer from her soul.
Come explore Lightscapes for yourself. In her retrospective exhibit, Gina Torello demonstrates how light intertwines the subject matter of her oils, pastels, printmaking, photography and sculpture in the Ice House Gallery. Gina Torello is a Professor in Monmouth University’s Department of Art and Design.
Artist’s website: www.ginatorello.studio

Closed: Inquire Within: Aurora Robson
2020-01-21 08:00 - 2020-03-13 17:00 | DiMattio Gallery at Rechnitz Hall
Aurora Robson is a multi-media artist known predominantly for her work intercepting the waste stream. Her practice is about subjugating negativity and shifting trajectories. Her work formally references recurring nightmares that she had as a child. She was born in Toronto in 1972 and grew up in Maui, HI. After over 2 decades living and working in NYC she recently moved to the Hudson Valley. Robson holds a double major (B.A.) in visual arts and art history from Columbia University.

Wozzeck Encore
2020-01-26 13:00 - 15:00 | Pollak Theatre

Lemon Tree
2020-01-28 19:30 - 21:30 | Pollak Theatre
Monmouth University Global Education Office presents World Cinema Series 2019-2020 – “Women: Power and Identity”. A global cinematic survey of women as leaders of change in patriarchal cultures through their engagement in community, national politics, and film.
The story of a Palestinian widow who must defend her lemon tree field when a new Israeli Defense Minister moves next to her and threatens to have her lemon grove torn down. (Director: Eran Riklis, 2008)
Not rated
1 hour 46 minutes

Dave Brubeck, Time Out
2020-01-28 19:30 - 21:30 | The Great Hall Auditorium
It’s just like a book club but with albums! Get together with other music enthusiasts on Tuesday nights to discuss some of the greatest records of all-time! Listen to the album beforehand and then come prepared to discuss … there will be special guest moderators and panelists at each event!
This discussion will feature Dave Brubeck’s Time Out. This event is free but registration is required.

MLK Distinguished Speaker in Social Justice: Raymond Santana Jr. of the 'Exonerated Five'
2020-01-29 14:30 - 16:00 | The Great Hall
This annual lecture, which honors those who carry on the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., will feature Raymond Santana Jr.
Santana is an advocate and activist for prison reform, as well as a fashion designer, producer, and member of the New York City Justice League. He is a member of the “Exonerated Five,” whose life story has been featured in the award-winning documentary The Central Park Five and more recently Ava DuVernay’s When They See Us on Netflix.
About the Speaker
Raymond Santana Jr.
On the night of April 19, 1989, a young woman was brutally attacked in Central Park. Five boys, including Raymond Santana, were tried and convicted of the crime in a frenzied case that rocked the city. At the time, the defendants were between 14 and 16 years of age. They became known collectively as “The Central Park Five.” On December 19, 2002 after DNA evidence and a confession from the true perpetrator, the convictions of the five men were overturned. Santana had spent five years in prison for a crime he did not commit.
Now known as “The Exonerated Five,” the group has been committed to advocating and educating people on the disparities in America’s criminal justice system. The investigation of this conviction has raised questions regarding police coercion and false confessions, as well as the vulnerability of juveniles during police interrogations.
Santana tweeted award-winning director Ava DuVernay about the story of the Central Park Five, which led to it becoming the subject of the hit Netflix series, When They See Us. The four-part series not only became one of Netflix’s most-watched shows, but it also earned the streaming giant its most Emmy nominations with a total of 16.
Santana now works closely with the Innocence Project and is a member of the New York City Justice League.

This event is coordinated by the President’s Advisory Council on Diversity and Inclusion, the Office of the Provost, Student Activities and the Intercultural Center.
The cost for this event is free. For more information, please contact Zaneta Rago-Craft of the Intercultural Center at zragocra@monmouth.edu or 732-263-5505.

All My Sons
2020-01-30 19:30 - 22:30 | Pollak Theatre
by Arthur Miller
directed by Jeremy Herrin
Broadcast live from The Old Vic in London, Academy Award-winner Sally Field (Steel Magnolias, Brothers & Sisters) and Bill Pullman (The Sinner, Independence Day) star in Arthur Miller’s blistering drama All My Sons. America, 1947. Despite hard choices and even harder knocks, Joe and Kate Keller are a success story. They have built a home, raised two sons and established a thriving business. But nothing lasts forever and their contented lives, already shadowed by the loss of their eldest boy to war, are about to shatter. With the return of a figure from the past, long buried truths are forced to the surface and the price of their American dream is laid bare. Jeremy Herrin (NT Live: This House, People, Places & Things) directs a cast including Jenna Coleman (Victoria), and Colin Morgan (Merlin).
All My Sons is an Old Vic co-production with Headlong

The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
2020-02-01 13:00 - 16:00 | Pollak Theatre
PLEASE NOTE: DUE TO HIGH DEMAND THERE WILL BE A VERY LIMITED AMOUNT OF WALK-UP TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR THIS SCREENING. WE SUGGEST THAT IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO ATTEND THIS SCREENING YOU PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS IN ADVANCE.
The Gershwin’s modern American masterpiece has its first Met performances in almost three decades, starring bass-baritone Eric Owens and soprano Angel Blue in the title roles. Director James Robinson’s stylish production transports audiences to Catfish Row, a setting vibrant with the music, dancing, emotion, and heartbreak of its inhabitants.
Runtime: 3 hours 40 minutes

Black Like Me: An Exploration of the Word N-----
2020-02-08 20:00 - 22:00 | Pollak Theatre
Black Like Me: An Exploration of the Word N—– is a multidisciplinary work that explores the reverb of a single word in a global community. It considers the effects of the word n—– , all its permutations, its history, and its casual use in Hip Hop culture. In collaboration with two of America’s leading Black media-design technologists and local activists, it asks if it is possible to redefine a word that was intended to belittle a people. Black Like Me combines physical, verbal, visual and sonic language to tell five narratives and perspectives in a unique way.
Jade Solomon Curtis is a dance artist and choreographer who integrates classical and African-American vernacular movements with mixed-media and Hip Hop culture. Through the lens of a contemporary black woman, Curtis’ works ponder tradition and reinvention, social justice, social constructs as well as intuition and logic–often resulting in the subversion of an idea. She is the founder of Solo Magic, a non-profit arts initiative collaborating with innovative artists to create socially relevant performances. She is a 2018 Artist Trust Fellow and a 2017 University of South Carolina Inaugural Visiting Fellow. Curtis was an artist-in-residence at SLIPPAGE Lab at Duke University this March. She is also the subject of an Emmy Award-winning short film, Jade Solomon Curtis, directed by Ralph Bevins.
Some of the content in this performance may not be appropriate for young children.

The presentation of Black Like Me: An Exploration of the Word N—– was made possible by the New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Dance Project, with lead funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess Encore
2020-02-09 13:00 - 16:00 | Pollak Theatre
On sale July 17th.
The Gershwin’s modern American masterpiece has its first Met performances in almost three decades, starring bass-baritone Eric Owens and soprano Angel Blue in the title roles. Director James Robinson’s stylish production transports audiences to Catfish Row, a setting vibrant with the music, dancing, emotion, and heartbreak of its inhabitants.
Runtime: 3 hours 40 minutes

Blood Drive
2020-02-10 10:30 - 16:00 | Edison Atrium – Room 201
Click image to download flyer

Banished
2020-02-10 18:00 - 19:30 | Lauren K. Woods Theatre
Banished: A family on the sex offender registry follows the story of one family as they take us through the criminal proceedings and the changes they must go through when preparing for the registry. Banished is an oral history and storytelling project documenting the harms of the sex offender registry, told in three parts. The contained works are co-written by Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg, a staff writer for The Appeal, and coLAB Arts producing director, Dan Swern. It was developed with support from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities. The project’s scholar-in-residence is Laura Cohen, Distinguished Clinical Professor of Law, Justice Virginia Long Scholar, and Director, Criminal and Youth Justice Clinic at Rutgers Law School.
The play also features interviews with Elizabeth Letourneau, Director of the Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse at Johns Hopkins University, and Patty Wetterling, national children’s safety advocate whose son’s disappearance led to the Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children and Sexually Violent Offender Registration Act.
Banished is Co-Sponsored by: New Jersey Office of the Public Defender, NeighborCorps Re-Entry Services, National Religious Campaign Against Torture in New Jersey, Town Clock Community Development Corporation, Brady Project of Middlesex County, Anti-Poverty Network of New Jersey
Featuring:
Nancy Boykin*, Robert Carr*, Helen Farmer*, Meridith C Grundei*, Aaliyah Habeeb*, Dave Seamon
*Appearing courtesy of Actors Equity Association
A facilitated discussion on restorative justice & the impact of the sex offender registry will follow the performance at 7:30.
Panelists Include:
Fletcher Duddy, Deputy Public Defender and Director of the Special Hearings Unit for the NJ Office of the Public Defender
Michael C. Woyce, Assistant Deputy Public Defender, Special Hearings Unit-Asbury Park, NJ Office of the Public Defender
Deanna Shoemaker (moderator), Associate Professor, Communication & Performance Studies, Graduate Director, MA in Communication, and Advisor, CommWorks: Students Committed to Performance at Monmouth University
This performance is approved for 1 General Social Work CE Credit*.
More information at: http://www.colab-arts.org/
Co-sponsored by the Monmouth University Center for the Arts, CommWorks, the Department of Criminal Justice, the Department of Political Science and Sociology, the Department of Communication, the Helen McMurray Bennett Endowment for Social Ethics, the MU Honors School, the School of Social Work, and the NJ Alternatives to Violence Project.
