ACC Gearing Up for Spring Arts Season

The Austin Community College District’s Arts & Humanities Division is pleased to announce its spring schedule. In a continuation of the fall 2009 theme, the concepts of “Process, Protest, Progress” will serve as an undercurrent to this season’s performances and shows.

“We chose this theme because we saw that our nation was going through a great deal of struggle and change,” says Lyman Grant, dean of Arts & Humanities. “A focus on ‘Process, Protest, Progress’ will inspire reflection as well as challenge and empower the community.”

Spring performances include Julia Jordan’s “Smoking Lesson,” a play that hits the Rio Grande Campus Gallery Theater in late February. Directed by Drama Department Professor Marcus McQuirter, “Smoking Lesson” tells the story of several young women who spend time underneath a bridge on the Mississippi River, exploring the violent death of their friend years earlier and befriending a mysterious young man who may be responsible for the tragedy.

Nathanael Dunaway and Tess Haynie in ACC's production of "Smoking Lesson"

Nathanael Dunaway and Tess Haynie in ACC's production of "Smoking Lesson"

The season includes the second annual Carnival ah!, a festival of artistic offerings including live music, dance, drama, performance art, and a film festival. The event, which is free and open to the public, will be April 16-24 at ACC’s Rio Grande Campus in downtown Austin. Visit austincc.edu/carnival for more details.

“Carnival ah! is an opportunity to celebrate and enjoy the great variety of the artistic and cultural creations of our students and faculty,” says Grant.

The spring season will also feature performances by the Dance Department, a philosophy lecture series, a student art exhibit, and a series of short plays.

The complete spring season schedule: 

  • Feb. 18, 6 p.m. – Dance video sampler series

Rio Grande Campus Dance Studio, 1212 Rio Grande St., Room 130

Free. For information: 223.3384

  • Feb. 18, 7-9 p.m. – “Protest and Activism” Philosophy Lecture Series

Eastview Campus, 3401 Webberville Rd., Room 8500

Free. For information: 485.1814 or austincc.edu/philosophy

  • Feb. 26-28, March 5-7 – “Smoking Lesson”

Rio Grande Campus Gallery Theater, 1212 Rio Grande St.

Friday and Saturday performances at 8 p.m.; Sunday performances at 2 p.m.

$10 donation suggested for general admission, $5 donation suggested for students. Proceeds benefit the Drama and Dance Scholarship Fund.

For information: 223.3240

  • March 11, 7-9 p.m. – “Aesthetics” Philosophy Lecture Series

Eastview Campus, 3401 Webberville Rd., Room 8500

Free. For information: 485.1814 or austincc.edu/philosophy

  • April 1, 7 p.m. – Percival Everett Reading

Rio Grande Campus Gallery Theater, 1212 Rio Grande St.

Percival Everett is the award-winning author of more than a dozen books including “Suder,” “Glyph,” and “I am Not Sidney Poitier.”

Free. For information: 223.3226

  • April 3-28 – ACC Student Art Exhibit

April 6, 6-8 p.m. – Reception and Awards Ceremony

Dougherty Arts Center, 1110 Barton Springs Rd.

Free. For information: 223.3262

  • April 15, 7-9 p.m. – “The Philosophy of Karl Marx” Philosophy Lecture Series

Eastview Campus, 3401 Webberville Rd., Room 8500

Free. For information: 485.1814 or austincc.edu/philosophy

  • April 16-24 – Carnival ah!

ACC’s arts & humanities festival, with music, dance, art, and more

Rio Grande Campus, 1212 Rio Grande St.

Free. For information: 223.3352 or austincc.edu/carnival

  • April 16-18, April 23-24 – “B-Sides from the A-List”

Short plays by Beckett, Ionesco, Albee, and Pinter; directed by Drama Department faculty

April 16-17 at 8 p.m., April 18 at 2p.m., April 23 at 8 p.m., and April 24 at 2 p.m.

Rio Grande Campus Mainstage Theater, 1212 Rio Grande St.

$10 suggested donation for general admission, $5 suggested donation for students. All proceeds benefit the Drama and Dance Scholarship Fund.

For information: 223.3240

  • April 22, 1-4 p.m. – Staff and Faculty Reading

Rio Grande Campus, 1212 Rio Grande St.

Free. Sponsored by the Creative Writing Department. For information: 223.3226

  • April 22, 7 p.m. – “The Rio Review” Publication Celebration

ACC’s literary journal features student poems, prose, screenplays, and artwork

Rio Grande Campus, 1212 Rio Grande St.

Free. Sponsored by the Creative Writing Department. For information: 223.3226

  • April 23-24 – “In 2 the West”

Rio Grande Campus Gallery Theater, 1212 Rio Grande St.

April 23 at 2 p.m., April 24 at 8 p.m.

Co-produced by the Creative Writing and Drama Departments

$10 donation suggested for general admission, $5 donation suggested for students. Proceeds benefit the Drama and Dance Scholarship Fund.

For information: 223.3240 or 223.3226

  • May 7-8, 8 p.m. – Spring Choreographers’ Showcase

Rio Grande Campus Mainstage Theater, 1212 Rio Grande St.

$10 donation suggested for general admission, $5 donation suggested for students. Proceeds benefit the Drama and Dance Scholarship Fund.

For information: 223.3384

  • May 13, 7 p.m. – Spring Dance “Informance”

Rio Grande Campus Dance Studio, 1212 Rio Grande St., Room 130

Free. For information: 223.3384

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