AUGUST & SEPTEMBER EVENTS AT WESTERN CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY
AUGUST EVENTS
AUG. 3 LITERARY READING: The WCSU Master of Fine Arts in Creative and Professional Writing program will present a reading by Mardi Jo Link, winner of the 2014 Housatonic Book Award for Creative Nonfiction, at 7 p.m. in Room 218 of the Westside Classroom Building on the university’s Westside campus, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury. The event is part of the program’s Summer Residency. It will be free and the public is invited. For more information, visit www.wcsu.edu/newsevents/2015-Summer-literary-readings.asp or call (203) 837-8878.
AUG. 4 LITERARY READING: The WCSU Master of Fine Arts in Creative and Professional Writing program will present readings by program graduate Jeannette Ronson and M.F.A. mentor John Roche at 7 p.m. in Alumni Hall on the university’s Midtown campus, 181 White St. in Danbury. The event is part of the program’s Summer Residency. It will be free and the public is invited. For more information, visit www.wcsu.edu/newsevents/2015-Summer-literary-readings.asp or call (203) 837-8878.
AUG. 5 – 9 THEATRE PRODUCTION: WCSU theatre students, alumni and faculty will participate in the CT Free Shakespeare production, “Mornings of April and May.” Performances will be at 6 p.m. at the Beardsley Zoo, 1875 Noble Ave. in Bridgeport. Admission is free and the public is invited. For more information, visit www.ctfreeshakespeare.org/.
AUG. 5 LITERARY READING: The WCSU Master of Fine Arts in Creative and Professional Writing program will present a reading by A.B. Westrick, winner of the 2014 Housatonic Book Award in Writing for Young Adults and Middle Grades, at 7 p.m. in Room 218 of the Westside Classroom Building on the university’s Westside campus, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury. The event is part of the program’s Summer Residency. It will be free and the public is invited. For more information, visit www.wcsu.edu/newsevents/2015-Summer-literary-readings.asp or call (203) 837-8878.
AUG. 8 CONCERT SERIES AT IVES CONCERT PARK: As part of the Summer Concert Series, “The Fourth Annual Westside Reggae Festival” will be at Ives Concert Park on the WCSU Westside campus, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury. Gates will open at 1 p.m. For more information, visit www.ivesconcertpark.com. For tickets, go to www.etix.com/ticket/p/7835540/4th-annual-westside-reggae-festival.
AUG. 9 ECUADORIAN FESTIVAL: The Ecuadorian Festival, a daylong family event, will be from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Ives Concert Park on the WCSU Westside campus, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury. Tickets can be purchased at the gate. For more information, visit www.ivesconcertpark.com.
AUG. 15 CONCERT SERIES AT IVES CONCERT PARK: As part of the Newtown Savings Bank Fine Arts & Family Series, Ives Concert Park will host the “Danbury Fields Forever Beatles Music Festival” at noon at Ives Concert Park on the WCSU Westside campus, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury. For tickets, go to www.eventbrite.com/e/beatles-music-festival-2015-danbury-fields-forever-fab-4-music-festival-tickets-14945919648?aff=erelexporg. For more information, visit www.ivesconcertpark.com.
AUG. 21 CONCERT SERIES AT IVES CONCERT PARK: As part of the Newtown Savings Bank Fine Arts & Family Series, Ives Concert Park will present “Pickin’ at the Ives” featuring Michael Daves and Tony Trischka at 6:30 p.m. at Ives Concert Park on the WCSU Westside campus, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury. Get tickets at www.eventbrite.com/e/pickin-at-the-ives-bluegrass-tickets-17698390362. For more information, visit www.ivesconcertpark.com.
AUG. 26 CONSTITUENT RESOURCES FAIR: Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty will host a Constituent Fair from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Bill Williams Gym in Berkshire Hall on the WCSU Midtown campus, 181 White St. in Danbury. The fair is designed to assemble local, state and federal support service agencies in one place to provide assistance in addressing needs faced by area constituents. It will be free and open to the public. For more information, call (203) 837-8549.
AUG. 28 – SEPT 6 WELCOME WEEK: WCSU will host “Welcome Week” for new and returning students at various locations on the Midtown campus, 181 White St., and the Westside campus, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury. Part of the university’s Orientation Program, “Welcome Week” provides incoming students and their families with a set of shared experiences, setting the tone for student academic success and personal growth while facilitating the transition to university life. For more information, visit www.wcsu.edu/orientation/full-schedule-ww.asp.
AUG. 28 ENTERING THE GATES CEREMONY (Welcome Week event): WCSU will hold its traditional “Entering the Gates” ceremony at 1:30 p.m. through the gates on the university’s Midtown campus, 181 White St. in Danbury. Faculty, staff, alumni and new and returning students will take the ceremonial walk through the gates to signify the start of another school year. The event will be free and the public is invited. For more information, visit www.wcsu.edu/orientation/ww.asp or call (203) 837-9700.
AUG. 28 CONCERT SERIES AT IVES CONCERT PARK: As part of the Newtown Savings Bank Fine Arts & Family Series, Ives Concert Park will present “Summer Breeze Jazz” featuring Jimmy Greene at 6:30 p.m. at Ives Concert Park on the WCSU Westside campus, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury. For more information, visit www.ivesconcertpark.com.
SEPTEMBER EVENTS
SEPT. 4 - DEC 1 OCTAGON HOUSE EXHIBIT: An exhibit featuring Danbury’s Octagon House will be on display during library hours in the Ruth Haas Library on the WCSU Midtown campus, 181 White St. in Danbury. The concrete Octagon House at 21 Spring St. has intrigued Danburians for more than 150 years. Its design is the embodiment of the philosophy of Orson Fowler, a well-known phrenologist and lecturer in the 19th century. Phrenology was a pseudo-science that promoted the view that one’s personality and behavior could be predicted by the shape of one’s skull. Fowler believed that an octagonal house with lots of natural light and insulation would benefit its inhabitants’ state of mind and also be an economical alternative to standard house designs. The WCSU Archives will exhibit some original editions of Fowler’s works and show how one Danburian took Fowler’s philosophy to heart and built the house on Spring Street closely adhering to Fowler’s published octagon house design. The exhibit will be free and open to the public.
SEPT. 6 LATIN MUSIC FESTIVAL: Ives Concert Park will host the Latin Music Festival at 10 a.m. at Ives Concert Park on the WCSU Westside campus, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury. The live music will begin at 1 p.m. and tickets will be for sale at the gate. For more information, visit www.ivesconcertpark.com.
SEPT. 9 GUEST ARTIST LECTURE: Illustrator Aya Kakeda will discuss her work at 11 a.m. in Room 144 of the Visual and Performing Arts Center on the WCSU Westside campus, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury. The event will be free and open to the public, and it will be presented as part of the university’s Master of Fine Arts slide lecture series. For more information, call (203) 837-8403. For a complete list of similar SVPA events, visit www.wcsu.edu/svpa/events.asp.
SEPT. 12 TASTING EVENT: Townsquare Media will host “Connecticut on Tap” from 3 to 6 p.m. at Ives Concert Park on the WCSU Westside campus, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury. Tickets are $35 in advance and $45 at the gate. VIP tickets are available for $55 in advance and $65 at the gate. Guests must be 21 or older to attend. For more information, go to www.ivesconcertpark.com. For tickets, visit https://america-on-tap.ticketleap.com/america-on-tap---connecticut/dates/Sep-12-2015_at_0300PM.
SEPT. 16 CONSTITUTION DAY LECTURE: Nadine Strossen, former president of the American Civil Liberties Union and currently the John Marshall Harlan II Professor of Law at the New York Law School, will discuss “Current Constitutional Controversies” at 5:25 p.m. in Warner Hall on the WCSU Midtown campus, 181 White St. in Danbury. Among the topics Strossen will discuss are same-sex marriage, police/community tension, NSA surveillance, and more. The talk will be free and the public is invited.
SEPT. 18 - 20 GREATER DANBURY IRISH FESTIVAL: Ives Concert Park will host the Greater Danbury Irish Festival from 5 to 10 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 18; 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19; and noon to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 20, at Ives Concert Park on the WCSU Westside campus, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury. For a schedule of events and ticket information, go to www.ivesconcertpark.com.
SEPT. 18 AQUILA THEATRE PERFORMANCE: The Aquila Theatre Company will present “Romeo and Juliet” at 8 p.m. in the MainStage Theatre of the Visual and Performing Arts Center on the university’s Westside campus, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury. For tickets, go to www.eventbrite.com/e/aquila-theatre-in-william-shakespeares-romeo-and-juliet-tickets-178328956711 or call (203) 837-8732. For a complete list of similar SVPA events, visit www.wcsu.edu/svpa/events.asp.
SEPT. 19 DR. JANE GOODALL: WCSU will host renowned primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall for a public lecture at 2:30 p.m. in Ives Concert Hall in White Hall on the university’s Midtown campus, 181 White St. in Danbury. Ticket information will soon be available on the university’s website, www.wcsu.edu.
SEPT. 19 JULIUS BAKER 100TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION: In celebration of the 100th birthday of Julius Baker, Kerry Walker, on flute, and Linda Mark, on piano, will perform a recital at 8 p.m. in the Veronica Hagman Concert Hall of the Visual and Performing Arts Center on the university’s Westside campus, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury. For tickets, go to www.eventbrite.com/o/visual-and-performing-arts-center-at-wcsu-6275173871 or call (203) 837-8732. For a complete list of similar SVPA events, visit www.wcsu.edu/svpa/events.asp.
SEPT. 21 GUEST ARTIST LECTURE: Painter Joseph Salerno will discuss his work at 11 a.m. in Room 144 of the Visual and Performing Arts Center on the WCSU Westside campus, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury. The event will be free and open to the public, and it will be presented as part of the university’s Master of Fine Arts slide lecture series. For more information, call (203) 837-8403. For a complete list of similar SVPA events, visit www.wcsu.edu/svpa/events.asp.
SEPT. 23 U.S. COAST GUARD BAND: The U.S. Coast Guard Band will perform at 1 p.m. in the Veronica Hagman Concert Hall of the Visual and Performing Arts Center on the university’s Westside campus, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury. Admission will be free and the public is invited. Donations to support the Department of Music will be accepted. For a complete list of similar SVPA events, visit www.wcsu.edu/svpa/events.asp.
SEPT. 23 RESEARCH SEMINAR: Quinnipiac University Assistant Professor of Biology Dr. Lani Keller will discuss “Flies on the Brain: Can Fruit Flies Aid in Curing Neurodegeneration?” at 4 p.m. in Room 219 of the Science Building on the WCSU Midtown campus, 181 White St. in Danbury. Offered as part of the continuing “Research Seminar” series hosted by the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, the event will be free and the public is invited. For more information, send an email to monettem@wcsu.edu.
SEPT. 25 WESTERN DAY OF SERVICE: WCSU will host Western’s “Day of Service,” an opportunity for students to volunteer with one of many nonprofit organizations in the community. For more information, send an email to diazv@wcsu.edu or call (203) 837-9700.
SEPT. 28 GOLF OUTING: The WCSU Alumni Association will host The Neil Wagner Golf Outing with a 10 a.m. shotgun start at the Richter Park Golf Club, 100 Aunt Hack Road in Danbury. Proceeds from the annual event will benefit the Alumni Association Scholarship Endowment. The cost is $700 per foursome or $175 per person. The public is invited; reservations are required. For more information, visit https://alumni.wcsu.edu/golf-outing-players or call (203) 837-8298.
SEPT. 30 OPEN HOUSE: A breakfast Open House to welcome new WCSU President John B. Clark will be from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. in Room 218 of the Classroom Building on the university’s Westside campus, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury. The event will be free and the public is invited.
SEPT. 30 GUEST ARTIST AND FACULTY RECITAL: Pianist Laurel Larsen and soprano Allyss Haecker will perform a recital at 1 p.m. in the Veronica Hagman Concert Hall of the Visual and Performing Arts Center on the university’s Westside campus, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury. Admission will be free and the public is invited. Donations to support the Department of Music will be accepted. For a complete list of similar SVPA events, visit www.wcsu.edu/svpa/events.asp.
All listings are subject to change. Please call to confirm.
Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England’s best small private universities.