Gary Balfantz's Superior Festival starts Thursday

NEWS RELEASE

LAKE SUPERIOR
STATE UNIVERSITY

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Sixth annual Superior Festival opens on LSSU campus

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Lake Superior State University will be host to visiting performance groups and artists from as nearby as Sault Area High School and from as far away as New York and California during its annual Superior Festival Performance Event and Colloquium, Oct. 12-14.

This year marks the sixth time Professor Gary Balfantz and students in the Department of English and Communication have put together the festival, which invites students and faculty from other communication and performance programs to present performance events, lectures, demonstrations and workshops.

The public is welcome to attend any of the performance events which will be held throughout each day in the LSSU Arts Center.

"I am happy to welcome our guests this year as we host our sixth annual performance festival and colloquium," Balfantz said. "This year, the theme turns inward, so to speak, as we are interested in the craft of the director and exploring the total process of creating a live performance.

"I am very excited to have NMU's dance company back with us again for a second year as they will be presenting a 60-minute program on Saturday morning," Balfantz added.

Guests for the three-day festival include:

- Michael Bowman Ph.D. from Louisiana State University, who will deliver the keynote address on Thursday

- JKL Bahweting's Cultural Sharing Program, directed by Drum Keeper Chris Gordon

- Christie Logan Ph.D. from California State University – Northridge, who will deliver Friday's keynote address

- Sault Area High School students directed by Tracy McBryde Menard in Bang, Bang You're Dead

- Ithaca College students performing the keynote group performance, Homes at the End of the World

- Jud Lewis from Eastern Michigan University directing an adaptation of a Gertrude Stein story; Deborah Choszczyk directing the Northern Michigan University Dance Company

In addition, Friday's events include The Guys by Anne Nelson, a reprise of the benefit performance for the Sault Ste. Marie Fire Department.

The play explores the emotional struggle of a firefighter and writer dealing with the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 as they create eulogies for lost co-workers and friends. Admission to this show, which begins at 8 p.m., is by donation.

The three-day festival begins with a welcome at 11 a.m. Thursday and concludes with a luncheon on Saturday.

Balfantz said while performances – with the exception of The Guys – are free to the public, there is a $35 registration fee for those who wish to participate in the workshops.

Reservations are required by October 10 for luncheons.

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