Annual Summer Arts Festival to showcase performances, artwork, demonstrations

Theater, music and all types of other art will be featured at this year's Community Summer Arts Festival, to take place June 18.

The annual all-day arts festival, hosted by Southeast Missouri State University, will run from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. at Southeast's River Campus, 518 S. Fountain St., and will have activities and entertainment suitable for all ages.

The main entertainment stage will feature jazz, folk, Americana and more by several local artists, including Abbie Fieser, Steve Schaffner and Derrick Irwin, Jonathan Patterson and the Jerry Ford Combo.

Southeast's Department of Music will host several showcases, including a vocal arts bootcamp performance of "Sing Out!" featuring local students, as well as guitar and vocal recitals by Southeast students, in the Shuck Music Recital Hall throughout the day.

In the Dobbins Center, Acting Laboratory Camp participants will perform and there will be stage combat exhibitions.

Local artist Craig Thomas will be back with his sidewalk chalk demonstrations and "Avenue of Art," where children can join him in chalk-drawing.

"Honk! Jr.," a play based on "The Ugly Duckling," will be performed in the Bedell Performance Hall with free admission, and dance exhibitions will cover styles from tap to zumba to country western.

Local plein-air painters will have a chance to show off their skills during a painting competition, and the Lazy L Safari Park will have a petting zoo on display all day.

Several art exhibits, sales and demonstrations in printmaking, ceramics and painting also will take place around the River Campus grounds.

There will even be something for fans of magic, with magician Rob Huff roaming around the grounds performing tricks, as well as main stage shows at 10:30 a.m. and noon.

Deana Luetkenhaus will host demonstrations in mask making in the Costume Shop in the Cultural Arts Center backstage during the day.

"Steel Magnolias" will be performed at the Wendy Kurka Rust Flexible Theatre at 7:30 p.m. to wrap up the day's festivities.

"There is something for everyone of all ages. We encourage families and art lovers to make a day of it," said Rhonda Weller-Stilson, director of the Earl and Margie Holland School of Visual and Performing Arts and associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts.

A complete schedule of events is available on Southeast's website.

tgraef@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3627

Pertinent address:

518 S. Fountain St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.