In a totalitarian police state, acclaimed writer Katurian is brought in for questioning because his gruesome short stories bear a strong resemblance to a recent string of child murders. After failing to elicit a confession from the writer, the two detectives change the game by revealing that Katurian’s brother, Michal, is also being held in custody. Throughout the play, Katurian narrates several of his stories as he struggles to protect himself, his brother and ultimately the legacy of his work.

Director Alex Hernandez has taken a unique cinematic approach to the piece, focusing on “the forgotten art” of storytelling. Setting the performance within an unusually open atmosphere, Hernandez hopes to place The Pillowman in the context of the other arts it represents.

Show times are Nov. 6 at 7 p.m., Nov. 7 at 1 and 4 p.m., and Nov. 8 at 2 and 7 p.m. The performances are free and open to the public.

Tickets may be reserved through the Florida Players Web site at www.floridaplayers.org. For special accommodations, contact Disability Affairs Cabinet, 72 hours in advance. This production contains adult themes and may not be suitable for children.

Florida Players is a student-run theater company that provides opportunities for students to explore the world of theatre and showcase their talents in doing so. Sponsored by UF Student Government, Florida Players produces plays and musicals throughout each school year and is open to students of all majors. Since its founding in 1932, the organization’s purpose has been to facilitate the acclimation of students into the professional theatre environment. Florida Players offers students opportunities in all aspects of theatre, including direction, design, performance and playwriting, as well as leadership positions. Florida Players also offers master classes led by professional artists in the field, most recently hosting sessions with Tony Award winners Gregory Jbara and Katie Finneran.

Adolphe Sax, the son of a Belgian musical instrument maker, was born on Nov. 6, 1814. His inventions included widespread improvements to many orchestral instruments. He is best known as the inventor of the family of instruments that bears his name.

Friday’s concert will feature a variety of music performed by the saxophone class at UF under the direction of Jonathan Helton, professor of Music. The many faces of the saxophone will be showcased at this concert, from nineteenth-century classical works to Latin jazz. Composers represented on the program include French contemporary artist Ida Gotkovsky, Pulitzer prize-winner Karel Husa, jazz great Paquito D’Rivera, and the great Italian composer Ottorino Respighi. The concert will culminate in a performance by UF All-Saxophone Festival Orchestra — a grand ensemble of 22 saxophones. This ensemble includes six sizes of saxophones from sopranino to bass. The ensemble will conclude the concert performing excerpts from an arrangement of Modest Mussorgsky’s masterpiece, Pictures at an Exhibition.

This concert will feature Andrea Centazzo, composer, percussionist, and multimedia artist, and University of Florida professor of physics David Reitze, head of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory Scientific Collaboration.

Reitze will open the program with a brief presentation aimed at the general public highlighting gravitational waves and what they reveal about the most violent events in the universe, such as the Big Bang, neutron stars and collisions of black holes. He’ll also explain how the gravitational wave observatory, known by its acronym LIGO, home to the world’s most sensitive laser interferometer, may detect gravitational waves. Centazzo will then perform his “Einstein’s Cosmic Messengers,” the multimedia concert. The presentation blends music and sounds played live with images and animations inspired by LIGO’s facilities, the universe, and Einstein’s genius and obsessions.

“Einstein’s Cosmic Messengers” is a wonderful blend of science, art, and music. It brings together one of the boldest and most precise astrophysics experiments ever developed — LIGO — with the musical and artistic interpretative powers of Andrea Centazzo,” says Reitze. “I hope that people will come away with a sense of the quest for gravitational waves as the dawn of a new type of astronomy.”

Free and open to the public, the concert is set for 8 p.m. Sunday in the Rion Ballroom of the Reitz Student Union. It is co-sponsored by the UF LIGO research group, the UF department of physics and the National Science Foundation.

For more information on Centazzo and his music, go to www.andreacentazzo.com. For more information on the LIGO Scientific Collaboration, go to www.ligo.org.

Grunwald will present “The Swamp: The Everglades, Florida, and the Politics of Paradise,” at 7 p.m. in the Pugh Hall Ocora. It is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required. A book signing will be held following the talk, with books available for purchase at the event.

The book chronicles the often conflicting story of the Everglades from reclamation to rescue and the environmental policy decisions behind it.

“Grunwald’s ‘The Swamp’ is a breezy, sweeping, stomach-churning airboat ride through the muck of Everglades politics,” said Jack Davis, associate professor of history at UF. “It is a keenly authoritative book.”

The lecture is the third in this semester’s series on “Florida’s Environmental Politics.” The series is sponsored by the Graham Center and the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program and is made possible by generous donations from the Proctor family and alumni members of the Tau Epsilon Phi fraternity.

The Graham Center provides students with opportunities to train for future leadership positions, meet policymakers and take courses in critical thinking, language learning and studies of world cultures. Its mission is to foster public leadership and solve issues related to the Americas and homeland security. It also serves as a magnet to attract distinguished scholars and speakers to Florida.

The 5K run starts at 8 a.m. and the One-Mile Walk starts at 8:15 a.m. UF Physical Therapy students will provide massages and free fitness screenings.
Both courses start at the Hull Road parking lot on the UF campus, which is across the street from the Southwest Recreation Center.
For more information or to register online, search for the event at www.active.com.

The musical is comprised of folk music from around the world with a mix of other interesting works by American composers. Countries represented in the performance include Mongolia, Russia, Japan, Africa and more.

“Mostly Multicultural Musical Musings” features the music of Eastern Mongolian Xixian Qu and Native American René Clausen along with British- and Czech-influenced music from Kesling.

The centerpiece of the concert, Clausen’s “Crying for a Dream,” was originally written in 1994 as a commission from the American Choral Directors Association for a premiere performance at their regional convention in Rapid City, S.D. The work has a Native American theme because Rapid City is in the middle of Lakota Sioux country.

The work was written using text and language from a variety of Native American tribes, such as Lakota and Teton Sioux and leaders such as Sitting Bull and Chief Seattle.

According to Clausen, the piece is not specific only to Native American music, which is simple in melodic structure and dance rhythms. Instead, he said he wrote music clothed in modern compositional techniques and language and used elements of Indian musical motifs.

The Concert Choir performance also will feature “Kyrie,” another piece by Clausen, which was commissioned by the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) as a piece commemorating the tragedies of Sept. 11 for performance at the 2003 ACDA National Convention in New York City.

Tickets are free to UF students, $10 for the general public and $8 for UF faculty, staff and non-UF students. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 352-392-ARTS (ext. 2787) or visit www.ticketmaster.com.

Two intermittent characters from Shakespeare’s Hamlet spend their time “offstage” spinning coins, playing at questions, and generally not getting very far. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern find that their only clues to identity and purpose come from snippets of action provided by the other characters. Amidst their struggles with Hamlet, the Player and her troupe of tragedians, the duo unwittingly moves toward their predetermined fate.

Director Jessie Mutz has created a world of entrapment and illusion, where larger-than-life inhabitants reign and exceed expectation. To the two displaced protagonists, this realm seems infinite, but their journey is in fact contained and follows one single, ultimate direction.

Additional show times include 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 24, and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Oct. 25. The performances are free and open to the public.

Tickets can be reserved through the Florida Players Web site floridaplayers.org. For special accommodations, contact Disability Affairs Cabinet, disability@sg.ufl.edu, 72 hours in advance.

The fair, which is for UF students and alumni only, features representatives from more than 120 graduate and professional schools from around the nation. Institutions in attendance represent programs ranging from law to graphic arts.

Graduate and Professional School Information Day was established in 1985 to facilitate University of Florida students looking for advanced education after achieving their undergraduate degree.

The Career Resource Center provides services to help students engage in hands-on experience and make informed decisions about future career plans. The CRC was recently ranked as having the No. 1 best career services in the 2010 edition of The Princeton Review’s “The Best 371 Colleges.”

To view a list of participating institutions and receive more information, please visit http://www.crc.ufl.edu/gap

Each fall, the Tolbert Area Council (TAC) arranges for a 1,250 sq.-ft.-pit in the Tolbert Area Courtyard to be dug and filled with Georgia Red Mud and water. This mud pit is the venue for two weeks of Mudfest competitions that match floor against floor for activities including MudTug, MudPolo, MudUltimate, and MudVolleyball. Floor communities also compete in spirit competitions such as best T-shirt design, best lounge window painting and best door decorations. There also is a philanthropic event, Penny Wars, to support participation in Dance Marathon with proceeds benefiting the Children’s Miracle Network.

Additional special events are planned this year to recognize the historical significance of the event. An opening ceremony is planned for Oct. 18 at 3:15 p.m. to include campus administrators, campus celebrities and TAC alumni. Gainesville Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan, Tolbert Area alumna, also will be in attendance.

“Mudfest has been a completely student run event for the past 40 years,” said Scott Mangino, North Hall Graduate Hall director and TAC adviser. “Twelve volunteer student leaders from TAC began planning this special Mudfest celebration months ago and are excited to celebrate 40 Years of Mudfest. This is an event that helps build a great sense of community and lifelong friendships among the 1,000 residents in the Tolbert Area.”

Participants will have the opportunity to receive instruction from four virtuoso brass performers, gain authoritative insights into correct interpretation of indigenous Argentinean music such as tango and milongo, and hear a recital of original compositions all derived from Argentinean folk, milongo and tango music.

These events are free and open to the public:

Trombone Master Class – 2 p.m.
Workshop – 4 p.m. Interpreting the Traditional Music of Argentina
Recital – 7:30 p.m,
All events are held in the University Auditorium.

The Viento Sur trombone quartet musicians describe themselves as “an innovating group… taking mainly as a basis of creation, our own version of the repertoire for trombone quartet and the adaptation of tangos and milongas that are part of our musical and cultural roots.”

For more information about Viento Sur, visit http://www.vientosurtrombones.com/en.htm

Fifty years ago, in 1959, George Antheil, Bohuslav Martinù and Ernest Bloch passed away leaving three distinctly different styles of composition to posterity. The concert will feature the music of:

George Antheil: “A Jazz Symphony”
Bohuslav Martinù: “Cello Concerto No. 1,” Featuring Steven Thomas, Violoncello
David Homan: “In Homage to Bloch” – A World Premiere Performance
Ernest Bloch: “America” An Epic Rhapsody in Three Parts

For more information on why the artists are considered “bad boys,” visit www.arts.ufl.edu.

Steven Thomas, a featured performer, was appointed to UF’s School of Music in 2007 as an assistant professor, following a 13-year tenure at the Hartt School, where he chaired both the String and Chamber Music departments. He has appeared as a soloist and recitalist, orchestral and chamber musician and conductor on four continents. A top prize-winner in the Villa-Lobos and Bach International Cello Competitions, Thomas has appeared as a soloist with orchestras in North and South America and throughout Europe. As the Principal Cellist of several symphony and chamber orchestras, including the New Haven Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra New England he has given over 1,500 concerts in that role in the last 25 years.

Tickets are $10 for the general public, $8 for UF faculty and staff, and free to UF students. Call 352-392-ARTS (2787) or visit www.ticketmaster.com.

“With a tribute to one of the world’s most accomplished filmmakers, an insightful and provocative look at the Middle East, and the screening by nationally renowned faculty filmmaker, we have a very exciting season,” said Kerry Oliver-Smith, curator of contemporary art at the Harn Museum of Art.

At 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 6, the museum will feature “The Beaches of Agnes,” directed by legendary filmmaker Agnès Varda. The film celebrates Varda’s 81st year in a story told with humor and ironic nostalgia. The director looks back at her 55 years of fiction and documentary filmmaking with clips of political and feminist films such as “Cléo from 5 to 7,” “Vagabond” and “The Gleaners.” In addition, she shares intimate recollections of family, friends and creative contemporaries. The film will be introduced by Maureen Turim, professor of film and media studies in the English department at the University of Florida.

At 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 20, RISK Cinema will screen two films about the Middle East. “We Will Live to See These Things,” a five-part documentary by Julie Meltzer and David Thorne. The film was shot in Damascus, Syria, and shares varying perspectives on living in a country with strong influences from Islam and pressure from western nations. This film will be followed by Ursula Biemann’s “X–Mission.” This documentary explores the legal, symbolic, urban and historical meanings of a Palestinian refugee camp. The films will be introduced by Scott Nygren, professor of film and media studies in the English department at UF.

The museum will show the work of local filmmaker Roger Beebe at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 3. “Films for One to Eight Projectors” will use his newest screening technique to screen “The Strip Mall Trilogy,” “TB TX Dance,” “Last Light of a Dying Star” and “Money Changes Everything.”

Continuing its strong partnership with the film and media studies program at UF, the museum will screen student films at 7 p.m. on Dec. 8. The films showcase the innovative work of the next generation of filmmakers. Admission is free.

Admission to each event, except for the screening on Dec. 8, is free for members, $3 for students and $4 for the general public.

For more information call 352-392-9826 or visit www.harn.ufl.edu.

Visitors to the Florida Museum of Natural History will experience “Amazon Voyage: Vicious Fishes and Other Riches.” This exhibit educates visitors about the diversity of life found in and around the Amazon River with a fascinating journey that includes information about the animals and people who live there.

The Florida Museum is offering free admission to “Vicious Fishes” and the Butterfly Rainforest for students showing their Gator 1 card.

At the Harn Museum, enjoy a reception and activities celebrating the opening of the “45th Annual UF Art Faculty Exhibition.” Once every five years, the Harn hosts the UF School of Art and Art History studio faculty exhibition, which features art from faculty members who work in an impressive range of media, including drawing, graphic design, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, multi-media, performance and video. Docents will be available throughout the galleries to answer questions about the works on display.

Sean Miller, senior lecturer at the School of Art and Art History, and several of his students will present “Annex.” During the performance, students will create a physical museum gallery space through interpretive poses and gestures, sewing themselves together. An autonomous museum annex will be created using people and string.

Museum University Student Educators (MUSEs) will be leading activities in the galleries from 7 to 9 p.m. Participants will receive a “passport” that presents clues leading to art created in different regions of the world. The MUSEs will also be helping visitors with art activities such as watercolor resist paintings.

At 6 p.m. in the Chandler Auditorium, Christopher M.S. Johns, Norman and Roselea Goldberg professor of History of Art and chair at the department of History of Art at Vanderbilt University, will present a lecture titled “The Grand Tour and the Rediscovery of Antiquity in the 18th Century.” The lecture is co-sponsored by the Harn Museum of Art and the UF School of Art and Art History and organized by Barbara Barletta, UF professor of art history.

Museum Nights is made possible by UF Student Government. Admission is free.

For more information about Museum Nights, visit www.sg.ufl.edu or www.harn.ufl.edu.

Robert H. Hughes, author of “Ahorca Lagarto,” will discuss his book, which is a historical novel about life and love in Panama during the construction of the Panama Railroad, 1851-1856, and the events that unfolded on the banks of the Chagres River in a tiny town called Hang the Lizard.

The event is free and open to the public. A reception and book signing will follow. Books will be available for sale.