Auditions are Nov. 4 and Nov. 5 from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. both days at Thrust Theatre, 2314 S. Floyd St. Callbacks will be Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. Rehearsals are expected to be Nov. 18 ‒ 26, Dec. 2 ‒ 9 and Jan. 6 to the play’s Jan. 29 opening date. It will run through Feb. 2.

The department is seeking 18 actors of all ages, genders and ethnic backgrounds. All parts are available except for the main character role of Matthew Poncelet. The play has 40 characters and most actors will play multiple roles.

The play—like the film of the same name—dramatizes the life of a death role inmate, his family and his victims. Russell Vandenbroucke is the director.

Actors should be prepared to audition by choosing from speeches designated from the script, available in the Theatre Arts Department Office, 117 HPES Building/Thrust Theatre, 2314. S. Floyd. St.

For more details, call Melanie Henry at 502-852-7682.

Should she wear black? Should she have big hair? Those are some of the challenges facing Gina Vito, a University of Louisville Department of Theatre Arts student designing a costume to portray the famed fairy-tale princess in a 1980s setting.

Vito and four other theater arts students are each creating an outfit—complete with accessories, makeup and backstory—casting Snow White in five different decades of the 20th century. The students also will try to capture her look in the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s and 1960s.

Each student is limited to spending $100 or less per costume, said Melissa Shepherd, UofL’s theatre arts costume shop manager.

“This puts them in the driver’s seat of design,” Shepherd said. “They have to learn how to balance their own budgets with their creations just as theater professionals do.”

The students plan to finish work on their creations Oct. 3 in Room 123 of UofL’s Studio Arts Building at Floyd and Warnock streets from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Models will wear the costumes Oct. 4 in a contest at the Gifthorse, 805 E. Market St., from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. during the First Friday Trolley Hop.

A panel of judges including Alicia Hardesty, a designer from the television show “Project Runway,” will review the costumes and advise students on their designs. A popular vote will decide the contest winner.

The student who takes top honors will receive a gift certificate, and the winning costume will be displayed at Gifthorse throughout October.

A free, public anniversary celebration will be held 5 ‒ 7 p.m. Oct. 1 at the Thrust Theater, 2314 S. Floyd St. Special guests to be honored include former theater chair Stephen Schultz, Founder’s Award for helping launch the program; Shirley Reynolds Ewing, theater chair for Jefferson Community and Technical College, and Karen Hunter, education coordinator for the Lincoln Foundation, Pioneer Awards for nurturing black theater. An exhibit, including posters and materials from AATP productions, will remain open to the public until next fall in Thrust Theater.

“The names of all the students and community cast members will be honored in the exhibit,” said program director Deana Thomas. “It’s been a great 20 years for the program. Nine premieres have been produced, and our students have performed on stages around the country and the world.”

Thomas also will present a gift of materials and records about AATP’s history to the university’s Archives and Special Collections. UofL has the only theater arts department that fully integrates such a program into its university curriculum and also offers a graduate certificate in African American theater, according to the theater arts department.

Plans for the upcoming season include:

• “Monsieur Baptiste, the Con Man,” Roger Furman’s adaptation of Moliere’s “Tartuffe”; workshops by New York theater agent Shirley Faison, Broadway director and producer Woodie King and actors Jasmine Guy and Donald Faison; and a gala, Nov. 20 ‒ 24
• Fundraiser for student cultural exchange with the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore, featuring Carolyn Gage’s “Mason-Dixon,” performed by Thomas and Rinda Frye, theater chair, in their final UofL roles before retiring, March 27 ‒ 29

“Gem of the Ocean,” August Wilson play guest-directed by Clinton Turner Davis, producer, director and co-founder of the Non-Traditional Casting Project, which advocates roles for ethnic, female and disabled performing artists, April 9 ‒ 13

Performances will be 8 p.m. nightly Sept. 25 ‒ 29, plus a matinee at 3 p.m., Sept. 29, in Thrust Theatre, 2314 S. Floyd St.

The production includes the entire uncut text. “” is thought to be Shakespeare’s last play and many people consider it to be one of his most enjoyable.

“‘The Tempest’ is a tale of romance filled with magic, beauty, revenge, repentance and forgiveness,” said Rinda Frye, chair of theatre arts and the play’s director.

Audience members should expect some changes in characters’ genders, which will not change the essence of the play, and an acrobatic Ariel through the use of aerial silks to simulate flying, Frye said. This production marks the first time UofL Theatre has used aerial silks.

Show tickets are $15 for the general public and $12 for faculty, staff, students and senior citizens. Season tickets for all five productions this season are available. Prices are $65 for the general public, $50 for UofL students and employees and people age 65 and over. For tickets and information, call 502-852-6814 or visit .

“The series supports the continuity of the piano and string programs at the School of Music,” said Dror Biran, artistic director and piano faculty member.

Biran organized the series to support students in the same way he was helped as he launched his music career.

“These programs nourish young talent and prepare them to lead prominent roles in the musical cultural scene both locally and nationally.”

All concerts begin at 3 p.m. in the Margaret Comstock Concert Hall:

• Sept. 22, all-Beethoven recital including the famous “Kreutzer Sonata,” features faculty�� artist J. Patrick Rafferty, violin
• Nov. 3, duo piano celebration for the holiday season including pieces by Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky, features guest artist Zahari Metchkov from the University of Colorado
• March 2, 2014, solo piano pieces by Chopin and Beethoven and premiere of�� “Legend: A Homage to Robert Schumann” by James Wilding, ��piano solo
• March 23, 2014, celebration of collaborative chamber music with performance of the famous “Trout” piano quintet by Franz Schubert, featuring faculty artists J. Patrick Rafferty and Brittany MacWilliams, violins; Erin Rafferty, viola; Sidney King, bass; and Paul York, cello

Patron subscription tickets are $50 for all four concerts. Individual concerts are $15 each. ��For tickets and information, go to the School of Music website or call 502-852-6907.

The three-day festival, the largest of its kind in North America, will feature performances in two categories, university and professional. French horn players will perform solo competing for $5,000 in prizes and opportunities for appearances and master classes at U.S. music schools.

The event is expected to attract 70 players from 11 countries, said Bruce Heim, horn professor and festival host. Some of the nation’s eminent hornists, including professors from leading schools of music and top-level symphony orchestra musicians, will serve as judges.

“The festival attracts horn enthusiasts and artists from around the world and has been called the ‘Olympics of Horn Playing,’” Heim said. “Many of the past winners have gone on to major careers in music. The School of Music hosted the competition in 2011 and is honored to do so again this year.”

The French horn often is considered to be one of the most difficult instruments to master. “Critics have used words like ‘demanding,’ ‘unforgiving,’ and ‘recalcitrant’ to describe the instrument,” said Heim. “Great hornists make it sound easy, of course. Everyone who comes to hear the final rounds will hear today’s up-and-coming horn soloists.”

Performances will be in the Margaret Comstock Concert and Bird Recital halls, School of Music. Tickets are $15 and available at the door. Three-day, full-day and half-day packages are also available. The schedule is:

• Friday, Aug. 30: University Division first rounds , 8 a.m. ‒ 11:40 a.m. and 1 p.m. ‒ 9 p.m., Bird Hall; Professional Division first rounds, 3:20 p.m. ‒ 10 p.m., Comstock Hall
• Saturday, Aug. 31: University Division first rounds continue, 8 a.m. ‒ noon, and conclude 1 p.m. ‒ 4 p.m., Bird Hall; University Division second round, 5 p.m. ‒ 6:30 p.m., Comstock Hall; Professional Division second round, 1 p.m. ‒ 2:15 p.m., Comstock Hall
• Sunday , Sept. 1: University Division finals, 9 a.m. ‒ 11 a.m.; Professional Division finals, 1 p.m. ‒ 3 p.m., Comstock Hall

Auditions for the plays are scheduled Aug. 27 and 28 from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. both days at Thrust Theatre, 2314 S. Floyd St. The department is seeking 21 actors of all ages, genders and ethnic backgrounds.

Six male and three female roles are open for William Shakespeare’s “The Tempest.” Tryouts are Aug. 27 only; rehearsals are five nights a week and Saturday afternoons starting Aug. 28. The play is scheduled for Sept. 25 ‒ 29 at Thrust. ��Department chair Rinda Frye is directing.

Six male and six female roles are open for “Monsieur Baptiste,” an adaptation of Moliere’s comedy “Tartuffe.” Tryouts are Aug. 27 and 28 and callbacks are Aug. 29. Rehearsals start Oct. 1 with a schedule to be determined after casting. The play is scheduled for Nov. 20 ‒ 24 at The Playhouse.

Actors in “Monsieur Baptiste” must sing, dance and speak in a Caribbean dialect, said the play’s director, Lundeana Thomas, who heads UofL’s African American Theatre Program.

For more details, call Melanie Henry at 502-852-7682.

All shows will be at the Thrust Theatre, 2314 S. Floyd St., unless otherwise noted. The 2013 ‒ 2014 season shows will be:

• “The Tempest,” William Shakespeare’s final play is about a shipwreck on a nearly deserted island where fools and kings learn to temper revenge with mercy and forgiveness, Sept. 25 ‒ 29, Rinda Frye directing
• “Monsieur Baptiste, the Con Man,” Roger Furman’s adaption of Jean Baptiste Moliere’s comedy “Tartuffe” is about a con man’s pursuit of wealth and fortune as he infiltrates a wealthy household, Nov. 20 ‒ 24, The Playhouse, 1911 S. Third St., Lundeana Thomas directing
• “Dead Man Walking,” a drama by Tim Robbins, gives audiences an eyewitness account of the death penalty as seen through the eyes of Sister Helen Prejean, a Catholic nun who became an advocate for abolition of the death penalty and was spiritual adviser for a convicted rapist and murderer, Jan. 29 ‒ Feb. 2, Russell Vandenbroucke directing
• “Sylvia,” a fast-paced comedy by A.R. Gurney, is about a husband who brings home a dog (played by an actor) who becomes the man’s best friend, much to the dismay of his wife, Feb. 26 ‒ March 2, Daniel R. Hill directing
• “Gem of the Ocean,” by August Wilson, tells the story of Aunt Ester, a 285-year-old matriarch who welcomes a former slave, a former criminal and others into her home as she guides them through a spiritual awakening, April 9 ‒ 13, The Playhouse, director to be determined

UofL’s African American Theatre Program is celebrating its 20-year anniversary and will produce “Monsieur Baptiste, the Con Man” and “Gem of the Ocean.”

All plays begin at 8 p.m. with additional 3 p.m. Saturday or Sunday matinees. Season tickets are $65 for the general public, $50 for UofL students, employees and people age 65 and older. Single-show tickets also are available. For details, call 502-852-6814 or go to .

The Cardinal Singers were named best choir at the June 11-17 Yeosu International Choir Competition in Yeosu, South Korea, and went on to earn four gold awards, plus a top prize overall, at the June 19-23 International Hoi An Choir Competition in Vietnam.

The singers returned to Louisville Tuesday afternoon and were greeted at Louisville International Airport by friends, family and UofL colleagues. They treated fans to a performance of my “.” (See video of their welcome .)

Kent Hatteberg and the Cardinal Singers are examples of the extraordinary faculty and talented students we have at the University of Louisville,” said President James Ramsey, who along with Provost Shirley Willihnganz, welcomed the singers home. “Their victories at international competitions are impressive and set the standard for other competitors at UofL.”��

The 33- member group, directed by Kent Hatteberg who earned the best conductor award at the South Korean competition, is ranked number two in in the world by

The singers competed against 63 choirs from around the world in Yeosu placing first in sacred music and mixed choir, second in pop/jazz and spiritual/folk/gospel categories and earning the grand prix award for best choir overall.

In Hoi An, UofL earned the highest awards (gold) for mixed choir, folklore and sacred music and was named the overall winner. UofL is the first American choir to participate in the Vietnamese competition, now in its third year.

The singers competed against 63 choirs from around the world in Yeosu placing first in sacred music and mixed choir, second in pop/jazz and spiritual/folk/gospel categories and earning the grand prix award for best choir overall.

In Hoi An, UofL earned the highest awards (gold) for mixed choir, folklore and sacred music and was named the overall winner. UofL is the first American choir to participate in the Vietnamese competition, now in its third year.

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The six-day festival, the largest of its kind in North America, will feature concerts, master classes on technique and artistic development, lectures and an international competition. The winner of the top prize will receive $7,500, recording contracts and a 50-city concert tour at venues in the United States, United Kingdom, Brazil and China.

The event is expected to attract as many as 700 people with about 30 percent of attendees coming from outside the country, said Stephen Mattingly, guitar instructor and festival host.

“The festival attracts guitar enthusiasts and artists from around the world,” Mattingly said. “The top prize is the classical guitar community’s equivalent to the Van Cliburn Piano Competition.”

Concerts will be held in the Margaret Comstock Concert Hall, School of Music, unless otherwise noted. Featured performers include:

• Zoran Dukic, Croatia, 8 p.m., June 25
• Rovshan Mamedkulief, Russia, 4 p.m. and Marcin Dylla, Poland, 8 p.m., June 26
• Les Freres Meduses, Norway, 4 p.m., and Aniello Desiderio, Italy, 8 p.m., June 27
• Michael, Chapdelaine, Albuquerque, N.M., 4 p.m., Eliot Fisk, Boston, Mass, 8 p.m., June 28
• Scott Tennant, Los Angeles, Calif., 4 p.m., Berta Rojas with Paquito D’Rivera, Paraguay, 8 p.m., June�� 29, Brown Theatre, 315 W. Broadway.
• Cavatina Duo, Bosnia, 4 p.m., Competition Finals, 6:30 p.m., and Awards and Hall of Fame ceremony, 9 p.m., June 30

Concert tickets are $30 for adults, $20 for students and seniors. Day packages are also available.

Mattingly worked with the Louisville Convention and Visitors Bureau to compete with Vancouver, Canada, and St. Louis, Mo., to be selected for the convention, which is in its 40th year. The bureau estimates that the event will have a $1.5 million economic impact for the city.