Things to Do at Penn State: April 7-April 13

A selection of cultural events happening on campus this weekend and next
The Light in the Piazza

Gabriel Pena, right, and Kevin Dort, work through a scene for the Penn State Centre Stage production of 'The Light in the Piazza' opening April 4 and running through April 15 at the Penn State Downtown Theatre. 'The Light in the Piazza' is directed by Penn State M.F.A. directing candidate Darcy Evans with musical direction by M.F.A. candidate Chris Rayis.

Credit: Patrick Mansell

What's happening at Penn State? Here's a look at some of the cultural events taking place at the University this weekend and the coming week:

Performances

"The Light in the Piazza"Various times, April 4-15, Penn State Downtown Theatre Center, State College. Penn State Centre Stage presents Adam Guettel's hit musical.

"Godspell"8 p.m., April 5-8, Perkins Student Center Auditorium, Penn State Berks. The Penn State Berks theatre department presents this Bible-based musical.

"Avenue Q"7:30 p.m., April 6-8, Student Enrichment Center, Penn State Harrisburg. The Penn State Harrisburg School of Humanities theatre program presents the popular musical comedy.

Ludacris8 p.m., April 7, Junker Center, Penn State Erie. Hip-hop artist Ludacris headlines Penn State Behrend's spring concert.

Happy Valley Indian Performing Arts Festival Various times, April 7-9, HUB-Robeson Center. The Happy Valley Indian Performing Arts Festival will feature different genres of music and dance each evening.

Pennharmonics7 p.m., April 8, 102 Forum Building. The Pennharmonics, one of Penn State's oldest co-ed a cappella groups, will present its spring concert and send off its five seniors.

Jim Gaffigan "Noble Ape Tour"8 p.m., April 8, Bryce Jordan Center. Grammy-nominated comedian and New York Times best-selling author Jim Gaffigan will bring his popular stand-up act to the University Park campus.

The Illusionists, Live 7:30 p.m., April 11, Bryce Jordan Center. Seven illusionists will perform acts of grand illusion, levitation, mind-reading, disappearance and a full-view water torture escape.

Jessica Lang Dance7:30 p.m., April 12, Eisenhower Auditorium. Jessica Lang Dance, founded and led by a prolific choreographer and "ballet illusionist," will perform five of Lang's creations.

Events

100th annual Little International Livestock Expo8 a.m., April 8, Snider Agricultural Arena. Students show off livestock, including beef heifers, horses, swine and breeding ewes. Free.

Casino High Rollers: Taste Your LuckApril 11, Cafe Laura, Mateer Building. Students in HM 430 Advanced Food Production and Service Management prepare a series of themed dinners throughout the semester to be served in the student-run Cafe Laura restaurant. Reservations required.

"The Age of Consequences"7:30 p.m., April 11, State Theatre, State College. A screening of a documentary investigating the impacts of climate change on increased resource scarcity, migration and conflict through the lens of U.S. national security and global stability, followed by a panel discussion. Free.

Interfaith Passover Seder 7:30 p.m., April 11, Heritage Hall, HUB-Robeson Center. Penn State Hillel is collaborating with the Presidential Leadership Academy, 3rd Way Collective, the Westminster Presbyterian Fellowship, and the Lutheran Campus Ministry for an interfaith Passover Seder.

Be Our Guest: An Enchanted Evening of Fine French Cuisine April 12, Cafe Laura, Mateer Building. Students in HM 430 Advanced Food Production and Service Management prepare a series of themed dinners throughout the semester to be served in the student-run Cafe Laura restaurant. Reservations required.

The Best of Mardi Gras: Tour of the French QuarterApril 13, Cafe Laura, Mateer Building. Students in HM 430 Advanced Food Production and Service Management prepare a series of themed dinners throughout the semester to be served in the student-run Cafe Laura restaurant. Reservations required.

Lectures

"The Global Context of Mining: The Evolution from Mining License to Social License to Social Contract"4 p.m., April 7, 26 Hosler Building. Aidan Davy, the International Council on Mining and Metals' CEO, will discuss the challenges facing the mining industry as part of the 2017 G. Albert Shoemaker Lecture in Mineral Engineering. Free.

Jean-Michel Cousteau8 p.m., April 10, Alumni Hall, HUB-Robeson Center. Explorer, environmentalist, educator and film producer Jean-Michel Cousteau will discuss his love and concern for our water planet. Free, but valid Penn State student ID required for tickets.

"Capitalist Kermit and his Chubby Cousin: 'Sesame Street' and the 1970s Transatlantic Battle for Children's TV"4:30 p.m., April 12, Foster Auditorium, Paterno Library. Helle Strangaard Jensen, an assistant professor of contemporary cultural history at Aarhus University in Denmark, will discuss how feelings toward American culture changed in several European countries in the 1970s with the advent of "Sesame Street" on children's television. Free.

"Art + Engineering = Creative Problem Solving"1 p.m., April 13, Foster Auditorium, Paterno Library. Rebecca Strzelec, Penn State laureate and professor of visual arts at Penn State Altoona, will discuss 3-D printing technology and its impact on health care, safety, architecture and art and design. Free.

Exhibits

"Impressionism and the Art of Medical Communication"April 4-13, Borland Project Space, 125 Borland Building. Student work combining Impressionism and active painting for effective communication. Free.

"Eve Watson-Schütze: Pictorialist Portraits"Jan. 10-April 30, Palmer Museum of Art. Figure studies and portraits by photographer Eva Watson-Schütze from the early 20th century. Free.

"From the Trenches: The Great War in Sepia" — Jan. 13-May 5, Eberly Family Special Collections Library, 103 Paterno Library. A display of rare battlefield images of the common foot soldier during World War I. Free.

"Morris Blackburn: Prints and Paintings in Process"Jan. 17-April 30, Palmer Museum of Art. Drawings, prints and paintings by Philadelphia native and modernist artist Morris Blackburn. Free.

"A Kaleidoscope of Color: Studio Glass at the Palmer"Jan. 31-April 30, Palmer Museum of Art. An exhibit highlighting newly acquired works of studio glass from the collections of various Penn State alumni and donors. Free.