UAB Arts Week 2024 April 10-20

Presented by the UAB College of Arts and Sciences from April 10-20, Arts Week events showcase students from the departments of Art and Art History, English, History, Music, and Theatre. Students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members are invited to experience the arts on campus and in the community with this curated list of performances.

College of Arts and Sciences Dean Kecia M. Thomas, Ph.D., says she looks forward to celebrating.

“This new CAS tradition is an opportunity to appreciate the work of our faculty and students in the arts, as well as a vehicle to celebrating the end of another academic year,” Thomas said.

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Events for UAB Arts Week 2024 include:

2024 BFA Exhibition

Students graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree will have their works featured in the exhibition, on display Tuesday-Saturday through April 27.

Noon to 5 p.m., UAB’s Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts. Free.

Friday, April 5

Theatre UAB and Red Mountain Theatre present “Sister Act”

Two educational powerhouses unite for one incredible production, bringing together professional resources and the next generation of musical theater talent. In this feel-good musical comedy, flamboyant disco diva Deloris Van Cartier witnesses a crime and must hide in a local convent, disguised as a nun. At odds with the strict lifestyle and even stricter Mother Superior, she finds her niche in revitalizing the church choir — until it ends up blowing her cover.

7:30 p.m., Red Mountain Theatre. Shows through Sunday, April 21. Purchase tickets here.

Wednesday, April 10

The Mersmann Poetry Awards

Given in honor of Jim Mersmann, Ph.D., a professor emeritus in the Department of English known for his fantastic reading style, this award recognizes marvelous readings of poetry, with first- and second-place prizes awarded for best original poem and best-read poem by another poet.

2-3:30 p.m., University Hall Patio. Free.

Friday, April 12

Popular Arts Conference Symposium

This annual academic conference in Atlanta, Georgia, during Dragon*Con each year studies comics and the popular arts, including science/speculative fiction, fantasy literature, film, comic books, manga, graphic novels, anime, gaming, and other media, presented to scholars and fans. Thanks to an Alabama Humanities Alliance grant, the College of Arts and Sciences and Department of Art and Art History will bring a small version of the conference to UAB.

501 Building, Art Lab.

Friday, April 12

Spring Choral Concert featuring the UAB Concert Choir and Chamber Singers

Brian Kittredge and Elizabeth Fisher, directors

7 p.m. Highland United Methodist. Free.

Saturday, April 13

The UAB Chamber Trio, “The Courage Lies Within You” 

Featuring UAB Department of Music faculty Denise Gainey, clarinet, James Zingara, trumpet, and Chris Steele, piano, performing 11 new works based on historical figures from Alabama.

This collaboration between the UAB Department of Music and the UAB Department of History features a multimedia presentation of music commissioned by the Chamber Trio with short films produced by students.

7 p.m., UAB’s Mary Culp Hulsey Recital Hall. Free.

Sunday, April 14

UAB Piano Studio and Piano Ensembles in concert

Directed by Yakov Kasman and Tatiana Kasman

4 p.m., Hulsey Recital Hall. Free.

Sunday, April 14

UAB Wind Symphony and Symphony Band in concert

Directed by Sean Murray and Cara Morantz. This concert will feature new and exciting music of the modern wind band repertoire, including “Message from Arecibo” by James David, “Playalisticstagemusik” by Marie Douglas, “Death and Disfigurations” by Scott McAllister, and “Organized Chaos” by Etienne Charles.

7 p.m., UAB’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center. Free.

Monday, April 15

UAB Gospel Choir in concert

Directed by Reginald Jackson, Ph.D.

7 p.m., UAB’s Alys Stephens Center. Free for students, general public tickets are $10.

Wednesday, April 17

Media and Film Open House

Learn about the Media and Film Programs at UAB as faculty discuss courses and resources and students share their work.

2-4 p.m., CAS Heritage Hall, Media Commons 334. Free.

Wednesday, April 17

UAB Computer Music Ensemble in concert

Directed by Matthew Scott Phillips

7 p.m., Hulsey Recital Hall. Free.

Saturday, April 19 & 20

UAB Opera presents “Gisela in her Bathtub” by Neil Weisensel and “Trial by Jury” by Gilbert and Sullivan

Directed by Lara Wilson, Patrick Evans and Won Cho. Tickets are $15; $10 for UAB employees and senior citizens; free for students. Second performance at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 20.

7:30 p.m., UAB’s Alys Stephens Center

Saturday, April 20

Chamber Percussion Ensemble in concert

Directed by Gene Fambrough

7 p.m., Hulsey Recital Hall. Free.