MARSHFIELD – Arts at the UW, an organization dedicated to the performing and visual arts at the UW-Marshfield/Wood County is announcing its 2006-07 season.  All events will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Helen Connor Laird Theatre, in the Helen Connor Laird Fine Arts Building, unless otherwise noted.

? “Recent Works and Other Distractions,” Figurative Paintings by John Scotello, Gallery 450 Exhibit, Sept. 5-Nov.2.  Gallery Lecture, 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 2.

? Kevin Lucas Orchestra, Saturday, Sept. 30.  A completely unique style of music that combines rock, jazz, & classical influences & features the marimba.  Sponsored by The Marshfield Clinic.  Tickets are $12.

? Music @ the Wood Fall Concert, Sunday, Oct. 15.  Join the Symphonic Band as it celebrates the 250^th anniversary of Mozart’s birth and the 100^th anniversary of Shostakovich’s birth.  The Jazz Ensemble will open the concert with a blend of new music and old favorites designed to entertain and inspire.  Tickets are $5.

? “Antigone,” Friday-Saturday, Nov. 10-11 & 17-18. Campus Community Players presents this timeless Greek tragedy - the story of one courageous young girl heroically fighting against tyranny. Sponsored by the Laird Endowment Fund for the Arts.  Tickets are $10 in advance; $12 at the door.

? “UW-Oshkosh BFA Students’ Exhibition,” Gallery 450 Exhibit, Nov.14-Jan. 26. Featuring the work of UW-Oshkosh Bachelor of Fine Arts Students. 

? Music @ the Wood Holiday Concert, Tuesday, Nov. 28. An annual tradition, the Holiday Concert features seasonal and holiday-themed music presented by the Symphonic Band, Concert Choir and Jazz Ensemble.  It’s a wonderful way to begin the holiday season!  Tickets are $5 in advance, $7 at the door.

? “Second Chance Christmas,” 1 & 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10.  The UW-Marshfield/Wood County Symphony will perform this musical story, featuring a narrator & chorus, about a town that has forgotten the meaning of Christmas in the wake of a mining disaster.  “Second Chance Christmas” is written by Ric Reitz, the composer/lyricist who created “The Journey of Sir Douglas Fir.” Sponsored by Greg Schield & David & Tania Meyer, Ameriprise Financial; & the Laird Endowment Fund for the Arts.  Tickets are $10 in advance, $6 for 16 & under; $12 & $8, respectively, at the door.

? “Excerpts from The Nutcracker,” 3 & 6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 16-17. Greta Smylie and Anton Romanov of the American National Ballet Co. will join Main Street Conservatory of Dance for this annual holiday tradition. Romanov trained with the famous Bolshoi Ballet.  Sponsored by the Laird Endowment Fund for the Arts.  Tickets are $10.

? Russian Folk Festival, Friday, Feb. 23.  This dynamic group performs authentic Slavic music and dance.  This performance is co-hosted by the Marshfield Cultural Fair Association and kicks off the Marshfield Cultural Fair, which is held on campus on Feb. 24.  Sponsored by the Laird Endowment Fund for the Arts.  Tickets are $8.

? “The Fine Art of Photogravure,” Prints by Bernice Ficek-Swenson, Gallery 450 Exhibit, March 1-March 31.  Lecture/workshop 10 a.m. Thursday, March 1, room to be announced.

? Pops Concert, Thursday, March 9. Join the Symphony as it re-introduces the Pops Concert, a long-standing tradition here at the Wood.  This crowd favorite will feature familiar works from both stage and screen. Tickets are $10 in advance, $6 for 16 & under; $12 & $8, respectively, at the door.

? Phillip Mentor, Saturday, March 17. Phillip Mentor, West Indian baritone/story-teller performs “When Irish Eyes are Smiling” and brings a new flavor to the traditional St. Patrick’s Day celebration.  Sponsored by St. Joseph’s Hospital – Ministry Health Care.  Tickets are $12.

? UW-Marshfield/Wood County Student Art Exhibition, Gallery 450, April 16-May 20. Featuring the work of UW-M/WC student artists.  A Student Art Sale will be held from 5-7:30 p.m. Friday, May 11, in Gallery 450.

? “Inherit the Wind,” Wednesday-Friday, April 12-14.  Inherit the Wind is based on the events surrounding the Scopes Monkey Trial, in which a young teacher is tried in court for having taught evolution in the classroom. This searing drama is an important play for our time, focusing on the importance of free thought and the ramifications of a limited perspective causing clashes between intellectualism and fundamentalism.  Sponsored by the Laird Endowment Fund for the Arts.  Tickets are $10 in advance; $12 at the door.

? Music @ the Wood Spring Concert, Tuesday, April 24.  This end-of-the-year concert will feature both the Concert Choir and Jazz Ensemble performing a wide variety of classical and contemporary literature from the choral and jazz repertoire. Tickets are $5.

? The Grand Sousa Concert VI, 3 p.m. Sunday, April 29, & 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 1.  This annual concert, featuring guest conductor Robert Johanek, is a UW-M/WC tradition.  In addition to the concert, join us for “As American as Pie,” a tasty fundraiser held in Gallery 450 before the concerts & during intermission.  Sponsored by the Laird Endowment Fund for the Arts. Tickets are $7.

? The Annual Mother’s Day Concert, May 11.  Guest Artist concert pianist Jeff Panko, a Wisconsin Rapids native now performing in Chicago, will be joining the UW-M/WC Symphony in performing Rachmaninoff’s famous “Second Piano Concerto” & other favorites. Sponsored by the Laird Endowment Fund for the Arts.  Tickets are $10 in advance, $6 for 16 & under; $12 & $8, respectively, at the door.

Tickets to all events are available at the Campus Box Office. To purchase tickets:

• Call 715-389-6534.  Tickets must be paid for when they are reserved. VISA, MasterCard and Discover cards are accepted.

• The Box Office window is open 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 4-6 p.m. Monday through Friday and one hour before performances, starting Sept. 5.  The box office will close Dec. 18, 2006, and re-open Jan. 22, 2007, and again from March 19-23.  Phone and mail orders will continue to be processed during these times.

Tickets ordered 24 hours prior to a performance may be paid for at the door. Any tickets not picked up 30 minutes prior to the performance will be released for sale.  Tickets are not refundable.