Forum Series - 2008 - 2009

President’s Opening Convocation
Friday, August 22, 2008, 4:00 p.m., Maddox Theatre
Clark Arts Center—Maddox Theatre
Formal opening of the academic year, with traditional faculty procession and remarks
by President Robert L. Head, Ph.D.

David Oliver Relin, "Three Cups of Tea and How Individuals Can Change the World "
Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008, 7 p.m., Maddox Theatre
For two decades, award-winning journalist David Oliver Relin has focused on reporting about social issues and their effect on children, both in the U.S. and around the world. In his best-selling and award-winning book, Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace…One School at a Time , Relin tells the story of co-author Greg Mortenson, an American mountain climber and nurse who works to improve education in a remote Pakistani village.

The Honorable Samuel Der-Yeghiayan, "Checks and Balances: The Wisdom of the Framers of the United States Constitution "
Thursday, Sept. 18, 2008, 4 p.m., Maddox Theatre
As the first Armenian immigrant federal judge in the U.S., Der-Yeghiayan serves the Northern Illinois District of Illinois, having been appointed by President Bush in 2003. Born in Syria and raised in Lebanon, Judge Der-Yeghiayan previously worked in various capacities with the U.S. Justice Department's Chicago District Office of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. During that time, he received various honors for his work, including the District Counsel of the Year Award. Held in conjunction with Constitution Day. Coincidentally, his daughter, Tara, graduated from Rockford College in 2000.

Greg Mortenson, "One Book, One Rockford: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace"
Friday, Sept. 19, 2008, 7 p.m., Coronado Performing Arts Center (CPAC)
The co-author of Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace…One School at a Time , Mortenson is the mountain climber and nurse who pursued the dangerous and difficult quest to build schools in the remotest areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan. The talk is free and open to the public but a ticket is required—tickets are available from CPAC at 815-968-0595. (Rockford College students contact the college box office for a free ticket.) 

Hot Mikado
Oct. 2–5, 2008, Maddox Theatre
Book and lyrics adapted by David H. Bell
Musical concepts and arrangements by Rob Bowman
Based on The Mikado by W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan
East meets West head-on in this hilarious 1940s-style rendition of the perennial Gilbert and Sullivan classic. With the music transmuted into blues, Cab Calloway swing, hot gospel, scorching torch songs and “Three Little Maids” turned into an Andrew Sisters' show-stopper, this zoot-suited, tap-dancing colorful show is certain to provide the ideal evening out for the whole family.
Thursday, Friday and Saturday show times are at 8 p.m., Sunday show time is at 2 p.m. Single ticket admission is $10 for adults, $7 for students and seniors age 55 and up. Rockford College students receive one free ticket with a valid Rockford College ID.

damali ayo, “Are you ready to fix racism? (Or are you too busy pretending it doesn't exist?)”
Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2008, 7 p.m., Maddox Theatre
Author, radio essayist and performer, damali ayo has generated a fresh dialogue on race and diversity. Her satirical book, How to Rent a Negro , has been acclaimed as one of the most provocative and amusing commentaries on contemporary race relations. She brings stories, humor and a unique insight to help audiences reflect on their own views toward race. Held in conjunction with Diversity Awareness Month.

Byron Motley, “Oh, How They Lived: Stories of the Negro Leagues and Musicians that Changed Our Society”
Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008, 7 p.m., Maddox Theatre
Producer of the new documentary Oh, How They Lived: Stories of the Negro Leagues , Motley grew up hearing stories about the Negro leagues from his father, who was a chief umpire for the leagues. In his documentary, Motley and former Negro league players reminisce and discuss stories and memories about the historic Negro baseball leagues. The presentation combines the contributions of both African-American athletes and musicians. 

Chuck Klosterman, “Life Through the Prism of Pop Culture”
Thursday, Jan. 29, 2009, 7 p.m., Maddox Theatre
A best-selling author, Klosterman captures what it feels like to live in—and express ourselves through—our pop-obsessed media-saturated culture. One of the most talked-about writers today, he shows us how pop culture informs our lives and how it helps people understand the world.

Barrage
Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2009, 7 p.m., Maddox Theatre
A high-octane fiddle-fest that features an international, multi-talented cast, Barrage has entertained audiences around the world with an eclectic mix of music, song and dance. Its music combines contemporary world influences, layered vocal arrangements and pulsating modern beats and rhythms. Presented by The Music Academy of Rockford College. Tickets are $15/$10 through the Rockford College Box Office at 815-226-4100. (Rockford College students contact the college box office for a free ticket.)

Charter Day Convocation
Feb. 25, 2009, 4:00 p.m., Maddox Theatre
Celebrating the 162nd anniversary of the charter of Rockford College.

Dr. David Walton, “Medicine and Social Justice”
Tuesday, March 17, 2009, 4 p.m., Maddox Theatre
Walton is a senior resident in internal medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. He is also one of the two Global Health Equity residents, spending half of his time in Haiti. His work there has drawn attention from the media, including 60 Minutes , as he brings attention to the travails of those less fortunate, actively providing primary healthcare for HIV prevention and treatment options, tuberculosis treatment and other illnesses and diseases.  

Musicians from Ravinia's Steans Institute for Young Artists
Friday, March 20, 2009, 7:30 p.m., Court Street United Methodist Church
Young artists study with internationally-renowned faculty and then perform before audiences around the globe. Steans commissioned a new work to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth and it will be presented here with Dr. Robert L. Head, Rockford College president, reading Lincoln's words. Presented in collaboration with the Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center (MPAC), tickets may be purchased through MPAC at 815-964-9713. (Rockford College students contact the box office for a free ticket.) In addition, a free, public informal seminar will be held on the Rockford College campus. Watch for further details at www.rockford.edu.

William A. Wulf, Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar
Thursday, March 26, 2009, Rockford College
Wulf is the AT&T Professor of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Virginia. He has served as president of the National Academy of Engineering and assistant director of the National Science Foundation. His research has focused on computer architecture and security, and in recent years, he has been involved in public policy issues to use information technology to support humanistic scholarship. Watch for further details at www.rockford.edu.

Sweet Smell of Success
April 30–May 3, 2009, Maddox Theatre
Music by Marvin Hamlisch
Lyrics by Craig Carnelia
Book by John Guare
Based on the novel by Ernest Lehman and the MGM/United Artists motion picture. It's New York, 1952. Welcome to Broadway, the glamour and power capital of the universe. JJ Hunsecker rules it all with his daily gossip column in the New York Globe , syndicated to 60 million readers across America. JJ has the goods on everyone, from the President to the latest starlet. And everyone feeds JJ scandal, from J. Edgar Hoover and Senator Joe McCarthy down to a battalion of hungry press agents who attach their news to a client that JJ might plug. You can become no one if JJ turns on you. Curtain Up says, “John Guare has bravely gone beyond slavish adaptation while retaining many of the Hunseckerisms that fans of the film love to quote.” 2002 Drama Desk Award Nominee; Outstanding Musical, 2002 Tony Award Nomination; Best Book of a Musical. Contains mature content.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday show times are at 8 p.m., Sunday show time is at 2 p.m. Single ticket admission is $10 for adults, $7 for students and seniors age 55 and up. Rockford College students receive one free ticket with a valid Rockford College ID.