University Theatre's 2006-2007 season will open Sept. 21 in 'Gilead' University Theatre will open its 2006–2007 season with Balm in Gilead, Lanford Wilson’s gritty mosaic of New York City outcasts. Directed by Kristin Kundert-Gibbs, assistant professor of performance in the theatre and film studies department, Balm in Gilead will start at 8 p.m. Sept. 21–22 and Sept. 27–30 and at 2:30 p.m. Sept. 24 and Oct. 1 in Cellar Theatre in the Fine Arts Building at the corner of Lumpkin and Baldwin streets. Regular admission is $10; admission for students and senior citizens with ID is $8. Tickets may be purchased at the University Theatre box office, located in the lobby of the Fine Arts Building and open from noon to 5 p.m. weekdays. Tickets also will be available at the door one hour prior to show time. Reservations may be made in advance by calling the box office at (706) 542-2838. Balm in Gilead is set in Frank’s Diner, a run-down dive and a sanctuary for all manner of night crawlers of the New York street scene. In the midst of the junkies, hookers and crazies whizzing in and out of the diner, we meet Joe, a young street kid who finds himself fatally trapped in a drug deal gone bad. The characters are searching for “balm” to heal their tired souls, Kundert-Gibbs said. “The play returns to where it began,” she said, “sending them into a never-ending circle of hurt and pain.” But, she said, the play is ultimately hopeful: “The play encourages us to keep looking, keep searching for that balm,” she said. Despite the play’s serious message, the rambunctious staging and fast-paced dialogue is often downright funny. Humor helps these folks to cope, according to Kundert-Gibbs. “We grow to know the characters, care about them, laugh with them, ache with them, hope with them as they weave their lives into the grit and grime of a second-rate, all-night diner where they come for companionship and security,” she said. Balm in Gilead contains violence, sexuality and strong language and may not be appropriate for young children. —Michelle Smith

Art exhibitions.
Power to the People–Rural Electrification in Georgia. Through Sept. 30. Russell Library. 8 a.m.–5 p.m. weekdays, Saturdays 1–4:45 p.m., except on UGA home football games. Russell Library.

Sheets to the Wind, installation by Nell Ruby. Through Oct. 6. Main Gallery, Visual Arts Building. Sponsored by the Lamar Dodd School of Art. (706) 542-1511, artinfo@uga.edu.

The Eternal Masquerade: Prints and Paintings by Gerald Leslie Brockhurst (1890–1978) from the Jacob Burns Foundation. Through Oct. 8. Georgia Museum of Art. Open 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and
Saturday; 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Wednesday; and 1–5 p.m. Sunday. (706) 542-4662,
uga.edu/gamuseum.

Modern Indian Works on Paper. Through Oct. 8. Georgia Museum of Art. (706) 542-4662, uga.edu/gamuseum.

Organized from a private collection, this exhibition features 59 works on paper by outstanding modern and contemporary Indian artists.

. . . how I see it: a collection in progress, an exhibition by Athens-based photographer Randall Short. Through Oct. 6. Reception: Sept. 22, 7 p.m. Art Gallery, Tate Student Center. Sponsored by the Department of Campus Life. (706) 542-6396, uga.edu/campuslife.

. . . how I see it is an eclectic group of photos captured by Short on his travels around Northeast Georgia, the U.S. and abroad. His work is characterized by creative use of natural light to capture the innate beauty of flora, fauna, and the natural elements.

Cortona by the Dozen. Through Sept. 29. Circle Gallery, G14 Caldwell Hall. (706) 542-8292.

Grafica Mexicana. Through Oct. 29. Georgia Museum of Art. (706) 542-4662, uga.edu/gamuseum.

In conjunction with the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, this suite of prints from the mid-1940s, Mexican Art: A Portfolio of Mexican People and Places, depicts scenes of the lives of farmers, tradesman and laborers.

American Quilts at the Georgia Museum of Art. Through Nov. 19. Georgia Museum of Art. (706) 542-4662, uga.edu/gamuseum.

Because of their size and fragility, quilts can be difficult to incorporate into traditional installations of the museum’s permanent collection galleries. This exhibition provides an opportunity to display together the quilts in the museum’s collection.

Monday, September 18
CURO Information Session.
11:15 a.m.–12:05 p.m. 203 Moore College. Learn how to design a faculty-guided undergraduate research course featuring research in art. (706) 542-4053, rcheney@uga.edu.

Blood Drive.
Noon–5 p.m. Rooker Hall, East Campus Village. Sponsored by the American Red Cross. (678) 227-4650.

Intercultural Affairs Open House.
4–6 p.m. First floor of Memorial Hall. (706) 542-5773.

Come and learn more about the programs, services and student organizations sponsored and advised by the Department of Intercultural Affairs. A tour of the facilities, reception and student organization displays are included.

Tuesday, September 19
Blood Drive.
11 a.m.–5 p.m. Russell Hall. Sponsored by the American Red Cross. (678) 227-4650.

Lecture.
Speaker: Shazia Sikander, painter. 5:30 p.m. 102 Student Learning Center. Sponsored by the Lamar Dodd School of Art and the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. (706) 542-1511, artinfo@uga.edu.

Films.
Singing Wires (1951, 22 minutes) and The Power and The Land (1940, 38 minutes) 7 p.m. Athens-Clarke County Public Library Auditorium, 2025 Baxter St. Power to the People! Film Series. Sponsored by the Richard B. Russell Library, Walter J. Brown Media Archives.
(706) 542-5788, rtuten@uga.edu.

Hispanic Heritage Month Film.
A Day without a Mexican. 7–10 p.m. 148 Student Learning Center. Sponsored by Media Archives, UGA Libraries. The film is the first in a short series of films and television programs celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. shedenhe@uga.edu.

John Ross, Romance languages department, will lead a discussion about the issues raised in this satire about the significance of America’s immigrant population.

Rock Concert with Butch Walker.
$15 ($20 day of show), $10 ($15 day of show for UGA students). 8 p.m. Legion Field. Sponsored by University Union. (706) 542-6396, mlamotte@uga.edu.

Concert.
UGA Wind Ensemble. 8 p.m. Hugh Hodgson Concert Hall. (706) 542-3737, music.uga.edu.

Movie.
Seoul Train. 8–10 p.m. Tate Theatre. Sponsored by Liberty in North Korea. linkuga@gmail.com.

A 2003 documentary by Lisa Sleeth and Jim Butterworth, Seoul Train follows a group of North Korean refugees as they travel through China and into safety in Mongolia.

Wednesday, September 20
Blood Drive.
11 a.m.–5 p.m. College of Veterinary Medicine. Sponsored by the American Red Cross. (678) 227-4650.

Discussion.
“Multi-Media Journalism Narratives” Mindy McAdams, University of Florida. 12:30 p.m. 150 Student Learning Center. Sponsored by the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. Refreshments will be served. (706) 542-1081, jgreenma@uga.edu.

FORUM.
“Biosecurity Threats: Opportunities and Challenges for U.S. Universities.” Keynote speaker: Stephanie S. Loranger, Georgetown University. A panel discussion will follow. 2–4 p.m. H203 College of Veterinary Medicine. Sponsored by Biomedical and Health Sciences Institute and the Center for International Trade and Security. hdailey@uga.edu, (706) 542-5922.

Fall Fling: Focus on Diversity.
3:30–5 p.m. Aderhold Hall. Sponsored by the College of Education Dean’s Council on Diversity. This provides an opportunity to share and pick up resources and ideas and become more familiar with resources on campus.

Seminar.
“Contrasting Infection Strategies in Generalist and Specialist Wasp Parasitoids of Drosophila Melanogaster,” Todd Schlenke, Department of Biology, Emory University. 4 p.m. B118 Life Sciences. (706) 542-8000.

Lecture.
“Gallery Talk: British Fashion of the 1930s and 1940s,” Ashley Callahan, curator of decorative arts, will give an illustrated presentation in the galleries in conjunction with the exhibition The Eternal Masquerade. 5:30 p.m. Georgia Museum of Art. (706) 542-4662, uga.edu/gamuseum.

Reception and Book Signing.
John Berendt, author of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. 6–8 p.m. Student Learning Center, fourth floor rotunda. $15 ($10 Alumni Association members). Free for students with valid UGA ID. RSVP online by Sept. 18. Sponsored by the UGA Alumni Association.
(706) 542-2251, wdarden@uga.edu.

Information Social.
6:30 p.m. 207 Student Learning Center. Sponsored by the Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority Inc. (770) 617-4513, vaneu@uga.edu.

Movie Preview.
Jackass: Number Two. 8 p.m. Tate Theater. Passes are available at the cashier’s window of the Tate Student Center. Sponsored by University Union. (706) 542-6396, jillt@uga.edu.

Thursday, September 21
Lecture.
“Pandemic Influenza: Perspective from the CDC,” Anne Schuchat, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2:30 p.m. Chapel. In conjunction with National Preparedness Month. Sponsored by the Office of Security and Emergency Preparedness. (706) 542-5845, osep.uga.edu.

Faculty Recital.
David Zerkel, tuba. 8 p.m. Ramsey Concert Hall. Sponsored by the Hugh Hodgson School of Music. (706) 542-3737, music.uga.edu.

Accompanied by Paolo Gualdi, associate professor David Zerkel will present a program of accessible works including transcriptions of Handel, Schubert and Paganini. They also will present original works by Dossett and Semler-Collery.

Zerkel is recognized as an active performer both as a soloist and as an orchestral performer. He has recently performed as a regular substitute with the Philadelphia Orchestra and was awarded the first Roger Bobo Award for Excellence in Recording at the 2006 International Tuba Euphonium Conference in Denver for his CD, American Music for Tuba: Something Old, Something New.

Performance.
Balm in Gilead. $10 ($8 UGA students and senior citizens). 8 p.m. Cellar Theatre.

Additional performances: Sept. 22, 27–30 at 8 p.m. and Sept. 24 and Oct. 1 at 2:30 p.m. Sponsored by the Department of Theatre and Film Studies. drama.uga.edu.

Friday, September 22
Dawgs After Dark: Under The Sea.
10 p.m.–2 a.m. Ramsey Student Center. $5 (free with students with valid UGACard). Sponsored by University Union. (706) 542-6396, jillt@uga.edu.

Seminar.
“Soil Carbon Responses to Global Change: Underlying Mechanisms,” Mark Bradford, Institute of Ecology. Reception: noon, seminar: 12:20 p.m. Ecology Auditorium. Sponsored by the Institute of Ecology. anisaj@uga.edu.

Terry Tunes.
Critical Darlings. Noon. Herty Field. Sponsored by the Terry College of Business. perissi@mindspring.com.

Lecture.
“And Knowing is Half the Battle: Using Collective Memory Work to Understand Leisure and the Construction of Masculinity in Young Men,” Corey W. Johnson, counseling and human development department. 12:20–1:10 p.m. 248 Student Learning Center. (706) 542-0066.

Circle of Honor Induction Banquet.
6 p.m. Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall. Sponsored by UGA Athletic Association. (706) 542-1621.

This year’s honorees are George Bezecny (tennis), Zeke Bratkowski (football), Dick Copas (golf), Priscilla Pacheco (volleyball) and Heather Stepp (gymnastics).

Rosh Hashanah.
The Jewish holiday begins at sundown and is observed for two days. Through Sept. 24.

Saturday, September 23
Football
vs. Colorado. 12:30 p.m. Sanford Stadium.

Fall Bird Rambles.
8–11 a.m. Orange Trail Kiosk near upper parking lot, State Botanical Garden. (706) 542-6156,
sbgeduc@uga.edu .

Insect-ival.
9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. $8 per family ($2 per person; free for children younger than 2). Visitors Center, State Botanical Garden. (706) 542-6156, sbgeduc@uga.edu.

Sunday, September 24
Atlanta Ballet.
The Performing Arts Center presents the Atlanta Ballet at 3 p.m. Sept. 24 in the Fine Arts Theatre. Tickets are $34 (front orchestra) and $29 (rear orchestra). Discounts are available for groups; and tickets are half-price for students with a valid ID. The program will showcase works that received world premieres this year in Atlanta.

The program is scheduled to open with “Inouï Rossini,” which premiered in May. Set to the music of Gioacchino Rossini, the ballet was choreographed by Violette Verdy, currently a professor of ballet at Indiana University School of Music. Verdy was a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet for 20 years, and recently taught at the Bolshoi Ballet Company, becoming the first female outside of Russia to be invited to teach at the prestigious school since 1917.

The ballet’s program also includes “Shoo Pah Minor,” another ballet that received a May premiere. Lauri Stallings choreographed the piece for Atlanta Ballet, using music composed by Antonio Vivaldi. Very much in demand as a choreographer, Stallings also has created new works in the past year for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Princeton Ballet, SUNY/Purchase and the Juilliard School.

Lila York’s “Celts,” a ballet set to contemporary Irish music, also is scheduled for the program. A former member of the Paul Taylor Dance Company, York has choreographed works for Boston Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Houston Ballet, the Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble and the Royal Danish Ballet, and staged Paul Taylor’s works for ballet and modern dance companies worldwide.

Founded in 1929, the Atlanta Ballet is the oldest professional dance company in the U.S.; it is also the official state ballet of Georgia. John McFall was appointed the ballet’s artistic director in 1994, becoming only the third person to head the organization in its seven decades of operation. In his 12 years at the helm of Atlanta Ballet, McFall has guided the company to become one of the premier arts institutions in the Southeast. He also has opened the doors to the Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education, which has already grown into the sixth largest dance school in the nation.

McFall will give a pre-concert lecture at 2:15 p.m. (706) 542-4400, uga.edu/pac.\

Monday, September 25
Blood Drive.
Noon–5 p.m. Georgia Hall A, Tate Student Center. Sponsored by the American Red Cross and the Air Force ROTC. (678) 227-4650.

Coming up
Emergency Preparedness Showcase.
Sept. 26. 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Tate Plaza. Sponsored by the Office of Security and Emergency Preparedness. (706) 542-5845, osep.uga.edu.

The showcase highlights ways people can prepare for disasters in order to lessen the impact of an emergency.

Faculty and staff authors reception.
Sept. 27. 3:30 p.m. UGA Bookstore. Sponsored by Alumni Association. (706) 542-2251, avernon@uga.edu.