The College of Performing Arts presents American Celebration

Greetings from the College of Performing Arts (CoPA)! This is one of the busiest time of the year for us as we recently presented the 28th Annual American Celebration, a staged live song-and-dance show starring Chapman students. This two night extravaganza is the university’s major fundraiser directly benefiting student scholarships. This year, over $2.2 million was raised!

American Celebration is a fully produced show with costumes, scenery, lights and a professional orchestra. Auditions occur the first week of the fall semester and are open to students of all disciplines and majors. It is a non-stop thrill ride of fun and hard work!

In just three short weeks, students learn music, choreography and staging and perform in front of a live audience! It’s a lot of work in addition to classes and regular school work but well worth it!

It is one of the most collaborative events at the university with over 100 students participating on and offstage. It is a chance for students to work with the highly talented CoPA faculty and working professionals in the entertainment industry.

This year, students performed numbers from Annie, Hello, Dolly!, Mame, Mamma Mia, Man of La Mancha, and Les Misérables. It is a great way for students to get involved, give back to the community and make some great friends!

To watch the webcast from American Celebration 2009, click here. To learn more about the College of Performing Arts, please visit our website at www.chapman.edu/copa.

Dodge College hosts Pusan West Film Festival!

The Dodge College of Film and Media Arts is hosting the first ever Pusan West Film Festival next weekend! Over November 20th, 21st, and 22nd we will be showcasing twelve Korean films, including the highly-anticipated Thirst, winner of the Jury Prize at Cannes Film Festival 2009. The world-renowned director, Chan-wook Park, will be attending the festival, along with six other accomplished Korean directors. Additional films screening over the weekend are The Chaser, Mother, A Bittersweet Life, and Evil Spirit: VIY.

The festival will include receptions, galas, a red carpet opening, press coverage, and guests from all over the world. Pusan West is open to everyone and tickets can be purchased for individual screenings or you can purchase day or weekend passes. For more information, please visit pusanwest.com. If you are local, we would love for to come check out this exciting event!