Recently in Creative Arts Division Category

Western Oregon University's theater and dance department will present "Reefer Madness: The Musical," today at Rice Auditorium.

Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. today, Saturday and March 3-6. There will be additional late-night performances today and March 5, both starting at midnight.

The musical is Kevin Murphy and Dan Studney's satirical take on the 1936 propaganda film about the "evil weed." It takes a tongue-in-cheek look at the hysteria caused when clean-cut kids fall prey to marijuana, leading them on a downward spiral filled with evil jazz music, sex and violence.

"Reefer Madness: The Musical" is a highly stylized and satirical political commentary. It contains adult humor, religious parody and drug use, as well as suggested violence and sexual explicitness.

Tickets are available at the Rice Auditorium Box office, 345 N Monmouth Ave., 12:30-4:30 p.m. weekdays; by calling (503) 838-8462; or at the Rice Auditorium box office on show nights.

Tickets are $7 for students, $10 for seniors and $12 general admission.

Western Oregon University music professor Kevin Helppie will host a free world premiere performance of original songs inspired by great poets from the ancient world at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 23, Smith Recital Hall.

Helppie and guest artist Katey Bridge, a WOU alumna, will perform the vocals accompanied by pianist Forrest Kinney. The songs are from Helppie's new book "World Songs Volume 2.”

The concert will include an interpretive dance by a WOU student and an artist will create an interpretive painting live on stage during one of the songs.

For information, call (503) 838-8876 or (503) 838-8275.

The "Haitian Earthquake Relief Mardi Gras Spectacular" is scheduled for Fat Tuesday, 7 p.m. to midnight Tuesday, Feb. 16 at the Grand Ballroom and Grand Theatre, 187 High St. NE Salem.

The event features musicians from Western Oregon University, both faculty and student, comprising the Bourbon Street Big Band playing Mardi Gras funk and swing; Gator Bait, playing Cajun funky New Orleans music; Carnivále Cariocas performing Brazilian Carnivále; Mardi Gras Troubadours, a dozen mixed vocal and instrumental musicians.

There will also be no-host food and drinks.

Suggested donation is $5. Coordinator Keller Coker, associate professor of Music History and Jazz Studies at WOU, said the event will benefit the American Red Cross earthquake-relief efforts. Contact WOU music department 503 838-8275 or email cokerk@wou.edu.

Statesman Journal

MONMOUTH -- Western Oregon University will have the opening reception for its Faculty Biennial from 4:30 to 6 p.m. today at the Dan and Gail Cannon Gallery of Art, 345 N. Monmouth Ave.

The biennial will continue through Dec. 11. Gallery hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For information, call (503) 838-8607 or e-mail boothp@wou.edu.