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January 15, 2008 Tuesday 6:22 AM EST
FRESNO STATE JOINS SAROYAN CELEBRATION
FRESNO, Calif.
California State University Fresno issued the following press
release:
California State University, Fresno will play a major part in the
yearlong centennial celebration of William Saroyan's birth with
events on campus and with faculty members sharing their expertise
throughout the community.
The university's College of Arts and Humanities and the college's
Armenian Studies Program - with the Theatre Arts and English
departments - are among the sponsors of the William Saroyan
Centennial. Fresno State's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and
Henry Madden Library are sponsors, too.
A Saroyan-themed public presentation will be part of the California
State University Summer Arts program, a July fixture on the Fresno
State campus that attracts students from all over California and
guest artists who perform and teach.
The celebration is dedicated to the memory of Fresno's best-known
writer, whose work was inspired by his humble beginnings in Fresno as
the son of immigrant Armenians. Saroyan lived in San Francisco,
Paris, New York and elsewhere before returning to Fresno in the late
1960s, where he died in 1981.
His first collection of short stories, "The Daring Young Man on the
Flying Trapeze," published in 1934, was followed by "The Man with the
Heart in the Highlands," "My Name is Aram," "The Human Comedy" and
"The Time of Your Life," which earned a Pulitzer Prize.
The movie version of Saroyan's "The Human Comedy" received an Oscar
for Best Original Motion Picture Story.
Fresno State's role in the Saroyan Centennial takes many forms.
Here's the lineup:
* Story writing contest - Open to students (Grade 1 through
university) with the theme "Stories from Your Home Place;" deadline
for submissions is March 10; information at
www.williamsaroyansociety.org.
* Fiction, nonfiction, drama writing contest - Open to adults;
deadline for submissions is March 15; Steve Yarbrough, Fresno State
creative writing professor and novelist, will judge fiction
finalists; details: www.williamsaroyansociety.org.
* "Saroyan: Views on Ethnicity and History" - Course offered Feb. 21
and 28 through Osher Institute at Fresno State; led by Barlow Der
Mugrdechian, a lecturer in the Armenian Studies Program; information
at 559.278.0008 or [email protected]
* Young Writers Conference - For area high school students; 8 a.m.
March 26 at Fresno State; sponsored by College of Arts and Humanities
and Department of English; information at
http://csufresno.edu/crwr/15ywc.htm.
* International symposium: "William Saroyan at 100" - 10 a.m. April 5
at Fresno State's University Business Center; sponsored by Armenian
Studies Program; information at 559.278.2669.
* Book discussion: "Essential Saroyan" - 7 p.m. April 22 at Woodward
Park Library and 7 p.m. April 29 at Sunnyside Library; led by Der
Mugrdechian; information at 559.433,3135 (Woodward) and 559.255.6594
(Sunnyside).
* Panel discussion: "Three Pulitzer Prize Authors' Children" - 7 p.m.
April 23 at Fresno State Satellite Student Union; Henry Madden
Library and Fresno County Library sponsor discussion among Aram
Saroyan, Susan Cheever and Thomas Steinbeck moderated by Yarbrough;
information at 559.488.3856.
* Fresno Community Chorus concert - 7:30 p.m. May 3, Fresno State
Concert Hall; works by Hovhaness, Stravinsky and Brahms; details at
559.278.2654.
* Theatrical reading - 7 p.m. May 12, 2nd Space (928 E. Olive Ave.),
Fresno; excerpts from Saroyan's "Sons Come and Go, Mothers Hang in
Forever;" organized by Fresno State alumna Jacqueline Antaramian;
details at www.williamsaroyansociety.org.
* Steppenwolf Theatre Company production - July 5; public performance
during CSU Summer Arts; details at 559.241.6090.
* Book discussion: "Essential Saroyan" - 6:30 p.m. Sept. 17, Auberry
Library; led by Christi Henson, a Fresno State English professor;
details at 559.855.8523.
* Play: "Slaughter of the Innocents" - Oct. 2-11, John Wright Theatre
at Fresno State; University Theatre presentation of Saroyan drama;
details at 559.278.2216.
Other Saroyan Centennial events are listed at
www.saroyancentennial.org.
January 15, 2008 Tuesday 6:22 AM EST
FRESNO STATE JOINS SAROYAN CELEBRATION
FRESNO, Calif.
California State University Fresno issued the following press
release:
California State University, Fresno will play a major part in the
yearlong centennial celebration of William Saroyan's birth with
events on campus and with faculty members sharing their expertise
throughout the community.
The university's College of Arts and Humanities and the college's
Armenian Studies Program - with the Theatre Arts and English
departments - are among the sponsors of the William Saroyan
Centennial. Fresno State's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and
Henry Madden Library are sponsors, too.
A Saroyan-themed public presentation will be part of the California
State University Summer Arts program, a July fixture on the Fresno
State campus that attracts students from all over California and
guest artists who perform and teach.
The celebration is dedicated to the memory of Fresno's best-known
writer, whose work was inspired by his humble beginnings in Fresno as
the son of immigrant Armenians. Saroyan lived in San Francisco,
Paris, New York and elsewhere before returning to Fresno in the late
1960s, where he died in 1981.
His first collection of short stories, "The Daring Young Man on the
Flying Trapeze," published in 1934, was followed by "The Man with the
Heart in the Highlands," "My Name is Aram," "The Human Comedy" and
"The Time of Your Life," which earned a Pulitzer Prize.
The movie version of Saroyan's "The Human Comedy" received an Oscar
for Best Original Motion Picture Story.
Fresno State's role in the Saroyan Centennial takes many forms.
Here's the lineup:
* Story writing contest - Open to students (Grade 1 through
university) with the theme "Stories from Your Home Place;" deadline
for submissions is March 10; information at
www.williamsaroyansociety.org.
* Fiction, nonfiction, drama writing contest - Open to adults;
deadline for submissions is March 15; Steve Yarbrough, Fresno State
creative writing professor and novelist, will judge fiction
finalists; details: www.williamsaroyansociety.org.
* "Saroyan: Views on Ethnicity and History" - Course offered Feb. 21
and 28 through Osher Institute at Fresno State; led by Barlow Der
Mugrdechian, a lecturer in the Armenian Studies Program; information
at 559.278.0008 or [email protected]
* Young Writers Conference - For area high school students; 8 a.m.
March 26 at Fresno State; sponsored by College of Arts and Humanities
and Department of English; information at
http://csufresno.edu/crwr/15ywc.htm.
* International symposium: "William Saroyan at 100" - 10 a.m. April 5
at Fresno State's University Business Center; sponsored by Armenian
Studies Program; information at 559.278.2669.
* Book discussion: "Essential Saroyan" - 7 p.m. April 22 at Woodward
Park Library and 7 p.m. April 29 at Sunnyside Library; led by Der
Mugrdechian; information at 559.433,3135 (Woodward) and 559.255.6594
(Sunnyside).
* Panel discussion: "Three Pulitzer Prize Authors' Children" - 7 p.m.
April 23 at Fresno State Satellite Student Union; Henry Madden
Library and Fresno County Library sponsor discussion among Aram
Saroyan, Susan Cheever and Thomas Steinbeck moderated by Yarbrough;
information at 559.488.3856.
* Fresno Community Chorus concert - 7:30 p.m. May 3, Fresno State
Concert Hall; works by Hovhaness, Stravinsky and Brahms; details at
559.278.2654.
* Theatrical reading - 7 p.m. May 12, 2nd Space (928 E. Olive Ave.),
Fresno; excerpts from Saroyan's "Sons Come and Go, Mothers Hang in
Forever;" organized by Fresno State alumna Jacqueline Antaramian;
details at www.williamsaroyansociety.org.
* Steppenwolf Theatre Company production - July 5; public performance
during CSU Summer Arts; details at 559.241.6090.
* Book discussion: "Essential Saroyan" - 6:30 p.m. Sept. 17, Auberry
Library; led by Christi Henson, a Fresno State English professor;
details at 559.855.8523.
* Play: "Slaughter of the Innocents" - Oct. 2-11, John Wright Theatre
at Fresno State; University Theatre presentation of Saroyan drama;
details at 559.278.2216.
Other Saroyan Centennial events are listed at
www.saroyancentennial.org.