March Highlights

	A still from the movie The Host

Center for East Asian Studies
Discussion and film screening by Korean film director Bong Joon-Ho
2-7:15 p.m. Saturday, March 3
Film Studies Center, Cobb Hall, 5811 S. Ellis Ave., Room 307

World-acclaimed Korean film director Bong Joon-Ho will visit the University for a special discussion with Kyeong-hee Choi, Professor in East Asian Languages & Civilizations. Before the 7 p.m. discussion, screenings will be held at 2 p.m. of Bong Joon-Ho’s films Memories of Murder and The Host. Memories of Murder, which won Bong Joon-Ho the Silver Shell Award for best director in the San Sebastian Film Festival in 2003, is based on the true story of South Korea’s first serial killer. The movie The Host, which was selected for Directors’ Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival, is about an unidentified monster that appears and causes chaos in Seoul. This event is sponsored by the Film Studies Center, the Center for East Asian Studies, the Committee on Cinema & Media Studies, the Department of East Asian Languages & Civilizations, the Center for International Studies, Magnolia Films and the Korean Film Council. Free.

	Calligram, 1863-64, Turkey, Cut paper. The David Collection, Copenhagen

Smart Museum of Art
Poetry Reading, The Ka`ba as Mystic Garden: The Flowering of Images in the Love Poetry of Ibn al-`Arabi
6:30 p.m., Thursday March 8
5550 S. Greenwood Ave

In a night of poetry and art, the Smart Museum offers an opportunity to consider the connection between words and images of Islamic culture. Michael Sells, the John Henry Barrows Professor in Islamic History and Literature in the Divinity School, will give a multimedia presentation on the images in the love poetry of the mystic and author Ibn al-`Arabi (1165-1240). After the presentation, attendees may visit the exhibition “Cosmophilia: Islamic Art from the David Collection, Copenhagen,” to view dozens of religious and secular objects decorated with words, including a cut-out calligram that seamlessly transforms Arabic script into the figure of a lion. The talk will be given in English and the poetry will be read in Arabic with English translations.

	TaRon Patton, who will portray Sophie, in Flyin’ West

Court Theatre
Flyin’ West
Thursday, March 8-Sunday, April 8
5535 S. Ellis Ave.

Written by Pearl Cleage and set in 1898, Flyin’ West explores the lives of a small group of African-American woman pioneers as they leave the oppressive South for the West. The women settle together in the all-black town of Nicodemus, Kan., only to encounter new threats to their independence. Flyin’ West is directed by Ron Parson, who brought the critically acclaimed and sold-out production of August Wilson’s Fences to Court’s stage last season. For tickets, call the Court Theatre box office at (773) 753-4472 or visit http://www.courttheatre.org. Playwright Pearl Cleage will be holding a post-play discussion at Court Theatre immediately following the performance of Flyin’ West at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 24.

The Department of Music
H.M.S. Pinafore: The Lass that Loved a Sailor
8 p.m. Friday, March 9; 8 p.m. Saturday, March 10; and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 11
Mandel Hall, 1131 E. 57th St.

The annual Department of Music benefit will be performed by Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company and the University Chamber Orchestra. This two-act comic opera was the first big hit by William Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan. The plot of the Pinafore centers on love between members of different social classes: a middle-class naval captain’s daughter is betrothed to a government official in charge of the Royal Navy, but is really in love with a common sailor. Come meet the right good Captain Corcoran and the gallant crew of the Pinafore as they discover how love levels all ranks. This production features Thrisa Hodits as director, Mark Johnson as producer and William White as musical director. Tickets cost $50 for patrons, $15 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets may be purchased by calling (773) 702-9075. All proceeds benefit the Department of Music Program.