By Brittanie Morris
In addition to the more than 1,000 classes on topics of education, family relations, religion, genealogy, history, health, science, law and finance, BYU''s Campus Education Week will host a variety of performers for its nightly special performances.
This year''s performances include Marvin Payne and the Potluck Social String Band, 'The White Star' -- a new musical from the author of 'Saturday''s Warrior,' and an evening with Marvin Goldstein.
Marvin Payne and the Potluck Social String Band
'Take the Mountain Down,' a country-bluegrass musical by Steven Kapp Perry and Marvin Payne, will premier at Education Week and run Tuesday through Friday in the deJong Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m.
The musical takes a modern twist to the tale of a prodigal son. In order to help a girl with family problems, the Potluck Social String Band tells her story through music.
'It''s a very fun kind of musical,' said Don Oscarson, who came up with the idea for the piece. 'The musicians are very talented and play multiple instruments as well as tell the story.'
'Take the Mountain Down' is not a typical musical and is markedly different from one of Oscarson''s other works, 'City of Joseph,' the musical used at the Nauvoo pageant for more than 20 years.
Oscarson said the musical is definitely a foot-stompin'', hand-clappin'' good time.
The group is directed by Eric Samuelsen and features Kendra Lowe, Marvin Payne, Tricia Storey, Lacey Williams, Sam Payne and Robby Sorenson.
'The White Star'
This new, non-traditional musical written by Doug Stewart, the author of 'Saturday''s Warrior,' highlights the story of a family and a young man''s quest to unite his family. The musical will premier at Education Week and run Tuesday through Friday in the Pardoe Theatre at 7 p.m.
'It deals with concepts of the atonement, the spirit of Elijah and the mission of Christ in individual lives,' said George Nelson, head of BYU''s play selection committee and director of 'The White Star.'
Nelson said the particular appeal of this piece to the BYU/Education Week community is the young man''s search for testimony.
'It''s filled with testimony,' Nelson said. 'It''s a heavily religious piece.'
The play, which is styled after born-again Christian concerts, opens the view of the audience to Adam-ondi-Ahman; the City of Enoch; Jerusalem at the time of Christ; the Nephite Zion; Jackson County, Mo., and the New Jerusalem.
Music by Janice Kapp Perry and orchestrations by Greg Hansen.
An Evening with Marvin Goldstein
Marvin Goldstein, pianist and entertainer extraordinaire, will perform classics of jazz, country, and pop in the Madsen Recital Hall Tuesday through Friday at 8 p.m.
'Marvin is a great Floridian and an accomplished pianist,' said Florida Governor Jeb Bush, as quoted in the Education Week packet. 'He is a man of faith and his beliefs are conveyed through his performances.'
Tickets
Tickets for all performances are on sale at http://educationweek.byu.edu until 48 hours prior to each show. Walk-up ticket sales will take place during Education Week at the Fine Arts Ticket Office in the Harris Fine Arts Center.