The University of West Alabama will host “Arts @ the Amp,” a comprehensive arts celebration, on Saturday, April 26, at the university’s new amphitheater near the Student Union Building.
The celebration begins at 1 p.m. with visual art exhibitions featuring student work across various mediums, including 3D printed art, ceramics, drawings and paintings.
Stage performances begin at 2 p.m., centered on the theme “Where is Love?” The UWA Choir and soloists will perform jazz arrangements of classics including “What a Wonderful World,” “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and a finale of “What the World Needs Now” featuring the Arts @ the Amp Vocal Boot Camp participants.
The program also includes theatrical performances by UWA drama students presenting integrated scenes from contemporary works. The recently constructed multimillion-dollar amphitheater serves as the inspiration and venue for this inaugural event.
“What excites me most about Arts @ the Amp is watching our students adapt their theatrical training to an outdoor venue. They’re learning that performance energy changes in different spaces, a valuable lesson for emerging artists,” said Rhonda Faulkner-Wooley, UWA theatre director.
The performance schedule integrates music, dance, theater and poetry from performers of all ages, including students and faculty.
Community members are invited to participate in the Vocal Boot Camp, a group vocal workshop beginning at 10 a.m. on the same day. Participants will receive vocal training and perform alongside the University of West Alabama Choir during the finale.
Dr. Christopher Shelt, professor of vocal music, who initially proposed using the space for an arts celebration, said, “We have so much talent on the campus and in our community. The new amphitheater affords an incredible opportunity to celebrate and cultivate the myriad artistic talents found at UWA and in the Livingston community.”
The event, organized by UWA’s Communications and Creative Arts Department under the leadership of Department Chair Greg Jones, represents a collaborative effort between faculty and students.
“Our Creative Arts Enterprise degree embraces both artistic excellence and entrepreneurial thinking,” Jones said. “Arts @ the Amp serves as a professional steppingstone with students performing and engaging in public performance, building portfolios, gaining real-world experience and developing the confidence needed for their careers in the arts.”
Art Professor Nick Davis, who emphasized the communicative power of art, said “Art is communication. Some people communicate with words, some with music and others with visuals. Arts @ the Amp is a great opportunity for our students to communicate their passions and interact with the local community.”
The university welcomes donations to support UWA’s Creative Arts programs. Contributions can be made online at www.uwa.edu/donate/cae or in person at the event.