The Classical Greek Theater Festival of Westminster College will perform Sophocles’ tragic masterpiece, Electra as part of their 2015 tour in the de Jong Concert Hall on Sep. 21 at 5:00pm.Tickets are $11, with discounts available for alumni, seniors and students.

Each fall semester, the School of Communications presents the Raymond E. and Ida Lee Beckham Lecture in Communication series. There is no charge or registration required for admission. All lectures in the series, will be held in the HBLL auditorium at 11 a.m. and are open to the public. The series includes three lectures that explore the interactions between media and society, including media culture, political economy, media effects and the use of new media. Lecturers are selected from BYU faculty who submit their proposals to the School of Communications. Lecturers Ryan Elder, assistant professor of marketing, researches how sensory experiences affect consumer perceptions and behaviors, as well as how visual cues affect persuasion. His lecture, “Creating Viral Content: The Science Behind Social Sharing,” will be held Sept. 24, 2015. Jeffrey Hardy, assistant professor of history, specializes in the Soviet penal system. His lecture, “Transforming the Soviet Soul: Labor, Science, and Religion in Gulag Newspapers,” will be held Oct. 1. Kristin Matthews is an associate professor of English and Director of the American Studies Program at BYU. Her research focuses on twentieth-century literature and culture with an emphasis on the Cold War. Her lecture, “New Media for an Old Message: Print Culture, Democracy, and New Left Politics in 1960’s America,” will be held Oct. 29. The annual series began in 1995 by Ray Beckham in honor of his late wife Ida Beckham. Ray Beckham is a major contributor to the School of Communications and is a driving force behind the BYU Evening school program, the BYU Travel Studies program and Aspen Grove. Beckham also and founded the New York Internship program for Communications majors. Information Dates: September 24, October 1 & 29, 2015 Times: 11:00 a.m. Location: HBLL auditorium Admission: Free, no registration required

BYU’s Museum of Art is continuing with its fall and winter tradition of “Art After Dark,” and this month guests enjoy an evening of food, music and what will be the MOA’s newest exhibit, “No Place Like Home.”

The latest Mormon feel-good movie, “Once I Was a Beehive,” is proving to be enjoyable for moviegoers both in and outside Mormon culture.The film tells the story of Lane Speer (Paris Warner), a 16-year-old girl whose father dies and mother remarries a Mormon. Speer goes on a week long, Bible-themed camping trip with other Mormon young women while her mom and stepdad are on their honeymoon.The film was released in select Utah theaters on Aug. 14.“We have been totally flattered and over the moon at the reception,” film director and writer Maclain Nelson said. “We knew we had something special, but to see people really grasp to the story, people who are going to see it for a second or third time, as a filmmaker that feels amazing.”See more at the Universe >>>>>> By Kjersten Johnson PHOTO: Lane Speer (Paris Warner) and Nedra (Barta Heiner) whittle wood in a scene of the film. The film is receiving good reviews from members of other faiths.

BYU illustration professor Justin Kunz has given Lady Liberty a complete makeover while designing a new collectors item coin for the US Mint. The American Liberty 2015 High Relief 24-karat Gold Coin was highly anticipated by coin collectors across the U.S. It features a newly re-imagined Lady Liberty meant to reflect modern sensibilities including increasing cultural diversity. Unlike previous representations, Kunz’s is a woman whose features–from her physicality and dress to the items she is holding–represent an attempt to bring a contemporary sensibility to a traditional American icon. “It was difficult to portray Lady Liberty as a modern figure,” Kunz said, “I studied, sketched and finally, meditated on what Lady Liberty represents. I wanted the idea of her to be a simple visual statement expressed in an elegant way.' 'I wanted her to be recognizable as Liberty. I didn't want to put her in a hoodie.' As you look at the coin, you notice that Kunz’s Lady Liberty has a more rounded face with smaller, less pronounced eyes, nose and ears. Her robes are more fitted with a V-neck. Instead of a crown with spikes representing the seven seas, the modern Lady Liberty is crowned with the laurel leaf representing victory. In her left hand, she holds the staff of an American flag that flows behind her and in her right hand she holds a torch meant to represent freedom. Kunz drew upon his experience as a professional illustrator, developing drawings in graphite based on his rough sketches and photographs of two different models who posed for Liberty. He then scanned the drawings and used 2D graphics software to edit and arrange the images with typography in a circular format. At one point Kunz had Lady Liberty depicted with a drawn sword, though he was concerned reviewers might feel this pose would appear too combative. Fifteen talented artists submitted their designs for the coin and only two were chosen, one for the obverse (front) and one for the reverse (back). The Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee and the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts reviewed all of the designs and made their recommendations, but ultimately it was up to the treasury secretary to decide which design would be minted on the coin. In the end, the secretary chose Kunz’s design for the obverse where his initials now reside. “It was an exciting experience to listen in on the CCAC’s meeting while they evaluated the designs,” Kunz said, “When they came to my design each member of the committee seemed to understand what I was trying to communicate, which is thrilling for an artist.” Although having his design chosen for the new coin is an honor few artists can say they’ve achieved, it’s not the first time Kunz’s work has won over an audience. Kunz’s designs have been featured on the following coin as well. 2008 Andrew Jackson’s Liberty (reverse) Kunz continues to work with the US Mint designing coins and medals. Next year, in 2016, a new America the Beautiful Quarter designed by Kunz with a depiction of the Shawnee National Forest will become available. It may even end up in your pocket. “It’s such a privilege to work with the US Mint.” Kunz said, “My skills and creativity as an artist have grown while working with them and it’s very rewarding to have my designs seen by thousands of American collectors all over the US.” The new coin, which will be limited to a mintage of 50,000 units, has an official denomination of $100, but is sold for nearly $1500. Initial inventories of the coin were sold out within the first day of its release and it’s on backorder until October. PHOTO CAPTION: Justin Kunz designed the new Lady Liberty on the coin for the US Mint. Photography by: Mark A. Philbrick/BYU. Copyright BYU Photo 2015. All Rights Reserved photo@byu.edu. From BYU News

On Monday, August 24th, Megan Jones and Wade Hollingshaus of the Theatre and Media Arts Department, and Ronald Staheli and Rosalind Hall from the School of Music, received awards at the opening ceremonies of the recent University Conference at the Marriott Center. Megan Jones received the Alcuin Fellowship Award, recognizing teachers and scholars that work above and beyond disciplines to contribute to general education and honors curriculums. Jones has a PhD in Theatre Historiography from the University of Minnesota. She is the Associate Professor of Theatre as the Theatre Arts Studies BA Program coordinator and Women’s Studies affiliate faculty member. She received her PhD in Theatre Historiography from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Megan is also a director/choreographer whose credits at BYU include Crazy For You, Holes, Romeo and Juliet, Arabian Nights, Henry 5, and the upcoming Twelfth Night. Wade Hollingshaus also received the Alcuin Fellowship Award. Hollingshaus has a PhD in Theatre/History/Theory/Criticism from the University of Minnesota. He is the department chair of the Theatre and Media Arts Department and the head of the Dramaturgy Studies. He is also an affiliate faculty with BYU’s Scandinavian Studies program and serves as the liaison between the American Society for Theatre Research (ASTR) and the Theatre Library Association (TLA). He is also a member of the Performance Philosophy research network. Currently, Hollingshaus is working on a new book project on Peter Gabriel and theatricality. Rosalind Hall, third from left, and Ronald Staheli, fourth from left, front standing row. UAC University Annual Conference in Marriott Center. August 24, 2015. Photography by: Mark A. Philbrick/BYU. Copyright BYU Photo 2015. All Rights Reserved. Rosalind Hall also received the Creative Works Award. Hall, a native of Wales, came to Utah in 1989 to pursue post-graduate studies in choral conducting at Brigham Young University. Her British training was at London’s Royal Academy of Music and Edinburgh and London Universities. Before returning to teach at BYU in 1999, she spent seven years at the Waterford School where she chaired the music department, directed the choral program and played a key role in developing the Waterford Fine Arts Academy. She is renowned for her innovative and vivacious approach to vocal and rehearsal technique. Hall is the Choral and Conducting Division Coordinator for the School of Music. Ronald Staheli received the Creative Works Award recognizing outstanding achievement in developing creative works that have wide acceptance, and national or international distribution. Staheli recently retired as a conductor in performances involving the combined choirs and orchestra of BYU. He has traveled widely as a clinician and guest conductor and also has become known for what a colleague calls a profound sense of phrasing and articulation, which informs all his work. Travels have taken him and the choir to the Middle East, Russia, Western and Eastern Europe, the South Pacific, West Africa, and most recently, China.

Brigham Young University’s Department of Dance presents “eviDANCE” Thursday through Saturday, Sept. 17—19, at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. A matinee performance will also be presented on Saturday at 2 p.m.

The Brigham Young University BRAVO! Professional Performing Arts series presents Kelli O’Hara, Tony Award—winning Broadway star of “The King and I,” in the de Jong Concert Hall on Friday, Sept. 4, at 7:30 p.m.Tickets are $25-55, with discounts available for alumni, seniors and students.

The College of Fine Arts and Communications convocation ceremony was August 14, 2015. According to the program, 18 master and 188 baccalaureate degrees were awarded between June and August 2015.

BYU faculty Brad Barber and Scott Christopherson directed and produced Peace Officer, a documentary about the militarization of American police. The documentary follows the story of a former sheriff who started his state’s first SWAT but struggles 30 years later with what it has become. He investigates officer-involved shootings, as well as the shooting of his son-in-law, to discover the truth behind seemingly unrelated events. The film won the 2015 Documentary Feature Competition Grand Jury and Audience awards at the South by Southwest Film Festival, the David Carr award and Audience Award Best Documentary Feature at the Montclair film festival, the Kathleen Bryan Edwards Award for Human Rights at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival and is featured as an exclusive on Apple trailers. The film will have its theatrical premieres in New York on September 16 and Los Angeles on September 18. After the premieres, the documentary will open in select cities. The film teaser is featured on Apple Trailers.

BYU Arts Creative recently won three awards in the 45th Annual Design Competition of the University and College Designers Association. Nick Mendoza, creative services manager for BYU Arts, also received a professional development scholarship. The award recognizes his work and funds his attendance this October at the UCDA Conference in Orlando, where the winning designs will be displayed. “I’m really proud of the students,” Mendoza said. “There is some recognition for me as the art director, but what makes my job fulfilling is mentoring them.” The competition attracted over one thousand entries but only gave out 165 awards: seven gold, 15 silver and 143 awards of excellence. BYU Arts Creative received three of those awards: one silver award and two awards of excellence. These awards aren’t just about putting BYU in the national spotlight, Mendoza explained. He submits the designs to competitions primarily to help the student designers gain recognition and get jobs. Many of his students have received internships or full-time design positions due to their experience working at BYU Arts Creative. BYU Arts Creative consists of a team of students that supports all of BYU Arts productions by preparing the marketing materials, including posters and programs. One of the students, Sam Reed, worked on the Contemporary Dance Theatre poster that won a silver award. “It was fun and challenging to try to convey the movement and energy of dance in a poster series,” Reed said. “I spent a lot of time manipulating the images until they felt right and were communicating that movement and energy.” Reed is a senior in the BFA Graphic Design program and is interning with Johnson & Johnson in New York. Andrew Galloway worked on the HFAC 50th season brochure that won an excellence award. He is also a senior in the BFA graphic design program and is interning in New York with a design studio called Thinkso. Alumna Nicolina Brown worked on the Jazz Ensemble poster that also won an excellence award. Brown graduated last April and has since worked as a design intern for Rapt Studio in San Francisco. Other Awards and Designs

Incoming BYU faculty Robert Machoian’s film God Bless the Child was featured in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Filmmaker magazine and was made an official selection for South by Southwest. The film follows a family of five children ranging from age one to 13 years old over the course of a day after their mother abandoned them, forcing the eldest and only girl to handle her four younger brothers. Although the film is scripted, it has the style of a documentary. A scene from ‘God Bless the Child’ - PHOTO: ROBERT MACHOIAN Machoian’s film has a five star rating on iTunes and glowing reviews in The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. The New York Times praises the filmmakers for using their own children as the actors and letting their internal dynamics drive the action instead of creating characters, stating “their blooming personalities come through with a warm and wonderful immediacy.” Filmmaker magazine sat down with Machoian and his co-director Rodrigo Ojeda-Beck to discuss the challenges of making this film. Read more about the interview here.