State College of Florida’s musical theatre ensemble presents “Children of Eden” by Stephen Schwartz and John Caird starting Nov. 2 in Neel Performing Arts Center at SCF Bradenton.  

A moving human drama loosely based on the book of Genesis, “Children of Eden” is Stephen Schwartz’s favorite musical because of the dramatic and musical themes that are explored.

Working together with Caird, Schwartz took liberties with the Biblical text to retell the familiar stories of Genesis in a show about forgiveness and second chances.

An age-old tale of parent-child relationships beginning with humanity’s first dysfunctional family including Adam, Eve, Cain and Abel and the "Father" who created them, “Children of Eden”  continues through the generations to Noah and his family as they prepare for the flood by building an ark and loading the animals. This moving, foot-stomping musical delivers a bittersweet but inspiring message: the hardest part of love is letting go. ("Children of Eden" photography by Stephanie Dubsky)

Students from SCF’s Music Program will appear in the much-anticipated Riverwalk grand opening in downtown Bradenton on Thursday, Oct. 18. Robyn Wilkes, SCF director of instrumental studies, in concert with Melodie Dickerson, SCF Music Program director, coordinated SCF’s participation in the event.

Throughout the evening, student groups, including Chamber Choir, Jazz Ensemble, Guitar Ensemble, Brass Choir and Percussion Ensemble, will enliven the festivities with a variety of music.

The theme for the SCF Symphony Orchestra concert at 8 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 15, is "Dial M for Murder,” which includes music by Mozart, Mussorgsky, Mascagni and Mouret, as well as “Funeral March of a Marionette” and music from the “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” Guest Robert Moore from the Sarasota Orchestra will perform “Mozart's Concerto No. 3 for Horn” accompanied by the SCF Symphony Orchestra.

“From Russia with Love” will be presented by the SCF Wind Ensemble at 8 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 8, featuring a program of songs by Russian composers including Shostakovich’s monumental “Finale" to Symphony No. 5.  Laurie Penpraze, low brass instructor at SCF and trombonist for the Sarasota Orchestra, will be the featured soloist on Rimsky-Korsakov's "Concerto for Trombone and Band."

The SCF Wind Ensemble and SCF Symphony Orchestra are conducted by Robyn Wilkes, SCF director of instrumental studies.

Other events at SCF include:

• A free 30-minute screening of “Education Under Fire,” a powerful documentary about the Iranian government’s denial for ideological and religious reasons of the right to higher education to people in the Bahá 'í community. Open discussion with panelists will follow the film. The screening will be held at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 24, at SCF Bradenton, building 10, room 115.

• In the Fine Art Gallery, Nicole Pietrantoni’s “Stories-so-far: Constructions of Landscape” chronicles her work that was inspired by her experience as a Fulbright scholar, researcher and artist-in-residence in Iceland. Her exhibit, a unique installation that comes alive when light is shined on materials created by the artist, casting a shadow on the wall. It’s not too late to see the exhibit, which runs until Nov. 15.
• The “SCF Embraces Differences 2012”art exhibit featuring five quotations by SCF students and staff that were selected for the “Embracing Our Differences 2012 Exhibit” displayed at the Sarasota Bayfront Park this spring; a slideshow of additional quotations from SCF that were submitted to the competition; and artwork by SCF Collegiate School students will run until Dec. 5 in the library at SCF Venice.

Visit scf.edu for more events.