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Cliffe College of Creative Arts News

dana ut open house logo

Prospective students invited to attend University Theatre and Dana School of Music Open House

YSU’s Dana School of Music and University Theatre invite prospective high school students and their families to experience campus life firsthand during the departments’ annual Open House events Wednesday, October 14, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Bliss Hall. Attendees will explore the departments, participate in ensemble activities, and connect with current students, among many other opportunities.

bob dipiero portrait

“American Made” Singer-Songwriter Series to return to YSU

YSU’s Cliffe College of Creative Arts will join with COMPASS Family & Community Services to welcome back the American Made Singer-Songwriter Series Friday, October 9, 2026, at 7:30 PM at the Ford Theater in YSU’s Bliss Hall. The event will welcome YSU alumnus and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Bob DiPiero back to campus, joined by Blessing Offor of NBC’s “The Voice” and songwriter JT Harding.

blooming crazy flowers art

Community helps bring “Blooming Together” mural to life during YSU Day at Blooming Crazy

Community members and YSU faculty and students came together at Blooming Crazy Flowers and Gifts Thursday, October 1, 2026, to celebrate creativity, community engagement, and experiential learning during YSU Day, a special event featuring participation in the “Blooming Together” public mural project. The event invited residents of all ages to learn about YSU programs and initiatives while helping paint portions of the large-scale mural that will brighten the exterior of Blooming Crazy.

dark image of a raven

University Theatre to open season with gothic mystery-comedy “Ravenscroft”

YSU’s University Theatre will open its 2026-27 season with “Ravenscroft,” a gothic mystery-comedy, October 2 – 4 and 9 – 11 at Spotlight Theater in YSU’s Bliss Hall. Celebrating the life of prolific playwright Don Joseph Nigro, the production will follow a police inspector as she investigates a suspicious death—with five women each giving their own compelling version of the twisted events.

Colorful abstract painting by Steve Ehret

Guest artist Steve Ehret to present as part of Department of Art Lecture Series

YSU’s Department of Art will welcome guest artist Steve Ehret to campus as he presents as part of the Department of Art Lecture Series Wednesday, September 16, 2026, from 5:00 to 6:00 PM at the McDonough Museum of Art. Ehret (“Monster Steve”) makes careful observations about the world around him, breaking apart these settings in a way that speaks to the randomness of each passing mile. His goal is not realism, but rather a sense of gravity, atmosphere, wonder, nostalgia, grief, and the humor in it all.

The raven in the top left corner, the eye glass in the top right, the bottle in the bottom left, and the microphone in the bottom right.

University Theatre announces production slate for 2026-27 season

YSU’s University Theatre has announced that its 2026-27 season will be comprised of four productions, spanning mystery, musical comedy, and a showcase of graduating talent. The season will open with “Ravenscroft,” followed by “Clue, The Musical,” and “And Then There Were None,” with the season concluding in the spring following a Cabaret performance and senior project showcase.

Artist Bonny Leibowitz's Work

McDonough Museum to host guest artists for “Fall Exhibitions” and “Kilcawley Print Collection”

YSU’s McDonough Museum of Art will welcome guest artists Bonny Leibowitz, Alice Pixley Young, Deborah Wasserman, and Etty Yaniv for its annual “Fall Exhibitions” event titled “Around Here, It’s Always Eternity” beginning Tuesday, August 25, through Saturday, October 24, 2026. The McDonough will also host the “Kilcawley Print Collection” exhibition from August 25 through December 12, featuring 23 signed and numbered prints by prominent artists of the 1970s such as Andy Warhol and Christo.

Chanda Weigel's Painting of a Deer

Guest artist Chanda Weigel to exhibit at Solomon Gallery

YSU’s Department of Art will welcome guest artist Chanda Weigel to campus as she exhibits “All My Dreaming” at the Judith Rae Solomon Gallery beginning Tuesday, August 25, through Saturday, October 3, 2026. A mixed media artist, Weigel works with oils, acrylic, wood clay, textiles, and other materials to tell stories about the figures in her pieces.

illustration of comfortable raccoon or animal reading

McDonough Museum to open summer slate with five dynamic exhibitions

YSU’s McDonough Museum of Art will open its summer schedule with five dynamic exhibitions beginning Friday, May 29, through Saturday, July 18, 2026. The “Summer Exhibitions” will include Sharon M. Dundee’s “RUSTED ROOTS: Exploring Our Connection,” Laura Garvin’s “Sketches & Storyline: An Illustrator’s Creative Process,” and a commemorative US Semiquincentennial exhibition titled “Stitches in Time.” Also on display from May 29 to July 24 will be Crystal Beiersdorfer’s “#inhale_#exhale” and Random Acts of Artist’s “Moving Forward, Looking Back.”

dana summer camp header photo

Dana School of Music and University Theatre to host annual summer camps

YSU’s Dana School of Music and University Theatre welcome middle and high school students ages 13 – 18 to register for their annual summer camp events to be held this June at YSU’s Bliss Hall. Led by experienced faculty and guest artists, attendees will have the opportunity to develop their musical or theatrical skills and participate in elective workshops tailored to their goals. Pre-registration is required.