Akvavit Theatre: '13 Sunken Years' and 'Sky Without Birds'
Akvavit Theatre of Chicago will perform staged readings from two plays. The company focuses on Nordic and Scandinavian works.
First up will be "13 Sunken Years" by the Finnish playwright Paula Salminen. It is the story of three generations of women and the relationships between mothers and daughters. "The play is amusing and painful at the same time, and the storyline flows like a river," says Theatre Info Finland.
After a short intermission, at 8 p.m. "Sky Without Birds" by Danish playwright Julie Maj Jakobsen will begin. The play touches on the theme of freedom and its limitations.
The plays will be a part of Akvavit's Nordic Spirit Festival Feb. 27-March 1 at the Swedish American Museum in Chicago.
Akvavit's mission is to bring contemporary Nordic theatre to the United States. Akvavit was born out of the "Nordic Spaces" project funded by the Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation in 2008. Akvavit performed "Hitler on the Roof: A Play for Two Clowns" at Augustana in 2018, and "Family Drama: Two Norwegian Plays" in 2019.
Viking Visit day
High school students are invited to a special Viking Visit with expanded programming, an academic session, campus tours and lunch.
This visit is designed as a first visit experience. Admitted seniors who have not been to campus yet are encouraged to come.
Explore campus and learn about your next steps in the admissions process. Meet a professor and learn about an academic program. Get an introduction to student clubs and organizations and campus resources. Learn about the many ways CORE (Careers, Opportunities, Research and Exploration) can help guide your Augustana experience.
Departmental Open House and Scholarship Competition
High school seniors are invited to participate in an academic Departmental Open House and Scholarship Competition.
More than 30 academic departments from 90 majors and other programs will host students as they learn about a chosen program and compete for more than $500,000 in departmental scholarships. Scholarship winners are awarded $4,000 ($1,000/year for four years).
Registration is required and will open in late summer. Or, see the Visit page for signup information when available.
Francophone Film Festival: 'Divines'
"Divines" is the second of the films in the annual Francophone Film Festival at Augustana.
In this 2016 French drama, a street teenager from a dysfunctional family from a banlieue (suburb) in Paris comes across a young dancer who turns her life upside down. (IMDB) Rated TV-MA/18+.
Director Houda Benyamina won the Caméra d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. The film also was an official selection of the Toronto International Film Festival in the Discovery section.
French-language films will be presented every Thursday Feb. 20-March 19. Films are free and the public is welcome.
The Death and Life of Aida Hernandez: A Border Story
Dr. Aaron Bobrow-Strain, a professor of politics at Whitman College in Washington, will talk about his book, "The Death and Life of Aida Hernandez: A Border Story."
The book is based on a true story and interviews with the main character and others. The author writes that his book “occupies a space between journalism and ethnography, with a dash of oral history and biography.”
Data analytics + the liberal arts = good business intelligence
Augustana’s timely new major and minor extend from time-honored academic programs.
The Real Group
The Real Group, a vocal group from Sweden called the "masters of modern a cappella" will perform.
(This event is sold out.)
The Real Group has recorded 17 albums and appeared more than 2,000 times worldwide. The group was formed in 1984 when its members were students at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm. (Read more)
Augie Choice: 10 years of discovering ‘what life is all about’
Graduates tell how Augie Choice—$2,000 for a big learning experience—influenced who they are today.
Perspectives on the U.S. and Iran
Former and current Augustana faculty will hold a panel discussion on the current tensions between the U.S. and Iran.
In the liberal arts tradition, panelists will share insights and ideas on the history and context of relations between the two countries.
Panelists include:
• Dr. Cyrus Zargar, professor of philosophy at the University of Central Florida and former associate professor of religion at Augustana.
• Dr. Breanna Nickel, teaching fellow in religion at Augustana.
• Dr. David A. Schwartz, assistant professor of communication studies at Augustana.
• Dr. Xiaowen Zhang, associate professor of political science at Augustana.
Diving into Augustana’s first January term
Students are taking intensive courses on campus, around the U.S., and abroad during Augustana's first January term.