In Brief: October 27

Timely new musical ‘Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson’ onstage at BGSU Firelands  

Just in time for the three-ring circus that is our 2016 presidential election, BGSU Firelands College Theatre is presenting a controversial look at our first “celebrity” president in the new rock musical, “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson.” Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3-5 in the McBride Auditorium at Firelands.

“Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson” is an audacious mix of historical fact and fiction that redefines America’s controversial seventh president – the man who invented the Democratic Party, drove the Indians West, and ultimately doubled the size of our nation. The production is a raucous blend of outrageous comedy, anarchic theatricality and an infectious emo rock score.

Written by Alex Timbers and Michael Friedman and directed by Brian Marshall, the musical recreates and reinvents the life of “Old Hickory,” from his humble beginnings on the Tennessee frontier to his days as commander-in-chief.

It also asks the question, “Is wanting to have a beer with someone reason enough to elect him? What if he’s really, really hot?”

The production is rated R and for mature audiences only.

Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, $8 for students and $6 for BGSU students with valid ID. Call 419-626-1950 or order online http://www.sanduskystate.com

Well-O-Ween walk with Dr. Thomas Gibson on Oct. 31

Make Halloween a “Well-O-Ween” by walking with friends, colleagues and students during the lunch hour on Monday, Oct. 31. Dr. Thomas Gibson, vice president for student affairs and vice provost, and the Student Affairs Council will lead the monthly WellAware walk at the Eppler South Gym Track.

Stop by anytime between 12-1 p.m. to treat yourself to a short and energizing Halloween-themed walk. Plus, sample healthy treats and earn the chance to win a gift card toward a new pair of walking shoes.

For more information, contact Karyn Smith, Recreation and Wellness, at karync@bgsu.edu or 372-9309.

‘Orange Is the New Black’ author to speak Nov. 1

Piper Kerman, best-selling author of “Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women’s Prison” will be on campus Tuesday, Nov. 1, to discuss her book and her life story.

Kerman will be presenting as part of the Ordinary People, Extraordinary Stories lecture series sponsored by BGSU University Libraries and its Leadership Council. Dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by the presentation at 7:30 p.m. A VIP event will begin at 5:30 p.m. All events are hosted in the Lenhart Grand Ballroom of the Bowen-Thompson Student Union.

Tickets are $30 for dinner and $100 for the VIP event and dinner and are available now at bgsu.edu/libraryevent.

Kerman’s book chronicles her 13 months spent in the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Conn. She explores the experience of incarceration and the intersection of her life with the lives of the women she met while in prison: their friendships and families, mental illnesses and substance abuse issues, cliques and codes of behavior.

Since her release, Kerman has worked tirelessly to promote the cause of prison and criminal justice reform. She serves on the board of the Women’s Prison Association, which provides preventative services for at-risk women, works to create alternatives to incarceration, advocates against practices like shackling during childbirth and offers programs to aid reentry into society. In her professional career as a communications consultant with Spitfire Strategies, she has worked on a number of criminal justice issues, including public defense reform, juvenile justice reform and the legal challenge to the “stop and frisk” laws in New York. She is a member of the advisory board for InsideOUT Writers.

Kerman’s memoir was adapted by Jenji Kohan into a critically acclaimed Netflix original series of the same name. The Emmy and Peabody Award-winning show has been called “the best TV show about prison ever made” by The Washington Post.

Guests with disabilities are requested to indicate if they need special services, assistance or appropriate modifications to fully participate in this event by contacting Disability Services at dss@bgsu.edu or 419-372-8495 prior to the event.