This year Denison University's Fall Festival at Homecoming is a community-wide celebration of the season with open events for adults and children.

First up, Broadway star, TV host and Denison alumnus John Davidson '63 will give an hour-long presentation titled "The Art of the Singing Entertainer" at 10:30 a.m. on Friday (Oct. 19), in Ace Morgan Theatre, located in Denison's Theatre Arts Building (211 W. College St.). Along with discussing his career in show business, he will explain how he puts together concerts such as the one he will present at the historic Midland Theatre in Newark. A question-and-answer session will follow his talk. Then at 8 p.m. on Friday (Oct. 19), Davidson performs at the Midland (36 N. Park Place). A limited number of specially priced tickets are available by calling the Office of Alumni Affairs at (740) 587-6576.

On Saturday (Oct. 20) the day kicks off at 10:30 a.m. with "Camp Denison" activities for kids of all ages on the Academic Quad (200 Ridge Rd.). At 11 a.m., the 5K Buzzard Run starts with a first lap on the new track at Piper Stadium (200 Livingston Dr.). A lunch ($5) at 11:30 a.m. on the Academic Quad features traditional picnic fare.

Saturday's varsity athletics contests, a traditional centerpiece of every Homecoming celebration, include the Denison football team playing host to North Coast Athletic Conference opponent Hiram College at 1 p.m. in Piper Stadium (100 Livingston Dr.); the Big Red men's soccer squad squaring off against NCAC foe College of Wooster at 4 p.m. at Barclay-Thomsen Field (300 Ebaugh Dr.); and the 24th-ranked women's soccer team taking on conference rival Ohio Wesleyan University at 7 p.m. on Barclay-Thomsen Field.

The fine arts will take center stage, starting with the Department of Art's "Gallery Hop" at 2 p.m. in Knapp Hall (300 Ridge Road), offering a view of Denison's gallery spaces and insight into the creativity of college artists. The Department of Music Showcase at 7 p.m. in Swasey Chapel (200 Chapel Dr.) features 90 students performing in the Denison University Orchestra, Singer's Theatre Workshop, Jazz Ensemble, Bluegrass Ensemble and Jazz Combo. At 8 p.m., bring your dancing shoes to the Doane Dance Center (231 W. College St.) for the Department's of Dance's "Greek Festival," a festive evening of traditional Greek dancing, food and drink.

A student production of "Choephori: The Libation Bearers" will be performed at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday (Oct. 20) outdoors on the South Plaza located on the hill between Academic Quad and the Fine Arts Quad (on Lower Campus). This production of Aeschylus' classic tragedy is presented by The Other Theatre Company and is directed by Kim Davies '10. Admission is free and open to the public, and with ground seating, audience members are encouraged to bring a blanket. An encore performance will be presented at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday (Oct. 21) on the South Plaza.

In addition, there will be an inspired memorial service for E. Clark Morrow, class of 1930, at 3 p.m on Saturday in Swasey Chapel. Morrow, a lecturer emeritus in the Department of Political Science, died on Jan. 23, 2007, at the age of 98.

For a complete, updated schedule of the weekend's events, link to the Office of Alumni Affairs Web site at: www.denison.edu/alumni/homecoming.html

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About Denison:

Denison University, founded in 1831, is an independent, residential liberal arts institution located in Granville, Ohio. A highly selective college enrolling 2,100 full-time undergraduate students from all 50 states and dozens of foreign countries, Denison is a place where innovative faculty and motivated students collaborate in rigorous scholarship, civic engagement and the cultivation of independent thinking.

For press inquiries:

Name

Barbara Stambaugh

Position Title

Director, Media Relations

Primary Email

stambaughb@denison.edu

Business Phone

(740) 587-8575