UAB Briefs: Theatre UAB, a new building, special day at ArtPlay

Welcome to another installment of UAB Briefs.

In this weekly online feature, we keep track of interesting people and events on campus.

Theatre UAB will soon present a riotous Noel Coward comedy.

And the UA System Board of Trustees will allow UAB to move forward with planning the first building in a new Science and Engineering Complex on campus that officials say can help spur innovation and entrepreneurship.

Know people, places and programs on the UAB campus that deserve a mention? Email jchambers@starnespublishing.com.

GET THE FEVER

Theatre UAB, the performance company of the Department of Theatre, will present its take on British playwright Noel Coward’s classic farce, “Hay Fever,” at the Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center, from Wednesday, Feb. 20, through Sunday, Feb. 24.

The performances, to be held in the Sirote Theatre, will take place Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m., according to a UAB news release.

Crazy cut-ups and misunderstandings ensue when each of the four members of the self-absorbed Bliss family invite a guest for the weekend without informing the other family members.

“Hay Fever” was written by Coward in 1925 at the peak of the decadent post-World War One “Jazz Age.”

The UAB production is directed by Dennis McLernon.

General admission is $12 and $15. Student tickets are $6, and tickets for UAB employees and senior citizens are $10.

Call 975-2787 or go to alysstephens.org.

For more information about Theatre UAB, go to uab.edu/cas/theatre.

TAKING THE NEXT STEP

The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees recently gave UAB approval to move forward with planning the first building in a new Science and Engineering Complex on campus, according to a UAB news release.

The new complex will house the College of Arts and Sciences departments of Biology, Physics and Chemistry, as well as the School of Engineering in a future phase.

The trustees granted UAB Stage 1 approval for the initial building in the complex, a $64.5 million facility that will provide 115,00 square feet of classroom, laboratory and administrative space.

It will house the Biology and Physics departments, as well as classrooms, instructional space and labs for the Department of Chemistry.

The building will replace the current Education Building on 14th Street South between University Boulevard and 10th Avenue South.

The complex will join science, technology and engineering programs in one space, foster collaboration between disciplines and allow for the sharing of resources to make these programs more efficient.

The new complex, when finished, will be “a platform for the collision of ideas, drawing the best students and faculty from around the world and spawning discoveries and innovations that will drive the development of high-tech local businesses,” said Robert Palazzo, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

AN ARTY DAY OFF

With school out for President’s Day on Monday, Feb. 18, ArtPlay will celebrate by offering a one-day camp for kids from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

“We always have inquiries from working parents about opportunities that ArtPlay offers when children are out of school,” said Heath Mixon, the facility’s associate director.

The camp will consist of four separate projects taught by some of ArtPlay’s teaching artists. Each student will be able to complete and feature their work in a mini-gallery at the end of the day.

Students will also be able to take home their arts and crafts.

For more information or to contact ArtPlay, go to alysstephens.org.